Torah - Wellhausen/JEDP Theory

Julius Wellhausen

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy were believed to have been written by Moses, up until 1883.

In 1883, the efforts of leading German and French scholars in the field of scientific biblical scholarship discovered textual patterns in the Old Testament Bible. This discovery led to the JEDP Theory (or "Graf-Wellhausen Hypothesis") that established the possibility of several 'independent' source writings, later edited ('redacted') to produce a single document, the Torah.

Julius Wellhausen (1844-1918) was a German biblical scholar and orientalist who set the chronological order of the independent sources as J, E, D and P with reference to the evolving religious history of Israel, which he saw as one of ever-increasing priestly power.
W Julius_Wellhausen

JEDP Theory (or "Graf-Wellhausen Hypothesis")
The Torah: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers & Deuteronomy is not a unified work from a single author (Moses) but is made up of independent writings combined over many centuries by many editors ('redactors'). Wellhausen contributed little that was new, but sifted and combined the previous scholarship works into a coherent, comprehensive theory on the origins of the Torah and of Judaism. One so persuasive that it dominated scholarly debate on the subject ever since.
W Documentary_hypothesis
JEDP Theory / 'Graf-Wellhausen'
TRADITION
'J'
Yahwist
'E'
Elohist
'D'
Deuteronomist
'P'
Priestly

BIBLE BOOKS
'what'
Exodus (50%)
Genesis (50%)
Numbers (minor)
Exodus (50%)
Genesis (33%)
Numbers (minor)
Deuteronomy (most) Leviticus (most)
Genesis (20%)
Exodus (minor)
Numbers (minor)

DATE
'when'
950-920 BCE

United Monarcy

A Judean Source written during the United Monarcy period (1030-920 BCE).

Written in the South, just before the South split from the North in 922 BC.

Interest in territory of the Kingdom of Judah, and individuals connected with its history.
870-840 BCE

North-South Divide

Written in the North at the time when the North broke away from South (870-840 BCE).
650-620 BCE

Josiah's Reform

Writing reflects literary style/ theology prevalent at the time of Josiah's reform (621 BCE).
550-520 BCE

Babylonian Exile

After the fall of Jerusalem (587 BCE), Israelite priests were exiled in Babylon.

LOCATION
'where'
Southern Kingdom
of Judah


Capital: Jerusalem

Text contains Southern geographical references and propoganda i.e. David's line
Northern Kingdom
of Israel


Capital: Samaria (Shomron)

Northern tribes and Ephraim, so its suppoused it was.

Prophet over King (Northern concern then)
Jerusalem

During a period of religious reform.

May have originated in the Northern Kingdom
Kohanim

Jewish priests were exiled in Babylon.

Writing at a time of great loneliness and despair; God far away.
God
NAME Yahweh
'YHWH'
Elohim

Elohim used until Exodus 3-6;
a human-like God

Yahweh used after Exodus 3 (burning bush incident) when Elohim reveals himself as Yahweh
Yahweh Elohim
El Shaddai
Other El combinations
PERSONALITY Anthropomorphic

Yahweh walks and talks. He makes personal visits.
Less Anthropomorphic

Elohim speaks through dreams, prophets and angels; not personal appearances.
  Non-Anthropomorphic

Elohim is remote, distant, and unmerciful. He appears on a quest for glory.
Authors

WRITING STYLE
  • Vivid concrete
  • Elegant descriptive vocabulary
  • Rich narrative, long stories or epics
  • Abstract
  • Less eloquent
  • Distinct language
  • Reflects later composition
  • Precise
  • Dry legalistic language
  • AUTHORS
    'who'
      Ephraimitic Tribe

    Someone from Tribe of Ephraim or a North Israelite source
    Josiah's Reform

    Reflects style and religious attitudes of Josiah's reform (c.621)

    Priesthood

    A literary corpus, marked by the style and cultic interests of the priestly circle of Jerusalem

    Israelite priests retrieved, revised and 'redacted' Torah text
    Content
    KEY POINTS Southern Propoganda

    Ancient stories i.e. Creation of mankind, flood, Babel etc.

