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How to Cite the Bible in MLA

When writing a research paper, there may be an instance where you need to cite the Bible or another sacred text. It can be tricky to know how to properly cite the Bible, since its formatting makes it different from other MLA style book citations .

In this guide, you will find the basics of what you need to know about how to cite a Bible in MLA 9, the current edition of MLA handbook (we follow the handbook but are not associated with it). This guide contains formatting guidelines and examples of how to cite a print Bible, an online version of the Bible, an e-book Bible, and a Bible app, both on in-text and on your reference page.

Here’s a run-through of everything this page includes:

• What You Need?

Works Cited Citation for a Print Version of the Bible

Works cited citation for an online version of the bible, works cited citation for an e-book version of the bible, works cited citation for a bible app with multiple translations, creating in-text citations for the bible, troubleshooting.

Citing sources is important in any research paper. It shows that you have done the necessary work to make credible arguments, it helps readers understand the context of your quotes, and it gives credit to the original sources. In order to avoid plagiarism, you need to cite all direct quotes or paraphrasing from other sources. Properly citing your sources shows that you are an experienced and ethical scholarly writer.

What You Need

To create your reference page citation, you will need to following information:

• title of the Bible
• name of the editor(s) (if applicable)
• version of the Bible (which may differ from the title)
• publication information.

For your in-text citation, you will need:

• the title of the Bible
• the Bible verse(s), including book name, chapter, and verse numbers

Bible Title. Edited by Editor’s First and Last Name, Bible Version, Publisher, Year of Publication.

Holy Bible. New International Version, Zondervan Publishing House, 1984.

The guidelines for citing an online version of the Bible are different from a print version. If your source is an e-book or an app, those guidelines are different as well. These are the guidelines for a Bible found on a website. Note that you only need to create one reference page citation for every web page you cite from the same online Bible (MLA Style Center) .

Bible Title. Title of Website/Organization , URL. Accessed Date.

New International Version. Biblica , www.biblica.com/bible/niv/genesis/2/. Accessed 22 Mar. 2020.

In MLA, citing an e-book version of the Bible is the same as citing any other e-book ( MLA Style Cente r). Since MLA e-book citations begin with the author name, skip straight to the title information instead of beginning the citation with the author.

Title. E-book edition, Publisher, year of publication.

The King James Version of the Bible. E-book edition, Project Gutenberg, 2011.

List The Bible as the title and use the translation as the version ( MLA Style Center) . The name of the bible app should follow in italics, then the version (if available), and app publication information.

Title. Name of translation Version. App Title , app version number, app publisher, year of app publication.

The Bible. Good News Bible Version. YouVersion , app version 5.0, British & Foreign Bible Society, 1996.

Whether you are citing a print or online version of the Bible, the in-text citation format remains the same. You will need the Bible verse you are quoting, including the book name, chapter number, and verse number. For longer book names, you will use an abbreviated version in your in-text citation ( MLA Handbook ). For example, abbreviate the book of Genesis as Gen. Shorter books can be completely written out, such as Mark.

You need to include the italicized title of the Bible, which should match the italicized title on your reference page, at the beginning of your first in-text citation. The remaining in-text citations should only include the book name, chapter, and verse number.

First in-text citation format:

( Title of Bible, Book Name Chapter.Verse)

All following citations:

(Book Name Chapter.Verse)

Example f irst in-text citation format:

( New International Version, Gen. 2.1)

Following citations: 

(Mark 3.5-7)

(1 Cor. 1.5-11)

In this section, Jesus explained, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, so that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” ( King James Version , John 3:16-17).

Many believed John the prophet was the Messiah, evidenced by him saying, “A man can receive nothing, unless it be given him from heaven. Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him” (John 3:27-28).

Solution #1: How to cite a Psalm as an in-text citation

Creating an in-text MLA citation for passages from the Book of Psalms is similar to citing other books of the Bible.

First, begin with indicating the book, Psalm, followed by the Psalm number and, if necessary, the specific lines quoted. The Psalm number and lines will be separated by a period.

(Psalm 28.6-9)

Solution #2: How to cite a Bible that is not in English

To cite a Bible that isn’t in English for your full MLA citation in your bibliography, include the title of the Bible in its language of publication, followed by the translated English title in brackets. Italicize both titles in both languages.

La Biblia de las Américas [The Bible of the Americas] . Biblica, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=G%C3%A9nesis+1&version=LBLA. Accessed 20 Nov. 2021.

