When the Scandinavian Journal of the Old Testament was first published in 1987, it was expected to become the principal forum of Scandinavian Old Testament research. Reality has surpassed the expectations of the founders, as Scandinavian Journal of the Old Testament is rapidly becoming one of the major outlets of international Old Testament scholarship, although without losing its specific Scandinavian character.

Contributions by leading scholars have in recent years changed the scholarly understanding of the history of Israel. Such contributions have been published in issues devoted to special themes such as heritage of Sigmund Mowinckel; the question of Israel's origin; Old Testament and Literature.