The 7 fields and concepts you'll meet in the response — defined in plain English, each with a real example value.
A numbered sentence or passage within a Bible chapter, the smallest division of biblical text.
Verse divisions were added to the Bible in the 16th century by Robert Estienne. While not original to the text, verses provide essential reference points. Verse lengths vary dramatically, from a few words to lengthy passages.
Exampleverses: [16] (for John 3:16)
A major division within a biblical book, containing multiple verses.
Chapter divisions were introduced by Stephen Langton in the 13th century. Chapters group related content for easier reference. The number of chapters per book ranges from 1 to 150 (Psalms).
Examplechapter: 3, totalChapters: 21 (for John)
One of the two main divisions of the Bible: Old Testament or New Testament.
The Old Testament (Hebrew Bible) contains 39 books written before Christ, covering creation through the prophets. The New Testament contains 27 books about Jesus and the early church, written in the 1st century AD.
Exampletestament: "Old Testament" (for Genesis)
The sequential position of a book in the Bible, from 1 (Genesis) to 66 (Revelation).
Book numbers follow the traditional Protestant canon order. Genesis is book 1, Malachi is book 39 (end of Old Testament), Matthew is book 40 (start of New Testament), and Revelation is book 66.
ExamplebookNumber: 43 (for John, the 4th book of the New Testament)
A shortened form of a Bible book name used for compact references.
Standard abbreviations vary by tradition but commonly include: Gen (Genesis), Ex (Exodus), Ps (Psalms), Matt (Matthew), Rom (Romans), Rev (Revelation). The API returns consistent two-letter abbreviations.
Exampleabbr: "Ge" (for Genesis)
A version of the Bible rendered in a particular language or style.
Bible translations range from word-for-word (formal equivalence) to thought-for-thought (dynamic equivalence). Popular translations include KJV (1611), NIV, ESV, and NASB. Translation choice affects readability and interpretive nuance.
The 1611 English Bible translation commissioned by King James I, known for its literary beauty.
The KJV (also called Authorized Version) is the most influential English Bible translation. It uses formal equivalence and archaic English (thee, thou). Being in the public domain, it is freely usable for any purpose.