For your in-text citation, you only need to include the title of the Bible in its language of publication, not the translated title as well. Italicize the title. Follow the title with the book and verse of your quotation, separated by a period.

( La Biblia de las Américas , Gen 1.1)

Solution #3: How do I cite a Bible if there isn’t an editor listed?

If you want to cite a Bible, but cannot find the editor’s information, you may leave out the editor and edition information from your bibliographic citation. This applies to both hard copies and electronic Bibles.

Holy Bible . New International Version, Zondervan, 2011.

• Works Cited

“How Do I Cite a Bible App with More than One Translation?” The MLA Style Center , 27 June 2019, style.mla.org/bible-app-multiple-translations/.

“How Do I Cite an e-Book in MLA Style?” The MLA Style Center , 4 Sept. 2019, style.mla.org/citing-an-e-book/.

“If I Am Citing an Online Version of a Sacred Text and Each Chapter Is on a Separate Web Page, Must Each Web Page Be Listed in the Works-Cited List?” The MLA  Style Center , 2 July 2019, style.mla.org/citing-web-pages-sacred-text/.

MLA Handbook . 9th ed., Modern Language Association of America, 2021.

Published August 10, 2012. Updated May 15, 2021.

Written and by Grace Turney . Grace is a former librarian and has a Master’s degree in Library Science and Information Technology. She is a freelance author and artist.

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If any important information is missing (e.g., author’s name, title, publishing date, URL, etc.), first see if you can find it in the source yourself. If you cannot, leave the information blank and continue creating your citation.

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The version of the bible and books are not italicized but are capitalized like titles (e.g., Bible, Genesis, Old Testament). However, the titles of individually published editions are italicized (The Interlinear Bible ).

To cite a Bible verse in MLA style, it is important that you know some basic information such as the Bible version, year, chapter number, verse number, and/or URL (uniform resource locator). The templates for an in-text citation and works cited list entry of a Bible verse, along with examples, are given below:

In-text citation template and examples:

Write the Bible version in italics. Include the chapter number and verse number after the Bible version. The chapter number and the verse are separated by a colon.

( Bible version verse)

( New International Version Gen. 1:20)

Works cited list entry template and example:

The Bible . Bible version. Publisher Website, URL. Accessed

The Bible. New International Version (NIV). Biblica, www.biblica.com/bible/ . Accessed 23 Sept. 2021.

Include the accessed date as the date of publication is not available.

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Using the Bible in Academic Writing

• Post author By Collin Kavanaugh
• Post date March 26, 2021
• 1 Comment on Using the Bible in Academic Writing

This post was co-authored by Collin Kavanaugh, Abby Long, and Monica Colón.

A common misconception about writing in a Christian academic setting (such as Wheaton) is that you’re expected to reference the Bible in all of your writing assignments. While it’s effective to incorporate in some genres of writing, scripture isn’t appropriate evidence for every scholarly writing occasion.

This post will help you identify when to use biblical references and how to do so persuasively for your genre and audience.

Identify Your Rhetorical Purpose

Before you decide whether or not scripture is an appropriate source for your assignment, determine your rhetorical purpose for writing. Is it to reflect on your personal experiences? Make an ethical claim? Advance an historical interpretation? Explicate scripture? Further a scientific hypothesis? Conduct a literary analysis? Evaluate a social policy?

Referencing scripture may or may not be an effective persuasive strategy for your purpose. Next, consider your intended audience.

Identify Your Audience

When writing for a general academic audience, you can’t assume that your readers will share your religious beliefs. Therefore, the Bible may not be considered an undeniable source of information. Appeals to the Bible’s moral, ethical, or historical authority may be unconvincing to many in a general academic audience. 

While scripture may not serve as persuasive evidence for a general audience, biblical allusions can be appropriate in some cases. However, when writing to a wider audience, consider whether the biblical reference is well-known or more obscure. If the allusion is unfamiliar to most readers, contextualize it with a brief explanation to make sure your audience knows what you are referencing and why you are making that particular reference.

If you are writing for a more narrow audience with a shared belief in scriptural authority, such as a Wheaton College professor or your classmates, it may be appropriate to reference the Bible, depending on the genre of your piece. 

Identify Your Genre Norms

Genres within different academic disciplines, such as the sciences, humanities, and biblical studies, all call for different ways of interacting with scripture. Having a firm sense of your genre  will guide your use of the Bible in a particular paper. Outside of exegetical and applied biblical studies, the Bible is generally not seen as a persuasive source of authority for academic arguments. 