    Yahweh close to His people

  • Interactions with man (cultic approach)
  • Sin & punishment i.e. Sodom Gomorrah
  • Human mortality
  • Sibling rivalry
  • Man & earth
  • Northern Focus

    Elohim is distant and away from His people.

    Kingdom of Israel and on Shiloh priesthood.

  • "Fearing" Elohim
  • Moral & ethical living
  • Law & righteousness
  • Religious aspects of prayer/sacrifice
  • Revelation in visions and dreams
  • Yahweh's favours

    God's love dominates Israel's history and law.

  • How Yahweh blessed his people
  • Obedience to law of Moses
  • Obedience to Covenant

    Priestly concerns, legal and cultic aspects

    Lists of genealogies, dates, numbers and laws.

  • Rituals: Sabbath, circumcision, sacrifice, worship, temple, dietary law, tabernacle
  • MOUNT SINAI Place of Mosaic covenant. Emphasis on term 'Sinai' Horeb is mountain where covenant takes place Idea of a central sanctuary
    Horeb
    Holy mountain
    Sinai
    COVENANT Mosaic

    Abrahamic promise of land, descendants and blessing
    Exodus 24 ceremony

    Establishment of the tent of meeting

    Israel's rebellion at Sinai with worship of the golden calf
      Sabbath and circumcision
    ISRAEL Israel's faith in Yahweh and their leaders Explicitly religious: to be "a kingdom of priests and a holy nation"   Elohim grants his presence to the people "who know his name."

    Israel's role in salvation
    PEOPLE Moses father-in-law is Reuel Begins story with Abraham Some connections to E; Horeb, prophecy. Normally starts with "These are the generations"
    Text
        Fragmentary texts
    Often combined with J, to create J+E
    Possibly referenced in 2 Kings 22:8. The "book of the law" found by King Josiah in the Temple in Jerusalem (621 BC)

    Some scholars believe 'D' is an independent text
    Some scholars believe P is a redactor (revision of pre-existing texts)

    Others believe 'P' shows signs of a seperate, independent text


    In Islam, Moses received the 'Oral' Torah
    Islam teaches that Moses received the Torah from God. This was an 'oral transmission' from God through the Angel Gabrial to Moses. Today, the Torah is presented in a written book format. This is a corrupted version of the original Oral Torah. The JEDP Theory (or "Graf-Wellhausen Hypothesis") supports the Islamic position on Biblical corruption.

    Maurice Bucaille
    Maurice Bucaille (d. 1998), a Muslim scholar supported Documentary Hypothesis (DH)
    Maurice Bucaille (1920-1998), a French medical doctor, author, convert and scholar of Islam. Bucaille writes the Old Testament has been distorted due to the numerous translations and corrections, as it was transmitted orally. Bucaille argued for biblical criticism, including the Documentary Hypothesis (DH) and JEDP Theory.
    W Maurice_Bucaille
      Bucaille on Documentary Hypothesis


    CREDIT
      Explanation on Documentary Hypothesis (DH)
    https://www.slideserve.com/dareh/the-writing-of-the-old-testament-the-four-4-original-sources-jedp
    https://www.plonialmonimormon.com/2014/02/jedp-and-me-some-thoughts-on.html
    https://annawhitehead96.wordpress.com/2015/12/30/jepd-theory/
    http://helpmewithbiblestudy.org/5system_moses/notes/dh6.aspx
      Share Article if you found it useful
    8819 views · 50 mins ago |   Author: Guest   •   Updated: 11 Jun 2019
    ALL ARTICLES ARE INTENDED FOR GENERAL EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. ALL INFORMATION IS BELIEVED TO BE CORRECT, ACCURATE AND TRUTHFUL. YOU ARE ADVISED TO DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH. ARTICLES ARE LIVE DOCUMENTS AND MAY BE UPDATED WITH NEW CONTENT AT ANY TIME. WHERE AVAILABLE, SOURCES AND REFERENCES ARE CREDITED. IF YOU SPOT ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS OR GIVE FEEDBACK KINDLY CONTACT US WITH DETAILS
    141-jedp-wellhausen

