How to Cite the Bible in APA Style | Format & Examples
To cite the Bible in 7th edition APA Style, use the general book citation format, omitting the author element and listing the specific version used (not just “The Bible”) as the title. Include a URL if you accessed an online version.
To cite a specific passage from the Bible, include an abbreviated book title followed by a chapter and verse number in the in-text citation.
| APA format | Bible Version Title. (Year). Publisher. URL |
|---|---|
| APA reference entry | English Standard Version Bible. (2001). ESV Online. https://esv.literalword.com/ |
| APA in-text citation | (English Standard Version Bible, 2001, Josh. 2:7) |
Biblical abbreviations in in-text citations
To cite a specific book of the Bible, a standard abbreviation is used for the title of each book; the full list can be found here. These abbreviations should be used in combination with chapter and verse numbers in your in-text citations. No page numbers are used.
Chapter and verse numbers are listed as numerals separated by a colon, after the abbreviated book title. So a citation of the seventh verse of the second chapter of the Book of Joshua looks like this:
To cite a range of verses, use an en dash and do not repeat the chapter number:
Original publication dates
If you’re citing a classic version of the Bible, you’ll generally be referring to a modern reprint of that version, rather than the original. The first date you list in your reference is the date of the reprint, and the date of original publication appears at the end.
In your in-text citations, this order is reversed; the original date is listed first, then the date of the edition used, separated by a slash.
| APA format | Bible Version Title. (Year). Publisher. (Original work published Year) |
|---|---|
| APA reference entry | King James Bible. (2008). Oxford University Press. (Original work published 1769) |
| APA in-text citation | (King James Bible, 1769/2008) |
Frequently asked questions about APA Style citations
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Caulfield, J. (2023, December 01). How to Cite the Bible in APA Style | Format & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved July 7, 2025, from https://www.scribbr.com/apa-examples/bible/