Academic research papers. When writing a scholarly research paper, avoid using the Bible as evidence for an empirical argument. One notable exception is when your argument centers on analysis of the practices, behaviors, or policies of the church or a group of Christians. The key here is to illustrate how a particular theological interpretation of a specific passage, theme, or doctrine has functioned historically to shape the pattern you are analyzing. In this case, you can reference a biblical passage followed by your analysis of the way it has been interpreted and enacted by the group in question.

Scientific writing. As the Rev. Canon Emily McGowin, Ph.D. notes, “In the hard and soft sciences, it’s not appropriate to use the Bible to support one’s theses because the audience, not to mention the broader field of inquiry, doesn’t generally recognize scripture as an authoritative source.”   

Literary analysis. When you notice a biblical allusion in a literary text, you can use it as evidence to support your interpretation of the work. You can also use close reading methods on the Bible as literature itself—though if you’re not familiar with Greek and Hebrew, it’s wise to stay at the narrative level and avoid making claims about the diction and syntax. However, you can examine the linguistic effect of different translation choices in the languages you speak.

Biblical exegesis. When writing an exegetical paper, it is, of course, appropriate to reference the Bible extensively. Carefully select a passage and, if appropriate, conduct an analysis of the word choice, grammar, and syntax in the original language. Be sure to consider the literary and historical contexts of the selected passage. Finally, explore applications of the text. To get started, visit this library subject guide or check out Elements of Biblical Exegesis by Michael Gorman.

Reflective writing. In many general education classes at Wheaton, your professor may assign a personal theological reflection, either as a stand-alone piece or as a section of another assignment. In these cases, you can bring in biblical anecdotes, verses, or concepts that you find meaningful and explain their personal significance. Still, you’ll want to avoid making overly complex or prescriptive claims if you haven’t done much interpretive work on the passage in question.

Guidelines for Using the Bible in Your Writing

If using the Bible is appropriate for your rhetorical purpose, audience, and genre, consider these tips. 

Avoid “prooftexting.” Prooftexting is when you take a verse or phrase from the Bible completely out of context to support your point, and it is generally considered a misuse of scripture. While it can be tempting to simply drop in a Bible verse, it is important to carefully consider the context, meaning, and purpose of the verse so you do not undermine your integrity through misapplications of scripture. 

Justify your use of scripture. When writing for a general academic audience, the Rev. Dr. McGowin points out that “you’re going to need to explain and make a case for why the Bible is relevant to the subject in question. Also, you’re going to have to give more contextual information for the scriptural reference.”

Dive into commentaries. If your argument rests on an interpretation of scripture, it is essential that you explore the ways the passage has been interpreted in a variety of historical and cultural contexts. Look to biblical commentaries to learn more about the history of the passage in question.

Cite the Bible correctly. Most citation guides have specific rules for citing sacred texts such as the Bible. Look up the manual for your particular citation style for specific guidance about abbreviations, in-text citations, reference page entries, and/or footnotes. (Note: The Writing Center is working on an online resource for this, and we will link it here when it’s live.) If you are unsure about your recommended citation style, check with your professor or academic department. Finally, feel free to make an appointment at the Writing Center to get assistance!

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• In-text Citations
• Articles from Journals, Magazines, & Newspapers

Bible Citations for Fenimore & Fisher College of Business

Bible citations according to apa 7th (for colleges other than the f&fcob).

• Dictionary or Encyclopedia
• Social Media & Blogs
• Specialized Databases
• Data Sets & Statistics
• Legal Sources
• Paper Formatting

For scripture citations, the ORU College of Business observes the guidelines of the 6th edition of the APA  style manual rather than the current (7th) edition.

According to the 6th edition, an entry on the reference list is not required for Bible verses quoted or paraphrased. Instead, place an in-text citation after the quotation or paraphrase, indicating on the first reference the version or translation used. 

If it is a paraphrase, the version is not required unless you believe it is relevant to the way you interpret it.  

Throughout his long career, Mr. Brown has exemplified the admonishment of St. Paul to do everything as though working for God (Col. 3:23). 

If it is a direct quotation, identify the version or translation you used. There is no need to repeat the version name in subsequent references if same version is used.

The team faced their daunting task encouraged by the words of Jesus: "with God all things are possible" (Matt. 19:26, New King James Version).

