There are 31,102 verses in the whole of the Bible. The King James Version (KJV) of the Bible, which is widely used and regarded to be a standard reference for verse counts, is the source of this particular figure.
Contents
Breakdown of Verses by Testament
The Bible is divided into two main sections: the Old Testament and the New Testament. Here’s how the verses are distributed:
- Old Testament: 23,145 verses
- New Testament: 7,957 verses
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Verses in Each Book
The Bible consists of 66 books, each containing a varying number of verses. Here’s a breakdown of the number of verses in each book:
Old Testament
- Genesis: 1,533 verses
- Exodus: 1,213 verses
- Leviticus: 859 verses
- Numbers: 1,288 verses
- Deuteronomy: 959 verses
- Joshua: 658 verses
- Judges: 618 verses
- Ruth: 85 verses
- 1 Samuel: 810 verses
- 2 Samuel: 695 verses
- 1 Kings: 816 verses
- 2 Kings: 719 verses
- 1 Chronicles: 942 verses
- 2 Chronicles: 822 verses
- Ezra: 280 verses
- Nehemiah: 406 verses
- Esther: 167 verses
- Job: 1,070 verses
- Psalms: 2,461 verses
- Proverbs: 915 verses
- Ecclesiastes: 222 verses
- Song of Solomon: 117 verses
- Isaiah: 1,292 verses
- Jeremiah: 1,364 verses
- Lamentations: 154 verses
- Ezekiel: 1,273 verses
- Daniel: 357 verses
- Hosea: 197 verses
- Joel: 73 verses
- Amos: 146 verses
- Obadiah: 21 verses
- Jonah: 48 verses
- Micah: 105 verses
- Nahum: 47 verses
- Habakkuk: 56 verses
- Zephaniah: 53 verses
- Haggai: 38 verses
- Zechariah: 211 verses
- Malachi: 55 verses
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New Testament
- Matthew: 1,071 verses
- Mark: 678 verses
- Luke: 1,151 verses
- John: 879 verses
- Acts: 1,007 verses
- Romans: 433 verses
- 1 Corinthians: 437 verses
- 2 Corinthians: 257 verses
- Galatians: 149 verses
- Ephesians: 155 verses
- Philippians: 104 verses
- Colossians: 95 verses
- 1 Thessalonians: 89 verses
- 2 Thessalonians: 47 verses
- 1 Timothy: 113 verses
- 2 Timothy: 83 verses
- Titus: 46 verses
- Philemon: 25 verses
- Hebrews: 303 verses
- James: 108 verses
- 1 Peter: 105 verses
- 2 Peter: 61 verses
- 1 John: 105 verses
- 2 John: 13 verses
- 3 John: 14 verses
- Jude: 25 verses
- Revelation: 404 verses
Interesting Facts About Bible Verses
- The middle verses of the Bible are Psalm 103:1-2, which are the 15,551st and 15,552nd verses.
- The shortest verse in most English translations is John 11:35, which simply states, “Jesus wept”.
- The longest verse in the Masoretic Text (Hebrew Bible) is Esther 8:9.
- The shortest verses in the Masoretic Text are Exodus 20:13, 14, 15, and Deuteronomy 5:17.
- In the Greek New Testament, the shortest verse according to the Westcott and Hort text is Luke 20:30 (“και ο δευτερος”, meaning “And the second”).
- In the Latin Vulgate, the shortest verse is Isaiah 10:8 (“Dicet enim”, meaning “For he shall say”).
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Significance of Verse Numbers
Although the concept of dividing the Bible into chapters and verses was not included in the original manuscripts, it has developed into an indispensable instrument for reference and studying the Bible.
The use of this technique makes it possible to easily locate certain sections and makes it easier to do comparative research across several versions. However, it wasn’t until the 16th century that the modern chapter and verse divisions were formalized.
At the beginning of the thirteenth century, Stephen Langton, who was an Archbishop of Canterbury, is credited with being the one who created the chapter divisions. Robert Estienne, a French scholar and printer, inserted the verse numbers around the middle of the 16th century. He was also known by the name Stephanus.
The fact that these divisions are beneficial for reference is something that should be brought to your attention; yet, they were not a part of the original inspired text.
There are occasions when the divides between chapters and verses may even disrupt the rhythm of the story or the flow of ideas. Consequently, while studying the Bible, it is essential to take into consideration the context beyond the specific passages or chapters one is studying.
FAQ
Are there the same number of verses in all Bible translations?
No, the number of verses can vary slightly between different translations due to differences in how certain passages are divided or interpreted.
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Which book of the Bible has the most verses?
The book of Psalms has the most verses, with 2,461 in total.
Which book of the Bible has the fewest verses?
Except for single-chapter books, the book of Obadiah has the fewest verses, with only 21.
How many words are in the Bible?
The number of words varies by translation. The King James Version contains approximately 783,137 words.
Is the number of verses in the Bible significant in any way?
While some people find meaning in biblical numerology, the total number of verses is primarily a result of the text division system and is not generally considered to have inherent spiritual significance.