Docs/APIs/Bible

Bible

Get bible verses

OperationalCredits 1 per callp50 144msData LookupStar

Overview

A Bible verse and scripture API. Bible works by querying a large database of bible verses to retrieve the verse based on the book, chapter, and verse provided. It returns the bible verse in a structured format.

Live Test Bible API →

Endpoint

One host, one path per API. The block below shows this call in four languages; every one of them is the same HTTP request. Making requests covers the timeouts, retries and parameter rules that apply to all of them. The SDKs wrap the same call in a typed client.

GEThttps://api.apiverve.com/v1/bible
curl "https://api.apiverve.com/v1/bible?book=Genesis&version=KJV&chapter=5&verse=17&verseEnd=18" \
  -H "x-api-key: your_api_key_here"

Replace your_api_key_here with the key from your dashboard. When the inputs arrive as a list rather than one at a time, batch requests run up to 200 of them through this same API in a single call.

Authentication

Send your key in the x-api-key header. That is the only auth step — there is no token exchange and no per-endpoint scope to configure. Authentication covers creating, rotating and revoking keys.

401 is the only auth verdict

A 401 means the key is missing, invalid or expired. A 403 means the key is valid but not permitted here — blocked by a key restriction or an IP allow-list. Running out of credits is a 429.

Parameters

Sent in the query string. Premium parameters are accepted on every plan but only take effect on plans that include them.

ParameterTypeDescription
bookRequiredstringThe name of the book in the bible (e.g., Genesis). Abbreviations such as Gen, Ps, 1 Cor or Jn are accepted
versionRequiredstringThe Bible translation version
KJVASVBBEDarbyBSBYLTNHEBWebster+1
chapterRequiredintegerThe chapter number in the book
range 1–∞
verseOptionalintegerThe verse number in the chapter
range 1–∞
verseEndOptionalintegerLast verse of a range starting at verse (e.g., verse=16&verseEnd=18). A value past the end of the chapter returns the rest of it
range 1–∞

Response

Every API returns the same three top-level keys, so one response handler covers your whole integration: status, error and data. Only data changes shape. Response format covers the envelope, the other output formats and how premium fields are withheld.

Sample response
{
  "status": "ok",
  "error": null,
  "data": {
    "text": "But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons’ wives with thee. And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort…",
    "book": "Genesis",
    "abbr": "Ge",
    "chapter": 6,
    "verses": [
      18,
      19
    ],
    "version": "KJV",
    "testament": "Old Testament",
    "bookNumber": 1,
    "totalChapters": 50,
    "totalVersesInChapter": 22,
    "wordCount": 58,
    "reference": "Genesis 6:18-19",
    "passage": [
      {
        "chapter": 6,
        "verse": 18,
        "text": "But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons’ wives with thee."
      },
      {
        "chapter": 6,
        "verse": 19,
        "text": "And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female."
      }
    ],
    "previous": {
      "reference": "Genesis 6:17",
      "book": "Genesis",
      "chapter": 6,
      "verse": 17
    },
    "next": {
      "reference": "Genesis 6:20",
      "book": "Genesis",
      "chapter": 6,
      "verse": 20
    }
  }
}

Response fields

Paths are relative to data. Premium fields are absent rather than zeroed on plans that do not include them, so check for presence instead of comparing to 0.

FieldTypeExampleDescription
textstring"But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, an…"The complete text of the requested verse or passage
bookstring"Genesis"Book the search was limited to, or null
abbrstring"Ge"Two-letter abbreviation of the book name
chapternumber6Chapter number of the requested verse
versesarray[18, ...]Array of verse numbers included in the response
versionstring"KJV"Bible translation version searched, uppercased
testamentstring"Old Testament"Testament the search was limited to, or null
bookNumbernumber1Position of the book in the Bible (1-66)
totalChaptersnumber50Total number of chapters in this book
totalVersesInChapternumber22Total number of verses in the current chapter
wordCountnumber58Number of words in the returned verse(s)
referencestring"Genesis 6:18-19"Canonical reference for the returned text (e.g., John 3:16-18, 20)
passagearray[2]The returned verses one by one, so each can be shown with its own number
chapternumber6Chapter of the verse
versenumber18Verse number
textstring"But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, an…"Text of the verse
previousPremiumobject{...}The verse (or chapter, for a chapter request) just before this passage, crossing into the previous book when needed; null at Genesis 1:1
referencePremiumstring"Genesis 6:17"Reference to request next (e.g., John 3:15)
bookPremiumstring"Genesis"Book name
chapterPremiumnumber6Chapter number
versePremiumnumber17Verse number, or null when it points at a whole chapter
nextPremiumobject{...}The verse (or chapter) just after this passage, crossing into the next book when needed; null at the end of Revelation
referencePremiumstring"Genesis 6:20"Reference to request next (e.g., John 3:19)
bookPremiumstring"Genesis"Book name
chapterPremiumnumber6Chapter number
versePremiumnumber20Verse number, or null when it points at a whole chapter

Errors

Read the HTTP status first, then error for the specific reason. The body names the parameter that has to change. Error handling covers the full status list and which of them are worth retrying.

StatusMeaningWhat to do
400Input was rejectedRead error; it names the parameter.
401Key missing or invalidCheck the header name and the key value.
403Key valid, but not permittedA key restriction or IP allow-list; see key scoping.
429Rate limited, or out of creditsRead error to tell them apart; see rate limits.

Use cases

Daily Devotional Notifications
Devotional mobile apps schedule daily morning push notifications that display a random verse along with its book and chapter reference.
Worship Slide Generation
To prepare church projection slides, presentation software queries chapter text and verse numbers to format reading prompts automatically.
Multitranslation Scripture Study
Academic study platforms pull the same verse across KJV, BSB, YLT and Darby so researchers can compare wording line by line.
Custom Journal Publishing
When laying out printable prayer planners, publishing tools inject verse text and testament classifications into daily reading header blocks.

Other ways to use Bible

Set up Bible on APIVerve, or reach the same source a different way. Your APIVerve account and credits work on all of them — one key, one balance.

Give it to an AI agentConnect over MCP and your agent calls it as a native tool — Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT.VerveKit →Reference →
Google Sheets or ExcelA =VERVE() formula fills a column — no script, no export, recalculates in place.VerveSheets →Reference →
Ground an agent on itA cited, machine-checkable fact your model can't produce on its own.VerveContext →Reference →

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