Famous Verses of the Bible and Where to Find Them

Old Testament

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Note that there are two creation stories, slightly different, one in Genesis 1 and one in Genesis 2.

Genesis 4: Cain and Abel

Genesis 11: The Towel of Babel

Genesis 19: Sodom and Gomorrah

Genesis 22: The command to sacrifice Isaac

Genesis 37: Joseph sold into slavery by his brothers

Genesis 50: Joseph forgives his brothers

Exodus: The story of Moses

Exodus 20: 1-17 -The Ten Commandments-

Then God spoke all these words:

I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

1. You shall have no other gods before me.

2. You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me, but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.

3. You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.

4. Remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God; you. shall not do any work - you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and consecrated it.

5. Honor you father and mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

6. You shall not murder.

7. You shall not commit adultery.

8. You shall not steal.

9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

10. You shall not covet your neighbor's house, you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

Scholarly aside: on ancient Hebrew law: There are several somewhat conflicting bodies of law in the Old Testament in addition to the 10 commandments (courtesty of Wikipedia).

• The Ten Commandments, or Ethical Decalog(ue), are a list of religious and moral imperatives which, according to Biblical tradition, were written by God and given to Moses on Mount Sinai in the form of two stone tablets. They feature prominently in Judaism and Christianity. The phrase "Ten Commandments" generally refers to the very similar passages in Exodus 20:2–17 and Deuteronomy 5:6–21. These are listed above on this web page.
• In Biblical criticism, the Ritual Decalogue is one of the two very different lists within the Torah that are known as the Decalogue or Ten Commandments - the name decalogue merely means ten sayings. The Ritual Decalogue is the list of commandments in Exodus 34.
• The Covenant Code, or alternatively Book of the Covenant, is the name given by academics to a text appearing in the Torah at Exodus 21:2 - 23:33. Biblically, the text is the second of the law codes given to Moses, by Yahweh, at Mount Sinai.
• The Priestly Code is mainly found in the first part of Leviticus and was written by priests, who among other things, were interested in making Jerulsalem the religious center of Judaism and discrediting priests of the Kingdom of Israel. It is a competing alternative to the Covenant Code. It is generally ignored by Christians.
• The Holiness Code is a term used in Biblical Criticism to refer to Leviticus 17-26 and is consistent with and supplements the Priestly Code.

Joshua: The story of the invasion of Canaan by the Israelites under Joshua.

I Samuel: The story of King Saul, Jonathan and the young David.

I Samuel 17: David and Goliath

Kings, Chronicles: The story of the kings, priests and people of Judah and Israel after David.

II Chronicles 16:9:

For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.

Psalms 19:14

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in they sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.

Psalms 23 (complete)

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff - they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.

Psalms 34:18 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

Psalms 37:4 Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Psalms 46:10 Be still and know that I am God.

Psalms 100 (complete)

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the Earth

Worship the Lord with gladness; come into his presence with singing.

Know that the Lord is God.

It is he who made us, and we are his;

We are his people and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise.

Give thanks to him, bless his name.

For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endureth forever,

and his faithfulness to all generations.

 Psalms 118:24 This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.

 Psalms 121 (complete)

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help?

My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and Earth.

He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.

He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand.

The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.

The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in form this time on and forevermore.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And he shall direct your paths.

Proverbs 13:4 The appetite of the lazy craves and gets nothing, while the appetite of the diligent is richly supplied.

Proverbs 15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs 17:22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine; but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Proverbs 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

Proverbs 22:1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches.

Ecclesiastes 1:2 Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.

Ecclesiastes (Sirach) 1:14a To fear the Lord is the beginning of freedom.

Ecclesiastes 1:18 For in much wisdom is much grief, and increase of knowledge is increase of sorrow.

Ecclesiastes 3: 1

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to reap that which is planted.

A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to to mourn, and a time to dance.

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing.

A time to get and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence and a time to speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

Isaiah 11:6

The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.

Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee; because he trusteth in thee.

Isaiah 40:31

but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

They will run and not grow weary,

They will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 42:16

I will lead the blind by a road they do not know, by paths they have not known I will guide them, I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I will do, I will not forsake them.

Isaiah 53:6

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

New Testament

Mark 1: 17

Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.

Mark 3:25

And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.

Mark 3:35

For whoever shall do the will of God is my brother, my sister and my mother.

Mark 6:24

But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honor, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.

