The number of words in the Bible varies depending on the translation and language. Here are some approximate word counts for popular English versions:
- King James Version (KJV): ~783,137 words
- New International Version (NIV): ~727,969 words
- English Standard Version (ESV): ~757,439 words
- New American Standard Bible (NASB): ~782,815 words
The original Hebrew (Old Testament) and Greek (New Testament) texts have different word counts. For example:
- Hebrew Old Testament: ~304,805 words
- Greek New Testament: ~138,162 words
How Many Words Are in the Bible? A Detailed Breakdown
The Bible is one of the most widely read and studied books in history, but have you ever wondered just how long it really is? Whether you’re a scholar, a curious reader, or preparing for a Bible study, knowing the word count can be fascinating.
In this blog post, we’ll explore:
- The approximate word count in different Bible translations
- Word counts for the Old and New Testaments
- How the Bible compares to other famous books
- Why word counts vary between translations
1. Word Count in Popular English Bible Translations
Since the Bible was originally written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, translations into English (and other languages) vary in length. Here’s a breakdown of some major versions:
| Translation | Total Words | Old Testament | New Testament |
|---|---|---|---|
| King James Version (KJV) | ~783,137 | ~602,585 | ~180,552 |
| New International Version (NIV) | ~727,969 | ~566,840 | ~161,129 |
| English Standard Version (ESV) | ~757,439 | ~582,796 | ~174,643 |
| New American Standard Bible (NASB) | ~782,815 | ~598,966 | ~183,849 |
Why Do Word Counts Differ?
- Translation style: Some versions (like the KJV) use more formal, wordier language, while others (like the NIV) aim for readability.
- Textual basis: Some Bibles include additional books (e.g., Catholic Bibles have the Deuterocanonical books).
- Word choices: Different translations may use more or fewer words to convey the same meaning.
2. Word Count in the Original Languages
The Bible wasn’t written in English, so the original manuscripts had different lengths:
- Hebrew Old Testament (Tanakh): ~304,805 words
- Greek New Testament: ~138,162 words
- Total (Original Languages): ~442,967 words
Interestingly, the English translations tend to be longer because:
- Hebrew and Greek are more concise.
- English often requires additional words for clarity.
3. Longest and Shortest Books in the Bible
Longest Book (Word Count in KJV)
- Psalms – ~43,743 words
- Jeremiah – ~42,659 words
- Genesis – ~38,267 words
Shortest Book (Word Count in KJV)
- 3 John – ~294 words
- 2 John – ~245 words
- Philemon – ~430 words
4. How Does the Bible Compare to Other Books?
To put the Bible’s length into perspective:
- The Lord of the Rings trilogy: ~455,000 words
- War and Peace: ~587,000 words
- Harry Potter series (all 7 books): ~1,084,000 words
The Bible is longer than most single novels but shorter than some fantasy series. However, its depth and variety (history, poetry, prophecy, letters) make it unique.
5. Does Word Count Matter for Bible Study?
Not necessarily! While it’s interesting to compare lengths, what matters most is:
- Understanding the message – A short verse like John 3:16 carries profound meaning.
- Context matters – Some books (like Proverbs) are dense with wisdom, while others (like Esther) are narrative-driven.
- Translation choice – If you want word-for-word accuracy, NASB or ESV may be better. For readability, NIV or NLT might help.
Final Thoughts
The Bible’s word count varies by translation, but most English versions fall between 720,000–790,000 words. Whether you’re reading for devotion, study, or curiosity, the Bible’s richness goes far beyond mere numbers.
Did you find this surprising? Let us know in the comments which Bible translation you prefer and why!
How many words are in the bible – analysis
The Bible’s word count varies by translation, but here are the key figures for major English versions:
- King James Version (KJV): 783,137 words (610,296 in the Old Testament, 180,382 in the New Testament)
- New International Version (NIV): 727,993 words (551,742 in the Old Testament, 176,251 in the New Testament)
- English Standard Version (ESV): 756,846 words (581,112 in the Old Testament, 175,734 in the New Testament)
Breakdown by Testament:
- Old Testament: Ranges from ~551,000 (NIV) to ~610,000 (KJV) words, with Jeremiah being the longest book (42,645 words in KJV)
- New Testament: Ranges from ~175,000 (ESV) to ~180,000 (KJV) words, with Luke as the longest book (25,939 words in KJV)
Additional Notes:
- The Catholic Bible includes additional books, increasing its word count beyond Protestant versions
- Counting methods may slightly alter totals, but the KJV’s ~783,000 words is the most widely cited figure
How many words are in the Old Testament
The King James Version (KJV) of the Old Testament contains 602,580 words, making up roughly 77% of the Bible’s total word count of 783,131. Here’s a breakdown of key statistics for the Old Testament in the KJV:
- Chapters: 929 (78% of the Bible’s total chapters)
- Verses: 23,145 (74% of the Bible’s total verses).
- Unique words: 10,867
- Longest book: Psalms (150 chapters, 2,461 verses)
- Shortest book: Obadiah (1 chapter, 21 verses, 670 words)
Other translations:
- The New American Standard Bible (NASB) lists the Old Testament at 622,700 words
- The original Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) has approximately 306,757 Hebrew words
The variation in word counts depends on the translation and textual tradition (e.g., Protestant vs. Catholic Bibles)
How many words are in the New Testament
The New Testament contains approximately 180,000 words in most English translations, with variations depending on the version:
- King James Version (KJV): ~180,382 words
- New International Version (NIV): ~176,251 words
- English Standard Version (ESV): ~175,734 words
Breakdown by section:
- The Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John): ~83,898 words combined
- Acts: ~18,450 words
- Epistles and Revelation: ~61,603 words
The original Greek New Testament is shorter, with ~138,020 words, demonstrating the conciseness of Koine Greek compared to English translations.
For context, the New Testament comprises 27 books, 260 chapters, and 7,959 verses.
How many words are in the Greek New Testament
The Greek New Testament contains approximately 138,162 words, derived from 5,437 unique Greek words. Here’s a detailed breakdown:
Key Statistics
- Total word count: 138,162 (Nestle-Aland 28/UBS 5 critical text)
- Unique words: 5,437, with 319 words (5.8%) accounting for 79.9% of the text (occurring 50+ times each)
- Average word length: ~675 words per chapter
Comparative Data
- Hebrew/Aramaic Old Testament: ~304,901 words
- English Translations:
- KJV New Testament: ~180,382 words (longer due to English phrasing)
- NIV/ESV New Testament: ~176,000 words
Notable Features
- Hebrews has the most unique Greek words (154)
- The Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) has 2.5× more unique words than the New Testament
The Greek New Testament’s compactness (compared to English translations) reflects Koine Greek’s efficiency.
How many words are in the English Standard Version of the Bible
The English Standard Version (ESV) of the Bible contains 756,846 words, with the following breakdown:
- Old Testament: 581,112 words.
- New Testament: 175,734 words.
This places the ESV between the King James Version (783,137 words) and the New International Version (727,993 words) in length. The variation stems from translation methodologies, as the ESV prioritizes formal equivalence (word-for-word accuracy) over paraphrasing.
For context:
- The longest book in the ESV is Psalms (43,738 words).
- The shortest book is 3 John (294 words in KJV; ESV counts are similar)
The ESV’s 2025 update introduced minor revisions, affecting roughly one word per 11,000
