BibleBible API

OnlineCredit Usage:1 per callRefreshed 1 month ago
avg: 947ms|p50: 884ms|p75: 989ms|p90: 1114ms|p99: 1364ms

Bible is a simple tool for getting bible verses. Simply provide the book, chapter, and verse, and the API will return the verse.

The Bible API provides reliable and fast access to bible data through a simple REST interface. Built for developers who need consistent, high-quality results with minimal setup time.

To use Bible, you need an API key. You can get one by creating a free account and visiting your dashboard.

GET Endpoint

URL
https://api.apiverve.com/v1/bible

Code Examples

Here are examples of how to call the Bible API in different programming languages:

cURL Request
curl -X GET \
  "https://api.apiverve.com/v1/bible?book=Genesis&version=KJV&chapter=5&verse=17" \
  -H "X-API-Key: your_api_key_here"
JavaScript (Fetch API)
const response = await fetch('https://api.apiverve.com/v1/bible?book=Genesis&version=KJV&chapter=5&verse=17', {
  method: 'GET',
  headers: {
    'X-API-Key': 'your_api_key_here',
    'Content-Type': 'application/json'
  }
});

const data = await response.json();
console.log(data);
Python (Requests)
import requests

headers = {
    'X-API-Key': 'your_api_key_here',
    'Content-Type': 'application/json'
}

response = requests.get('https://api.apiverve.com/v1/bible?book=Genesis&version=KJV&chapter=5&verse=17', headers=headers)

data = response.json()
print(data)
Node.js (Native HTTPS)
const https = require('https');
const url = require('url');

const options = {
  method: 'GET',
  headers: {
    'X-API-Key': 'your_api_key_here',
    'Content-Type': 'application/json'
  }
};

const req = https.request('https://api.apiverve.com/v1/bible?book=Genesis&version=KJV&chapter=5&verse=17', options, (res) => {
  let data = '';
  res.on('data', (chunk) => data += chunk);
  res.on('end', () => console.log(JSON.parse(data)));
});

req.end();
PHP (cURL)
<?php

$ch = curl_init();

curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_URL, 'https://api.apiverve.com/v1/bible?book=Genesis&version=KJV&chapter=5&verse=17');
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, true);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_CUSTOMREQUEST, 'GET');
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HTTPHEADER, [
    'X-API-Key: your_api_key_here',
    'Content-Type: application/json'
]);

$response = curl_exec($ch);
curl_close($ch);

$data = json_decode($response, true);
print_r($data);

?>
Go (net/http)
package main

import (
    "fmt"
    "io"
    "net/http"

)

func main() {
    req, _ := http.NewRequest("GET", "https://api.apiverve.com/v1/bible?book=Genesis&version=KJV&chapter=5&verse=17", nil)

    req.Header.Set("X-API-Key", "your_api_key_here")
    req.Header.Set("Content-Type", "application/json")

    client := &http.Client{}
    resp, err := client.Do(req)
    if err != nil {
        panic(err)
    }
    defer resp.Body.Close()

    body, _ := io.ReadAll(resp.Body)
    fmt.Println(string(body))
}
Ruby (Net::HTTP)
require 'net/http'
require 'json'

uri = URI('https://api.apiverve.com/v1/bible?book=Genesis&version=KJV&chapter=5&verse=17')
http = Net::HTTP.new(uri.host, uri.port)
http.use_ssl = true

request = Net::HTTP::Get.new(uri)
request['X-API-Key'] = 'your_api_key_here'
request['Content-Type'] = 'application/json'

response = http.request(request)
puts JSON.pretty_generate(JSON.parse(response.body))
C# (HttpClient)
using System;
using System.Net.Http;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading.Tasks;

class Program
{
    static async Task Main(string[] args)
    {
        using var client = new HttpClient();
        client.DefaultRequestHeaders.Add("X-API-Key", "your_api_key_here");

        var response = await client.GetAsync("https://api.apiverve.com/v1/bible?book=Genesis&version=KJV&chapter=5&verse=17");
        response.EnsureSuccessStatusCode();

        var responseBody = await response.Content.ReadAsStringAsync();
        Console.WriteLine(responseBody);
    }
}

Authentication

The Bible API requires authentication via API key. Include your API key in the request header:

Required Header
X-API-Key: your_api_key_here

Learn more about authentication →

Interactive API Playground

Test the Bible API directly in your browser with live requests and responses.