A narrative citation incorporates the reference into the text. This method can be used for a paraphrase or quotation, but if it is a quotation, the version should be indicated in parentheses after the quotation.

In Col. 3:23, St. Paul instructs Christians to give all they have to every endeavor, as thought doing it for God.

In Col. 3:23, St. Paul instructs Christians to work as though "working for the Lord rather than for people" (New Living Translation).

Amplified Bible . (2015). Bible Gateway. https://www.biblegateway.com (Original work published 1965).

Barker, K. (Ed.). (1985). The NIV study Bible: New International Version . Zondervan.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation . Tyndale House Publishers (Original work published 1996).

The Holy Bible, New International Version . (1984). International Bible Society. (Original work published 1973).

The Holy Bible, New International Version . (2011). Blue Letter Bible. opens new window https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/index.cfm (Original work published 1978).

Holy Bible, New Living Translation . (2015). BibleGateway. opens new window https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-Living-Translation-NLT-Bible/ (Original work published 1996).

King James Bible. (2017). King James Bible Online. opens new window https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/ (Original work published 1769).

New King James Bible . (2004). Thomas Nelson (Original work published 1982).

Peterson, E. H. (2018). The message . Bible Gateway. opens new window https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/Message-MSG-Bible/ (Original work published 1993).

Peterson, E. H. (2018). The message: The Bible in contemporary language . NavPress.

Author: APA 7th considers religious works to have no author, so the title of the version is in the position of the author and italicized. Study Bible citations should include the editor.

Date: For printed Bibles, consult the back of the title page for the publication date. If the year original publication is given, include it at the end. (APA. pp. 302, 303, 325)

Title: Use the title on the title page of a printed Bible or on the web page.

For more examples and guidance on citing religious works, see opens new window https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/references/examples/religious-work-references and pages 264, 274, 302, 303, and 325 of the APA manual.

First citation:

( Amplified Bible , 1965/2015, John 3:16)

( Holy Bible, New Living Translation [NLT] , 1996/2015) OR ( Holy Bible, New Living Translation [NLT] , 1996/2015, Psalms 37:4)

(The Holy Bible, New International Version [NIV] , 1973/2011) OR (The Holy Bible, New International Version [NIV] , 1973/2011, Psalms 37:4)

( New King James Bible [NKJ] , 1982/2004) OR ( New King James Bible [NKJ] , 1982/2004, Mark 8:36)

(Peterson, 2018) OR (Peterson, 2002, Psalms 37:4)

Subsequent citations:

( NIV , 1973/2011) OR ( NIV , 1973/2011, Psalms 37:4)

( NKJ , 1982/2004) OR ( NKJ , 1982/2004, Psalms37:4)

( NLT , 1996/2015) OR ( NLT , 1996/2015, Psalms 37:4)

Note: In-text citations of the Bible may include the book, chapter and verse if the reference is not mentioned in the text. The original publication year and the publication year for the edition used are also given. (APA 7th, p. 274)

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• How to Cite the Bible in Chicago Style | Format & Abbreviations

How to Cite the Bible in Chicago Style | Format & Abbreviations

Published on October 31, 2019 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on April 9, 2024.

The Bible is cited differently from other books in Chicago style . Biblical citations can appear either in the text, in parentheses , or in Chicago footnotes or endnotes , but the Bible is not included in your bibliography or reference list .

A Bible citation always includes the book, chapter, and verse. It sometimes also includes the version of the Bible you are using.

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Table of contents

Referring to the bible in your text, abbreviating books of the bible, versions of the bible, citing multiple verses or chapters.

Unlike other book titles, the Bible should not be italicized, but it should always be capitalized:

The same applies to individual books of the Bible and to the names of the Old and New Testaments:

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When referred to in running text, books of the Bible need not be abbreviated:

However, abbreviations should be used when a Bible citation appears in parentheses or in a note. There are two widely used abbreviation styles: traditional abbreviations and shorter abbreviations.

In the traditional abbreviations, some shorter names are not abbreviated, and a period appears after all names that are abbreviated.

In the shorter abbreviations, all names are abbreviated, usually to two or three letters, and no period is used.

Use one or the other consistently, not a mix of the two. A full list of the traditional and shorter abbreviations for each book can be found here .

Bible verse and chapter numbering, as well as the text itself, vary between different versions, so it’s important to specify which version you are citing.

