What is the shortest verse in the bible

Summary

What is the shortest verse in the bible

What is the shortest verse in the bible

The Power of Brevity: 60 Shortest Bible Verses

 

Sometimes God speaks in thunders, and sometimes He speaks in whispers. These verses represent the power of brevity in Scripture.

I. The Title Holder (The Shortest Verse in English)

 

1. John 11:35 – “Jesus wept.”

II. The Greek Contenders (Shortest in Original Text)

 

In the original Greek, some of these have fewer letters than John 11:35.

2. 1 Thessalonians 5:16 – “Rejoice always.”

3. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 – “Pray continually.” (or “Pray without ceasing”).

III. Two and Three Word Powerhouses

 

4. Luke 17:32 – “Remember Lot’s wife.”

5. 1 Thessalonians 5:19 – “Quench not the Spirit.” (KJV) / “Do not quench the Spirit.”

6. 1 Thessalonians 5:20 – “Despise not prophesyings.” (KJV)

7. 1 Thessalonians 5:25 – “Brothers, pray for us.”

8. Exodus 20:13 – “You shall not murder.”

9. Exodus 20:15 – “You shall not steal.”

10. Exodus 20:14 – “You shall not commit adultery.”

11. John 1:46 – “Come and see.”

12. John 6:20 – “It is I; don’t be afraid.”

13. John 10:30 – “I and the Father are one.”

14. John 14:6 – “I am the way.” (Part of the verse, often quoted as a short mantra).

15. 1 John 4:8 – “God is love.”

16. 1 John 4:19 – “We love because he first loved us.” (Often shortened to “We love him”).

17. Psalm 23:1 – “The Lord is my shepherd.”

18. Psalm 46:10 – “Be still.”

19. Psalm 136:1 – “His love endures forever.” (The recurring refrain).

20. Mark 4:39 – “Quiet! Be still!”

21. Luke 24:6 – “He is not here; he has risen!”

22. John 18:38 – “What is truth?”

23. John 19:30 – “It is finished.”

24. 1 Corinthians 10:31 – “Do it all for the glory of God.”

25. 1 Corinthians 16:14 – “Do everything in love.”

26. Colossians 3:2 – “Set your minds on things above.”

27. Colossians 3:15 – “And be thankful.”

28. James 4:7 – “Resist the devil.”

29. James 4:8 – “Come near to God.”

30. Hebrews 13:1 – “Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters.”

IV. Short Commands & Declarations

 

31. Genesis 1:1 – “In the beginning God…”

32. Genesis 1:3 – “And God said, ‘Let there be light.'”

33. Exodus 3:14 – “I AM WHO I AM.”

34. Deuteronomy 5:7 – “You shall have no other gods before me.”

35. 1 Chronicles 16:11 – “Seek the LORD and his strength.”

36. Psalm 27:14 – “Wait for the LORD.”

37. Psalm 37:7 – “Be still before the LORD.”

38. Psalm 56:3 – “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”

39. Psalm 100:2 – “Worship the LORD with gladness.”

40. Psalm 119:105 – “Your word is a lamp for my feet.”

41. Psalm 150:6 – “Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.”

42. Proverbs 3:5 – “Trust in the LORD.”

43. Isaiah 40:8 – “The word of our God endures forever.”

44. Matthew 4:19 – “Come, follow me.”

45. Matthew 5:14 – “You are the light of the world.”

46. Matthew 11:28 – “Come to me, all you who are weary.”

47. Matthew 28:6 – “He is risen.”

48. Mark 5:36 – “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

49. Luke 1:37 – “For no word from God will ever fail.”

50. Luke 11:9 – “Ask and it will be given to you.”

51. Luke 17:32 – “Remember Lot’s wife.”

52. John 3:30 – “He must become greater; I must become less.”

53. John 8:11 – “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

54. John 15:5 – “Apart from me you can do nothing.”

55. Romans 12:9 – “Love must be sincere.”

56. Romans 12:12 – “Be joyful in hope.”

57. 1 Corinthians 13:8 – “Love never fails.”

58. Philippians 4:4 – “Rejoice in the Lord always.”

59. 1 Thessalonians 5:22 – “Reject every kind of evil.”

