Bible Facts
Books and Bible structure
Direct biblical statementLight on day one, sun on day fourGenesis 1 describes light on the first day and the sun, moon and stars on the fourth day.Text-derived calculation"Jesus wept" is the shortest verse in this editionIn the World English Bible on BibleKenya, John 11:35 "Jesus wept." is the shortest verse by number of letters.Text-derived calculationEsther 8:9 is the longest verse in this editionIn the World English Bible on BibleKenya, Esther 8:9 is the longest verse, with 86 words.Text-derived calculationPsalm 119 is the longest chapterPsalm 119 has 176 verses, the most of any chapter in the Bible.Text-derived calculationPsalm 117 is the shortest chapterPsalm 117 has just two verses, the fewest of any chapter.Translation-dependent observation3 John: 14 verses in this editionIn the World English Bible, 3 John has 14 verses; some editions divide its last verse in two and count 15.Translation-dependent observationGod is not named in EstherThe book of Esther, as it appears in Protestant Bibles, never uses the word God or the LORD's name.Translation-dependent observation66 books in Protestant BiblesProtestant Bibles have 66 books: 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New. Catholic and Orthodox Bibles include additional books.Historical or external claimPart of Daniel was written in AramaicMost of the Old Testament is in Hebrew, but Daniel 2:4b–7:28 and parts of Ezra are in Aramaic.Translation-dependent observationThe Ten Commandments are called "ten words"Exodus and Deuteronomy call the commandments "the ten commandments", literally "ten words" in Hebrew.Direct biblical statementJesus answered temptation with DeuteronomyIn the wilderness Jesus answered each temptation with words from Deuteronomy: "It is written."Translation-dependent observationTwo versions of the Lord's PrayerMatthew and Luke both record the Lord's Prayer; Luke's version is shorter and comes after a disciple asks to be taught to pray.Text-derived calculation"It is finished" is only in JohnJesus' words "It is finished" from the cross are recorded only in John's Gospel.Direct biblical statementJeremiah wrote a letter to the exilesJeremiah sent a letter to the exiles in Babylon telling them to build houses, plant gardens and seek the peace of the city.Direct biblical statementPaul commended PhoebePaul commended Phoebe, a servant (deacon) of the church at Cenchreae, and asked the Romans to help her.Direct biblical statementAn Ethiopian official was reading IsaiahPhilip met an Ethiopian court official in a chariot reading Isaiah aloud, explained it to him, and baptized him.Text-derived calculationMatthew's three groups of fourteenMatthew arranges Jesus' genealogy in three groups of fourteen generations.Direct biblical statementThe Bible ends with graceThe last verse of the Bible is a blessing of grace: "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with all the saints. Amen."Literary or interpretive observationThe Bible begins "In the beginning"The first words of the Bible are "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth."