How Many Words, Verses, and Chapters Are in the Bible?

By: Alyssa Miller | Last updated: Apr 01, 2024

Have you ever sat down and read the entire Bible from cover to cover? If you have, then you probably know there are a lot of words, pages, verses, chapters, and books in the two sections of the Bible.

While the Bible is the best-selling book of all time, we want to break down the stats behind what makes this large book, and its various versions, so compelling. Just how many chapters and verses are in the bible? Let’s get into it!

How Was the Bible Translated? 

According to GotQuestions, scholars referenced a Greek manuscript called the Textus Receptus to translate the King James version of the Bible. Since then, many biblical manuscripts have been discovered that predate the Textus Receptus.

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There have been many differences between the Textus Receptus and the older manuscripts. Over 1,500 years, some words, phrases, and sentences were added, intentionally or accidentally. Verses that have been removed were done because they were not found in the oldest and most reliable manuscripts.

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What Are the Different Types of Bibles? 

There are a few different types of bibles. There is the King James Version, the New King James Version, the Revised Standard Version, the Holman Christian Standard Bible, the English Standard Version, the New Living Translation, and the New International Version.

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The various versions of a a bible

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On top of that, there are many editions of these books, like the military edition, and the sports edition, and then there are the various editions made for teenagers and students. However, we are going to look at the traditional standard that you might find in any hotel room: the King James Version.

The Number of Verses and Chapters in the Bible Changes

It is important to know that the number of chapters, verses, and words in the Old Testament, New Testament, and the entire Bible depends on which version of the Bible you are reading. While most Protestant Bibles will be the same, there are various versions.

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Why are there so many different versions with various numbers of verses and chapters? Well, it depends on which version you’re reading, and there are quite a few different versions.

How Many Verses Are There in the Bible?

Have you ever wondered how many bible verses are there in the Old Testament and the New Testament? While the total number of verses is 31,102, with an average of 26 verses per chapter, one book has a lot more verses.

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The Old Testament has 23,145 verses and the New Testament has a total of 7,957 verses. The books average about 471 verses, but it is obvious that the Old Testament has a lot more.

How Many Chapters Are There in the Bible

In both books, there are a total of 1,189 chapters, with an average of 18 chapters per book. Psalms 117 is the shortest chapter, and the longest chapter is Psalms 119. When you ask how many chapters in each book of the Bible, the answer is simple.

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There are 929 chapters in the Old Testament and 260 chapters in the New Testament. On average there are 18 chapters per book. There may even be a hidden chapter that scientist have just uncovered!

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Which Chapter Has the Most Verses? 

While there are many memorable verses throughout the Bible, there are a few chapters that have quite a few verses. Psalms 119 is the longest chapter of the Bible and has the most verses.

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According to the Bible Memory Goal, Psalm has 2,461 verses in the chapter. The shortest amount of verse, with 38 verses, can be found in Haggai.

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How Many Books Are in the Bible

There are 66 books in the entire Bible. While the Bible is organized into two sections–the Old Testament and the New Testament– there are 66 books divided into those sections. How many books are in each section?

The Bible opened to the Gospel According to John

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In the Old Testament, there are 39 individual books. In the New Testament, there are 27 books. The three popular books in the entire Bible are Psalms, Matthew, and John.

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How Many Words Are in the Bible?

The translation of the Bible into English was in 1611 for the King James Version. In that version, there are 788,280 words. However, the King James Bible that we use today has fewer words, with 783,137 words. The lack of words in the newer editions is a consequence of several verses missing.

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The newer translation removes anything that was not part of the original text, which means that “missing” verses are ones that were discovered by most scholars to not have been in the Bible to begin with.

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How Many Pages Is the Bible?

The general answer to the question, “How many pages are there in the Bible?’ is around 1,200 pages. This is the general approximation since there are so many different versions of the Bible. However, the version you pick up next might have more or less than this number.

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Anyone who wants a definitive answer to this question of the number of pages in the Bible should take into consideration the variables that can come into play.

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How Long Will It Take to Read the Bible?

Despite the various editions of the books, which are still being changed and produced today as new texts are found and studied, the average reader can read the Bible in about 65 to 75 hours. It’s almost like a full-time job!

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According to International Christian College & Seminary, the Old Testament can be read in 52 hours and 20 minutes, while the New Testament can be read in 18 hours and 20 minutes.

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The Bible Is the Best-Selling Book

As of 2021, the Guinness World Records reported that the Christina Bible is the best-selling book of all time. While it is impossible to know exactly how many copies have been printed over the long and lengthy lifetime of the Bible, it is suggested that about 5 to 7 billion copies of the Bible have been sold.

An open Russian Bible

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The Bible existed long before the printing press when most books were extremely expensive. Any complete editions from before the printing press are extremely rare and valuable.

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