    4  Videos with 'JEDP Theory'
    Video: 9:04
    4379 views · 20 hrs ago | 6 years ago
    1 of 4   
    Video: 48:45
    6231 views · 7 mins ago | 6 years ago
    2 of 4   
    Video: 16:06
    5730 views · 5 hrs ago | 6 years ago
    3 of 4   
    Video: 10:52
    3901 views · 11 hrs ago | 5 years ago
    4 of 4   


    News on 'Jedp theory'

    Results: 0 News Items
    Displayed in Date Order (most recent first)
    Watch Video 
    NAVIGATE ARTICLES
    ORDER: Article Title A-Z
    Articles
    All Articles (154)
    10 Commandments - Bible vs Quran
    19655 views · 38 mins ago
    10 Commandments - Christian vs Muslim
    12170 views · 30 mins ago
    10 Red Heifers (Cows)
    10952 views · 1 hr ago
    5 reasons Abraham sacrificed Ishmael
    10752 views · 24 mins ago
    Abrahamic Religions
    15321 views · 24 mins ago
    Angels - 41 Angels from the Abrahamic Religions
    16652 views · 41 mins ago
    Are you a Muslim?
    39954 views · 43 mins ago
    Arius vs Bishop Athanasius
    14758 views · 8 mins ago
    Bible - 12% of New Testament copied from Old Testament
    10183 views · 2 hrs ago
    Bible - 18 Ego Eimi (I AM) statements, like John 8:58
    13799 views · 19 mins ago
    Bible - 27 Verses on Yahweh, Elohim(s) and The Gods
    15184 views · 26 mins ago
    Bible - 400 NT Jesus Prophecies copied from OT
    7495 views · 16 mins ago
    Bible - 75 Verses on drinking Wine & Alcohol
    13912 views · 2 hrs ago
    Bible - Exodus 3:14 Translations
    9833 views · 24 mins ago
    Bible - King James (KJV) & 37 'Disputed' Verses
    7836 views · 24 mins ago
    Bible - Lost Books of the Bible
    8490 views · 27 mins ago
    Bible - Mark 16:9-20 Text Analysis
    9024 views · 51 mins ago
    Bible - Matthew 28:19: Greek vs Hebrew
    15795 views · 38 mins ago
    Bible - Pagan Texts in the Bible
    7806 views · 5 hrs ago
    Bible - Revelation, A Forgery
    8964 views · 14 mins ago
    Bible - Scholars on John's Gospel
    8386 views · 51 mins ago
    Bible - The Synoptic Problem
    8736 views · 3 hrs ago
    Bible - Violence & Killings
    7630 views · 1 hr ago
    Bible Authors: Who Wrote It?
    9211 views · 25 mins ago
    Bible Errors - 672 Variants
    8111 views · 2 hrs ago
    Bible History - KJV vs NIV
    8866 views · 4 hrs ago
    Bible NT - 55% of New Testament Papyrus contain under 3% of Biblical Text
    7500 views · 41 mins ago
    Bible NT - Codex Sinaiticus exposes 312 year gap since Jesus crucifixion
    8546 views · 1 hr ago
    Bible NT Canons - Church Fathers, Councils & Apocrypha
    6094 views · 50 mins ago
    Bible OT - Dead Sea Scrolls expose a 1303 year gap since Moses life
    6324 views · 3 hrs ago
    Bible OT Canons - Church Fathers, Councils & Apocrypha
    6660 views · 50 mins ago
    Bible Verses - KJV vs NIV
    9505 views · 25 mins ago
    Blasphemy Laws in 35 Christian Countries
    6167 views · 24 mins ago
    Book Burnings in Roman, Catholic and Protestant society
    10041 views · 42 mins ago
    Catholic vs Protestant - Bible
    7829 views · 40 mins ago
    Catholic vs Protestant - Christianity
    8227 views · 3 hrs ago
    Child Abuse & Grooming Gangs (UK)
    5633 views · 24 mins ago
    Child Abuse, Sexual Crimes & Prison Figures (UK)
    6617 views · 7 mins ago
    Child Marriage - Muhammad married 9-year old Aisha
    14780 views · 25 mins ago
    Christian Heresies
    7998 views · 25 mins ago
    Christian: 28 Heretical Sects
    8940 views · 6 hrs ago
    Christian: 32 Church Denominations
    5893 views · 40 mins ago
    Christianity: Founded by Paul on Road to Damascus, Syria
    7056 views · 3 hrs ago