Mark 8:36

For what shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world, but lose his soul?

Mark 9: 35

Mark 12: 28-31 (note the first commandment here is from Deuteronomy 6:4,5)

One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him "Which commandment is the first of all?" Jesus answered, "the first is, 'Hear O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' The second is this, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."

Note 1: Mark actually appears in the Bible after Matthew, but the verses here are listed before Matthew as a reminder that it was the first Gospel written.

Note 2: The parables of Jesus are treated HERE.

 Matthew 5: 1-12 -the Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount- (another less famous version in Luke 6)

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him.

Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.

Matthew 5: 14-16

You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under a bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5: 38

You have heard that it was said, "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also;

Matthew 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Matthew 6: 9-13 "The Lord's Prayer"

Our Father in heaven

Hallowed be your name.

Your Kingdom come.

Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one.

Matthew 6: 24

No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

Matthew 6:33 But seek you first the Kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be given you.

Matthew 7:1 (alternative is Luke 6:37) Do not judge, so that you may not be judged.

Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

Matthew 9:37

The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.

Matthew 11:28-30

Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am meek and lowly in heart' and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Matthew 16: 26 For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but lose their soul?

Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Matthew 19:26 (alternative is Luke 1:37)

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Matthew 22:36 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind.

Matthew 22:38 You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Matthew 25: 35-45

I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me. Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord when was it that we did these things for you?' And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.

Matthew 28:20 I am with you always, to the close of the age.

Luke 6:31 Do unto others as you would have them do to you.

Luke 12:34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart also be.

Luke 18: 15-17 (alternative is Matthew 18:1-6)

People were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them; and when the disciples saw it, they sternly ordered them not to do it. But Jesus called for them and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it."

John 1: 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

John 2:15-16

Love not the world, neither the things that are of the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

John 5:24

Verily, Verily I say unto you: He that heareth my word, and believeth of him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

John 8:7 ...let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone...

John 8:12

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life."

John 8:31-2

Then Jesus said to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.

John 10:11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."

John 11: 25-26

Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die."

John 14:3

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth and the life, No one comes to the Father but by me."

John 15:12-15

This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's own life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do as I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have mad known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. [this passage may be where the Religious Society of Friends gets its name]

John 18: 36

My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then my servants would fight...

Accounts of Christ's birth Matthew 2, Luke 2

Accounts of the Crucifixion Mark 15, Matthew 27, Luke 23, John 19

Accounts of the Resurrection Mark 16, Matthew 28, Luke 24, John 20

Acts 9: Paul on the Road to Damascus

I Corinthians 3:16

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

I Corinthians 13: 1-2

If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.

I Corinthians 13: 4-7

Love is patient; love is kind; love is not boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

I Corinthians 13: 11-13

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.

II Corinthians 3: 6

Our competence is from God, who has made us competent to be ministers of a new convenant, not of letter, but of spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

II Corinthians 4:18

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

II Corinthians 9:7

Every man according to his own heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver.

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:31 If God is for us, who is against us?

Romans 8:38

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present. nor things to come, nor anything else, in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ephesians 2:8

For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.

Philippians 1:13,14

This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press on toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Phillippians 2:12b Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil.

II Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and love, and a sound mind.

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:6

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Hebrews 13:2

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers for thereby some have entertained angels unawares

James 1:6

But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

James 2:17 So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.

James 4:1 [George Fox used this verse when asked to be a Captain for Cromwell's troops]

Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you? (see also Mark 7: 14-23)

I John 4:7

Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

1 John 4:8

God is Love.

Revelation 21:4

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Notes and References

• The Revised Standard Version (RSV) of the Bible is on-line at the University of Virginia.
• Didn't find what you wanted? You can browse the King James Version for phrases or read the whole thing at the University of Michigan's on-line reference. Note that the Bible links in white on our page are to this same site.
• The above quotes come from the King James Version (1611) and the New Revised Standard Version (1989). This latter Bible version is copyrighted by the Council of Churches in Christ in the USA and not on-line.
• Would you like serious Bible study with hundreds of internet links? Try this.
• For those who would rather hear the Bible, than read it, you can do so here if you have RealPlayer.
• To find out the origin of Biblical first names you can go here.
• The Interactive Bible - Bible study guides (link on James 4:1 is to this web site)

Compiled for Gwynedd Friends Middle School Class, January 2002 by James Quinn. Feel free to link your web site to this page or print it out.

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