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Brent A. Strawn

D. Moody Smith Distinguished Professor of the Old Testament
Divinity School
407 Chapel Drive, Internal Box #90968, Durham, NC 27708

Office Hours


Vary by semester.
To schedule a meeting, email me or log on directly to https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/OfficeHours6@ProdDuke.onmicrosoft.com/bookings/.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


D. Moody Smith Distinguished Professor of the Old Testament · 2022 - Present Divinity School
Professor of Old Testament · 2019 - Present Divinity School

In the News


Published April 14, 2025
NEH Grant for ‘Nerdy Bible Language Students‘
Published January 22, 2025
From Philosophy to the U.S. Court of Appeals, Duke Authors Cover Big Topics
Published June 22, 2023
Hot Off the Press: Summer Reading From Duke Authors

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Recent Publications


bĕ-rēʾšît, “With ‘Wisdom,’” in Genesis 1.1 (MT)

Journal Article Journal for the Study of the Old Testament · March 1, 2022 This essay argues that the vocalization of the very first word of Gen. 1.1 in the Masoretic Text (MT), bĕrēʾšȋt, which is often thought to be in error in some way, may instead be the result of exegetical activity. Specifically, in light of the well-atteste ... Full text Open Access Cite

A New Identification of a Psalm Manuscript from Qumran: 4Q85 + 4Q98c

Journal Article Dead Sea Discoveries · January 1, 2022 This brief note proposes a new identification for a fragment of one of the Psalm manuscripts from Qumran. On the basis of material conditions—but above all else, the distinctive paleography of the script—4Q98c (4QPst) should be considered as part of the sa ... Full text Cite
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Recent Grants


"I Shall No Longer Want" (Psalm 23:1): The Critical Edition of the Hebrew Psalter

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Endowment for the Humanities · 2024 - 2025

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Education, Training & Certifications


Princeton Theological Seminary · 2001 Ph.D.