King James Version

Read the Bible

Verse-by-verse text with scholarly commentary

Old Testament

Torah

The five books of Moses, also called the Pentateuch, form the foundation of the Bible. They tell the story of creation, humanity's fall, God's covenant with Abraham, Israel's liberation from Egypt, and the giving of the Law at Sinai.

Genesis

The book of beginnings: creation, the fall, the flood, and the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Exodus

Israel's liberation from Egypt, the giving of the Law at Sinai, and the construction of the Tabernacle.

Leviticus

Laws for worship, sacrifice, and holiness given to the Levitical priests.

Numbers

Israel's 40 years wandering in the wilderness after refusing to enter Canaan.

Deuteronomy

Moses' final sermons reviewing the Law before Israel enters the Promised Land.

History

Twelve books trace Israel's dramatic story from the conquest of Canaan under Joshua through the rise and fall of kings, the division of the kingdom, exile in Babylon, and the faithful remnant's return to rebuild Jerusalem.

Joshua

The conquest of Canaan under Joshua's leadership and the division of the land.

Judges

A cycle of apostasy, oppression, and deliverance through judges like Deborah, Gideon, and Samson.

Ruth

A Moabite woman's loyalty to her Israelite mother-in-law, becoming an ancestor of David.

1 Samuel

Samuel, Saul, and the rise of David: Israel's transition from judges to monarchy.

2 Samuel

David's reign as king, his victories, his sin with Bathsheba, and family troubles.

1 Kings

Solomon's wisdom and temple, the kingdom's division, and prophets like Elijah.

2 Kings

The decline and fall of both kingdoms: Israel to Assyria, Judah to Babylon.

1 Chronicles

A retelling of David's reign with emphasis on temple worship preparations.

2 Chronicles

Solomon's temple, Judah's kings, and the importance of faithfulness to God.

Ezra

The return from Babylonian exile and the rebuilding of the temple.

Nehemiah

Rebuilding Jerusalem's walls and renewing the covenant under Nehemiah.

Esther

A Jewish queen saves her people from genocide in the Persian Empire.

Poetry & wisdom

Five books of songs, proverbs, and philosophical reflection explore the deepest questions of human existence. From the raw agony of Job to the ecstatic worship of the Psalms, these books give voice to the full range of human experience before God.

Job

A righteous man's suffering and his dialogue with friends about God's justice.

Psalms

150 songs and prayers expressing worship, lament, thanksgiving, and trust in God.

Proverbs

Wisdom sayings for practical godly living, largely attributed to Solomon.

Ecclesiastes

The Preacher's search for meaning "under the sun": life's vanity and fear of God.

Song of Solomon

Love poetry celebrating romantic love, read as human love and divine allegory.

Major prophets

Five longer prophetic works carry God's messages through Israel's darkest hours. Isaiah envisions both judgment and messianic hope. Jeremiah weeps over Jerusalem's fall. Ezekiel sees visions of God's glory in exile. Daniel stands faithful in Babylon's courts.

Isaiah

Judgment and hope: the coming Messiah, the Suffering Servant, and future restoration.

Jeremiah

The weeping prophet's warnings before Jerusalem's fall and promises of a new covenant.

Lamentations

Poetic mourning over the destruction of Jerusalem by Babylon.

Ezekiel

Visions and prophecies from exile: God's glory, judgment, and restoration.

Daniel

Faith under persecution in Babylon and apocalyptic visions of world empires.

Minor prophets

Twelve shorter prophetic books, called "minor" only for their length and not their importance, span centuries of Israel's history. They thunder against injustice, plead for repentance, and promise restoration.

Hosea

God's faithful love for unfaithful Israel, illustrated through Hosea's marriage.

Joel

A locust plague as judgment and the promise of the Spirit's outpouring.

Amos

Social justice demanded: judgment on Israel's oppression of the poor.

Obadiah

Judgment on Edom for betraying Israel during Jerusalem's fall.

Jonah

A reluctant prophet, a great fish, and God's mercy on Nineveh.

Micah

Judgment, hope, and the famous call to "do justly, love mercy, walk humbly."

Nahum

The fall of Nineveh: God's judgment on Assyria's cruelty.

Habakkuk

A prophet questions God about evil and learns to trust despite circumstances.

Zephaniah

The Day of the Lord: judgment and the promise of a faithful remnant.

Haggai

Calls to rebuild the temple after the exile.

Zechariah

Messianic visions and prophecies encouraging post-exilic Jerusalem.

Malachi

The last Old Testament prophet addresses Israel's spiritual apathy.

