Bible citation - Definition and Overview

A Bible citation is usually referenced with the book name, chapter number and verse number. Sometimes, the name of the Bible translation is also included, usually in abbreviated form. An example of a common format is:

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" (Gen. 1:1, KJV).

This tells the reader that the citation is from the first verse, of the first chapter of the book of Genesis, as translated in the King James Version.

The book names are abbreviated using generally the first three letters.

A

• Act.: Acts
• Amo.: Amos

C

• 1Ch.: 1 Chronicles
• 2Ch.: 2 Chronicles
• Col.: Colossians
• 1Cr.: 1 Corinthians
• 2Cr.: 2 Corinthians

D

• Dan.: Daniel
• Deu.: Deuteronomy

E

• Ecc.: Ecclesiastes
• Eph.: Ephesians
• Est.: Esther
• Eze.: Ezekiel
• Ezr.: Ezra
• Exd.: Exodus

G

• Gal.: Galatians
• Gen.: Genesis

H

• Hab.: Habakkuk
• Hag.: Haggai
• Heb.: Hebrews
• Hsa.: Hosea

I

• Isa.: Isaiah

J

• Jam.: James
• Jer.: Jeremiah
• Jhn.: John
• 1Jo.: 1 John
• 2Jo.: 2 John
• 3Jo.: 3 John
• Job.: Job
• Joe.: Joel
• Jon.: Jonah
• Jos.: Joshua
• Jdg.: Judges
• Jud.: Jude

K

• 1Ki.: 1 Kings
• 2Ki.: 2 Kings

L

• Lam.: Lamentations
• Lev.: Leviticus
• Luk.: Luke

M

• Mal.: Malachi
• Mar.: Mark
• Mat.: Matthew
• Mic.: Micah

N

• Nah.: Nahum
• Neh.: Nehemiah
• Num.: Numbers

O

• Oba.: Obadiah

P

• 1Pe.: 1 Peter
• 2Pe.: 2 Peter
• Phl.: Philippians
• Phm.: Philemon
• Pro.: Proverbs
• Psa.: Psalms

R

• Rev.: Revelation
• Rom.: Romans
• Rth.: Ruth

S

• 1Sa.: 1 Samuel
• 2Sa.: 2 Samuel
• Sgs.: Song of Songs

T

• 1Th.: 1 Thessalonians
• 2Th.: 2 Thessalonians
• 1Ti.: 1 Timothy
• 2Ti.: 2 Timothy
• Tts.: Titus

Z

• Zec.: Zechariah
• Zep.: Zephaniah

See Also

• Books of the Bible

External Links

Search and read Bible passages at Bible Gateway (http://www.biblegateway.com) (various versions)