Do you want to get serious about reading the Bible for how many chapters in each book of the bible? Maybe you found a reading plan online. Or maybe you just wanted to see what it was all about. That is a good goal. But you can run into a real problem very fast. You start reading. Then you see that all the books are not the same size.
I remember this feeling so well. For instance, I thought I’d read one book a week. That worked for the short books at the end of the Old Testament. But then I hit a big book like Jeremiah. My simple plan fell apart. I did not know one book could be 66 chapters long! As a result, it is easy to feel like giving up.
This guide will give you more than just the numbers. In fact, it will give you the story behind them. First, we will look at why chapters are even there. Then, we will go through the full list for the Old and New Testaments. Finally, we will see how you can use this list to make your own reading goals. This list can help. It can turn the Bible from a scary book into a friendly one. You can explore it with ease. You just need to learn how many chapters in each book of the bible.
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Understanding the History Before Asking How Many Chapters in Each Book of the Bible
First, here is a surprising fact. The first authors of the Bible did not write with chapters or verses. For example, Paul wrote a letter to a church. It was just one long letter. Also, the old scrolls of the Old Testament had no numbers to break up the text.
So, where did the numbers come from?
For a long time, people read the Bible without them. But this made it very hard to find a certain spot. Think about trying to tell a friend about a great line in Isaiah. It would be hard to point them to the right place. It was a real problem.
Then, around the year 1227 AD, a man named Stephen Langton did some work. Langton was a professor in England. He later became a church leader. He wanted to make the Bible easier for his students to use. So, he broke down the books into the chapters we use today. Then, a little later, in the 1500s, a French printer named Robert Estienne added the verse numbers. You can learn more about this interesting history from sources like the Encyclopedia Britannica.
This history tells us why a chapter break can feel strange. For instance, a chapter might end in the middle of a story. This is because a person added the breaks much later. They added them to help people find things, not for storytelling. They are like addresses on a street. Of course, they are not part of the houses. But they do help you find the right one.
A Full Chapter List for Every Book in the Old Testament
The Old Testament is the first and much longer part of the Bible. The standard Protestant Bible has 39 books in this section. However, these books are not all the same. They have different styles and lengths.
To make this list easy to use, we will not list all 39 books at once. Instead, we will break them down by their type of writing. We call this their genre. This is how the Bible sorts them too. Consequently, this helps you see the flow of the books. It also helps you see why some books are grouped together.
How Many Chapters Are in the Books of the Law (Pentateuch)?
The first five books of the Bible are the foundation for all the others. People call them the Pentateuch or the Torah. Torah means “law” or “teaching.” They tell the story from creation to the start of the nation of Israel.
- Genesis: 50 chapters
- Exodus: 40 chapters
- Leviticus: 27 chapters
- Numbers: 36 chapters
- Deuteronomy: 34 chapters
As you can see, these are all long books. Indeed, they hold the main stories and laws for the rest of the Bible.
How Many Chapters in Each Book of the Bible’s Historical Section?
Next, we have the history books. This group of 12 books tells the story of Israel. They cover its battles and its kings. They also cover its problems and its successes. This part of the Old Testament is the most like a history book.
- Joshua: 24 chapters
- Judges: 21 chapters
- Ruth: 4 chapters
- 1 Samuel: 31 chapters
- 2 Samuel: 24 chapters
- 1 Kings: 22 chapters
- 2 Kings: 25 chapters
- 1 Chronicles: 29 chapters
- 2 Chronicles: 36 chapters
- Ezra: 10 chapters
- Nehemiah: 13 chapters
- Esther: 10 chapters
Here you can see a big range in size. For example, you have a long story in books like 1 Samuel. But then you have the short, lovely story of Ruth with only 4 chapters.
How Many Chapters in the Bible’s Wisdom and Poetry Books?
In the middle of the Old Testament, the style changes. It moves from history to poetry and deep thoughts. These books look at the big questions of life. They do not move the story of Israel forward. Instead, they focus on what it means to be human and to follow God. The question of how many chapters in each book of the bible gets very interesting here.
