By Steve Laube
In talking with readers it is interesting to ask whether they bother to look up a Bible citation or question whether a Bible verse has been quoted correctly. Very few actually verify quotations or citations. But maybe 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 that 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 just Bible verses. I once had a magazine editor ask me to prove that a quotation I cited was verbatim and not paraphrased. It took me a full day at the library to find that book again, make of copy of the quotation, 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 smart phones to take a picture of the page and file the photo in Evernote.)
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 the other. 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.
Years ago I was editing a manuscript and about half way 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. The first half of the book the author was using the New International Version. The second half he was using 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.
Verify the Citation
Many times a writer will simply cite a particular verse like John 3:16 or group a number of verses in a list. Usually this means that the verses cited are support material for a particular point. It is important that you proof read your citations to make sure they are correct. If you don’t there can be unintended results. In a newsletter from a missionary friend of ours, Tom Blanchard, he told the following story:
After posting one lesson on the Prophets, which I had proof-read 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.
Thanks. Not going to spend $35 for a one-off answer to a question. It does follow with the innernet however. What used to be a wealth of information is now a wealth of ways to purchase something.
Wasn’t trying to sell you something. I am neither the publisher or the author of the resource. Merely trying to help.
Sorry you were offended by my efforts.
Sorry. Didn’t mean you personally either. Was just commenting that there with the innernets, one can always throw money at the problem. Very difficult to find information now with the digital information age 🙂 You helped tremendously. Thanks.
Hi Steve, thank you for this article – I am self -publishing a book which is primarily a series of prompts. I wondered after revising if I needed to credit the Bible Citations as I thought they were in Public Domain. Glad for your site and sharing this helpful information. Could you direct me to the hard and fast rules for general quotes? In a book such as mine, I have used quotes as writing prompts. Many I also assume are in the Public Domain. Now I am second guessing if I need to reconsider this before publishing.
Hi
Does one have to print the copyright notice on every blog one writes?
By the way the KJV is copyright! To the Crown!
Working on my first full book, which is highly detailed, theological, and contains many, many scripture quotes. I am in an early draft, and have at the moment chosen to list mostly Scripture references (book chapter verse) rather than the text of the verses. For (vague) example, in a paragraph, I write my thoughts then list the reference for the verse which supports them.
Are there any rules of thumb for best practices in this? Is it better (particularly in theological matters) to include the full actual verse in the text? I feel it important that the reader actually read the Scripture – as Scripture is the final authority. I want my book (in part) to be an invitation for the reader to explore what Scripture teaches.
The book is entitled “The Essence of Worship” (and I haven’t found anything on the market with the purely scriptural angle I am taking; so I want the reader to walk down a new path of discovery).
I am somewhat on the fence about the use of references or full verses. Just wondering if you, or any readers of this thread may have thoughts on this.
Hi Steve,
I am writing a fictional children’s book where I will use scripture in dialogue. Do I need copyright permission for this?
Thanks.
When including consecutive Bible verses in a block quotation, should the verses appear as separate paragraphs or can they be run in? If run in, and no text is omitted between verses (so ellipsis would not be appropriate) , should some visual marker be used, e.g., a slash?
I am considering writing a book about my life long experiences!
Can I leagaly quote scripture in my book!
Yes, you can. However, you need to be careful as to quote from the particular version (ie King James, Revised, New, etc). Each is actually copyrighted, so you can use, but be clear which version is being used. And each has it’s own structure. I’ve worked on one myself and learned the “ins and outs.” Feel free to go to my website and send me a note if you want to discuss your project. Free initial consultation!
Hi Gary or Steve, I know someone writing their personal testimony as a book and using scripture references only.
Ex. Their thought written out. (Gen. 1:1).
They are not typing out the scripture, only the address. They are doing this because in their personal experience and through their interpretation, that Scripture applies in their heart to their personal situation. Is it necessary to incorporate any disclaimer at the front of the book indicating this action? Thoughts/best practices?
Hi, do you have to give a citation for a paraphrased Scripture verse?
Thanks for this informative post, and good suggestions, duly noted! I am almost finished with my book that will have my testimony of my near death experience in a car accident years ago, but it’s written more as a “faith” book, geared especially toward those who have been through traumatic events such as what I went through, those who are giving up. With that in mind, I have tried not to do too much quoting of Scripture as far as those most should already know, just referencing the location of the scripture, giving them the option to look it up for themselves if they want. For the scriptures I do quote, from what I’ve seen so far, I like the Christian Writer’s Manual of Style way of citing the source the best. I did stumble across one of the links you referenced here in the comments. Thanks again for this information, it helps a lot. And yes, I will definitely go back through once more and check all of my scripture references. Wouldn’t want any embarrassing mistakes!
Steve; I recorded a song that’s scriptural. Instead of making your own translations of Scripture, you can compare the words and phrases used of all the major translations. The phrases mostly use the same words. When words differ, they usually have the same basic meaning, though some words (even phrases) offer more insight than others. In this way, I develop a composite text by combining the best aspects from several Bible versions. Even so, most of the words align with one or more of the original versions. Occasionally, after study, I may substitute one of my choice what none of the versions offered which I thought brought out the meaning a little better. Further, my composite text not only quotes a small phrase or sentence word for word, but other version do the same. Since I plan many songs in the future. I probably need a license. Any printed text to the lyrics would need proper citations. Do I need to get licenses from all who had identical texts in the same places? Do I use a citation from all of them who had identical texts in the same places?