When I first looked at the question how many words are in the Bible, the number surprised me. It also showed me why the Bible can take years to study. The answer depends on which Bible version we count.
The most commonly cited count for the 66-book King James Version (KJV) is 783,137 words. The KJV also has 1,189 chapters and 31,102 verses.
Short Answer: About 783,137 Words in the KJV
The standard 66-book King James Version has about 783,137 words. This count covers the Old Testament and the New Testament together.
The Old Testament has 39 books. The New Testament has 27 books. Together, they make the 66 books used in most Protestant Bibles. The KJV also has 1,189 chapters — 929 in the Old Testament and 260 in the New Testament — and 31,102 verses.
If you would like to see how those chapters are divided book by book, we broke it down in our guide to how many chapters are in the Bible.
Still, 783,137 is not a universal word count for every Bible. Different versions use different words, and some editions include extra notes, headings, or different text choices. So the total can change.
It is also worth knowing that even for the KJV, sources do not agree perfectly. Some detailed counts put the total closer to 788,000 words.
The difference comes from which edition is measured and how words are counted. 783,137 remains the most commonly cited KJV figure, and it is the one most Bible dictionaries and word-count studies use.
How Many Words Are in the Old and New Testament?
Most of the Bible’s words sit in the Old Testament. In typical English translations, roughly 610,000 of the words are in the Old Testament and about 180,000 in the New Testament.
That imbalance explains something many readers notice: the Old Testament takes far longer to finish than the New Testament, even though both are part of the same book.
It also means that if you have only read the New Testament, you have read less than a quarter of the Bible’s total words.
Takeaway: About three-quarters of the Bible’s words are in the Old Testament.
Why Bible Word Counts Can Be Different
A key point is often missed in this question. There is no single word count for every Bible.
The Bible has been translated into many languages, and English Bibles use different translation methods and wording. The way words are counted can also matter some counts treat headings, notes, or other printed material differently.
The original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts have their own totals as well. The Greek New Testament, for example, runs to roughly 138,000 words.
So it would be wrong to give one number as the word count for every Bible ever printed. If word meanings interest you, our guide to biblical words and their meanings explains several key terms in plain English.
Translation Changes the Total
Bible translations do not all use the same English words. Some stay closer to older wording, while others use modern English. That changes the final word count.
Here is how the totals compare across several well-known versions:
| Bible Version | Approximate Word Count |
|---|---|
| King James Version (KJV) | 783,137 |
| New King James Version (NKJV) | 770,430 |
| English Standard Version (ESV) | 756,846 |
| New International Version (NIV) | 727,969 |
These figures are approximate. Exact totals vary by edition, so two counts of the same version can differ by a few thousand words.
The KJV figure of 783,137 is therefore best stated as a KJV word count, not as a fixed number for every Bible version.
The 1611 KJV Needs One Extra Note
The first KJV was published in 1611, and that edition included the Apocrypha. Modern standard Protestant KJV editions normally contain 66 books, and this is the form used for the commonly cited 783,137-word figure.
So when someone gives a KJV word count, it helps to ask which edition and which books they mean. Edition and included books can both shift the total.
What Does the Bible Say About Its Words?
The Bible does not give us a total word count. Instead, it tells us why Scripture matters.
Scripture Is Useful for Teaching
Paul wrote to Timothy about the role of Scripture:
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” (2 Timothy 3:16, KJV)
Paul was teaching Timothy about the value of Scripture. His point was not its size. He focused on what Scripture does.
Jesus Pointed to God’s Word
During His temptation, Jesus answered Satan with Scripture:
“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4, KJV)
Jesus quoted from Deuteronomy. He showed that physical needs are not the whole of human life.
God’s Word Gives Direction
Psalm 119 uses a simple picture for God’s Word:
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:105, KJV)
The writer describes Scripture as something that guides daily steps. The verse comes from a long psalm centered on God’s instruction, and it is one of the reasons those chapters are read so often for comfort and direction.
If you are looking for passages to read during a hard season, our list of chapters in the Bible about healing is a good place to start.
How Long Would It Take to Read the Bible?
The answer depends on reading speed and the Bible version.
If someone reads about 200 words per minute, 783,137 words would take roughly 65 hours. At 250 words per minute, it would take about 52 hours.
These are simple estimates. Reading slowly, stopping to think, or studying passages will take much longer.
For many readers, a daily plan works better than trying to finish quickly. The goal does not need to be speed a short reading that you understand can be more useful than many pages read too quickly.
Simple Ways to Read a Bible With 783,137 Words
Knowing the Bible has hundreds of thousands of words can make it seem hard to finish. A simple plan makes the task easier.
You might read for 15 minutes before work, one chapter during lunch, or a few verses before bed. Keep a small note of what you learn write down one verse, question, or idea from each reading.
A set of morning scriptures to start your reading plan can give you a fixed starting point each day.
If you prefer to read by story rather than by chapter, the lives of Bible characters are a natural entry point.
Questions like how old was Abraham when he died are answered directly in the text, and following one person’s story from beginning to end often makes the larger book easier to follow.
Common Questions About Bible Word Count
Does the Bible have 783,137 words?
The standard 66-book KJV is commonly counted at 783,137 words. Some counts differ slightly depending on the edition and the counting method.
How many words are in the King James Bible?
The most commonly cited KJV count is 783,137 words. It covers the Old and New Testaments of the 66-book Protestant edition.
Do all Bible versions have the same number of words?
No. Different translations use different wording, so their totals differ. The NIV, for example, runs to roughly 727,969 words, while the ESV is around 756,846.
How many chapters and verses are in the Bible?
The KJV has 1,189 chapters — 929 in the Old Testament and 260 in the New Testament — and 31,102 verses.
How many books are in the Bible?
The standard Protestant Bible has 66 books: 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament.
Is the Bible the longest book?
That depends on how books are defined and counted. The Bible is a collection of 66 books, so calling it one book hides an important detail.
How long does it take to read the whole Bible?
At an average reading speed of about 200 words per minute, roughly 65 hours. Most readers spread this over months rather than days.
Why the Word Count Still Matters
The question how many words are in the Bible has a clear answer for the KJV: about 783,137 words. But the number changes with the translation and edition.
The larger point is easier to miss. The Bible is a large collection of writings with many different forms and settings.
A word count can show its size. It cannot measure its message or meaning. For that, the text itself must be read, studied, and understood.
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