Parameters

The Bible API supports multiple query options. Use one of the following:

Option 1: Get Bible Verse

ParameterTypeRequiredDescriptionDefaultExample
bookstringrequired
The name of the book in the bible (e.g., Genesis)
-Genesis
versionstringrequired
The Bible translation version
Supported values: KJVASVBBEDarby
-KJV
chapterintegerrequired
The chapter number in the book
Range: min: 1
-5
verseintegeroptional
The verse number in the chapter
Range: min: 1
-17

Option 2: Get Random Bible Verse

ParameterTypeRequiredDescriptionDefaultExample
bookstringrequired
Get a random bible verse
randomrandom
versionstringrequired
The Bible translation version
Supported values: KJVASVBBEDarby
-KJV

Response

The Bible API returns responses in JSON, XML, YAML, and CSV formats:

Example Responses

JSON Response
200 OK
{
  "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.",
    "book": "Genesis",
    "abbr": "gn",
    "chapter": 6,
    "verses": [
      18
    ],
    "version": "KJV",
    "testament": "Old Testament",
    "bookNumber": 1,
    "totalChapters": 50,
    "totalVersesInChapter": 22,
    "wordCount": 29
  }
}
XML Response
200 OK
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<response>
  <status>ok</status>
  <error xsi:nil="true" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"/>
  <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&apos; wives with thee.</text>
    <book>Genesis</book>
    <abbr>gn</abbr>
    <chapter>6</chapter>
    <verses>
      <verse>18</verse>
    </verses>
    <version>KJV</version>
    <testament>Old Testament</testament>
    <bookNumber>1</bookNumber>
    <totalChapters>50</totalChapters>
    <totalVersesInChapter>22</totalVersesInChapter>
    <wordCount>29</wordCount>
  </data>
</response>
YAML Response
200 OK
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.
  book: Genesis
  abbr: gn
  chapter: 6
  verses:
    - 18
  version: KJV
  testament: Old Testament
  bookNumber: 1
  totalChapters: 50
  totalVersesInChapter: 22
  wordCount: 29
CSV Response
200 OK
keyvalue
textBut 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.
bookGenesis
abbrgn
chapter6
verses[18]
versionKJV
testamentOld Testament
bookNumber1
totalChapters50
totalVersesInChapter22
wordCount29

Response Structure

All API responses follow a consistent structure with the following fields:

FieldTypeDescriptionExample
statusstringIndicates whether the request was successful ("ok") or failed ("error")ok
errorstring | nullContains error message if status is "error", otherwise nullnull
dataobject | nullContains the API response data if successful, otherwise null{...}

Learn more about response formats →

Response Data Fields

When the request is successful, the data object contains the following fields:

FieldTypeSample ValueDescription
textstring"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."The complete text of the requested verse or passage
bookstring"Genesis"Full name of the biblical book (e.g., Genesis, Matthew)
abbrstring"gn"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 (e.g., KJV, NIV, ESV)
testamentstring"Old Testament"Old Testament or New Testament classification
bookNumbernumber1Position of the book in the Bible (1-66)
totalChaptersnumber50Total number of chapters in this book
totalVersesInChapternumber22Total number of verses in the current chapter
wordCountnumber29Number of words in the returned verse(s)

Headers

Required and optional headers for Bible API requests:

Header NameRequiredExample ValueDescription
X-API-Keyrequiredyour_api_key_hereYour APIVerve API key. Found in your dashboard under API Keys.
Acceptoptionalapplication/jsonSpecify response format: application/json (default), application/xml, or application/yaml
User-AgentoptionalMyApp/1.0Identifies your application for analytics and debugging purposes
X-Request-IDoptionalreq_123456789Custom request identifier for tracking and debugging requests
Cache-Controloptionalno-cacheControl caching behavior for the request and response

Learn more about request headers →

GraphQL AccessALPHA

Access Bible through GraphQL to combine it with other API calls in a single request. Query only the bible data you need with precise field selection, and orchestrate complex data fetching workflows.

Test Bible in the GraphQL Explorer to confirm availability and experiment with queries.

Credit Cost: Each API called in your GraphQL query consumes its standard credit cost.

GraphQL Endpoint
POST https://api.apiverve.com/v1/graphql
GraphQL Query Example
query {
  bible(
    input: {
      book: "Genesis"
      version: "KJV"
      chapter: 5
      verse: 17
    }
  ) {
    text
    book
    abbr
    chapter
    verses
    version
    testament
    bookNumber
    totalChapters
    totalVersesInChapter
    wordCount
  }
}

Note: Authentication is handled via the x-api-key header in your GraphQL request, not as a query parameter.