This doesn’t mean identifying the specific publisher, but rather which version of the Bible text they are using. For example, with the Oxford World’s Classics edition of the Authorized King James Bible, you’d specify “Authorized Version,” not “Oxford University Press” or similar.

Include the Bible version in parentheses after your citation:

If it is part of a parenthetical citation, put the version in square brackets instead:

Citing from only one Bible version

If you cite from the same Bible version throughout your text, you can note this with your first citation and then leave out the version in subsequent citations:

Footnotes example

1. Gen. 4:9 (Hebrew Bible; all subsequent citations are from this version). 2. Job 4:5.

Citing from multiple Bible versions

If you cite from multiple different versions of the Bible, specify which version with each citation, but use abbreviations for the second and subsequent citations of each version:

1. Gen. 4:9 (Hebrew Bible). 2. Job 4:5 (HB). 3. Mark 1:2 (English Revised Version).

Information on standard abbreviations for various Bible versions can be found here .

If a citation refers to multiple verses or chapters, use an en dash to indicate the range:

When citing a range of verses within one chapter, do not repeat the chapter number:

• Thess. 5:2–5:4
• Thess. 5:2–4

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Caulfield, J. (2024, April 09). How to Cite the Bible in Chicago Style | Format & Abbreviations. Scribbr. Retrieved September 16, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/chicago-style/bible-citations/

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APA Style (7th Edition) Citation Guide: Biblical Sources

• Introduction
• Journal Articles
• Magazine/Newspaper Articles
• Books & Ebooks
• Government & Legal Documents
• Biblical Sources
• Secondary Sources
• Films/Videos/TV Shows
• How to Cite: Other
• Additional Help

Table of Contents

Bible dictionary, single-volume commentary, multi-volume bible commentary, book-length commentary in a series.

Citing the Bible  

Bible Chapters and Verses

Note: All citations should be double spaced and have a hanging indent in a Reference List.

A "hanging indent" means that each subsequent line after the first line of your citation should be indented by 0.5 inches.

This Microsoft support page contains instructions about how to format a hanging indent in a paper.

In the Body of a Paper

Books, Journals, Reports, Webpages, etc.: When you refer to titles of a “stand-alone work,” as the APA calls them on their APA Style website, such as books, journals, reports, and webpages, you should italicize them. Capitalize words as you would for an article title in a reference, e.g., In the book Crying in H Mart: A memoir , author Michelle Zauner (2021) describes her biracial origin and its impact on her identity.

Article or Chapter: When you refer to the title of a part of a work, such as an article or a chapter, put quotation marks around the title and capitalize it as you would for a journal title in a reference, e.g., In the chapter “Where’s the Wine,” Zauner (2021) describes how she decided to become a musician.

The APA Sample Paper below has more information about formatting your paper.

• APA 7th ed. Sample Paper

Entry Author's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if Given. (Year of publication).  Title of entry. In Editor’s First Initial. Second Initial if Given. Last Name (Ed.), Title of work: Capital letter also for subtitle (edition if given and is not first edition, Vol. volume#, pp. first page-last page). Publisher Name.

Sarna, N. M. (2008). Exodus, book of. In D. N. Freedman (Ed.), The Anchor Yale Bible dictionary (Vol. 2, pp. 689- 700). Yale University Press.

In-Text Paraphrase:

(Author's Last Name, Year)

Example: (Sarna, 2008) 

In-Text Quote:

(Author's Last Name, Year, p. Page Number)

(Sarna, 2008, p. 690)

Entry Author’s Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if Given., & Second Author’s Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial. (Year of publication). Title of chapter. In Editor’s First Initial. Second Initial. Last Name & Second Editor’s First Initial. Second Initial. Last Name (Eds.), Title of work: Capital letter also for subtitle (edition if given and is not first edition, Vol. volume#, pp. first page-last page). Publisher. DOI (if available) or URL

Browning, W. R. F. (2009). Daniel, book of. In A Dictionary of the Bible (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780199543984.001.0001/acref9780199543984-e-485

Example: (Browning, 2009) 

(Author's Last Name, Year) - if the online source does not provide page numbers then omit the page number from the in-text citation

(Browning, 2009) 

A single-volume commentary is a book that contains chapters covering each of the books of the Bible.

Author’s Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if Given. (Year of publication). In Editor’s First Initial. Second Initial. Last Name & Second Editor’s First Initial. Second Initial. Last Name (Eds.), Title of book: Subtitle if given (edition if given and is not first edition, pp. first page-last page). Publisher Name.

