Understand The Basics
The basics of quoting the Bible in MLA style are like most other quoting formats. When quoting a verse, it should be enclosed in quotation marks. When quoting a phrase, verse, or passage, parenthetical citations should include the book name, chapter number and verse numbers separated by periods. For example: (John 3.16). When quoting four or more lines of a passage, start the quotation on a new line and indent it 1/2 inch from the left margin. Include the parenthetical citation after the final line of the quote, and provide the book name, chapter and verse.
It is important to note that while the Bible is not usually submitted to a publisher, you may still need to capture quotes to support your reading. This is especially true if you are citing the Bible in any scholarly essay.
Finding Bible Verses
The Bible can be a tricky item to cite, since there are so many versions, editions, and variations. It is important that you use the same edition on the entire paper. In MLA, cite the Bible as follows: (book chapter:verse, publication editorial). For example, when quoting from the King James Version of the Bible, the parenthetical citation would look like this: (1 Kings 20:16, KJV).
When citing a Bible verse in an essay, you also need to make sure you are citing the correct Bible version. Depending on your professor’s instructions, you may have to cite one or more versions. As always, it is best to check with your professor before beginning any essay.
Include Other Sources
When quoting the Bible in an essay, it is important to include other sources as well. This will help support any claims you are making regarding the text. Biblical scholar James Duke, for instance, notes: “Though one should cite the Bible as the primary source, using other scholarly sources provides additional evidence and insight into one’s interpretation.” Depending on the paper, it may be helpful to include quotes from commentators, theologians, or other spiritual leaders in addition to the Bible itself.
Follow a Bible Reference Chart
Something that can help make quoting the Bible easier is a reference chart. Bible reference charts outline the various versions, editions, and chapters for each Bible book. The chart allows you to quickly identify which book you are citing and make sure you are quoting the correct passage.
If you are citing the Bible multiple times throughout your paper, it may be helpful to use a Bible reference chart at the beginning of your paper. This allows you to easily track the quotes throughout the paper and make sure the citations are correct.
Cite the Author
Another important point to keep in mind when quoting the Bible is that it should be cited as a single author. Although there are many authors associated with the Bible, it should be cited as if it were one author. The same rule applies for other religious texts such as the Qur’an and various Buddhist texts.
Thoroughly Check Your Work
It is important to thoroughly check your work when citing the Bible. Citing the Bible correctly can be a difficult task, so it is important that you give your citations a double-check. Make sure you have included the correct Bible version, book name, chapter, and verse. It is also important to make sure you are using the correct style for your paper.
Example of an MLA Bible Citation
A commonly used example of how to cite the Bible in MLA format is as follows:
(John 3:16, KJV). This example indicates that the quote comes from John chapter 3, verse 16 in the King James Version of the Bible.
Adding Footnotes
Footnotes can be added to any paper that has a quote from the Bible. This is especially helpful when citing a source that may require more explanation. For example, if you are citing a quote from the Hebrew Bible, you may need to add a footnote to explain which part of the Bible it is from.
Copyright Laws and Fair Use
When quoting the Bible in a paper, it is important to consider copyright laws and fair use. Many Bible translations are copyrighted and you can be liable for violating copyright laws if you do not cite the source correctly.
When quoting a Bible verse, it is important to adhere to the principles outlined in fair use, a law that sets out the principles that define when and how copyrighted material may be used without permission. When quoting a Bible verse, it is best to keep the quote limited and to add sufficient attribution. Generally, long quotes are best avoided as they can be seen as infringing on copyright laws.
Compiling Bibliography
The last step in citing Bible quotes is to compile a bibliography. A bibliography is a list of all the sources used in a paper, as well as any additional resources that were used for research. Bibliographies can be tricky, especially when citing a source like the Bible. A bibliography should include the name of the version and edition of the Bible you are using, as well as any commentators or other resources that were used in the paper.
Citing Online Sources
When citing a quote taken from an online Bible, it is important to include the website’s URL. In MLA style, the URL should follow the date, which should be the date the website was last updated. Additionally, it is important to make sure the website is reliable. It is best to use websites from religious organizations or biblical scholars.
Taking Notes
When researching and quoting the Bible, it is important to take notes. Taking notes in the form of summaries or excerpts can help you track down quotes later and make sure the citations are correct. When quoting a passage from the Bible, it is best to take a few notes regarding where the passage is located in the text, as well as any other relevant information.
Answer Questions
When writing a paper based on the Bible, it is important to remember that the text does not always provide a clear answer. As such, it is important to take the time to think critically about the text and answer any lingering questions. Exploring the text, questioning the text, and providing your own thoughts can help add clarity to your paper while also engaging the reader.
