An international team of experts has utilized cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) technology to uncover hidden language patterns and identify potential authors of some of the oldest books in the Bible. Led by Duke University in the US, the researchers delved into the Enneateuch, the initial nine books of the Hebrew Bible, employing advanced linguistic analysis and a custom AI model. Through their investigation, the team discerned three distinct writing styles, suggesting diverse authorship or scribal groups behind the sacred texts.
Thomas Römer, a professor at the Collège de France, noted, “We observed unique styles among different groups of authors, even in the use of common words like ‘no,’ ‘which,’ or ‘king.’ Our method effectively distinguishes these variations.” The project, initiated by mathematician Shira Faigenbaum-Golovin in 2010, originally focused on analyzing ancient pottery inscriptions from 600 BC to establish a framework for dating Old Testament texts.
Faigenbaum-Golovin, now leading a multidisciplinary team comprising mathematicians, archaeologists, linguists, and computer scientists, aims to integrate science with scripture. The AI model categorized the texts into three main writing styles: The Priestly source, the Deuteronomistic History, and the Book of Deuteronomy itself. While most text segments aligned with these categories, surprising discrepancies emerged in the Ark Narrative of 1 Samuel, indicating an additional unidentified element in the Bible’s authorship.
The team anticipates applying the same methodology to analyze other historical documents in the future. Faigenbaum-Golovin highlighted the potential of this approach in verifying the authenticity of documents, stating, “This method can help determine the legitimacy of documents purportedly authored by historical figures like Abraham Lincoln.” The authors emphasized in their study the significance of their findings in illuminating the linguistic characteristics of biblical authors and redactors, offering a valuable tool for resolving contentious issues in biblical scholarship.
With plans to explore new insights in other ancient texts using the same technique, Faigenbaum-Golovin praised the collaboration between science and humanities, emphasizing the innovative research approach that challenges traditional boundaries. The study detailing these discoveries has been recently published in the journal PLOS One.