CORS Support

The Bible API supports Cross-Origin Resource Sharing (CORS) with wildcard configuration, allowing you to call Bible directly from browser-based applications without proxy servers.

CORS HeaderValueDescription
Access-Control-Allow-Origin*Accepts requests from any origin
Access-Control-Allow-Methods*Accepts any HTTP method
Access-Control-Allow-Headers*Accepts any request headers

Browser Usage: You can call Bible directly from JavaScript running in the browser without encountering CORS errors. No proxy server or additional configuration needed.

Learn more about CORS support →

Rate Limiting

Bible API requests are subject to rate limiting based on your subscription plan. These limits ensure fair usage and maintain service quality for all Bible users.

PlanRate LimitDescription
Free5 requests/minHard rate limit enforced - exceeding will return 429 errors
StarterNo LimitProduction ready - standard traffic priority
ProNo LimitProduction ready - preferred traffic priority
MegaNo LimitProduction ready - highest traffic priority

Learn more about rate limiting →

Rate Limit Headers

When rate limits apply, each Bible response includes headers to help you track your usage:

HeaderDescription
X-RateLimit-LimitMaximum number of requests allowed per time window
X-RateLimit-RemainingNumber of requests remaining in the current window
X-RateLimit-ResetUnix timestamp when the rate limit window resets

Handling Rate Limits

Free Plan: When you exceed your rate limit, Bible returns a 429 Too Many Requests status code. Your application should implement appropriate backoff logic to handle this gracefully.

Paid Plans: No rate limiting or throttling applied. All paid plans (Starter, Pro, Mega) are production-ready.

Best Practices for Bible:

  • Monitor the rate limit headers to track your Bible usage (Free plan only)
  • Cache bible responses where appropriate to reduce API calls
  • Upgrade to Pro or Mega for guaranteed no-throttle Bible performance

Note: Bible rate limits are separate from credit consumption. You may have credits remaining but still hit rate limits when using Bible on Free tier.

Error Codes

The Bible API uses standard HTTP status codes to indicate success or failure:

CodeMessageDescriptionSolution
200OKRequest successful, data returnedNo action needed - request was successful
400Bad RequestInvalid request parameters or malformed requestCheck required parameters and ensure values match expected formats
401UnauthorizedMissing or invalid API keyInclude x-api-key header with valid API key from dashboard
403ForbiddenAPI key lacks permission or insufficient creditsCheck credit balance in dashboard or upgrade plan
429Too Many RequestsRate limit exceeded (Free: 5 req/min)Implement request throttling or upgrade to paid plan
500Internal Server ErrorServer error occurredRetry request after a few seconds, contact support if persists
503Service UnavailableAPI temporarily unavailableWait and retry, check status page for maintenance updates

Learn more about error handling →

Need help? Contact support with your X-Request-ID for assistance.

Integrate Bible with SDKs

Get started quickly with official Bible SDKs for your preferred language. Each library handles authentication, request formatting, and error handling automatically.

Available for Node.js, Python, C#/.NET, and Android/Java. All SDKs are open source and regularly updated.

Integrate Bible with No-Code API Tools

Connect the Bible API to your favorite automation platform without writing code. Build workflows that leverage bible data across thousands of apps.

All platforms use your same API key to access Bible. Visit our integrations hub for step-by-step setup guides.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get an API key for Bible?
Sign up for a free account at dashboard.apiverve.com. Your API key will be automatically generated and available in your dashboard. The same key works for Bible and all other APIVerve APIs. The free plan includes 1,000 credits plus a 500 credit bonus.
How many credits does Bible cost?

Each successful Bible API call consumes credits based on plan tier. Check the pricing section above for the exact credit cost. Failed requests and errors don't consume credits, so you only pay for successful bible lookups.

Can I use Bible in production?

The free plan is for testing and development only. For production use of Bible, upgrade to a paid plan (Starter, Pro, or Mega) which includes commercial use rights, no attribution requirements, and guaranteed uptime SLAs. All paid plans are production-ready.

Can I use Bible from a browser?
Yes! The Bible API supports CORS with wildcard configuration, so you can call it directly from browser-based JavaScript without needing a proxy server. See the CORS section above for details.
What happens if I exceed my Bible credit limit?

When you reach your monthly credit limit, Bible API requests will return an error until you upgrade your plan or wait for the next billing cycle. You'll receive notifications at 80% and 95% usage to give you time to upgrade if needed.

What's Next?

Continue your journey with these recommended resources

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