You’ve probably had that moment when someone asks you how many chapters or verses are in the Bible and you realize you actually have no idea. If you’re curious or need the answer for a quiz or game of Bible trivia, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll give you the total chapter and verse count for the whole Bible so you can store that knowledge away for the next time it comes in handy. We’ll also break it down by testament.
Overview of the Chapters and Verses in the Bible
Chapter and verse divisions did not occur in the original texts of Jewish or Christian Bibles; rather, they are part of the Bible’s paratext. Since the early 13th century, most copies and editions of the Bible have divided all but the shortest canonical books into chapters, which are typically a page or two long. Since the mid-16th century, editors have separated each chapter into verses, which are made up of a few brief lines or one or more words.
The Bible consists of 66 books by 40 different authors over 1500 years, so it can seem a bit daunting to navigate at first. Let’s break down the structure to make it easier to understand.
The Old Testament
The Old Testament is the first part of the Bible, covering the creation of the world to around 400 BC. It’s made up of 39 books like Genesis, Exodus, Psalms, and Isaiah. It begins with the first five books collectively known as the Pentateuch or the Law, which many believe were written by Moses. These lay out laws and stories like creation, the flood, and the exodus from Egypt.
The Old Testament tells you about the beginning of the world, the history of ancient Israel, the Ten Commandments, the prophets, and poetry.
The New Testament
The New Testament makes up the second part of the Bible, covering the life of Jesus and the early Christian church. It has 27 books like the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John which tell you about Jesus’s life, the Acts of the Apostles about the early church, the letters from Paul and others, and Revelation. The New Testament spans from about 4 BC to 100 AD.
The Bible was divided into chapters and verses to help with navigation and reference. The Bible may have been written over a vast period of history, but it tells one cohesive story of God’s love and faithfulness. Understanding how it’s structured helps us to better grasp that story and apply the Bible’s timeless truths to our lives today.
How Many Chapters and Verses are in the Bible?
The Bible is divided into chapters and verses to help readers locate specific passages. The chapter divisions in the Bible were created in the 13th century by Stephen Langton, the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Wycliffe English Bible of 1382 was the first Bible to use this chapter pattern. These chapters were later divided into verses by Robert Estienne in 1551.
The chapter and verse divisions are not inspired by God but were added afterwards purely as a reference system. They are meant to help readers find and cite specific passages in Scripture. While immensely useful, the chapter and verse divisions can sometimes interfere with understanding the overall flow and context.
The shortest chapter in the Bible is Psalms 117 with only two verses. The longest chapter is Psalms 119 with 176 verses. The middle chapter of the Bible is Psalms 118.
How Many Chapters Are in the Old Testament?
The Old Testament contains 39 books divided into 929 chapters. The first five books are: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy are known as the Pentateuch or the Torah. Genesis has 50 chapters, Exodus 40, Leviticus 27, Numbers 36, and Deuteronomy 34.
The next 12 books are: Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther covers the early history of Israel. The poetic and wisdom books Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, contain 150 chapters in total. The books of the major and minor prophets are: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi end the Old Testament with a total of 294 chapters.
In summary, the Old Testament is made up of 929 chapters in 39 books including the Torah (5 books), historical (12 books), poetic (5 books) and prophetic (17 books) to provide an account of God’s chosen people before the coming of Jesus Christ.
How Many Chapters Are in the New Testament?
The New Testament contains 27 books and 260 chapters. The first four books are the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. These books describe Jesus’s ministry, death and resurrection. The book of Acts, also called the Acts of the Apostles, comes next. It tells the story of the early Christian church after Jesus ascended to heaven.
The epistles, or letters, were written by early church leaders like Paul, Peter, John, and James. These letters provide guidance and encouragement to early Christians and churches. There are 21 epistles in the New Testament, making up the majority of the books.
The final book of the New Testament is Revelation, also known as the Apocalypse of John. It describes a vision that John received, foretelling future events such as the ultimate defeat of evil and the final judgment. Revelation closes out the New Testament with its prophetic message of hope for believers.
