How to Cite the Bible in APA, MLA, and Chicago

Learning how to cite the Bible takes a little extra care, because Scripture is not cited like an ordinary book. You point readers to a book, chapter, and verse, and you almost always name the version (translation) you used. This guide shows you the current rules for APA 7th edition, MLA 9th edition, and Chicago 17th/18th edition, with correct examples you can copy and adapt.

Why the Bible is cited differently

A printed novel has one author and one set of page numbers. The Bible has many books, was assembled over centuries, and appears in dozens of translations. Two readers using different versions may find the same passage worded differently. To handle this, citation styles ask you to do two things.

• Identify the exact passage by book name, chapter, and verse (for example, John 3:16), not by page number.
• Name the version you used, because the translation matters to your reader.

The Bible is treated as a kind of classical or religious work, so the rules differ in small but important ways from how you would normally cite a book. The sections below break each style down step by step.

How to cite the Bible in APA (7th edition)

This is a significant change from older APA habits. In APA 7th edition, the Bible is treated like any other book with a publication date, so it does get a reference-list entry. The version name stands in the author position as the italicized title, and because it is a proper name it keeps its standard capitalization (for example, New International Version, not “New international version”).

1. Begin the reference with the name of the version, italicized, capitalized as the proper title it is.
2. Add the publication year of the edition you used. If the version was originally published earlier, note that at the end as “(Original work published [year]).”
3. Include the publisher.
4. End with a URL if you read it online.

For in-text citations, name the version the first time you cite it, then give the book, chapter, and verse. Note that book names are not abbreviated in APA, and the version title is italicized. When your reference shows two dates, combine them in the in-text form as 1978/2011.

For a version you accessed on a website, add the source:

Unlike MLA, APA keeps the date in every citation, so later references still read (New International Version, 1978/2011, John 3:16). For more on the small mechanics, see our in-text citations guide and the full APA format guide. You can build either form quickly with the APA citation generator.

How to cite the Bible in MLA (9th edition)

MLA 9th edition treats the Bible as a published work and asks for a Works Cited entry. Start with the title of the version (the specific edition), italicized, and follow the standard MLA template of container, publisher, and year.

1. Begin with the italicized title of the edition.
2. List any editors or translators if your edition names them.
3. Add the publisher and the year of publication.
4. For an online version, add the website name and URL.

Notice two MLA details that trip people up. First, MLA uses a period, not a colon, between chapter and verse (John 3.16, not John 3:16). Second, the in-text citation points to the passage, not a page number. In your first reference, name the version, then you can shorten it afterward.

One detail to watch: in MLA the version name in the in-text citation is not italicized, even though the edition title is italicized in the Works Cited entry. MLA also allows abbreviated book names in citations (Gen. for Genesis, Matt. for Matthew, 1 Cor. for 1 Corinthians). Be consistent across your paper. If you are juggling several styles for one assignment, our MLA format guide and the APA vs MLA comparison can help you keep the rules straight.

How to cite the Bible in Chicago style

Chicago is the style where the Bible is handled most distinctly. In both the Notes-Bibliography system and the Author-Date system, you usually do not include the Bible in your bibliography or reference list. You cite it in a note or in the text instead, and you always name the version.

Chicago Notes-Bibliography

Use a footnote or endnote. Cite the book (abbreviated or full), chapter, and verse, followed by the version, usually abbreviated. Do not italicize the names of the books of the Bible or the versions.

Common version abbreviations include NIV (New International Version), KJV (King James Version), NRSV (New Revised Standard Version), and ESV (English Standard Version). Spell the version out on first use, then abbreviate.

Chicago Author-Date

In the Author-Date system, cite the passage and version in parentheses in the text. Again, no entry in the reference list is required for the Bible itself.

If your instructor specifically asks you to list the Bible in the bibliography, Chicago does permit an entry that begins with the version title. When in doubt, ask which approach your course expects, and check the full Chicago style guide. Turabian, the student-focused version of Chicago, follows the same logic; see the Turabian citation generator if that is your assigned format.

Quick comparison: the three styles side by side

Here is the same passage, John chapter 3 verse 16, in each style so you can see the differences at a glance.

• APA in-text: (New International Version, 1978/2011, John 3:16). Colon between chapter and verse, version italicized and in title case, date kept in every citation, reference-list entry required.
• MLA in-text: first mention (New International Version, John 3.16), then (John 3.16). Period between chapter and verse, version name not italicized in text, Works Cited entry required, book names may be abbreviated.
• Chicago in-text/note: John 3:16 (New International Version). Colon between chapter and verse, version named, usually no bibliography entry.

You can generate any of these automatically with our free tools: the APA citation generator, the MLA citation generator, and the Chicago citation generator. Each one builds the reference and the matching in-text form for you.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Forgetting the version. All three styles want to know which translation you used. Name it.
• Using a page number instead of chapter and verse. The Bible is cited by book, chapter, and verse, which lets any reader find the passage in any edition.
• Mixing the punctuation. APA and Chicago use a colon (3:16). MLA uses a period (3.16). Do not blend them.
• Italicizing the wrong thing. Chicago does not italicize the names of biblical books or versions in notes. In MLA, the edition title is italicized in the Works Cited entry but the version name is not italicized inside an in-text citation.
• Lower-casing the version name in APA. The Bible version stands in the author position, so keep its proper-name capitalization in both the reference and the in-text citation (New International Version, not “New international version”).

Getting these details right is one of the best ways to avoid plagiarism and show your reader exactly where your evidence comes from. If you cite other unusual sources, you may also want our guides on how to cite Shakespeare and how to cite a quote.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to include the Bible in my reference list or bibliography?

It depends on the style. In APA 7th edition and MLA 9th edition, yes: the Bible gets a reference-list or Works Cited entry beginning with the version title. In Chicago style, usually no: you cite the Bible in a footnote or in the text and do not list it in the bibliography unless your instructor asks you to.

How do I cite a specific verse from the Bible?

Cite by book, chapter, and verse rather than by page. For a single verse use the form John 3:16 (APA and Chicago) or John 3.16 (MLA). For a range of verses, write John 3:16-18 in APA and Chicago, or John 3.16-18 in MLA, and always name the version the first time you cite it.

Do I have to name the Bible version or translation?

Yes. Because translations differ in wording, every style asks you to identify the version you used, such as the New International Version (NIV) or King James Version (KJV). Spell out the version on first mention, then you may abbreviate it in later citations.

Is the Bible italicized in citations?

It depends on the style. In APA the version title is italicized (for example, New International Version). In MLA the title of the edition is italicized in the Works Cited entry. In Chicago, the names of the biblical books and versions are not italicized.