Being Responsible While Researching
When youre writing a research paper or creating a research project, you will probably use another individuals work to help develop your own assignment. A good researcher or scholar uses another individuals work in a responsible way. This involves indicating that the work of other individuals is included in your project , which is one way to prevent plagiarism.
How Do I Cite A Specific Passage From The Bible In Apa Style
Like most style guides, APA recommends listing the book of the Bible youre citing in your APA in-text citation, in combination with chapter and verse numbers. For example:
Books of the Bible may be abbreviated to save space a list of standard abbreviations can be found here. Page numbers are not used in Bible citations.
Further Reading On Apa Style
Michael Potter worked as a writing assistant for two years at Life Pacific Universitys Academic Resource Center. This article has been thoroughly edited and vetted by multiple professors and professionals. If you believe any of the above information to be incorrect or unclear, please let us know in the comments! We cannot guarantee immediate assistance with citations, although the posted sources should be of some help.
DISCLAIMER:Regardless of the official rules, Olive Tree Bible Software cannot guarantee your professor, academic advisor, or plagiarism board will accept the above citations. Its always best to confirm any citation-related guidelines with your professor or institution.
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Publication Manual 6th Edition Vs 7th Edition
The 6th edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association was released in 2009. The current 7th edition came out in the fall of 2019 and was designed to be more student focused, provide more guidance on accessibility, and address changes that have developed over the last 10 years.
Below, weve listed what we feel are the most relevant changes related to APA format.
How Do You Reference The Bible In Apa Format

In your Works Cited, include the title of the Bible, the version, and the publication information.
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Biblical Abbreviations In In
To cite a specific book of the Bible, a standard abbreviation is used for the title of each book the full list can be found here. These abbreviations should be used in combination with chapter and verse numbers in your in-text citations. No page numbers are used.
Chapter and verse numbers are listed as numerals separated by a colon, after the abbreviated book title. So a citation of the seventh verse of the second chapter of the Book of Joshua looks like this:
To cite a range of verses, use an en dash and do not repeat the chapter number:
The Appearance Of Citations & References
The format for references varies, but most use this general format:
%%Authors Last name, First initial. . Title. URL
Researchers and scholars must look up the proper format for the source that theyre attempting to cite. Books have a certain format, websites have a different format, periodicals have a different format, and so on. Scroll down to find the proper format for the source youre citing or referencing.
If you would like help citing your sources, CitationMachine.com has a citation generator that will help make the APA citation process much easier for you. To start, simply click on the source type you’re citing:
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Apa Reference Page Entry For A Bible
Reference page citations for the Bible are similar to that of a book however, Bible texts are treated as not having an author.
However, if an editor or translator contributed to the text, then they must be included following the same citation conventions as a book.
In terms of dates, you must include the current versions date after the title. For the original publication date, include the republished date only , as the date of publication for the Bible and for other religious texts is uncertain.
Chapter From An Edited Book
Template:
Editor , Title of book . Publisher.
Note: When listing page numbers of a chapter or essay in parentheses, abbreviate pages to pp.
Neil, J. M., & Egan, J. . Men’s and women’s gender role journeys: A metaphor for
healing, transition, and transformation. In B. R. Wainrib , Gender issues across
the life cycle . Springer.
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Publication Of Original Dates
When making a citation of a classic version Bible, you refer to a reprint of a modern version of the bible. It is not the original version.
The date you will first indicate is the reprint date. The original publication date will appear at the end.
The original date will be listed first in the in-text citation, followed by the edition date, and then a slash to separate them.
When using different bible versions, follow the example given below:
In-text Citations |
Having a bible citation is a recent addition in the APA 7th Edition format on your references page.
Other religious books, together with the bible, are classified as classical works under the APA editing style.
For classical works, APA requires that you do not cite in the reference list. Thus, only cite the bible in the in-text citation.
You may want to check our other guide on citing book chapters in APA.
Be aware of the format you are going to use in creating the citations for the APA paper. Also, include a hanging indent. In case you need help with biblical citations, place an order and our Ivy League writers will take care of it.
Overview Of This Guide:
This page provides you with an overview of APA format, 7th edition. Included is information about referencing, various citation formats with examples for each source type, and other helpful information.