- Job: 42 chapters
- Psalms: 150 chapters
- Proverbs: 31 chapters
- Ecclesiastes: 12 chapters
- Song of Solomon: 8 chapters
The book of Psalms really stands out here. It has 150 chapters. That is more than any other book in the Bible. In fact, it is the songbook of ancient Israel.
What Are the Chapter Lengths of the Major Prophets?
Now we move to the prophets. Prophets were messengers for God. The Bible groups them into two sections based on how long their books are. The Major Prophets are the longer books.
- Isaiah: 66 chapters
- Jeremiah: 52 chapters
- Lamentations: 5 chapters
- Ezekiel: 48 chapters
- Daniel: 12 chapters
The book of Isaiah has 66 chapters. It feels like a whole Bible by itself. But then you have a shorter book like Lamentations in the same group.
How Many Chapters Do the Minor Prophet Books Have?
Finally, the Old Testament ends with 12 shorter books. We call them the Minor Prophets. We call them “minor” only because their books are short. Their message is not less important.
- Hosea: 14 chapters
- Joel: 3 chapters
- Amos: 9 chapters
- Obadiah: 1 chapter
- Jonah: 4 chapters
- Micah: 7 chapters
- Nahum: 3 chapters
- Habakkuk: 3 chapters
- Zephaniah: 3 chapters
- Haggai: 2 chapters
- Zechariah: 14 chapters
- Malachi: 4 chapters
This section has the only Old Testament book with just one chapter. That book is Obadiah. Therefore, this list shows you can read some of these books very quickly.
A Complete Chapter List for Every New Testament Book
Now let’s move to the New Testament. This second part of the Bible is much shorter. Furthermore, it holds 27 books. These books focus on Jesus’s life and the growth of the early church. This makes learning how many chapters in each book of the bible for this section a bit easier.
Just like the Old Testament, these books are not sorted by date. Instead, they are grouped by their type of writing. Knowing this helps you see why the books are where they are.
How Many Chapters Are in the Gospels and Acts?
The New Testament starts with the four Gospels. The word “gospel” means “good news.” These books tell the story of Jesus. After them is the Book of Acts. It is a history book about the first Christians.
- Matthew: 28 chapters
- Mark: 16 chapters
- Luke: 24 chapters
- John: 21 chapters
- Acts: 28 chapters
Mark is the shortest of the four Gospels. For this reason, it is a great place to start reading about Jesus.
How Many Chapters in Each Book of the Bible Written by Paul?
The next big section holds letters written by the Apostle Paul. People also call these letters “epistles.” Paul wrote them to new churches and to his friends. He wanted to teach and give them hope.
- Romans: 16 chapters
- 1 Corinthians: 16 chapters
- 2 Corinthians: 13 chapters
- Galatians: 6 chapters
- Ephesians: 6 chapters
- Philippians: 4 chapters
- Colossians: 4 chapters
- 1 Thessalonians: 5 chapters
- 2 Thessalonians: 3 chapters
- 1 Timothy: 6 chapters
- 2 Timothy: 4 chapters
- Titus: 3 chapters
- Philemon: 1 chapter
As you can see, many of these books are very short. For example, you could read books like Philippians or Titus in one sitting.
How Many Chapters Are in the General Epistles?
After Paul’s letters are a group of letters from other church leaders. Peter and John are two of these leaders.
- Hebrews: 13 chapters
- James: 5 chapters
- 1 Peter: 5 chapters
- 2 Peter: 3 chapters
- 1 John: 5 chapters
- 2 John: 1 chapter
- 3 John: 1 chapter
- Jude: 1 chapter
Here we find three more books with only a single chapter. In fact, they are so short they are more like postcards than full letters!
What Is the Chapter Count for the Book of Revelation?
The very last book of the Bible stands alone. It has its own style. It is a book of prophecy with amazing symbols and visions.