    Church Councils
    7205 views · 24 mins ago
    Church Fathers - Quotes from 18 Men of God
    7505 views · 39 mins ago
    Church Fathers on Jesus Divinity
    9322 views · 2 hrs ago
    Codex Sinaiticus & Vaticanus - Corruption in the KJV Bible books
    13102 views · 3 hrs ago
    Codex Sinaiticus & Vaticanus - Corruption in the KJV Bible verses
    10859 views · 13 mins ago
    Constantine and Christianity
    10155 views · 27 mins ago
    Constantine, Nicaea and History
    8307 views · 2 hrs ago
    Council of Nicaea 325 AD
    8081 views · 2 hrs ago
    COVID deaths vs Other Causes
    3987 views · 2 hrs ago
    COVID: 7 Medical Studies on why Face Masks fail
    4585 views · 4 hrs ago
    COVID: Lockdowns & Contact Tracing in 78 Countries
    7003 views · 47 mins ago
    COVID: Monthly UK deaths compared over 5 Years (2015-20)
    4445 views · 2 hrs ago
    COVID: Weekly UK deaths compared over 5-Years (2015-20)
    3975 views · 1 hr ago
    Did Jesus pray to God or Allah?
    15970 views · 8 mins ago
    God (Allah) - His Names & Attributes
    11292 views · 4 hrs ago
    God vs Allah
    9229 views · 2 hrs ago
    God, Evidence For
    6315 views · 5 hrs ago
    Gods & Roman Emperors
    6037 views · 5 hrs ago
    Gods - 6 Dying & Rising Mythical Gods
    10575 views · 2 hrs ago
    Gods - 60 Pagan deities in the Bible
    24573 views · 41 mins ago
    How do Muslims pray?
    11121 views · 2 hrs ago
    Ishmael and Isaac in Bible and Quran
    13799 views · 1 hr ago
    Islam: Biggest Threat to Europe?
    5110 views · 24 mins ago
    Islamic Countries. Who are they?
    6112 views · 40 mins ago
    Jesus - 91% chance he was a fictitous Mythical-Hero (Raglan Scale)
    7106 views · 1 hr ago
    Jesus - 17 'Crucified' Savior Gods
    6704 views · 48 mins ago
    Jesus - Crucifixion in the Gospels
    7809 views · 1 hr ago
    Jesus - Crucifixion Timing
    7522 views · 2 hrs ago
    Jesus - God of 99 Faces
    12622 views · 24 mins ago
    Jesus - God with No Face
    6045 views · 23 mins ago
    Jesus - Resurrection in the Gospels
    6804 views · 2 mins ago
    Jesus - Resurrection Theories
    7069 views · 23 mins ago
    Jesus - Sons of God
    10645 views · 2 hrs ago
    Jesus and the 12 Disciples
    11720 views · 57 mins ago
    Jesus in the Quran
    8687 views · 3 hrs ago
    Jesus on the Cross or Tree?
    9629 views · 1 hr ago
    Jesus the God
    10716 views · 3 hrs ago
    Jesus the Jewish Prophet
    8593 views · 5 hrs ago
    Jesus the Muslim
    9235 views · 5 hrs ago
    Jesus the Son of God
    6519 views · 3 hrs ago
    Jesus the Sun-God over 12 Zodiac Star Gods
    23204 views · 5 mins ago
    Jesus vs Isaac - The Sacrifice
    10486 views · 26 mins ago
    Jesus vs Jonah & Whale
    9856 views · 2 hrs ago
    Jesus vs Krishna
    13424 views · 24 mins ago
    Jesus vs Paul
    10201 views · 4 hrs ago
    Jesus vs Romulus - 50 Reasons both are Mythical Gods
    10478 views · 3 hrs ago
    Jesus vs Zeus
    26515 views · 2 hrs ago
    Jesus was 30, 40 or 50 years old?
    11221 views · 15 mins ago
    Jesus, 12 Disciples and Paul Interview
    9425 views · 42 mins ago
    Jesus, from Iesous and Yeshua
    10061 views · 1 min ago
    Jesus, Serapis & 7 Pagan Gods
    25411 views · 16 mins ago
    Jewish Laws & Rituals
    6709 views · 2 hrs ago
    Judaism - Maimonides 13 Principles of Jewish Belief
    8557 views · 51 mins ago
    Mark, Matthew, Luke and John
    11744 views · 22 mins ago
    Messiah - His Aims & Objectives
    6595 views · 2 hrs ago
    Messiah - Jesus?
    7152 views · 2 hrs ago
    Monotheism vs Polytheism
