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How to read Bible references

John 3:16 may look like a code. It is simply an address that tells you where to look in the Bible. Let’s read it together.

An adult reader helps a young learner find a place in a large open Bible
JohnBOOKWhich book?
3CHAPTERWhich chapter?
:separates
the numbers
16VERSEWhich verse?
Say it: “John, chapter three, verse sixteen.”

Three small steps to the right place

1 · Book

Find John

The Bible is a collection of books. Here, the book is called John.

2 · Chapter

Go to chapter 3

A chapter is a section of a book. The number before the colon tells you which one.

3 · Verse

Find verse 16

A verse is a small numbered part of the text. The number after the colon tells you which one.

These are chapter and verse numbers, not page numbers. Verse numbers start again at 1 in each chapter. A verse can be part of a sentence or more than one sentence.

One verse or several?

A dash means “through.” Read the first verse, the last verse, and every verse between them.

John 3:16

Chapter 3, verse 16 only.

One verse selected: 16.

John 3:14–18

Chapter 3, verses 14 through 18.

Five verses selected: 14, 15, 16, 17, 18.

The filled boxes show what to read. A short dash (-) or a longer dash (–) means the same thing here.

A few more patterns you may see

John 3
The whole of chapter 3. No verse number is given.

John 3:16, 18
Verses 16 and 18 of chapter 3. The comma means separate verses; verse 17 is not included.

John 3:16; 4:1
Two separate places: chapter 3, verse 16, then chapter 4, verse 1, both in John.

John 3:36–4:2
A range that crosses chapters: start at chapter 3, verse 36, then read chapter 4, verses 1 and 2.

1 John 3:16
The book is 1 John (said “First John”), chapter 3, verse 16. The first 1 belongs to the book’s name. John and 1 John are different books.

Jn 3:16
“Jn” is a shortened name for John. Book abbreviations can differ between publications.

John 3.16
Some publications use a dot instead of a colon. Here it still means chapter 3, verse 16.

Find it in a Bible

  1. Find the book. In a printed Bible, use the contents page to find John. In an app, choose the book or search for the reference.
  2. Find the chapter. Turn or scroll to chapter 3. In many printed Bibles, chapter numbers are large.
  3. Find the verse. Look for the small 16 beside the text. For 14–18, begin at 14 and keep reading through the end of 18.

Open John 3:14–18 in the Bible reader →

Finding the words is the first step. To understand them, read the surrounding passage too. Ask: Who is speaking? What is happening? How does this verse fit with the verses around it?

Your turn

Try saying each reference in your own words, then open the answer. There is no timer or score.

Psalm 23:1

Which chapter and verse?

Reveal answer
The book of Psalms, chapter (Psalm) 23, verse 1. Just one verse.

John 3:14–18

How many verses do you read?

Reveal answer
Five: 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18. Include both ends of the range.

2 Timothy 1:7

Is the chapter 2 or 1?

Reveal answer
Chapter 1, verse 7. The 2 is part of the book’s name: 2 Timothy, said “Second Timothy.”

Keep this in mind: Book → chapter → verse.
A dash means “through.”

Sources and a note on this guide

This introduction explains common English Bible reference formats. The diagrams show verse numbers, not the length of each verse.

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