Perkins, P. (1990). The gospel according to John. In R. E. Brown, J. A. Firzmyer, & R. E. Murphy (Eds.),  The new Jerome biblical commentary (pp. 942-85) .  Prentice-Hall.

Example: (Perkins, 1990)

(Perkins, 1990, p. 955) 

Author’s Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if Given. (Year of publication). In Editor’s First Initial. Second Initial. Last Name & Second Editor’s First Initial. Second Initial. Last Name (Eds.), Title of book: Subtitle if given (edition if given and is not first edition). Publisher Name. DOI (if available) or URL

Franklin, E. (2001). Luke. In J. Barton and J. Muddiman (Eds.),  Oxford Bible commentary . Oxford University Press. http://site.ebrary.com/lib/uportland/reader.action?docID=10269141

Example: (Franklin, 2001)

(Author's Last Name, Year, p. Page Number) -  if the online source does not provide page numbers then omit the page number from the in-text citation

(Franklin, 2001) 

A multi-volume commentary is a set of multiple books that contains chapters covering each of the books of the Bible.

Author’s Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if Given. (Year of publication). Title of chapter. In Editor’s First Initial. Second Initial. Last Name (Ed.), Title of book: Subtitle if given (edition if given and is not first edition, Vol. volume#, pp. first page-last page). Publisher Name.

Perkins, P. (1994). Mark. In L. E. Keck (Ed.), The new interpreter’s Bible (Vol. 8, pp. 507-734). Abingdon Press.

Example: (Perkins, 1994) 

(Perkins, 1994, p. 601) 

A book-length commentary is a book that includes commentary on just one book of the Bible (and sometimes only part of one book of the Bible).

Author’s Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if Given. (Year of publication). Title of book: Subtitle if given .  Title of series. Publisher Name.

Vinson, R. B. (2008). Luke . Smyth & Helwys Bible commentary. Smyth & Helwys. 

Example: (Vinson, 2008) 

(Vinson, 2008, p. 302)

Author’s Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if Given. (Year of publication). Title of book: Subtitle if given . Title of series. Publisher Name. DOI (if available) or URL

Vinson, R. B. (2008). Luke . Smyth & Helwys Bible commentary. Smyth & Helwys. https://login.uportland.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=942774&sit e=ehost-live&scope=site

Citing the Bible

Citing the Version of the Bible

The first time you paraphrase or quote from the Bible, identify which version of the Bible that you used. Include both the original and republished publication dates in the reference. You do not need to repeat the version name in subsequent references. Then cite the Bible in your reference list.

Version of the Bible . (Year of publication). Publisher Name.

Version of the Bible . (Year of publication). Publisher Name. URL. (Original work published Earlier year of publication)

King James Bible . (2017). King James Bible Online . https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/ (Original work published 1769)

In the body of your paper, include a sentence similar to this:

The researchers consulted the Bible ( King James Version , 1769/2017) to provide items for the development of their religious values assessment.

Citing Biblical Chapters and Verses

When referring to books of the Bible within the body of your paper:

• Example: Genesis, Luke 4, Revelation 1-3
• Example: Exod 2:1-3; Matt 13:12

Note: it isn't necessary to add a period after the abbreviated book name. Include a space between the book name and the chapter number, and include a colon between the chapter number and the verse(s).

Citing Introductions, Annotations, or Supplemental Content in the Bible

Bibles that have annotations, introductions, or other supplemental content should cite the editors in place of authors. If the supplemental content is written by someone other than the editors of the book, then cite the content as a chapter within a book.

Carr, D. M. (2010). Introduction to Genesis. In M. D. Coogan, M. Z. Brettler, C. Newsom, & P. Perkins (Eds.),  The new Oxford annotated Bible with apocrypha: New revised standard version (pp. 7-11). Oxford University Press. 

Kaiser, W. C., Jr., & Garrett, D. (Eds.). (2006).  NIV archaeological study Bible: An illustrated walk through biblical history and culture . Zondervan.

In-Text citations:

(Carr, 2010)

(Carr, 2010, p. 8)

(Kaiser & Garrett, 2006, Genesis 1:20)

(Kaiser & Garrett, 2006, footnote to Genesis 1:12, p. 4)

See the APA "Religious Work References" page for more guidance.

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• Last Updated: Sep 5, 2024 3:20 PM
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