    7062 views · 42 mins ago
    Muhammad - Most Influential Man in History
    9026 views · 2 hrs ago
    Muhammad in Bible: He is is altogether lovely - Song 5:16
    15519 views · 2 hrs ago
    Muhammad in Bible: Kedar rejoice and Sela sing - Isaiah 41/42
    19000 views · 3 hrs ago
    Muhammad in Bible: Prophet like unto Moses - Deuteronomy 18:18
    19279 views · 38 mins ago
    Muhammad in Bible: Select Verses
    10420 views · 25 mins ago
    New Age - Alice Bailey's 10 Point Charter
    15004 views · 8 mins ago
    Nicene Creed - Council of Nicaea 325 AD
    8560 views · 13 mins ago
    Nicene Creed - Foundation of Christianity
    6452 views · 25 mins ago
    Noahide Laws
    8313 views · 12 mins ago
    Palestine and Creation of Israel in 1948
    10840 views · 42 mins ago
    Paul - 50% of his Writings are Inauthentic Forgeries
    7215 views · 25 mins ago
    Paul copied 152 Old Testament verses
    6525 views · 3 hrs ago
    Paul vs James
    8178 views · 2 hrs ago
    Prophets - Sinful Beings in the OT Bible
    5971 views · 2 hrs ago
    Prophets of God
    50577 views · 3 hrs ago
    Prophets were Sinners?
    18561 views · 28 mins ago
    Purpose of Life
    7963 views · 54 mins ago
    Quran - 5 Recitations: Hafs, Warsh, Hisham, Qalun & Al-Duri
    14291 views · 2 hrs ago
    Quran - A Mathematical Miracle
    15883 views · 3 hrs ago
    Quran - Chapter & Verse Miracle
    6939 views · 5 hrs ago
    Quran - Comparing Hafs & Warsh for 51 textual variants
    52196 views · 2 hrs ago
    Quran and Violence
    9483 views · 5 hrs ago
    Quran refers to Torah & Gospel
    14460 views · 25 mins ago
    Quran vs Science
    8638 views · 4 mins ago
    Roman Calendar
    9449 views · 31 mins ago
    Roman Emperors in Bible
    4726 views · 3 hrs ago
    Rome, Caesar & Emperors in the Bible
    7412 views · 2 hrs ago
    Sin Atonement: Jesus Blood vs 21 Offerings
    3745 views · 2 hrs ago
    Terrorism, the Risk to Americans
    5408 views · 2 hrs ago
    The Lost Gospels
    11177 views · 2 hrs ago
    The Prophets Prayer
    9457 views · 9 mins ago
    Timeline of Bible
    6295 views · 15 mins ago
    Timeline of Church Councils
    7863 views · 4 hrs ago
    Timeline of Muhammad
    6481 views · 5 hrs ago
    Timeline of New Testament Bible
    8572 views · 50 mins ago
    Timeline of Old Testament Bible
    9142 views · 2 hrs ago
    Timeline of Prophets
    31241 views · 2 hrs ago
    Timeline of Quran
    15297 views · 50 mins ago
    Timeline of Roman Empire
    6944 views · 51 mins ago
    Timeline of Trinity
    7307 views · 51 mins ago
    Torah - Did Moses Write It?
    8260 views · 51 mins ago
    Torah - Wellhausen/JEDP Theory
    8819 views · 50 mins ago
    Trinity - 13 Three God Pagan concepts
    9013 views · 13 mins ago
    Trinity - 27 Attributes of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost
    13098 views · 13 mins ago
    Trinity - 4 Creeds: Apostles, Nicene, Athanasian to Chalcedon over 418 years
    9854 views · 10 mins ago
    Trinity - Different Views
    8049 views · 41 mins ago
    Trinity - Three Are One
    8505 views · 4 hrs ago
    Trinity in the Bible
    6875 views · 41 mins ago
    UN Agenda 21/2030: 17 Sustainable Goals of the New World Order
    5626 views · 1 hr ago
    War - 46 Major Conflicts ranked by Religion
    8174 views · 5 hrs ago
    War - 67 Bloody Christian Conflicts
    5716 views · 4 hrs ago
    War - From Yinon, 9/11 to Springs, Invasions, ISIS & 6M Dead
    8227 views · 2 hrs ago
    What does LGBTQ+ mean?
    6211 views · 4 hrs ago
    Women in Religion
    8825 views · 5 hrs ago