- Revelation: 22 chapters
How Many Chapters in Each Book of the Bible and Other Fun Facts
Now that we have the full list, we can look at some fun facts. Indeed, knowing the answer to how many chapters in each book of the bible can be fun to share.
- What is the longest book by chapter count? That’s easy. It is Psalms, with 150 chapters.
- What are the shortest books by chapter count? In total, there are five books with one chapter. They are Obadiah, Philemon, 2 John, 3 John, and Jude.
- What is the longest chapter in the Bible? That would be Psalm 119. It has 176 verses!
- What is the shortest chapter in the Bible? That is Psalm 117. Also, it has only two verses.
- Where is the middle chapter of the entire Bible? Interestingly, Psalm 117 is also the middle chapter of the Bible.
- How many chapters are in the whole Bible? If you add them all up, you get 1,189 chapters in the Protestant Bible.
How Can You Use This Chapter Information?
This list is not just for fun. In reality, you can use it in real ways. It can help you read the Bible better.
How to Create Your Own Bible Reading Plan
Maybe you want to read the whole Bible. But the “Bible in a year” plans can feel too strict. Well, now you can make your own! This list helps you set good goals. For example, you can decide to read one or two chapters a day. Or you can decide to read one whole book a week.
Knowing the chapter counts helps you plan. For instance, reading all 66 chapters of Isaiah is a big project. However, you could read all 4 chapters of Jonah in about 15 minutes. This list gives you the power to mix long and short books. This can help you stay with it. Many groups like The Bible Project offer fun reading plans that also help you learn.
How to Look Up Bible Books and Chapters Online
This list also helps you find your way around the Bible. This is true for both print and online Bibles. Now you know that when someone says “John 3,” they mean the book of John and the 3rd chapter. Also, you know that John has 21 chapters in total.
You can use this knowledge on websites like BibleGateway. There, you can type in any book and chapter to read it right away. It is a great way to look at different books without getting lost.
What’s the Final Word on Bible Chapters?
So, now you have the full list. You have an answer for how many chapters in each book of the bible. You know about the 50 chapters in Genesis.
But more than that, I hope you see the big picture. Of course, these chapter numbers are not holy. Instead, they are just a helpful tool. People added them almost 1,200 years after the Bible was finished. They help us find our way.
Think of this list as your personal map to the biblical library. Use it to look around. Also, use it to set goals. Above all, use it to feel less worried and more sure of yourself. The Bible is a great group of books. The answer to how many chapters in each book of the bible is just the first step. It is the start of finding out what is inside. Sources
FAQ – How Many Chapters in Each Book of the Bible
How can knowing the number of chapters in each Bible book help me in my reading plans?
Knowing the chapter counts allows you to set realistic goals, such as reading a certain number of chapters or entire books within a specific timeframe. It helps you plan your reading, balance long and short books, and stay motivated while exploring the Bible.
Which book of the Bible has the most chapters, and which has the fewest?
The book with the most chapters is Psalms, with 150 chapters. The shortest books are Obadiah, Philemon, 2 John, 3 John, and Jude, each with only 1 chapter.
What is the total number of chapters in the New Testament, and how are those books organized?
The New Testament contains 27 books and a total of 260 chapters. These books are organized into sections such as the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John), Acts, Pauline Epistles, General Epistles, and Revelation, grouped by their type of writing rather than chronological order.
How many chapters are in the books of the Old Testament’s Law (Pentateuch)?
The first five books of the Bible, known as the Pentateuch, have the following number of chapters: Genesis has 50, Exodus has 40, Leviticus has 27, Numbers has 36, and Deuteronomy has 34 chapters.
Why are chapters and verses added to the Bible, and how did this tradition start?
Chapters and verses were added to the Bible to make it easier to locate specific passages. The chapter divisions were introduced around 1227 AD by Stephen Langton, a professor and church leader, while verse numbers were added in the 1500s by French printer Robert Estienne. These additions were not part of the original texts but serve as helpful references.
