Is the Book of Jubilees in the Bible?
It is in the Ethiopian Orthodox Bible, but not in the Protestant, Catholic, or Eastern Orthodox Old Testament. It was excluded from the Hebrew Tanakh and from every later Western Christian canon.
Free Public-Domain Download
Book of Jubilees — Free PDF Study Guide
A clear, scholarly introduction to the Book of Jubilees — a second-century-BC Jewish retelling of Genesis 1 through Exodus 14, preserved in full only in the Ethiopian Orthodox Bible. This free PDF guide covers the book's chronology, the fall of the Watchers, its 364-day solar calendar, and how it relates to canonical Genesis.
An original Bible Sundays study companion. The R. H. Charles 1913 English translation of the full text is in the public domain and is freely available online; this guide provides the historical and theological context for reading it.
Preview the actual file
Look inside before you download
Bible Sundays study guide
Inside this PDF
- Length
- 8 pages
- File size
- 0.1 MB
- Format
- Searchable PDF
- Access
- Free, no account
- The four major themes — Sabbath, calendar, Watchers, patriarchs
- How Jubilees retells Genesis and early Exodus
- Status in the Ethiopian, Catholic, and Protestant canons
- Five notable passages every reader should know
- Relationship to 1 Enoch and the Dead Sea Scrolls
What you get
The four major themes — Sabbath, calendar, Watchers, patriarchs
How Jubilees retells Genesis and early Exodus
Status in the Ethiopian, Catholic, and Protestant canons
Five notable passages every reader should know
Relationship to 1 Enoch and the Dead Sea Scrolls
Free to share — no email or sign-up required
What is the Book of Jubilees?
The Book of Jubilees is a Jewish work of fifty chapters that retells the story of Genesis 1 through Exodus 14 — from the creation of the world down to the giving of the Law at Sinai — as though spoken by an angel to Moses on Mount Sinai. It is sometimes called 'Little Genesis,' though it is in fact longer than the biblical Genesis. Its distinctive feature is its precise chronology: every event is dated by 'jubilees' (49-year cycles), weeks of years, and years, giving the book its title.
Date, language, and where it survives
Jubilees was almost certainly composed in Hebrew in Judea sometime between 160 and 100 BC. Fragments of at least fourteen Hebrew copies were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls at Qumran, showing that the community there held it in very high regard. The complete text survives only in Geʿez (classical Ethiopic), preserved by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, which still includes Jubilees in its Old Testament canon. R. H. Charles produced the standard English translation in 1902, revised in 1913.
Major themes — Sabbath, calendar, and the Watchers
Jubilees argues passionately for a fixed 364-day solar calendar, which would make every annual feast fall on the same day of the week every year, never on a Sabbath. It roots the Sabbath in the creation itself (chapters 2 and 50) and traces the major festivals back to the patriarchs. Chapters 5 and 7–10 give a long account of the 'Watchers' — angels who descended and corrupted humanity — that parallels and expands the brief notice in Genesis 6:1–4 and stands behind the much fuller treatment in 1 Enoch. Finally, Jubilees portrays Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as already keeping the Mosaic law centuries before Sinai.
Is the Book of Jubilees in the Bible?
Jubilees is not part of the Protestant, Catholic, or Eastern Orthodox biblical canons. It is, however, fully canonical in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and the Beta Israel community. Its presence among the Dead Sea Scrolls — in more copies than several biblical books — shows that at least some Jewish communities of the Second Temple period treated it as authoritative.
Frequently asked questions
When was the Book of Jubilees written?
Between roughly 160 and 100 BC, almost certainly in Hebrew in Judea. The Hebrew fragments found at Qumran (the Dead Sea Scrolls) are the earliest physical evidence.
Who wrote the Book of Jubilees?
The author is unknown. The book itself claims to be a revelation given to Moses on Mount Sinai through an angel, but the literary form points to an anonymous Jewish author of the second century BC.
How is Jubilees related to the Book of Enoch?
They share material on the fall of the Watchers, the Nephilim, and the antediluvian period. Most scholars see Jubilees drawing on, and condensing, earlier Enochic traditions.
Why does Jubilees use a 364-day calendar?
The author argues that a fixed 364-day solar calendar (52 weeks exactly) was given at creation and preserves the festivals from ever falling on a Sabbath. This puts the book in deliberate opposition to the lunar calendar of the Jerusalem temple establishment.
What does Jubilees add to Genesis?
Names for the unnamed wives of the patriarchs, dated chronology for every event, expanded conversations between Abraham and God, and the detailed account of the Watchers. These additions reflect Second Temple interpretive tradition rather than additional revelation.
Should Christians read the Book of Jubilees?
It is valuable as a window into Jewish thought just before the time of Christ and as essential background to the Dead Sea Scrolls. Read it as historical literature, not as Scripture.
Can I share this PDF?
Yes. This Bible Sundays study guide is free to share for any personal, ministry, or educational purpose.
Related Bible study & reading
Continue your study with related content from across our library:
Q&A
What Is the Book of Genesis About?
History & Origins
Bible Quiz
Genesis Quiz
Creation, the Fall, the Flood, and the patriarchs.
Bible Quiz
2 Kings Quiz
A journey through the miracles of Elisha and the history of the divided kingdoms
Devotional
Genesis 1:1 — Meaning & Devotional
Creation
Devotional
Genesis 50:20 — Meaning & Devotional
God's Sovereignty
Commentary
Genesis 1:26 Commentary
In-depth study • Creation & Identity
Biblical names and their meanings
Every name below appears in the King James Bible. Each page gives the meaning, the verse it appears in, and who carried it in Scripture.
