Discover the 10 shortest Bible verses, the shortest according to Hebrew and Greek text, and the shortest Bible verses in the Old and New Testaments.
Shortest Verse In The Bible
"Jesus wept" (John 11:35)
The shortest verse in the English Bible, "Jesus wept," is found in the Gospel of John, verse 11:35. This verse is part of the narrative surrounding the death of Lazarus, a friend of Jesus.
In the story, Lazarus falls ill, and his sisters, Mary and Martha, send a message to Jesus to inform him of their brother's condition. Despite receiving the message, Jesus intentionally delays his arrival, allowing Lazarus to die. By the time Jesus reaches Bethany, where Lazarus lived, he finds that Lazarus has been in the tomb for four days.
When Jesus sees the grief and mourning of those around him, including Mary and Martha, he is deeply moved. The shortest verse, "Jesus wept," is a powerful expression of Jesus' compassion and empathy for the sorrow of those mourning the death of Lazarus. Even though Jesus knew that he would raise Lazarus from the dead, his emotional response highlights the humanity of Jesus and his ability to connect with the pain and suffering of those around him.
This brief verse serves as a poignant reminder of the compassionate nature of Jesus and the depth of his understanding of human emotions. It also emphasizes the themes of empathy and the reality of human suffering, even in the face of the ultimate victory over death that Jesus would demonstrate through the resurrection of Lazarus.
Translations of John 11:35
"Jesus began to cry." (Common English Bible)
"Jesus sobbed." (New International Reader's Version)
"Jesus began to weep." (New Revised Standard)
"And Jesus himself was weeping." (The Bible in Basic English)
10 Shortest Bible Verses
John 11:35 (2 words): "Jesus wept."
1 Thessalonians 5:16 (2 words): "Rejoice always."
1 John 4:8 (3 words): "God is love."
1 Thessalonians 5:19 (3 words): "Do not quench."
1 Thessalonians 5:20 (3 words): "Do not despise."
1 Thessalonians 5:21 (3 words): "Test all things."
1 Thessalonians 5:22 (3 words): "Abstain from evil."
Romans 12:12 (3 words): "Rejoicing in hope."
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (3 words): "Give thanks always."
1 Thessalonians 5:17 (3 words): "Pray without ceasing."
Shortest Verse By Translation
It is widely accepted that John 11:35 is the shortest Bible verse across English translations with 2 words and 9 letters. However, in its original Greek translation, it has 16 letters.
Two verses are even shorter in Greek manuscripts:
"Rejoice always." ( 1 Thessalonians 5:16 ) (14 Greek letters)
"The second." (Luke 20:30) (12 Greek letters)
Because Biblical Hebrew did not originally have vowels, the initial translations of these verses are considered the shortest:
"He said," (Job 3:2) (13 Hebrew consonants)
"Eber, Peleg, Reu" (1 Chronicles 1:25) (9 Hebrew consonants)
Got Questions provides context to the shortest bible verse including all languages and letters.
"So, the answer to “What is the shortest verse in the Bible?” is complicated. If you count by the number of English letters, Job 3:2 appears to be the shortest with only 6 letters. Even that count depends on the translation, as some versions read, “Job said” (7 letters), or “And he said” (9 letters), or “And Job said” (10 letters). If you count by the number of Hebrew or Greek letters, 1 Chronicles 1:25 is the shortest verse in the Bible with 9 letters. But, if you include Hebrew vowels in that count, Luke 20:30 becomes the shortest verse in the Bible with 12 letters in the original language—depending on the manuscript used."
5 Shortest Verses in the Old Testament
Job 3:2: "He said."
1 Chronicles 1:25: "Eber, Peleg, Reu."
Exodus 20:13: "You shall not murder."
Exodus 20:15: "You shall not steal."
Exodus 20:14: "You shall not commit adultery."
5 Shortest Verses in the New Testament
John 11:35: "Jesus wept."
1 Thessalonians 5:16: "Rejoice always."
1 John 4:8: "God is love."
1 Thessalonians 5:19: "Do not quench."
1 Thessalonians 5:20: "Do not despise."
Photo Credit: Getty/Bohdan Bevz
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