It is important to treat the use of quoting the Bible like you would in quoting any source material. Too frequently I run across an author who has not bothered to take that step. But they should.
The Word of God is powerful and should not be taken for granted. There are many readers who admit to skipping over Bible verses when quoted in full. The thought is that they are already familiar with those words and they want to get into what the author is saying. Ironic, isn’t it?
In the editing process, one of the jobs of the copy editor is to verify the accuracy of quotations and citations. And not only Bible verses. I once had a magazine editor ask me to prove that a quotation I cited in an article was verbatim and not paraphrased. It took me a full day at the library to find that quote again, make a copy of the page where it was found, and send it to that editor. (A tip for your research: Write down the source, including the page number; otherwise you may never find it again! Some are using their smartphones to take a picture of the page and file the photo in their research folder.)
The best resource for specifically Christian issues of grammar, style, and spelling is Robert Hudson’s The Christian Writer’s Manual of Style, 4th Edition(Zondervan, 2016). (Over 600 pages of essential information for writers who care about such details.)
Verify the Translation
When quoting the Bible, make sure you know which translation you are using for which quotations, especially if you go from one to another. Bible translations are copyrighted material (with the notable exception of The King James Version) and should be properly cited. That is why you see something like this on the copyright page of a book:
Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
You can see above that in this example the ESV (English Standard Version) is the primary version quoted and anything else that has (NIV) after the quotation is from the New International Version.
Permissions vary from translation to translation. Make sure you look up their restrictions before using one in your book. For example, the ESV allows for the use of 1,000 verses without permission as long as those verses are not a complete book of the Bible or the entire text of the book you are creating. But the NIV allows for only 500 verses. Note that the King James Version is in public domain in the U.S. and most of the world and can be used in any project without permission from a publisher. However, in the United Kingdom, the KJV is still under copyright protection from the Crown and usage has certain limitations in print form.
Years ago, I was editing a manuscript and about halfway through the book the tone began to change in the writing. I was unsure why until I looked up a few of the Bible verses quoted. In the first half of the book, the author used the New International Version. In the second half, he used the Good News Translation. They are very different in style. But the author did not tell the reader about the switch. When asked, the author admitted that he had gone to a cabin to write the last half of the book and the only Bible he had with him was the Good News Translation, so that is what he used.
Why Is the Bible Copyrighted?
I am a firm believer that the Bible is the inspired and only infallible authoritative Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21). I believe the Bible is God’s message to humanity, disclosing the way of salvation (Romans 1:16) and providing a sufficient rule of life for the saved (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Corinthians 15:1-2). That is from our agency’s statement of faith.
But the Bible was not written in English. It was originally written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Koine Greek. Thus, it must be translated. The King James Version, first published in 1611, was last revised in 1769 and is in public domain (outside of the United Kingdom). All modern translations were produced by various Bible societies or publishers at great expense (many times, more than a million dollars to complete). For access to more than sixty English translations and paraphrases, visit BibleGateway.com.
Publishers and Bible societies copyright their work to protect the integrity of their specific translations. Therefore, the organization that paid for the translation does indeed “own” that translation. By protecting the copyright, these organizations protect the work from mishandling or misuse.
Verify the Citation Unless You Wish to Become an Anecdote
Many times a writer will simply cite a particular verse like John 3:16 or group a number of verses in a list (like I did earlier in this post). Usually, this means the verses cited are supporting material for a particular point. It is important that you proofread your citations to make sure they are correct. If you don’t, there can be unintended results. A few years ago, a friend of mine, Tom Blanchard (who taught the Bible for decades in France), told the following story:
After posting one lesson on the Prophets, which I had proofread several times, I received an email from a confused student, who questioned my assertion that “This is one of the most encouraging and magnificent verses in all of the Old Testament.” I had meant to reference ”Isaiah 25:8” (He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces…). But I typed “Isaiah 28:8.” I could understand his confusion when I looked it up (For all tables are full of filthy vomit, with no space left.)
Oh dear. I suppose that’s a remarkable verse, too, but it wasn’t what I had in mind. Quick, quick, post a correction and publicly admit my mistake! It’s so good for the soul.
Very funny! The moral of the story is to be careful; otherwise you will become the topic of Psalm 44:13.
If you want to watch comedian Tim Hawkins confess to a hilarious mistake along these lines, watch this video:
Fun Fridays – September 23, 2022
Good thoughts, Steve.
I think it’s also important to check context; Jeremiah 29:11 is one of the most quoted verses, as it sounds so personally comforting, but it was written to the elders of the exiles in Babylon, and clearly references them as a group.
It’s rather doubtful that God gets too worked up over a contextual misquote in this case, though.
There are so many versions
of God’s bright and holy book,
but let us not be surgeons,
all fixated to hook
a verse of two to justify
the hobby-horse we ride,
for that may only testify
to a kind of human pride
that seeks to prise the meaning
from a minimum of words
when we should chase the gleaning
of precious wisdom towards
the storehouse of His written will
where we, at ease, may take our fill.
