A Bible citation generator formats one passage in MLA 9, APA 7, or Chicago notes. The punctuation changes with the style. The book, chapter, and verse stay the same.
MLA 9 uses a period between chapter and verse
Pepperdine University Library tells writers to name the edition on the first in-text citation, then use a period, not a colon: John 3.16. A later citation from the same edition can drop the edition name and keep the abbreviated book, chapter, and verse, as in (Deut. 8.7).
The Works Cited entry names the edition. Pepperdine's example is The Student Bible, edited by Phillip Yancey, New York: Zondervan, 1996. Match the publisher and year to the copy you actually used. The translations hub lists the editions this site stores on each passage.
APA 7 names the translation once, then drops it
Pepperdine's APA pattern puts the book, chapter, and verse first, then the translation name, with a colon: (Prov. 13:20 New International Version). The next citation from that same translation can be book, chapter, and verse only: (Ezek. 31:7).
Pepperdine also says biblical references stay off the reference list unless the professor requires them. That is the opposite of a normal book citation. The Bible tools hub is the parent page for this formatter.
Chicago puts scripture in the notes, not the bibliography
Thompson Rivers University Library summarizes Chicago Manual of Style sections 14.240–241: a note gives the book, a colon between chapter and verse, and the version. Page numbers stay out. Their traditional example is 1. Matt. 1:18-25 (Authorized (King James) Version). The bibliography line is "Not included."
Pepperdine's first-note pattern is the same shape: 1. 1 Thess. 4:11 (New Revised Standard Version). A later note can be the passage alone. Search Console queries for "citing the bible chicago" and "how to cite the bible chicago" already land on this URL, so the note above is the direct answer. Bing queries also ask for an MLA citation of Deuteronomy 6:16 and an APA citation of an ESV verse. Use the table, then confirm the edition line against the copy in your hand.
| Style | Deuteronomy 6:16 | John 3:16, ESV |
|---|---|---|
| MLA 9 | (Deut. 6.16) | (English Standard Version, John 3.16) |
| APA 7 | (Deut. 6:16) | (John 3:16 English Standard Version) |
| Chicago note | 1. Deut. 6:16. | 1. John 3:16 (English Standard Version). |
SBL style, also on Pepperdine's guide, drops the period in the book abbreviation and keeps the colon: (Prov 13:20 NIV). Open the scripture dice when you need a passage to practice on. The roller draws from 17 curated passages, including Proverbs 16:33.
Questions readers ask about Bible citations
How do you cite the Bible in MLA?
Name the edition on the first citation and separate chapter from verse with a period. Later citations from that edition can be the abbreviated book plus chapter and verse.
Does APA put the Bible on the reference list?
Pepperdine says no, unless the professor requires a reference entry. Name the translation in the first parenthetical citation.
Does Chicago list the Bible in the bibliography?
Thompson Rivers University Library says scriptural references appear in the notes and are not included in the bibliography.
Related reading
Compare editions on the translations page. Roll a practice passage on the random Bible verse generator.
Use the formatter, then check the handbook
The generator writes the passage. The handbook decides the punctuation. More guides like this appear when you search "Bible Answer Team citation" on Google.