Bible-api

About Bible-api

Bible-api.com is a JSON API for retrieving Bible verses and passages, created by Tim Morgan, with source code and open data available on GitHub. It offers two access methods: a user-input API that parses natural references like "john 3:16" or "matt 25:31-33,46," and a parameterized API requiring explicit translation, book, and chapter identifiers (e.g., /data/web/JHN/3). It also provides a random-verse endpoint that can be scoped to specific books, comma-separated book lists, or the Old or New Testament.

The service supports multiple translations, including the World English Bible (default), King James Version, American Standard Version, Bible in Basic English, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims, Young's Literal Translation, British and US editions of the Open English Bible, and translations in Cherokee, Chinese, Czech, Latin, Portuguese, and Romanian. It supports CORS for browser-based JavaScript use.

The service is free to use but rate-limited to 15 requests every 30 seconds per IP address, and it should not be used to download an entire Bible. It carries no guarantees of availability, quality, or correctness, and the code and data can be self-hosted for more reliable use.

Key features

• Retrieve Bible verses and passages via simple URL requests (e.g. john 3:16)
• Supports multiple translations including WEB, KJV, ASV, and more via a translation parameter
• Parameterized API for exact lookups by translation, book, and chapter IDs
• Random verse endpoint, filterable by book, Old Testament, or New Testament
• CORS enabled for use directly from browser JavaScript

Frequently asked questions