Longest Book in the Bible (Old and New Testament)

The Bible is a collection of 66 books, written over a span of roughly 1,500 years, by more than 40 different authors. These holy scriptures come in all shapes and sizes—from the tiny one-chapter letters of 2 John and Obadiah to the sprawling, multi-chapter works like Psalms and Jeremiah. The length of each book often reflects its purpose: short letters may address specific people or situations, while long books gather centuries of history, worship songs, or prophetic visions.

Knowing the longest books in the Bible is more than just an exercise in trivia. It gives us insight into how God’s Word was compiled, why certain messages needed more space, and how the scope of a book can shape its themes. The longest books are often those that aim to cover sweeping historical narratives, detailed worship instructions, or expansive prophetic declarations.

In this article, we’ll reveal the longest book in the Old and New Testaments. You’ll learn how length is measured, as well as the longest books overall by verses and chapters. What’s more, you’ll also learn about the longest Gospel and why some biblical books are so extensive.

How “Longest Book” is Measured

There are several ways to measure the “longest” book in the Bible. Some of the most common ways are;

1. Verse Count – The number of individual verses, regardless of how many words each contains. This is the most common measurement in Bible trivia.

2. Word Count – A more precise measure of total length, but one that varies between translations due to word choices.

3. Chapter Count – Easy to compare, but can be misleading. A book with more chapters isn’t always longer in words or verses than one with fewer chapters.

For example:

• Psalms has the most chapters (150) and the most verses (2,461), making it the longest by those measures.

• Jeremiah has fewer chapters (52) and verses (1,364) but is the longest by word count in many translations, because its verses are generally longer and more detailed.

Longest Book in the Old Testament

Psalms — Longest Old Testatment Book by Chapter Count & Verse Count

With 150 chapters, 2,461 verses, and approximately 42,704 words (KJV), the book of Psalms is the longest book in the Old Testament.

The book of Psalms is a vast collection of songs, prayers, and poetry, composed over centuries by multiple authors including King David, Asaph, the sons of Korah, Moses, and others. It’s divided into five sections, often called “books,” and serves as the prayer and songbook of both ancient Israel and the Christian church.

This Old Testament book is structured into different themes, including worship, lament, thanksgiving, wisdom, royal praise, and prophetic anticipation of the Messiah.

Interestingly, the book of Psalms contains both the shortest chapter in the Bible (Psalm 117, 2 verses) and the longest chapter (Psalm 119, 176 verses).

Psalms’ length reflects its role as a lifelong companion for worship and devotion. It addresses nearly every human emotion and spiritual circumstance—joy, sorrow, repentance, praise, and hope.

Jeremiah — Longest Old Testament Book by Word Count

With 52 chapters, 1,364 verses, and approximately 33,002 words (KJV), Jeremiah is the longest book in the Old Testament by word count.

While Psalms holds the record for most verses, Jeremiah takes the crown for most words in many translations. This is due to its dense prophetic oracles, historical narratives, and lamentations.

Jeremiah records God’s messages through the prophet to the people of Judah during the last decades before the Babylonian exile. It includes: Warnings of judgment, calls to repentance, accounts of Jeremiah’s personal struggles as a prophet, and prophecies of restoration and the New Covenant.

Why So Long?

The book combines lengthy speeches, detailed historical accounts, and poetic lamentations. Jeremiah’s ministry spanned over 40 years, and the book preserves much of that history in full detail.

Longest Book in the New Testament

Luke — Longest by Word Count & Verse Count

With 24 chapters, 1,151 verses, and about 25,944 words (KJV), Luke is the longest book in the New Testament by both verse and word count. Written by Luke the physician, it presents an orderly and well-researched account of Jesus’ life, ministry, death, and resurrection.

Luke contains detailed narratives of Jesus’ birth and early life, many parables unique to Luke (e.g., the Good Samaritan, the Prodigal Son), healings, miracles, and teachings of Jesus Christ, as well as, historical anchors—Luke often situates events within the political context of the time.

Why So Long?

Luke’s goal, stated in Luke 1:1–4, was to give Theophilus “an orderly account” of events. His meticulous style and inclusion of rich detail add significantly to its length.

Acts — Second Longest in the New Testament

With 28 chapters, 1,007 verses, and approximately 24,229 words (KJV), Acts is the second longest New Testament book. Also written by Luke, Acts continues the narrative from the Gospel of Luke and records the birth and expansion of the early church. Its length comes from detailed accounts of sermons, miracles, missionary journeys, and trials.

Longest Books in the Bible by Verse

Based on the KJV verse counts, here’s the top 10:

Longest Books in the Bible by Chapters

Here’s the ranking by chapter count:

While chapter count is useful for navigation, it doesn’t always match verse or word length rankings.

Longest Gospel Book

Among the four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—Luke is the longest by both verse and word count.

• Luke: 24 chapters, 1,151 verses (~25,944 words).

• Matthew: 28 chapters, 1,071 verses (~23,343 words).

• John: 21 chapters, 879 verses (~19,099 words).

• Mark: 16 chapters, 678 verses (~15,171 words).

Luke’s narrative is the fullest, with extended parables, detailed healing accounts, and historical framing.

Why Some Books Are So Long

Length in biblical books often comes down to purpose and style:

1. Compilation Works — Like Psalms, which is a collection of 150 individual songs and poems compiled over centuries.

2. Historical Narratives — Like Genesis and Acts, which cover long spans of time and include detailed genealogies, speeches, and events.

3. Prophetic Literature — Like Jeremiah and Isaiah, which contain extensive oracles, symbolic actions, and historical context.

4. Detailed Storytelling — Like Luke, where the author’s aim is thorough documentation.

Longest Book vs. Shortest Book

The shortest book in the Bible by verse count is 2 John (13 verses), while the longest by verses is Psalms (2,461 verses). This dramatic contrast shows the diversity of the Bible—some books are concise letters, others are expansive anthologies.

Conclusion

The longest book in the Bible by verses and chapters is Psalms, with its 150 chapters and 2,461 verses. By word count, however, Jeremiah often takes first place. In the New Testament, Luke stands as the longest, thanks to its rich detail and orderly account of Jesus’ life and ministry.

These lengthy books are not long for the sake of length—they are comprehensive, richly detailed, and deeply purposeful. They demonstrate that when God has a lot to say on a subject—whether through song, prophecy, or history—He ensures the record is full.

FAQ

Is Psalms the longest book in every Bible translation?
By chapter and verse count, yes. By word count, it’s sometimes surpassed by Jeremiah depending on the translation.

Why is Jeremiah longer than Psalms in word count?
Jeremiah’s verses are often longer and more detailed, containing full speeches and narratives, while many psalms are shorter songs.

What’s the longest book in the original Hebrew Bible?
By words, Jeremiah is often the longest; by verses, Psalms still holds the record.