The Bible is one of the most widely read and influential books in the world. It is considered a sacred text for many people, and it has been translated into hundreds of languages. As a result, citing the Bible can be a complex task.
How do you properly cite the Bible?
There are two main ways to cite the Bible:
By book, chapter, and verse (BCV): This is the most common way to cite the Bible. It involves identifying the book of the Bible, the chapter number, and the verse number. For example, “Genesis 1:1” refers to the first verse of the first chapter of the book of Genesis.
By passage: This method is used when you want to cite a longer passage of scripture. It involves identifying the first and last verse of the passage. For example, “Genesis 1:1-5” refers to the first five verses of the first chapter of the book of Genesis.
Citing the Bible in academic writing involves two main components:
In-text citations: These are brief references within the body of your writing that direct the reader to the specific Bible passage you are discussing.
The format of in-text citations will vary depending on the style guide you are using (e.g., MLA, APA, Chicago), but they typically include the abbreviated book name, chapter number, and verse number(s).
Full bibliography citation: This is a complete citation for the Bible version you are using, typically listed in your references or bibliography section.
The format of full bibliography citations will also vary depending on the style guide, but they generally include the Bible title, edition information, publisher, and publication date.
Here are some general guidelines for citing the Bible in MLA style:
In-text citations:
For the first time you mention a particular passage, include the book name (abbreviated), chapter number, and verse number(s) in parentheses. For example: (Genesis 1:1).
If you mention the same passage again later, you can use a shortened form: (Gen. 1:1).
If you are citing multiple passages from the same book, separate them with commas or semicolons. For example: (Genesis 1:1, 2:7; 3:15).
If you are citing passages from different books, list them separately in alphabetical order by book name. For example: (Genesis 1:1; Exodus 20:1-17; Leviticus 19:18).
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Full bibliography citation:
Include the following information:
Title of the Bible version
Editor(s), if applicable
Publisher
Publication date
Medium (e.g., print, online)
URL (if citing an online version)
How do I cite a Bible verse in APA style?
Citing the Bible in APA style involves two components: in-text citations and a reference list entry.
In-Text Citations
For in-text citations, simply include the abbreviated book title, followed by a colon, chapter number, and verse number(s). For example, to cite John 3:16, you would write (John 3:16). If you are citing multiple verses, separate them with commas (John 3:16, 17).
Reference List Entry
For the reference list entry, use the following format:
Bible name (Translator’s F. M. Last name, Trans.). (Year published). Publisher.
For example, if you are using the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible, translated by Zondervan, your reference list entry would be:
The Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV) (2011). Zondervan.
If you are using a specific edition of the Bible, such as the NIV Study Bible, you would include the edition information after the title:
The Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV) (2011). Zondervan. (Study Bible edition)
If you are citing a commentary or other secondary source about the Bible, you would follow the standard APA style for citing books or other resources.
Here are some examples of in-text citations and reference list entries for the Bible in APA style:
In-Text Citations
(John 3:16)
(Matthew 22:37-39)
(Proverbs 11:14)
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How to Cite the Bible in MLA
Citing the Bible in MLA style can be done in two ways: in-text citations and a works cited entry.
In-text citations
In-text citations are used to give credit to the Bible as the source of your information. They should be placed in parentheses at the end of the sentence or phrase that you are citing. The in-text citation should include the following information:
The name of the book of the Bible
The chapter number
The verse number(s)
For example, if you are citing the following passage from the Bible:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
Your in-text citation would be:
(John 3:16)
If you are citing multiple verses from the same book of the Bible, you can separate the verse numbers with commas. For example, if you are citing the following passage from the Bible:
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)
Your in-text citation would be:
(1 Corinthians 13:4-7)
If you are citing a passage from a different book of the Bible, you should include the abbreviation for the book of the Bible before the chapter and verse numbers. For example, if you are citing the following passage from the Bible:
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1)
Your in-text citation would be:
(Gen 1:1)
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Works cited entry
A works cited entry is a list of all of the sources that you used in your paper. The works cited entry for the Bible should include the following information:
The title of the Bible
The name of the version of the Bible that you used
The publisher of the Bible
The year that the Bible was published
For example, if you are using the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible, your works cited entry would be:
The Holy Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2011.
Is the Bible italiczed in APA style?
Yes, the Bible is italicized in APA style. This is because the Bible is considered to be a sacred text, and italicizing it is a way of showing respect. Additionally, italicizing the Bible helps to distinguish it from other works that are not italicized, such as journal articles and books.
Do I need to include the Bible in my reference list in APA Style?
Whether or not to include the Bible in your reference list in APA Style depends on the specific context of your writing and the requirements of your instructor or publisher. However, it is generally considered good practice to include the Bible in your reference list, even if it is not explicitly required.
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How do you cite the Bible in KJV and NIV?
Citing the Bible in either the King James Version (KJV) or the New International Version (NIV) follows a similar format. Here’s a breakdown of how to cite the Bible in both styles:
In-text Citations:
KJV: (Book Name [chapter]:[verse])
Example: (John 3:16)
NIV: (Book Name [chapter]:[verse-range])
Example: (John 3:16-17)
Works Cited or Reference List:
KJV:
Holy Bible, King James Version. [Publisher], [Year of Publication].
Example:
Holy Bible, King James Version. Oxford University Press, 1983.
NIV:
Holy Bible, New International Version. [Publisher], [Year of Publication].
Example:
Holy Bible, New International Version. Zondervan Publishing House, 2011.
When citing a specific passage in your writing, use the in-text citation format. Then, include the full citation of the Bible version you used in your Works Cited or Reference List.
The Bible is a collection of writings from different authors, and there is no single author. As a result, it is not appropriate to cite the Bible as having a single author. When citing the Bible, it is best to identify the specific book, chapter, and verse you are referencing.
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Conclusion
Citing the Bible can be a complex task, but it is important to do so in a way that is accurate and consistent. By following the guidelines in this article, you can ensure that your citations are clear and easy to understand.
FAQs
BCV citations are used for shorter passages of scripture, while passage citations are used for longer passages.
If you are paraphrasing the Bible, you should still cite the book, chapter, and verse of the original passage.
The specific format for citing the Bible will vary depending on the style guide you are using. However, in general, you will need to include the following information:
The title of the Bible
The edition of the Bible
The book, chapter, and verse of the passage
The publisher of the Bible
The year of publication of the Bible
References
- apu.edu/citing_the_bible.pdf
- scribbr.com/apa-examples/bible/
- messiah.edu/bible_cite.pdf
- bibliography.com/how-to-cite-the-bible/
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