- EliasMy God is the LORD (Greek form of Elijah)
- ElijahMy God is the LORD
- ElizabethGod is my oath
- EmmanuelGod is with us
- ImmanuelGod is with us
- EmmanuelGod is with us
- EstherStar
- EthanStrong or enduring
More free Bible & apocryphal downloads
KJV Apocrypha PDF
The 14 books included in the original 1611 King James Bible — full text.
View pageBook of Tobit Guide
Tobit, Tobias, Sarah, and the archangel Raphael — 1611 KJV Apocrypha.
View pageBook of Judith Guide
The widow of Bethulia who saved her city — 1611 KJV Apocrypha.
View page1 Maccabees Guide
The Maccabean revolt and the origin of Hanukkah — 1611 KJV Apocrypha.
View page2 Maccabees Guide
The seven brothers and the first clear teaching on bodily resurrection.
View pageSirach (Ecclesiasticus) Guide
The wisdom book behind James 3 and Matthew 11:28–30.
View pageBook of Baruch Guide
Jeremiah's scribe — confession, Wisdom hymn, Letter of Jeremiah.
View page1 Esdras Guide
Alternative version of Ezra–Nehemiah with 'Great is Truth' speech.
View page2 Esdras (4 Ezra) Guide
Jewish apocalypse with imagery behind the Book of Revelation.
View pageWisdom of Solomon Guide
The most quoted book of the 1611 KJV Apocrypha — free PDF study guide.
View pageBook of Enoch PDF
The ancient apocalyptic text quoted in Jude — free download.
View pageBook of Jasher PDF
The lost book referenced in Joshua and 2 Samuel — free PDF.
View pageGospel of Thomas Guide
The 114 sayings from Nag Hammadi — origin, themes, and why it's not in the Bible.
View pageDidache Study Guide
The earliest Christian church manual (c. AD 50–120) — free PDF.
View page1 Clement Guide
The earliest Christian writing outside the New Testament (c. AD 95).
View pageEpistle of Barnabas Guide
Early Christian tract bound into Codex Sinaiticus — Two Ways teaching.
View pageShepherd of Hermas Guide
Second-century Roman apocalypse — Visions, Mandates, and Similitudes.
View pageBook of Giants Guide
The Dead Sea Scrolls text about the Nephilim sons of the Watchers.
View page2 Enoch Guide
Enoch's journey through the seven heavens and the birth of Melchizedek.
View page3 Enoch Guide
The heavenly palaces and Enoch transformed into the angel Metatron.
View pageBook of Adam and Eve Guide
The first couple after Eden — Satan's second temptation and the Cave of Treasures.
View pageGospel of Mary Guide
The fragmentary Coptic text — what survives and why it isn't in the Bible.
View pageGospel of Judas Guide
The Gnostic text from Codex Tchacos and why the church rejected it.
View pageDead Sea Scrolls Guide
What was found at Qumran and what the scrolls prove about the Bible.
View pagePrayer of Manasseh Guide
The fifteen-verse penitential prayer of Judah's most wicked king — 1611 KJV Apocrypha.
View pageSusanna Study Guide
The falsely accused wife, the two elders, and Daniel's cross-examination.
View pageBel and the Dragon Guide
Daniel exposes the priests of Bel, kills the dragon, and survives a second lions' den.
View pageRest of Esther Guide
The six Greek additions that give Esther her prayer and finally name God.
View pageLetter of Jeremiah Guide
The Epistle of Jeremy — seventy-two verses against the idols of Babylon.
View pageSong of the Three Children Guide
The Prayer of Azariah and the Benedicite, sung inside the fiery furnace.
View pageGospel of Peter Guide
The Akhmim fragment, the talking cross, and why the church rejected it by AD 200.
View pageProtevangelium of James Guide
The Infancy Gospel that gave us Joachim, Anna, and the cave of the nativity.
View pageGospel of Philip Guide
The Nag Hammadi text behind the Mary Magdalene 'companion' claim — read honestly.
View pageEpistles of Ignatius Guide
Seven letters written in chains around AD 107, on the road to the arena.
View pagePolycarp Guide
His letter to the Philippians and the earliest Christian martyr account.
View pageEpistle to Diognetus Guide
The second-century apology on Christians as sojourners and the 'sweet exchange'.
View pageGospel of Nicodemus Guide
the Acts of Pilate, the trial narrative, and the Harrowing of Hell
View pageInfancy Gospel of Thomas Guide
the clay sparrows, the cursed playmate, and the boy Jesus in the temple
View pageApocalypse of Peter Guide
the second-century vision of heaven and hell that shaped Dante
View pageTestaments of the Twelve Patriarchs Guide
the deathbed speeches of Jacob's sons, their moral teaching, and their Qumran background
View pageActs of Paul and Thecla Guide
the second-century story of the convert of Iconium, the arena at Antioch, and the physical description of Paul
View pageNag Hammadi Library Guide
the 1945 discovery, the 52 Coptic texts, what Gnosticism taught, and why these gospels are not in the Bible
View pageComplete KJV Bible PDF
The complete 66-book King James Version — free download.
View page1611 King James Bible PDF
The original Authorized Version — free PDF of the historic 1611 KJV.
View pageAll Free Bible PDFs
Full library — KJV, Apocrypha, Old & New Testament downloads.
View page