The
Priestly source (or simply
P) is one of the hypothesized sources of the
Torah, together with the
Yahwist,
Elohist and the
Deuteronomist. P was written to show that even when all seemed lost, God remained present with
Israel. The characteristics of the Priestly source include a set of claims that are contradicted by non-Priestly passages and therefore uniquely characteristic: no sacrifice before the institution is ordained by God at
Sinai, the exalted status of
Aaron and the priesthood, and the use of the divine title
El Shaddai before God reveals his name to
Moses, to name a few.