In summary, the New Testament contains four Gospels, one book of history (Acts), twenty-one epistles (letters), and one book of prophecy (Revelation), 27 books and 260 chapters in total. This collection of books forms the completion of God’s written revelation to mankind. They contain everything necessary for faith and life.
The Total Number of Chapters in the Bible
The Old Testament has 39 books with 929 chapters in total. The first five books of the Old Testament are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, also known as the Pentateuch or the Torah. These lay the foundation for the Bible with stories from the creation of the world to the death of Moses. The prophetic books, like Isaiah and Jeremiah, make up a large portion of the remaining books.
The New Testament contains 27 books with 260 chapters. The four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, provide accounts of Jesus’ life, ministry, death, and resurrection. The book of Acts chronicles the early Christian church. The Apostle Paul’s letters to various churches and individuals contain theological teachings and practical advice for Christian living. The final book of the New Testament, Revelation, is an apocalyptic vision of the end times.
In summary, the whole Bible consists of 66 books, divided into 1,189 chapters, with the Old Testament containing 39 books and 929 chapters, and the New Testament containing 27 books and 260 chapters. The Bible remains the world’s most popular book, with over 5 billion copies sold.
How many Verses in the Old Testament?
The Old Testament contains 929 chapters spanning 39 books. This amounts to a total of 23,145 verses in the Old Testament according to the King James Version of the Bible. The book containing the most chapters is Psalms with 150 chapters, and 2,461 verses. Obadiah is the shortest book in the Old Testament, with only one chapter and 21 verses.
John 11:35, which reads, “Jesus wept,” is the shortest verse in the Bible. It has 2 words and only 9 letters in English. The verse with the most number of words is Esther 8:9 with 90 words. On average, there are about 25 verses per chapter in the Old Testament.
Some of the most well-known and frequently quoted verses are:
- Genesis 1:1 – “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”
- Psalm 23:1 – “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
- Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
- Isaiah 9:6 – “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
So in summary, the Old Testament is a very long book covering many centuries, with 929 chapters and over 23,145 verses in total. Yet within this vast collection of books lie many short yet powerful and memorable verses that have endured for generations.
How many Verses in the New Testament?
The New Testament contains 260 chapters and 7,957 verses. That may seem like a lot, but it’s tiny compared to the Old Testament’s 929 chapters and 23,145 verses!
The shortest book of the New Testament is 3 John which has 219 words, though 2 John has fewer verses. While the longest is the Gospel of Luke with 1,151 verses. Although the New Testament is shorter than the Old, its teachings about Jesus Christ and his new covenant with believers form the foundation of the Christian faith.
The New Testament was written in Koine Greek, the common language of the Mediterranean region at that time. Its 27 books were composed by various authors, including the apostles Matthew, John, Paul, James, Peter, and Jude. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, in particular, provide four unique perspectives on the life and ministry of Jesus.
For Christians today, the New Testament remains an invaluable guide for faith and practice. Its verses contain everything from Jesus’s Golden Rule to advice on church governance. Although ancient, its teachings remain as timeless as ever.
The Total Number of Verses in the Bible
The Bible contains a total of 31,102 verses. The Old Testament has 23,145 verses in 39 books, while the New Testament has 7,957 verses in 27 books.
The book with the most verses in the Bible is Psalms, with 2,461 verses. The book with the fewest verses is 3 John, with only 15 verses. The Bible was written over a period of around 1,500 years, spanning 40 generations, by about 40 authors from various backgrounds. Even though it was written over such a long time, it tells one unified story and contains no contradictions. This in itself is a miracle and evidence that the Bible is divinely inspired.
So in summary, the Bible contains 31,102 verses in 66 books, with the Old Testament comprising 23,145 verses and the New Testament 7,957 verses. Even with its large size, the Bible tells one cohesive story of God’s love and plan of redemption for humanity.
How Many Words are in the Bible?
The Bible contains roughly 783,137 words, depending on the translation. The word count can vary between translations due to differences in translation methodology. Some translations like the King James Version use more words, while others aim to be more concise.