If youre looking for MLA format, check out the Citation Machine MLA Guide. Also, visit the Citation Machine homepage to use the APA formatter, which is an APA citation generator, and to see more styles.
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Weaving Bible Citations Within Body Text
Integrating your biblical citations within your text helps to keep your reader focused on your words rather than the citation. Try to use this technique for all your APA in-text citations as much as possible.
In-Text Citation Example
In Eph 5: 22 , wives are told to submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord.
Notes
- Use standard biblical abbreviations for your citations.
- Dont use page numbers use the book, chapter and verse.
How To Cite A Textbook In Apa Format

A textbook citation in APA format may look a bit different compared to a standard book citation because a textbook is more likely to have multiple authors or book editors. Below is an example of how to cite a textbook on your reference page:
Marieb, E., & Keller, S. . Essentials of human anatomy & physiology (12th
ed.). Pearson.
When citing multiple authors for a textbook, follow the order of the authors shown in the textbook. For each author, include the same author format as a standard book citation, but use a comma to separate each name. Include an ampersand before the surname of the last author. Follow the author with the publication date and italicized book title in sentence case. If the text youre citing is a particular edition, note it in italics after the title and enclosed in parentheses. Finish the APA-format textbook citation with the publishers name.
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How To Format Bible In
While a reference citation for the Bible is important, so are your in-text citations. In the 7th edition of APA, they also made some important changes to how you cite the Bible in the text of your work. Now, you include the title of the Bible, year, and the book chapter for direct quotes.
In-Text Basic Format Citation Direct Quote
Direct Quote APA In-Text Citation Example
And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit and they cried out for fear .
Additional Information About The Title
If you feel it would be helpful to include additional information about the source type, include a descriptive noun or two in brackets immediately following the title. Capitalize the first letter.
Example:
%%Kennedy, K., & Molen, G. R. , & Spielberg, S. . . Jurassic Park . USA: Universal.
Besides , other common notations include:
If you are using Citation Machine citing tools, additional information about the title is automatically added for you.
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How To Cite The Bible In Apa: General Rules For Different Sources
Citation of Bible sources is necessary because of the existence of multiple versions and editions of the Bible. Basically, the authors of the Bibles original version did not use English. Consequently, translations to the English language may vary to some extent. Furthermore, the English language has changed extensively in syntax, grammar, and spelling since the first English translation of the Bible. Then, the need to maintain the link between quoted or paraphrased texts and the authors argument forces writers to direct readers to a particular piece of text, which aligns with their critical analysis. In turn, the APA style has specific rules for referencing Bible sources. Hence, people need to learn how to cite the Bible in APA. As a result, the title of the Bible, publication year, and publishers name are fundamental bibliographical elements for any Bible citation.
Apa Bible Citation Examples
Need to refer to religious scripture in your school paper? Take a look at these APA Bible citation examples for how you should format your references. Although students use APA 7 style for writing papers in social science subjects like psychology, economics, and sociology, these subjects may also include religious themes. As well, theology classes may require APA format for assignments. As always, follow your teachers guidelines to ensure youre following the right format.
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Why Was This Style Created
This format was first developed in 1929 to form a standardized way for researchers in science fields to document their sources. Prior to the inception of these standards and guidelines, individuals were recognizing the work of other authors by including bits and pieces of information in random order. There wasnt a set way to format citations and references. You can probably imagine how difficult it was to understand the sources that were used for research projects!
Having a standard format for citing sources allows readers to glance at a citation or APA reference and easily locate the title, author, year published, and other critical pieces of information needed to understand a source.
Structure For Two Authors
Place the authors in the order they appear on the source. Only use the ampersand in the parenthetical citations . Use and to separate the author names if theyre in the text of the sentence.
In the text, narratively:Last name of Author 1 and Last name of Author 2 …..
In parentheses, at the end of the sentence:.
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Reference List Citation Components
References display the full information for all the citations found in the body of a research project.
Some things to keep in mind when it comes to the references:
- All references sit together on their own page, which is usually the last page of a paper.
- Title the page References
- Place References in the center of the page and bold it. Keep the title in the same font and size as the references. Do not italicize, underline, place the title in quotation marks, or increase the font size.
