Who wrote the Hebrew Bible, when, and why? Why does it contain so many competing perspectives and why do scholars sometimes disagree about what its words originally meant?
In Misquoting Moses, Yale professor Joel Baden and co-host Megan Kraege explore the surprising history, authorship, translation, and interpretation of the Hebrew Bible. Each week, they bring the questions and evidence scholars have debated for centuries out of the university and into lively, accessible conversations for anyone curious about the Bible.
Latest episodes
Showing 8 · updated from the feed
The Most Famous Prayer in Judaism Isn't Monotheistic
"Hear, O Israel: YHWH our God, YHWH is one." Thus begins the most important prayer in Judaism, taken directly from Deuteronomy 6:4. Rendered this way, it appears to encap
Sep 18 49 min
What Version of the Bible Did Jesus Read?
There is a scene in the Gospel of Luke where Jesus walks into a synagogue in Nazareth, stands up to read, and someone hands him the scroll of Isaiah. He finds his place a
Sep 11 59 min
What are the Oldest Texts in the Bible?
If you open a Bible, the oldest thing in it should be on page one. Right? In the beginning? That is where it starts. Except the oldest words ever written in the entire He
Sep 4 54 min
King David Killed His Way to the Throne
When you think of King David, images of the shepherd boy, the giant-slayer, and Israel's greatest king probably come to mind. That's the David people know. But strip away
Aug 28 52 min
Is the Hebrew Bible / Old Testament Historically Reliable?
The great flood of Noah. The walls of Jericho tumbling down. The ten plagues striking Egypt. The Red Sea splitting in two. These are some of the most famous biblical stor
Aug 21 44 min
Exodus Has Ten. But Deuteronomy's Commandments Are Older.
Moses climbs Mount Sinai, God hands him two stone tablets, and the Ten Commandments are born. That's the story many people grew up with. But here's the thing: the Bible a
Aug 14 46 min
The Bible Doesn't Start the Way You Think | Inaugural Episode of "Misquoting Moses" with Joel Baden
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. You've heard that line a thousand times. But what if I told you it's not actually the first sentence of the Bible
Aug 7 54 min
Misquoting Moses Is Coming August 7
Who wrote the Hebrew Bible, when, and why? Why does it contain so many competing perspectives and why do scholars sometimes disagree about what its words originally meant
Aug 5 1 min
What listeners say
A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.
I’ve been a longtime listener to Misquoting Jesus, and Misquoting Moses is an excellent addition. What I appreciate about both is that they take the biblical texts seriously enough to let them be what they actually are—historical documents produced by different people, in different times, wrestling with changing ideas about God, morality, identity, and what it means to be human.
I grew up with Christianity and spent years moving through Catholic, evangelical, and more broadly orthodox ways of understanding the Bible. Historical-critical scholarship didn’t make these texts less interesting to me; quite the opposite. Once I stopped needing every contradiction to be harmonized or every uncomfortable ethical problem to be explained away, the Bible became far more human- indeed, far more fascinating.
Misquoting Moses does this wonderfully with the Hebrew Bible. The evolution of ideas about God, the sometimes startling ethical world of the ancient texts, and the distance between what the texts originally meant and what later traditions made of them are presented with scholarship, humor, and intellectual honesty. You don’t have to agree with every conclusion to come away thinking more deeply.
If you enjoy Misquoting Jesus, this is a terrific companion. Follow the evidence, allow the texts to surprise you, and don’t be afraid of the bunny trails. 🐇
Guerre Vendeur · Sep 2026
These two waste very little time with silly banter or annoying ad breaks; 45 or so solid minutes of fascinating information. Please keep it up!
Hjjiugbgddrf · Aug 2026
This is the podcast I’ve been waiting for, an accessible and engaging scholarly look at the Hebrew Bible. Joel and Megan have really hit their stride with the David episode, it’s the best yet. Looking forward to future episodes, they’ll be a valuable guide and resource as I prepare Sunday School lessons, as our older kids will be focusing on the Hebrew Bible this fall. I’d love to see hour-long episodes with transcripts if possible.
FogTracker · Aug 2026
As someone who has binged Dr. Baden’s entire Hebrew Bible Yale course on YouTube (20+ lectures) multiple times, let me tell you…this subject matter is incredibly interesting, and this show in particular is very, very good.
Playatomic · Aug 2026
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