Deuterocanon & Apocrypha

Additional books recognized by Catholic and Orthodox traditions, included in the original 1611 King James Bible. These texts span wisdom literature, historical narratives, prophetic additions, and apocalyptic visions.

1 Esdras

A retelling of Judah's last kings, the exile, and the return to rebuild the Temple.

2 Esdras

Apocalyptic visions and theological dialogues on suffering, justice, and the world to come.

Tobit

A tale of faith, family loyalty, and divine providence set during the Assyrian exile.

Judith

A courageous widow saves her people by outwitting an enemy general.

Additions to Esther

Greek additions to Esther that include prayers, letters, and explicit references to God.

Wisdom of Solomon

Philosophical reflections on wisdom, righteousness, and God's care for his people.

Sirach

Practical wisdom for daily life, covering friendship, wealth, humility, and the fear of God.

Baruch

A letter of repentance and hope written in Babylon, including the Letter of Jeremiah.

Prayer of Azariah

The prayer of Azariah and the Song of the Three Young Men in the fiery furnace.

Susanna

A story of virtue vindicated: Daniel defends a woman falsely accused of adultery.

Bel and the Dragon

Daniel exposes idol worship and survives the lions' den a second time.

Prayer of Manasseh

A penitential prayer attributed to King Manasseh during his captivity in Babylon.

1 Maccabees

The Jewish revolt against Greek oppression and the rededication of the Temple.

2 Maccabees

Martyrdom, miracles, and the defense of the Temple under Judas Maccabeus.

New Testament

Gospels

Four accounts of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, each written for a different audience with a distinct emphasis. Together they form the heart of the Christian faith.

Matthew

Jesus as the promised Messiah and King of Israel, fulfilling Old Testament prophecy.

Mark

The suffering Servant in action: fast-paced narrative of Jesus' ministry.

Luke

Jesus as the Son of Man, emphasizing his compassion for outsiders and the poor.

John

The Word made flesh: Jesus' divine identity through signs and extended discourses.

History

The book of Acts continues the story from the Gospels, tracing the explosive growth of the early church from a handful of disciples in Jerusalem to a movement spanning the Roman Empire.

Acts

The early church's growth from Jerusalem to Rome, led by the Holy Spirit.

Pauline epistles

Thirteen letters from the apostle Paul to churches and individuals across the Roman world. These letters form the theological backbone of Christianity, addressing salvation by grace, life in the Spirit, and practical holiness.

Romans

Paul's systematic theology of salvation by grace through faith.

1 Corinthians

Paul addresses divisions, immorality, and spiritual gifts in the Corinthian church.

2 Corinthians

Paul defends his apostleship and discusses suffering and new covenant ministry.

Galatians

Freedom from the Law: justification by faith alone.

Ephesians

The church as Christ's body: unity, spiritual blessings, and practical living.

Philippians

Joy in Christ despite imprisonment: Paul's letter of encouragement.

Colossians

Christ's supremacy and sufficiency against false teaching.

1 Thessalonians

Encouragement about Christ's return and holy living.

2 Thessalonians

Clarification about the Day of the Lord and exhortation to work.

1 Timothy

Instructions for church leadership and sound doctrine.

2 Timothy

Paul's final letter: perseverance, Scripture, and finishing well.

Titus

Instructions for church order and godly living on Crete.

Philemon

Paul appeals for a runaway slave to be received as a brother.

General epistles

Eight letters from various authors, including James, Peter, John, and Jude, address the universal church with practical wisdom, theological clarity, and urgent warnings against false teaching.

Hebrews

Christ's superiority over angels, Moses, and the old covenant sacrifices.

James

Practical wisdom: faith shown through works.

1 Peter

Hope and holiness amid suffering and persecution.

2 Peter

Warnings against false teachers and encouragement to grow in grace.

1 John

Assurance of salvation through love, obedience, and right belief.

2 John

Warning against deceivers and encouragement to walk in truth.

3 John

Commendation of hospitality and warning against Diotrephes.

Jude

Contending for the faith against false teachers.

Prophecy

The book of Revelation, the Bible's dramatic conclusion, uses vivid apocalyptic imagery to reveal the ultimate triumph of God over evil and the breathtaking promise of a new heaven and new earth.

Revelation

Apocalyptic visions of Christ's return, final judgment, and the new creation.

Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha

Ancient Jewish and early Christian writings that illuminate the world of the Bible. 1 Enoch and Jubilees are fully canonical in the Ethiopian Orthodox tradition. The Book of Adam and Eve, Assumption of Moses, and Gospel of Thomas are widely studied texts from the same period that shaped early theology.