Documentary Hypothesis

The documentary hypothesis is an approach to understanding the formation of the Torah that argues it developed through the combination of several earlier documents rather than being written as a single, unified composition. These sources are identified by recurring differences in vocabulary, narrative emphasis, and theological perspective. According to this model, later editors preserved much of the earlier material while arranging it into its current form. The hypothesis is used to explain repetitions, tensions, and variations within the text as the result of literary growth and editorial activity over time.