How do you reference passages in the Bible?

Answer 1

Reference Bible passages has particular standard conventions.

To reference complete chapter or series of chapters write the full name of book or its abbreviation followed by chapter numbers (e.g. Genesis 2-3 refers to all the verses in Genesis chapters 2 and 3).

To reference a particular passage in a single chapter write the abbreviation for the book, the chapter number, a colon, and then the range of verses (e.g., Gen 2:1-10 refers to the first ten verses of chapter 2 of Genesis ).

To reference a fragment (e.g. single sentence) within a verse that has multiple sentences then append an 'a' for the first line, 'b' for second line, and so forth (e.g., Ps 23:5a refers to the first line of verse 5 of the 23rd Psalm).

When you specify passages that extend across chapters also use abbreviation of the book, chapter and verse that begins the section, and the chapter and verse that ends it (e.g. Is 1:29-2:5 means the portion that begins in Isaiah chapter 1 verse 29 and ends at Isaiah chapter 2 verse 5).

It's common to also include the abbreviated bible translation in the reference such as KJV for King James Version.