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Bible API

Free Bible API with no key: fetch any verse, passage or chapter as JSON with multiple translations. Simple URL-based reference lookup. Tested example.

No API key requiredCORS enabledHTTPSFree tier

Endpoint tested and returned HTTP 200 on 2026-08-19

What is the Bible API?

Bible API is a free, key-free API that returns Bible passages as JSON. Reference lookup is done directly in the URL path, with several public-domain translations available.

The reference syntax is the appeal: request `/john 3:16` and you get that verse. Ranges, whole chapters and multiple references all work the same way, so you rarely need to consult documentation.

Translations are limited to public-domain texts such as the World English Bible and King James Version, since modern translations are under copyright. That constraint is why the API can be free and unrestricted.

Quick facts

Base URL
https://bible-api.com
Authentication
No API key required.
Rate limit
No published limit; fair use expected.
Pricing
Free. Available translations are public domain.
CORS
Enabled — callable directly from browser JavaScript
Official docs
Read the docs

How to use the Bible API

Every request below was executed against the live API on 2026-08-19, and the response shown is the real body it returned — not an illustration.

1. Fetch a Bible verse

GET https://bible-api.com/john%203:16

curl
curl 'https://bible-api.com/john%203:16'
JavaScript (fetch)
const res = await fetch("https://bible-api.com/john%203:16");
if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`Request failed: ${res.status}`);
const data = await res.json();
console.log(data);
Python (requests)
import requests

res = requests.get("https://bible-api.com/john%203:16", timeout=20)
res.raise_for_status()
print(res.json())
Response — HTTP 200
{
  "reference": "John 3:16",
  "verses": [
    {
      "book_id": "JHN",
      "book_name": "John",
      "chapter": 3,
      "verse": 16,
      "text": "\nFor God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.\n\n"
    }
  ],
  "text": "\nFor God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.\n\n",
  "translation_id": "web",
  "translation_name": "World English Bible",
  "translation_note": "Public Domain"
}

Parameters

ParameterTypeRequiredDescription
<reference>pathRequiredVerse or passage reference, URL-encoded. john%203:16
translationstringOptionalTranslation identifier such as kjv or web. kjv
verse_numbersbooleanOptionalInclude verse numbers in the text. true

Response fields

referencestring
The normalised reference that was resolved.
versesarray
Individual verses with book, chapter, verse and text.
textstring
The full passage text concatenated.
translation_namestring
Name of the translation used.
translation_notestring
Copyright or public domain note.

What you can build with the Bible API

  • Build a scripture lookup tool or daily verse widget
  • Add verse references to a study or devotional app
  • Create a chat bot that resolves scripture references
  • Support religious education resources

Common errors and how to fix them

404

The reference could not be parsed.

Fix: URL-encode the reference; spaces and colons need encoding in most clients.

Unexpected translation

The default translation was used.

Fix: Pass ?translation=kjv explicitly if you need a specific text.

Leading newlines in text

Verse text often begins with a newline.

Fix: Trim before displaying.

Bible API — frequently asked questions

Is the Bible API free?

Yes, free with no API key. The available translations are public domain, which is what allows unrestricted use.

Which translations are available?

Public-domain texts including the World English Bible and King James Version. Modern translations are under copyright and cannot be offered freely.

How do I request a passage rather than a single verse?

Use a range in the reference, such as /john+3:16-18, or request a whole chapter with /john+3.

Can I request multiple references at once?

Yes, separate them with commas in the path — the API resolves each and returns them together.

Tools that pair with this API

Word Counter

Count words, characters, sentences, paragraphs and estimated reading time instantly. Free online word counter for essays, blogs and social media.

JSON Formatter

Format, beautify and minify JSON online with 2-space, 4-space or tab indentation. Sort keys alphabetically and catch syntax errors instantly — free and private.

Bible API is an independent third-party service and is not affiliated with ByteTools or ByteVancer. Details on this page were verified on 2026-08-19; always check the official documentation before relying on this API in production, as terms and limits can change.