How to read biblical references?

In the Bible, a large library made up of 46 books of the Old Testament (39 in the Jewish tradition), and 27 books of the New Testament, it is not easy to navigate, but the biblical references allow us to identify each book, chapter and verse. Here’s how to do it:

We must first refer to the abbreviations of the Biblical Books. For example: The Book of Genesis is abbreviated to Gen, The Book of Acts of the Apostles to Acts.

Old Testament

• Book of Genesis – Gen
• Book of Exodus – Ex
• Book of Leviticus – Lv
• Book of Numbers – Nb
• Book of Deuteronomy – Dt
• Book of Joshua – Jos
• Book of Judges – Jg
• Book of Ruth – Rt
• First Book of Samuel – 1 S
• Second Book of Samuel – 2 S
• First Book of Kings – 1 R
• Second Book of Kings – 2 R
• First Book of Chronicles – 1 Ch
• Second Book of Chronicles – 2 Ch
• Book of Ezra – Esd
• Book of Nehemiah – Ne
• Book of Tobit – Tb
• Book of Judith – Jdt
• Book of Esther – East
• First Book of Martyrs of Israel – 1 M
• Second Book of Martyrs of Israel – 2 M
• Book of Job – Jb
• Book of Proverbs – Pr
• Ecclesiastes – Qo
• Song of Songs – Ct
• Book of Wisdom – Sg
• Book of Ben Sira the Wise – If
• Book of Zechariah – Za
• Book of Haggai – Ag
• Book of Zephaniah – So
• Book of Habakkuk – Ha
• Book of Nahum – Na
• Book of Micah – Mi
• Book of Jonah – Jon
• Book of Obadiah – Ab
• Book of Amos – Am
• Book of Joel – Jl
• Book of Hosea – Bones
• Book of Daniel – Dan
• Book of Ezekiel – Ez
• Letter from Jérémie – Lt-Jr
• Book of Baruch – Ba
• Book of Lamentations of Jeremiah – Lm
• Book of Malachi – Ml
• Book of Jeremiah – Jr
• Book of Isaiah – Is
• The Books of Psalms – Ps

New Testament

• Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew – Mt
• Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark – Mc
• Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke – Lc
• Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John – Jn
• Book of Acts of the Apostles – Ac
• Letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Romans – Rm
• First letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians – 1 Cor
• Second letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians – 2 Cor
• Letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Galatians – Ga
• Letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians – Ep
• Letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Philippians – Ph
• Letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Colossians – Col
• First letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Thessalonians – 1 Th
• Second letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Thessalonians – 2 Th
• First letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to Timothy – 1 Tim
• Second letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to Timothy – 2 Tim
• Letter from Saint Paul the Apostle to Titus – Tt
• Letter from Saint Paul the Apostle to Philemon – Phm
• Letter to the Hebrews – He
• Letter of Saint James the Apostle – Jc
• First letter of Saint Peter the Apostle – 1P
• Second letter of Saint Peter the Apostle – 2 P
• First letter of Saint John – 1 Jn
• Second letter of Saint John – 2 Jn
• Third letter of Saint John – 3 Jn
• Letter from Saint Jude – Jude
• Book of Revelation – Ap

Example of biblical reference

Mk 1, 21-28: The 2 letters specify the book of the Bible in which the text is found (Mc for the Gospel according to Saint Mark); the first number indicates the chapter of the book in question (chapter 1), finally the last numbers correspond to the numbers of the verses in the chapter (verses 21 to 28).

Note to understand the Bible references

Dash means that we include the chapters or verses between the two numbers which frame this dash. For example, Gen 3 – 6 means: Genesis, chapters 3 to 6 (so chapters 3, 4, 5 and 6). Is 60, 1- 4 means the Book of the prophet Isaiah, chapter 60, verses 1 to 4 (verses 1, 2, 3, 4)

Point means “and”. For example, Mt 14, 16.19 means verses 16 and 19 of chapter 14 of the Gospel according to Saint Matthew.

The semicolon separates a sequence of quotations. Ex. Job 2:8; 6, 5: these are the Book of Job chapter 2, verse 8 and the Book of Job chapter 6, verse 5.

THE “ s » after a number means “and following(s)”. He 1, 8s. indicates that verse 8 and following of chapter 1 of the Letter to the Hebrews should be read

The lowercase letter which follows the verse designates a part of the verse. Tb 2:10a invites us to read the first part of verse 10 of chapter 2 of the Book of Tobit.

Gen 2, 1 – 4, 6

Refers to the Book of Genesis, chapter 2, verse 1 through chapter 4, verse 6.

Is 12, 3.6

Refers to the Book of Isaiah, chapter 12, verses 3 and 6.

Rev 8, 3-5.9; 14, 13s; 20.12 – 22.8

Refers to the Book of Revelation, chapter 8, verses 3,4,5 and 9, then chapter 14, verse 13 and following, then verse 12 of chapter 20 until verse 8 of chapter 22.