The meaning of the pentateuch by john h sailhamer the pentateuch is the foundation for understanding the old testament and the bible as a whole yet through the centuries it has been probed and dissected weighed and examined its text peeled back for its underlying history its discourse analyzed and its words weighed. The first five books of the bible have commonly come to be referred to as the pentateuch a word derived from the greek penta meaning five and teuchos originally meaning a case for carrying papyrus rolls but in later usage meaning the scroll itself. A translator for the old testament section of the new international version dr wolf is the author of a number of books including haggai and malachi in the everymans bible commentary series an introduction to the old testament pentateuch and interpreting isaiah as well as numerous journal magazine and encyclopedia articles. The pentateuch genesis exodus leviticus numbers deuteronomy are the vital first books in the bible understanding their scope meaning and events is integral to understanding the whole of scripture in an introduction to the old testament pentateuch old testament expert herbert wolf offers layreaders and scholars alike a solid introduction to