You might be wondering what the longest verse in the Bible is. The Bible which is a book of extraordinary contrast is made up of 66 books, and some passages are as short and sharp as a two-word sentence, while others are as long and winding as a royal decree. Most Christians are familiar with the shortest verse in Scripture—John 11:35, simply stating, “Jesus wept.” But far fewer know which verse is the longest, or why it is so unusually long.
The longest verse in the Bible isn’t just a curiosity for trivia lovers—it offers a fascinating glimpse into the literary styles of ancient times, the historical contexts in which Scripture was written, and the way translators have worked to preserve its meaning. This single verse contains an entire legal proclamation, packed with names, places, and official instructions.
In this article, we’ll uncover the longest verse in the Bible. We’ll also look at the longest verse in the Old Testament and why it’s so detailed. You’ll also learn about the longest verse in the New Testament, as well as the longest verse in the Gospels. You’ll also learn why some passages are long while others are famously short.
By the end, you’ll see that what may appear as a “record-breaker” in terms of length is also a window into the richness and complexity of the Bible’s narrative style.
How “Longest Verse” is Measured
When we talk about the “longest verse,” we’re usually referring to word count in a particular translation. The King James Version (KJV) is most commonly used for such measurements because it has been a standard for English Bible trivia for centuries.
That said, different translations (NIV, ESV, NLT) may have slightly different word counts because translators make choices about sentence structure and vocabulary. But the longest verse in the KJV—Esther 8:9—remains the longest in almost every major translation.
It’s also important to note that the original Hebrew and Greek texts did not have chapter or verse divisions. These were added centuries later to make Scripture easier to reference. In the original languages, sentences could be very long, and translators sometimes break them into multiple English verses for readability. That means that what is “the longest verse” in English might not be the longest continuous sentence in Hebrew or Greek.
Longest Verse in the Old Testament
Esther 8:9 — The Longest Verse in the Bible
If you’ve never read Esther 8:9 in full, you might be surprised by its sheer size. In the KJV, it contains 90 words—nearly a full paragraph.
The verse (KJV) begins:
“Then were the king’s scribes called at that time in the third month, that is, the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.”
That’s just part of it—and it’s already a mouthful.
Historical Context
Esther 8 records the events after Haman, the enemy of the Jews, is executed for his plot to destroy them. However, under Persian law, a decree issued by the king could not be revoked. So, King Ahasuerus allowed Mordecai, now a trusted royal official, to write a new decree giving the Jews permission to defend themselves against any attack.
Esther 8:9 is the beginning of that decree, explaining when it was written, who it was addressed to, and in how many languages it was sent.
Why Is It So Long?
The length comes from several factors:
-
Legal Formality – Ancient Persian decrees were formulaic and included every title, official, and geographic location for legal authority.
-
Geographical Scope – It lists all the provinces, stretching from India to Ethiopia—127 in total.
-
Multilingual Communication – The decree had to be translated into the local language of each province.
This verse is a perfect example of how the Bible sometimes mirrors the formal writing styles of the cultures in which its events took place.
Other Long Old Testament Verses
While Esther 8:9 takes the crown, other Old Testament verses are impressively long:
-
Jeremiah 21:7 — A detailed prophecy about King Zedekiah’s fate and the people of Jerusalem.
-
Ezekiel 46:9 — Specific ceremonial instructions for temple worship.
These verses share a common theme: the need for precision when giving instructions or recording historical events.
Longest Verse in the New Testament
Revelation 20:4 (English) / Luke 3:23–38 (Greek)
In most English translations, the New Testament’s longest verse is Revelation 20:4. This verse describes John’s vision of thrones, judgment, and the reign of the saints with Christ for a thousand years. It contains multiple clauses and vivid imagery.
However, in the original Greek, genealogical passages such as Luke 3:23–38 form extraordinarily long sentences, even if they are broken into many verses in English. Greek writing style often connected ideas with minimal punctuation, allowing for lengthy, continuous statements.
Other Long New Testament Verses
-
Acts 27:37 — During Paul’s shipwreck, this verse mentions the exact number of people aboard (276) and ties into the broader narrative.
-
Ephesians 1:3–14 — In Greek, this is a single sentence of praise that English translations split into multiple verses for clarity.
Longest Books in the Bible by Verse
If we step back from verses to look at entire books, we find some clear leaders when it comes to length.
Top 5 Longest Books by Verse Count (KJV):
-
Psalms — 2,461 verses
-
Jeremiah — 1,364 verses
-
Ezekiel — 1,273 verses
-
Genesis — 1,533 verses
-
Isaiah — 1,292 verses
Why they’re long:
-
Psalms: A collection of 150 individual songs, prayers, and poems.
-
Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Isaiah: Prophetic books with extensive oracles and historical context.
-
Genesis: Detailed accounts of creation, early humanity, and the patriarchs.
Longest Books in the Bible by Chapters
Chapter count doesn’t always match verse count, but it’s another way to measure size.
Top 5 Longest Books by Chapter Count:
-
Psalms — 150 chapters
-
Isaiah — 66 chapters
-
Jeremiah — 52 chapters
-
Genesis — 50 chapters
-
Ezekiel — 48 chapters
Notably, Psalms dominates both lists due to its structure as a collection of many short literary units.
Longest Gospel Book
Among the four Gospels, Luke is the longest by both verse count and word count:
-
24 chapters
-
1,151 verses
Luke’s length is due to its detailed narrative style, extensive parables, and inclusion of historical background. Luke writes with the precision of a historian, providing orderly accounts from the birth of Jesus to His ascension.
Why Some Bible Passages and Books Are So Long
Long passages usually arise from:
-
Legal and Administrative Detail – Like Esther 8:9, where accuracy mattered more than brevity.
-
Ceremonial Instructions – Temple worship laws required exact descriptions.
-
Historical Records – Genealogies and census counts naturally run long.
-
Ancient Writing Style – Greek and Hebrew often favored long, flowing sentences connected by conjunctions.
Longest Verse vs. Shortest Verse
The shortest verse in most English translations is John 11:35 — “Jesus wept.”
The contrast is striking:
-
Esther 8:9 — A complex, legal, political, and geographic proclamation.
-
John 11:35 — A direct, emotional statement of compassion.
This contrast highlights the Bible’s versatility—able to capture sweeping historical events and intimate personal moments with equal impact.
Conclusion
The Bible’s longest verse—Esther 8:9—may seem like an oddity, but it opens a window into the political, cultural, and legal environment of ancient Persia. The New Testament’s long verses, such as Revelation 20:4, reveal the richness of Greek sentence structure.
From the expansive Psalms to the detailed historical Gospel of Luke, Scripture contains both long and short literary forms, each serving a unique purpose. Whether two words or ninety, every verse is crafted to convey truth in the form best suited to its message.
FAQ
What is the longest verse in the Bible in Hebrew?
In Hebrew, Esther 8:9 is still the longest, though the word count may differ slightly from English translations.
Does the longest verse differ by translation?
The same verse is usually the longest across translations, though word counts can vary.
What is the longest book in the Bible?
By chapters and verses, Psalms is the longest; by word count, Jeremiah is often the largest in many translations.
