How to Cite a Religious Text in APA Format

Citing a religious text in APA format requires the title of the work, version or translation, publisher, and year of publication. Classical religious works like the Bible, Quran, and Torah have specific citation conventions in APA style.

Basic Religious Text Citation Format

The standard APA 7th edition format for a religious text citation is:

Reference list entry:

Title of religious text: Version or translation. (Year). Publisher.

Parenthetical in-text citation: (Title, Book Chapter:Verse, Version)

Narrative in-text citation: In Title, Book Chapter:Verse (Version)

In-Text Citation Examples

When you reference a religious text within your paper, you have two options:

• Parenthetical: The passage emphasizes compassion for others (King James Bible, 1 Corinthians 13:4, 1769/2017).
• Narrative: In the King James Bible (1769/2017), 1 Corinthians 13:4 emphasizes compassion for others.

Common Variations

The Bible

King James Bible. (2017). King James Bible Online. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org (Original work published 1769)

In-text: (King James Bible, 1769/2017, John 3:16)

The Quran

The Quran (M. A. S. Abdel Haleem, Trans.). (2004). Oxford University Press.

In-text: (The Quran, 2004, 2:255)

The Torah

The Torah: The five books of Moses (Jewish Publication Society, Trans.). (1999). Jewish Publication Society.

In-text: (The Torah, 1999, Genesis 1:1)

Tips for Citing Religious Texts

• Include the version or translation to identify which edition you used.
• Use book, chapter, and verse in in-text citations rather than page numbers.
• Cite a specific edition. Do not cite the religious text in general; always identify the version and publisher.
• Include the original publication date if citing a reprinted or updated version, using the format (Original work published Year).

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I always need to include the Bible in my reference list? Yes, if you quote or paraphrase from it. APA 7th edition requires a reference list entry for religious texts, unlike some earlier editions.

How do I cite the Bible if I used multiple versions? Include a separate reference list entry for each version you used. Specify the version in each in-text citation.

How do I cite a commentary on a religious text? Cite the commentary as a book, using the commentary author’s name. The religious text itself should be cited separately if you reference it directly.