On this page
Updated . Example details checked against Oxford University Press, 4th edition, 2010, edited by Michael D. Coogan.
The APA format
Pattern
Title of the Bible: Version. (Year). Publisher.
- Reference entry: new in APA 7, which treats religious works as books (APA 7, 9.42).
- Version after the title, here joined with a colon.
- Citation: book, chapter and verse with a colon: Genesis 1:3.
- Original publication dates can be added for classical works: (King James Bible, 1769/2017).
A real example
Reference entry
The New Oxford Annotated Bible: New Revised Standard Version. (2010). Oxford University Press.
In-text citation
(The New Oxford Annotated Bible, 2010, Genesis 1:3)
When details are missing
- Online Bible: end with the URL.
- Later citations: the passage alone, once the edition is clear.
Common mistakes
- No reference entry. APA 6 left religious works out; APA 7 lists them.
- Page numbers. Cite the verse, not the page.
Or let Format do it.
Choose Sacred text and fill in the edition, version, editors and publisher. Type the book, chapter and verse when you press Cite. Format writes the References entry and the in-text citation in APA 7, exactly as shown above, and builds the References page when you export to Word or PDF. MLA and APA are free.
Questions
Do I italicize the title in the citation?
Yes: (The New Oxford Annotated Bible, 2010, Genesis 1:3).
Can I abbreviate books?
APA spells them out in the citation.
More citation guides
The same source in other styles
Similar sources in APA
Every source kind is on the APA page, and every style is on How to cite.