Andrew you are so very right. So many folks quote Jeremiah 29:11 and forget 29:12 which doesn’t include gentiles, doesn’t line up with scripture, at all, and people take great comfort but it’s based on the ‘If’ and ‘then’ of works. A lot of folks poo poo me so since I’m not a teacher of scripture I can exhort but I pass it onto two pastors who know their Hebrew and they can address it.
Of course, our blog is not a place for debate on the interpretation of scripture. My point is that when citing the Bible we need to be careful with regard to the use of copyrighted material.
Point taken, Steve. Sorry.
Thanks for the great laughs (and lessons) on a Monday.
Steve, thanks for this post. I’ve blogged about this very topic myself. As an editor, I often get frustrated because writers switch from one version to another and don’t mark it, causing extra time on my part to leave a comment or search for it myself.
Love your tips for tracking research. I copy a URL with online research, but tend to forget the page number with hard copy.
The video was hilarious. A good laugh to start a Monday morning that I needed.
Very important information.
My books typically contain between 500 and 1,000 Bible verses. LifeWay and WestBow require that the translation used must accompany each passage quoted. That helps amplify the writer’s intent, plus confirms adherence to copyright limitations.
Typically my books contain four translations, i.e. NKJV, NASB, NIV, and ESV.
Dewey Lockman attended my wedding, and I wasn’t aware of who he was until I examined my bride’s NASB Bible. He told me that I had better treat her good, because she was a very special girl.
You made me laugh out loud twice on this one! Thanks for the tips and the fun.
Thank you for this helpful and amusing blog. I shared the Don Blanchard story with my husband who said the Isaiah passage is a verse to learn by heart. Psalm 44:13 is a keeper, too.
Oh, that video! Ha! I wonder if he made it up (he is a comedian, after all) or if it actually happened? I could see that happening though. Thankfully, my favorite verse is easy to remember. Jonah 3:1. But yes, we must quote God’s word carefully.
Great advice Steve. Thans and blessings.
Because I was taught that book titles are either capitalized or underlined, it amazes me that the greatest book in the world usually goes without what I was taught.
Here is the “rule” from the Chicago Manual of Style regarding capitalization of the Bible.
https://writingexplained.org/chicago-style/chicago-style-bible
As a former editor, this makes my heart sing. Sometimes I felt I was the only person in the world that understood that. Thank you!
This was very helpful; thank you. On Amazon, Bob Hostetler’s, The Bard and The Bible, employs the KJV, because the two masterpieces of literature treasure and inspire beautiful language. Interestingly, there are several blogs in 2022 with different translations: Steve Laube Aug. 22 (ESV); Tamela Hancock Murray Aug. 18 (HCSB) for women; Dan Balow Aug. 4 (NIV). I wondered if the choice of translation had more to do with the author, audience, or something else.
Bob’s book used the KJV because that was the translation used in the time of Shakespeare.
As for our other uses? I’m impressed by your research… It is author choice. Tamela was citing from the Bible she was reading from. I tend to start with the ESV since that what our church uses. I suspect the same for Dan and his use of the NIV.
As mentioned in the post you can go to biblegateway.com and quickly find over sixty English versions.
Thank you for your help.
We must all remember that someday we’ll stand before the Author of the Bible. I’d not want to face Him and try to answer for misquoting Him. All my quotes come from the King James Authorized Text. Still the most widely read book in the world.
Andrew you are so very right. So many folks quote Jeremiah 29:11 and forget 29:12 which doesn’t include gentiles, doesn’t line up with scripture, at all, and people take great comfort but it’s based on the ‘If’ and ‘then’ of works. A lot of folks poo poo me so since I’m not a teacher of scripture I can exhort but I pass it onto two pastors who know their Hebrew and they can address it.
Steve –
Great solemn read, until your Bible reference and Tim Hawkins (oh my! I can see the church ladies group trying to figure it out).
Great information that will be tucked into my “Most Valuable Info from the Steve Laube Agency” folder (I do really have one). I also have my editor who has the Christian CMoS and she has a bullwhip that reaches from the East Coast to the West. So, I have no excuse if I mess up.
If anyone has seen John Crist’s little ole lady Bible quotes, I highly recommend it. Every verse is 100% out of context as well. I know he was embroiled in a scandal recently but restored. So here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzEL4h1vq7o
Bearing in mind that our Bibles are translations from ancient languages can we freely impose perfection on them? Once we agree that they are the Word of God what was the original language?
Esmic,
Absolutely we should strive for perfection in quoting the Bible in whatever language.
In 1631 an edition of the KJV left out the word “not” in Exodus 20:14 and therefore read, “Thou shalt commit adultery.” Instead of “Thou shalt NOT commit adultery.” It is known as “The Wicked Bible.”
In 1795 an edition of the KJV contained a typo in Mark 7:27 that said, “Let the children be killed,” instead of “filled.” It is known as “The Murderer’s Bible.”
Imagine if one of the writers in our community had done the same in their published book. We’d laugh at the typo, but it is still an egregious error.
Thanks for the tips, and the video. I laughed so hard I felt it in my loins:)
Okay, I confess, I usually skip the Bible verse in a novel! (I thought I was alone in this!) I almost skipped this article too, but so glad I didn’t. Thanks, Steve, for this applicable material.