How to read and understand a quote from the Bible

The Holy Bible consists of 73 books.
Each book is divided into chapters which in turn are subdivided into verses.
The books of the Bible are cited by abbreviations.
The chapters and verses are indicated by numbers and some letters (a, b, c, d) that identify the paragraphs, that is the part of the verse wanted to be mentioned.

To correctly interpret a quote, all its parts are to be identified.

A quote first indicates the abbreviation of the book which it refers to.
Example: “Mt” indicates Matthew’s Gospel.

The abbreviation of the book name is followed by a number that identifies the chapter.
Example: “Mt 1” indicates the first chapter of Matthew’s Gospel.

The number that identifies the chapter is followed by a number that identifies the verse. Chapter and verse are separated by a colon.
Example: “Mt 1:1” indicates the first verse of the first chapter of Matthew’s Gospel.

If the quoted verses are more than one, there are different possibilities:

A hyphen “-” means that the quote includes the verses ranging from the number on the left and that on the right of the hyphen:
Example: “Mt 1:1-3” indicates the passage included between verse 1 to verse 3 of the first chapter of Matthew’s Gospel.

A period is used to indicate only the verses with the quoted number.
Example: “Mt 1:1.3” indicates the first and third verses of the first chapter of Matthew’s Gospel.

A semicolon is used to separate verses of different chapters.
Example: “Mt 1:1; 2:1” indicates the first verse of the first chapter and the first verse of the second chapter of Matthew’s Gospel.

Gn 3:13; 4:6
[Book of Genesis, chapter 3 verse 13 and chapter 4 verse 6]

Lk 1:2-4.7
[Gospel of Luke, chapter 1, from verse 2 to verse 4, plus verse 7].

1Pt 1:7-9.13-20
[First letter of St. Peter, chapter 1, from verse 7 to verse 9 and from verse 13 to verse 20]

Rev 18:2b
[Book of Revelation, chapter 18 verse 2 only the second paragraph]

 

Chronological list of the books of the Bible
and their abbreviations

GenesisGn
ExodusEx
LeviticusLv
NumbersNm
DeuteronomyDt
JoshuaJsh
JudgesJdgs
RuthRth
1 Samuel1Sam
2 Samuel2Sam
1 Kings1kgs
1 Kings2Re
1 Chronicles1Cr
2 Chronicles2Cr
EzraEzr
NehemiahNe
TobitTob
JudithJdt
EstherEst
1 Maccabees1 Mac
2 Maccabees2 Mac
JobJb
PsalmsPs
ProverbsPrv
EcclesiastesEccles
CanticlesCant
WisdomWis
SirachSir
IsaiahIs
JeremiahJer
LamentationsLam
BaruchBar
EzekialEzk
DanielDn
HoseaHos
JoelJl
AmosAm
ObadiahObad
JonahJnh
MicahMic
NahumNah
HabakkukHab
ZephaniahZep
HaggaiHag
ZechariahZec
MalachiMl

 

MatthewMt
MarkMk
LukeLk
JohnJn
Acts of the ApostlesActs
RomansRm
1 Corinthians1 Cor
2 Corinthians2 Cor
GalatiansGal
EphesiansEph
PhilippiansPhp
ColossiansCol
1 Thessalonians1Th
2 Thessalonians2Th
1 Timothy1Tim
2 Timothy2Tim
TitusTit
PhilemonPhm
HebrewsHeb
JamesJm
1 Peter1Pt
2 Peter2Pt
1 John1Jn
2 John2Jn
3 John3Jn
JudeJud
RevelationRev

 

 

Alphabetical list of abbreviations
of the books of the Bible

ActsActs 1Kgs1Kings
AmAmos 1Kgs2Kings
BarBaruch LamLamentations
CantCanticles LkLuke
ColColossians LvLeviticus
1Cor1Corinthians 1Mac1 Maccabees
2Cor2Corinthians 2Mac2 Maccabees
1Cr1 Chronicles MicMicah
2Cr2 Chronicles MkMark
DanDaniel MlMalachi
DtDeuteronomy MtMattew
EcclesEcclesiastes NahNahum
EphEphesians NeNehemiah
EstEsther NmNumbers
ExbExodus ObadObadiah
EzkEzekial 1Pt1 Peter
EzrEzra 2Pt2 Peter
GalGalatians PhmPhilemon
GnGenesis PhpPhilippians
HabHabakkuk PrvProverbs
HagHaggai PsPsalms
HebHebrews RevRevelation
HosHosea RomRomans
IsIsaiah RthRuth
JcJames 1Sam1 Samuel
JbJob 2Sam2 Samuel
JdJude SirSirach
JdgsJudges 1Ts1 Thessalonians
JdtJudith 2Ts2 Thessalonians
JerJeremiah 1Tim1 Timothy
JlJoel 2Tim2 Timothy
JnJohn TbTobit
1Jn1 John TitTitus
2Jn2 John WisWisdom
3Jn3 John ZecZechariah
JnhJonah ZepZephaniah
JshJoshua