60. Hebrews 12:29 – “For our God is a consuming fire.”

25 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About the Shortest Bible Verse

 

Q1: What is officially the shortest verse in the Bible? A: In most English translations (KJV, NIV, ESV), John 11:35 (“Jesus wept”) is the shortest verse.

Q2: Is “Jesus wept” the shortest verse in the original languages? A: No. In the original Greek, 1 Thessalonians 5:16 (“Rejoice always”) is shorter. “Rejoice always” is 14 letters in Greek, while “Jesus wept” is 16 letters.

Q3: Why is “Jesus wept” so famous? A: Beyond being a trivia answer, it is theologically profound. It shows the full humanity of Jesus, His empathy for our grief, and His hatred of death, even moments before He performed a miracle.

Q4: Why did Jesus weep if He knew He was going to raise Lazarus? A: He wept out of compassion for Mary and Martha’s sorrow, and perhaps in anger at the tyranny of death over humanity. It validates human grief.

Q5: Are there other contenders for the shortest verse? A: Yes. Job 3:2 says “He said” in some translations (leading into a speech). 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (“Pray continually”) is also only two words in some versions.

Q6: What is the shortest verse in the Old Testament? A: In English, it is often 1 Chronicles 1:25 (“Eber, Peleg, Reu”). It is a genealogy list containing only three names.

Q7: Why are some verses so short? A: The verse divisions were not in the original manuscripts; they were added much later (16th century) to help us locate passages. Some divisions were made for emphasis or natural pauses in the text.

Q8: What is the shortest chapter in the Bible? A: Psalm 117. It has only two verses.

Q9: What is the longest verse in the Bible? A: Esther 8:9. It contains roughly 90 words in English, detailing a royal decree to the Jews.

Q10: What is the longest chapter in the Bible? A: Psalm 119. It has 176 verses, all dedicated to the glory of God’s Word.

Q11: Why should I memorize short Bible verses? A: Short verses act as “spiritual anchors.” In moments of stress or temptation, it is easier to recall “Pray continually” or “Jesus wept” than a long passage.

Q12: Is “God is love” a full verse? A: It is a phrase found in 1 John 4:8 and 1 John 4:16, but in most translations, it is part of a longer sentence. However, it is often quoted independently.

Q13: What does “Rejoice always” mean? A: It is a command to maintain a spirit of joy regardless of external circumstances, rooted in the unchanging nature of God.

Q14: What does “Pray without ceasing” mean? A: It doesn’t mean mumbling prayers 24/7, but maintaining a constant posture of communion with God, where every thought can easily turn into prayer.

Q15: What does “Quench not the Spirit” mean? A: It means do not suppress, ignore, or reject the promptings and movement of the Holy Spirit in your life or church.

Q16: Why is “Remember Lot’s wife” (Luke 17:32) a significant short verse? A: It is a stark three-word warning from Jesus against looking back at a sinful past or longing for the world when God has called you to move forward.

Q17: What is the center verse of the Bible? A: Traditionally, Psalm 118:8 (“It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man”) is cited as the center, though word counts vary by translation.

Q18: Who divided the Bible into verses? A: The New Testament verses were added by Robert Estienne (Stephanus) in 1551. Legend says he did it while riding on horseback, which explains some awkward breaks!

Q19: What is the shortest book in the Bible? A: 3 John has the fewest words, though 2 John has fewer verses.

Q20: How many verses are in the Bible? A: There are 31,102 verses in the King James Version.

Q21: Can a short verse still be powerful? A: Absolutely. “It is finished” (John 19:30) consists of three words in English (one in Greek: Tetelestai), yet it declares the completion of the entire plan of salvation.

Q22: What does “I am” mean? A: Found in John 8:58 (“Before Abraham was, I am”), it is a short claim to eternal divinity, referencing the name of God given to Moses (Exodus 3:14).

Q23: Is “Money is the root of all evil” a verse? A: No, that is a misquote. 1 Timothy 6:10 says, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.”

Q24: What is the best short verse for anxiety? A: 1 Peter 5:7: “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” Or simply Psalm 56:3: “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”

Q25: How can I use short verses for evangelism? A: Short verses like John 3:16 or Romans 10:9 succinctly explain the Gospel and are easy to share in conversation or on social media.