    Submit Article


    Latest videos  •  5,958 videos  •  0 viewed/24 hour

    ARTICLES

    0 viewed · 24 hour
    Are you a Muslim?
    3 mins | Online Test
    Torah - Wellhausen/JEDP Theory
    8820 views · 1 sec ago
    Jesus, from Iesous and Yeshua
    10061 views · 1 min ago
    Jesus - Resurrection in the Gospels
    6804 views · 2 mins ago
    Quran vs Science
    8638 views · 4 mins ago
    Jesus the Sun-God over 12 Zodiac Star Gods
    23204 views · 5 mins ago
    ARTICLES   154

    SCRIPTURE

    Torah 5   BOOKS
    Psalms 1   BOOK
    Old Testament 32   BOOKS
    New Testament 27   BOOKS
    Apocrypha 1885 14   BOOKS
    Gospels/Texts 367   BOOKS
    Codex 120   BOOKS
    Quran 1   BOOK
    Hadith 10   BOOKS
    SCRIPTURES   580

    NEWS

    0 viewed · 24 hour
      COVID-19 Testing & Tracing Action Plan - Rockefeller Foundation
    6704 views · 23 mins ago · 01 Jul
    Saudi Food Wholesaler profits hit $24M on higher food demand in [...] - Arab News
    4127 views · 6 hrs ago · 11 May
    Saudi Arabia approves Moderna COVID Vaccine for children aged 6 years [...] - The National
    5263 views · 2 hrs ago · 25 Apr
    Covid Crisis: Australians returning from India may be jailed for 5 [...] - The Guardian
    5448 views · 4 hrs ago · 01 May
    Upto 5-years jail for anyone who transmits COVID in public in Saudi [...] - Arab News
    5322 views · 3 hrs ago · 25 Apr
    Coronavirus: Abu Dhabi police urge reports of illegal Ramadhan [...] - The National
    4774 views · 3 hrs ago · 25 Apr
    NEWS   1,564
    About Us  |  Help/FAQ  |  Contact Us    •    Terms  |  Privacy/Disclaimer
    Be Informed on Social :      Facebook Page  |    Twitter  |    Youtube
    MuslimProphets.com is an educational website on the Prophets of God: Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad, who established the Abrahamic faiths of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. MuslimProphets.com explores contemporary social themes through Scripture, Evidences, Photo, Video, Maps, Current Affairs, Debate and 'alternative' Views held by Theologians, Apologists, Scholars and Street Preachers. Take a Site Tour

    In accordance with Islamic etiquette, all prophet names should be followed with 'Peace Be Upon Him (PBUH)'. This is omitted to minimise text.

    DISCLAIMER: All website content is for general information and educational purposes only and available in the public domain. Whilst all information comes from sources believed to be reliable, this cannot be guaranteed. External links are provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only. They do not constitute endorsement or approval for any products, services or comments by organizations or individuals. External links text may be edited to improve internal site and keyword search options. We bear no responsibility for the accuracy, legality, or content found on any external website or its subsequent links. Unless indicated, all images and content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License distributed by Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, Pixabay, Pxhere, Pexels, Unsplash or Flickr. All Torah, Psalms, Old and New Testament Bible quotes are from the King James Version (KJV) Holy Bible in the public domain. All Quran quotes are from Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali/Muhsin Khan English Quran translation. You are invited to always conduct your own research. If you spot any mistake, error or omission of information, contact us so we can correct it.
    Clustrmaps