SBL citation style

Biblical citations

Student supplement for The SBL Handbook of Style, 1.2

To cite modern Bible versions, do not add information in either footnotes or bibliography, instead include only an in-text citation.

When giving a chapter and verse of a book of the Bible in-text, do not write out the words "chapter” or "verse.” Instead, include the abbreviation of the book followed by the Arabic numeral of the chapter, a colon, and the Arabic numeral of the verse. When referring to consecutive verses, put an en dash between the first and last verse numbers. A semicolon should separate references to subsequent chapters or books. (Student Supplement for The SBL Handbook of Style, 1.2, p. 3)

Example

• Gen 3:4.
• Gen 1:1-2:3; 3; 4:1, 6; Exod 4:5-8; 7.

The names of biblical books, translations, and the Bible should not be underlined or italicized. When quoting the Bible, you must specify the Bible translation you are using either by including the full name of the Bible translation in the body of the sentence in which the quote appears or by including the abbreviation for the translation in a parenthetical reference at the end of the Sentence. If you do not state the chapter and verse of the biblical passage you are citing and the name of the translation in the body of the sentence, this information should appear in parentheses at the end of the sentence with the book of the Bible, chapter, and verse followed by the abbreviation for the translation. (Student Supplement for The SBL Handbook of Style, 1.2, p. 4)

Example

• The Torah opens with the words, “When God began to create” (Gen 1:1 CEB).
• Genesis 1:26 portrays God proclaiming, “Let us make humankind in our image” (NRSV).
• The King James Version of Gen 1:26 states, “Let us make man in our image.”

For other citation formats, as well as additional examples, please consult the SBL Handbook of Style. If a desired format is not listed, please consult the Chicago Manual of Style.