Bible-api
Books
Free Bible API with multiple languages
Free Bible passages as JSON — KJV and WEB translations, no auth.
Auth
No Auth
HTTPS
Yes
CORS
Yes
API URL
Common Use Cases
- •Build book discovery and recommendation engines
- •Create reading list and library management apps
- •Integrate literary metadata into educational platforms
Integration Guide
Review the API Documentation
Visit the official Bible-api documentation to understand available endpoints, request formats, and response structures. Familiarize yourself with the API's rate limits and usage policies before integration.
No Authentication Required
Good news — Bible-api does not require any authentication. You can start making API requests directly without registering for an API key or setting up OAuth credentials.
Use HTTPS for Secure Requests
Bible-api supports HTTPS, ensuring encrypted communication. Always use HTTPS endpoints in production to protect data in transit and comply with modern web security standards.
CORS Enabled — Direct Browser Access
Bible-api has CORS enabled, meaning you can make requests directly from the browser. This is ideal for frontend-only applications built with React, Vue, or vanilla JavaScript.
Implement and Test
Write your API integration code, start with a simple test request to verify connectivity. Implement proper error handling for network failures, rate limits, and invalid responses. Monitor your API usage to stay within any limits.
Code Examples
JavaScript / Fetch API:
// JavaScript example
fetch("https://bible-api.com/")
.then(response => {
if (!response.ok) {
throw new Error(`HTTP error! status: ${response.status}`);
}
return response.json();
})
.then(data => {
console.log("API response:", data);
})
.catch(error => {
console.error("Error fetching from Bible-api:", error);
});Python / Requests:
# Python example
import requests
response = requests.get("https://bible-api.com/")
if response.status_code == 200:
data = response.json()
print("API response:", data)
else:
print(f"Error: {response.status_code}")Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bible-api free to use?
Do I need an API key for Bible-api?
Can I use Bible-api in a browser-based application?
What category does Bible-api belong to?
Is Bible-api secure?
Editor's Notes & Deep Dive
Key Features
- →GET /john/3:16 returns the verse as JSON with translation reference
- →GET /john/3:16-18 returns a range of verses in one call
- →Supports ?translation=web to switch from the default KJV to the World English Bible
Rate Limits & Quotas
No published hard limit; hosted on Cloudflare Workers, effectively unlimited for polite use.
Known Issues & Pitfalls
- !Only two translations are available: KJV (default) and WEB
- !Verse ranges spanning chapters need a single reference like john/3:16-4:3, not two calls
- !Apocryphal books are not included
How It Compares
The simplest free Bible JSON API. For more translations use bolls.life or the Faithlife Reveal API, both of which require keys.
Sample Response
{
"reference": "John 3:16",
"verses": [
{
"book_id": "JHN",
"book_name": "John",
"chapter": 3,
"verse": 16,
"text": "For God so loved the world..."
}
],
"translation_id": "kjv",
"translation_name": "King James Version"
}Pro Tips
- ✓Cache full chapters locally; verse-level calls add up quickly at scale