- The entire page is double spaced.
- All references are listed in alphabetical order by the first word in the reference, which is usually the authors last name. If the source lacks an author, alphabetize the source by the title
- All references have a hanging indent, meaning that the second line of text is indented in half an inch. See examples throughout this guide.
- Remember, each and every citation in the text of the paper MUST have a full reference displayed in the reference list. The citations in the text provide the reader with a quick glimpse about the sources used, but the references in the reference list provide the reader with all the information needed to seek out the source themselves.
Learn more about each component of the reference citation and how to format it in the sections that follow. See an APA sample paper reference list at the end of this entire section.
Why Is It Important To Include Citations & References

Including APA citations and references in your research projects is a very important component of the research process. When you include citations, youre being a responsible researcher. Youre showing readers that you were able to find valuable, high-quality information from other sources, place them into your project where appropriate, all while acknowledging the original authors and their work.
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Notes & Bibliography Style
In this system, sources are cited in numbered footnotes or endnotes. Each note corresponds to a raised number in the text. Sources are also usually listed in a separate bibliography. This system is very flexible and can easily accommodate a wide variety of sources.
For books consulted online, include a URL or the name of the database. For other types of e-books, name the format. If no fixed page numbers are available, cite a section title or a chapter or other number in the notes.
How To Cite The Bible In Mla
Published on January 21, 2021 by Jack Caulfield. Revised on June 16, 2022.
MLA in-text citations of the Bible differ from other book citations in that they list the book, chapter, and verse rather than the page number.
In the Works Cited entry, its important to list the version of the Bible you used, not just The Bible. Include a URL if you accessed an online version of the Bible.
MLA format |
---|
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How To Reference The Bible In Apa Format
The American Psychological Association established guidelines for citing and formatting papers and publications within the social sciences in order to create consistency and easy-to-read style. In-text citations typically include the authors last name and publication year, and the other bibliographical information appears on the reference page. Biblical passages, however, differ in format.
How To Cite An Ebook Or Bible In An Academic Paper
A common misunderstanding about electronic resources is that they cannot be used in an academic setting due to lack of page numbers. In fact, MLA, APA, and Chicago all include instruction on how to provide citations for ebooks. The below information has been fact-checked, although we recommend that you speak with your library, professor, or institutions plagiarism council to confirm their specific rules and preferences.
If youre a student, bookmark this page for later!
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Version Information In The Works Cited Entry
The format of the Works Cited entry varies depending on whether the version is already clear from the title or needs to be clarified afterwards. Use the following format if the version is already clear from the title.
MLA format |
---|
MLA in-text citation |
If the version needs to be clarified, do so after the title. This version information is capitalized but not italicized, and it is separated from the title with a period.
MLA format |
---|
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Citing The Printed Bible In Apa
Reference List Entry
Title of the Bible. . Publishers Name. .
Example:
King James Bible. . Royal Family Publication Society. .
In-Text Citation
Parenthetical:
Narrative:King James Bible documents the principles of early English churches.
Footnote
- If authors use footnotes for copyright attribution, it is not necessary to place a parenthetical in-text citation.
In-Text Appearance:
Matthew concludes his sermon with rhetorical questions:
A long quotation that may not agree with the terms of free use outlined in the copyright license. This quotation can be a half a page or longer.1
Note:
1 From King James Bible , 1831/2020, Royal Family Publication Society. Copyright 2020 by the Royal Family Publication Society. Reprinted with permission.
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How To Cite An E
The APA citation for an e-book that has a URL or DOI follows a similar format as a standard book citation. The main distinction is the inclusion of its DOI or URL, which is formatted as an active link. This is placed after the publishers name.
Ebbinghaus, H. . Psychology: An elementary text-book .
D. C. Heath. EPUB. https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/52823.epub.images
Works Cited Page Format

Below is an example of how an authored book would be accurately cited in APA format on a reference page:
Cialdini, R. . Influence: The psychology of persuasion. Harper Business.
The citation begins with the authors last name, a comma separates the initial of the authors first name, and a period follows. Parentheses surround the publication date, which is followed by a period. Then comes the book title, which is italicized, written in sentence case, and followed by a period. Finally, the publishers name is included, and the APA book citation concludes with a period.
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