The Old Testament makes up about three-quarters of the total word count, with roughly 593,493 words. The New Testament contains 189,644 words. The shortest book is 3 John with only 219 words, while the longest is Psalms with 42,673 words.
The Bible was written over a period of 1,500 years, spanning 40 generations, by more than 40 authors from a variety of backgrounds. Even with its impressive length and diverse authorship, the Bible presents a unified message of God’s plan of salvation from beginning to end. The harmony and continuity of the Bible are a testament to its divine inspiration.
Despite its length, the Bible can be read through in 70 hours at a pace of 300 words per minute. However, grasping its meaning and applying its timeless truths to your life will take a lifetime of study. The Bible stands alone as the best-selling book of all time, providing guidance and wisdom for all areas of life.
How many chapters are in Each Book of the Bible?
The number of chapters varies widely between books of the Bible.
| BOOK / DIVISION | CHAPTERS | |
|---|---|---|
| Pentateuch (or the Law) | 187 | |
| Genesis | 50 | |
| Exodus | 40 | |
| Leviticus | 27 | |
| Numbers | 36 | |
| Deuteronomy | 34 | |
| Historical Books | 249 | |
| Joshua | 24 | |
| Judges | 21 | |
| Ruth | 4 | |
| 1 Samuel | 31 | |
| 2 Samuel | 24 | |
| 1 Kings | 22 | |
| 2 Kings | 25 | |
| 1 Chronicles | 29 | |
| 2 Chronicles | 36 | |
| Ezra | 10 | |
| Nehemiah | 13 | |
| Esther | 10 | |
| Books of Wisdom (or “Poetry”) | 243 | |
| Job | 42 | |
| Psalms | 150 | |
| Proverbs | 31 | |
| Ecclesiastes | 12 | |
| Song of Solomon | 8 | |
| Major Prophets | 183 | |
| Isaiah | 66 | |
| Jeremiah | 52 | |
| Lamentations | 5 | |
| Ezekiel | 48 | |
| Daniel | 12 | |
| Minor Prophets | 67 | |
| Hosea | 14 | |
| Joel | 3 | |
| Amos | 9 | |
| Obadiah | 1 | |
| Jonah | 4 | |
| Micah | 7 | |
| Nahum | 3 | |
| Habakkuk | 3 | |
| Zephaniah | 3 | |
| Haggai | 2 | |
| Zechariah | 14 | |
| Malachi | 4 | |
| BOOK / DIVISION | CHAPTERS | |
|---|---|---|
| Gospels | 89 | |
| Matthew | 28 | |
| Mark | 16 | |
| Luke | 24 | |
| John | 21 | |
| History | 28 | |
| Acts | 28 | |
| Pauline Epistles | 87 | |
| Romans | 16 | |
| 1 Corinthians | 16 | |
| 2 Corinthians | 13 | |
| Galatians | 6 | |
| Ephesians | 6 | |
| Philippians | 4 | |
| Colossians | 4 | |
| 1 Thessalonians | 5 | |
| 2 Thessalonians | 3 | |
| 1 Timothy | 6 | |
| 2 Timothy | 4 | |
| Titus | 3 | |
| Philemon | 1 | |
| General Epistles | 34 | |
| Hebrews | 13 | |
| James | 5 | |
| 1 Peter | 5 | |
| 2 Peter | 3 | |
| 1 John | 5 | |
| 2 John | 1 | |
| 3 John | 1 | |
| Jude | 1 | |
| Apocalyptic Writings
(Prophecy) |
22 | |
| Revelation | 22 | |
In summary, the Bible contains 66 books, 1,189 chapters, and over 31,000 verses. The divisions of chapters and verses were added centuries after the Bible was written to help readers navigate the text.
Conclusion
So there you have it! The Bible has 1,189 chapters across 66 books and 31,102 verses in total. Pretty impressive numbers for a collection of ancient texts spanning thousands of years! Whether you’re a religious scholar or just curious, it’s fascinating to think about the sheer volume of content in this highly influential work. As you can see, even just quantifying the number of chapters and verses takes some unpacking. Hopefully this breakdown gave you a helpful high-level overview.