SBL Style, Second Edition: References: Bibles

General Format

References are entered in two places. The Bibliography goes at the end of your paper, and the Notes are the in-text citation in the body of your paper.

The Bibliography has the full citation information.

• Single-spaced with an extra space between entries.
• Alphabetize entries and use a hanging indent.
• See the examples in the boxes below.

Notes are either endnotes (at the end of the body of the paper) or footnotes (bottom of each page)

• Formatting is the same for endnotes or footnotes. But use only one or the other, not both.
• Numbered notes are coordinated by superscript numbers in the body of text.
• Notes are indented one tab.
• The first time you cite a source, use the Full note as indicated below; subsequent times, use the Shortened Note form.

Citing the Bible

1. Identify Translation

When you are citing from the Bible, you need to identify the translation that you are using. For modern translations you should use the standard abbreviation (e.g., NRSV, NIV, etc.) to identify it. You do not include publisher's information in either the footnote or bibliography entry. If all your biblical citations derive from the same translation, you only need to identify the translation the first time you cite from the Bible. If you are using more than one translation, however, you will need to identify the translation each time.

Example:

"The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house was filled with smoke" (Isaiah 6:4 NRSV).

2. Include Chapter and Verse

Cite biblical passages by including both chapter and verse. List the name of the book first. Both chapter and verse should be written using Arabic numerals and separated by a colon.

Examples:

1 Kings 22:19

Genesis 6:1-4

3. Multiple References in the same Citation

Occasionally, you may need to cite multiple passages in a single citation. If multiple verses from a single chapter are referenced, they should be separated by a comma. References to subsequent chapters or books should be separated by a semicolon. Passages should be written in canonical and numerical order.

Example:

Genesis 5:22, 24; 6:1-4; 1 Kings 19:22; Isaiah 6:1-4

Study Bibles

Study Bible includes articles and notes that are not part of the biblical text. If you reference this material, you will need to include an entry in your bibliography and cite it appropriately.

Last name, First name. "Title." Page range in Title of Study Bible. Edited by Editors' names, City: Publisher, date.

Full note:

1. Tova Ganzel, "Ezekiel," in The SBL Study Bible: New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition with Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books, eds. Steven L. McKenzie, Kristin De Troyer, and F. Scott Spencer (San Francisco: HarperOne, 2023), 1122.

Shortened note:

2. Ganzel, "Ezekiel," 1122.