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Application Programming Interface (API)

Verses (belong to chapters)

Verses are the smallest unit of organization within the ABS Bible texts. Verses belong to chapters.

List

Book listings may only be requested in the context of their chapter parent.

GET /chapters/#{version_id}:#{book_id}.#{chapter_number}/verses.xml

Returns a list of all verses for the chapter resource specified by version, book, and chapter number. The available version IDs can be listed with the versions endpoint. The book ID is specified with the OSIS normative abbreviation for the book. The chapter number is a number that is a valid chapter in the book and version.

Example:

Request
GET https://biblesearch.americanbible.org/chapters/KJV:1Cor.2/verses.xml
Response
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<verses>
  <verse id="KJV:1Cor.2.1">
    <auditid>0</auditid>
    <verse>1</verse>
    <lastverse>1</lastverse>
    <id>KJV:1Cor.2.1</id>
    <osis_end>KJV:1Cor.2.1</osis_end>
    <label />
    <text>
      <![CDATA[<span class="para"><span class="v46_2_1"><sup class="v46_2_1">1</sup>And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.</span></span>]]>
    </text>
    <reference>1 Corinthians 2:1</reference>
    <parent>
      <chapter id="KJV:1Cor.2">
        <path>/chapters/KJV:1Cor.2</path>
        <name>1 Corinthians 2</name>
        <id>KJV:1Cor.2</id>
      </chapter>
    </parent>
    <next>
      <verse id="KJV:1Cor.2.2">
        <path>/verses/KJV:1Cor.2.2</path>
        <name>1 Corinthians 2:2</name>
        <id>KJV:1Cor.2.2</id>
      </verse>
    </next>
    <previous>
      <verse id="KJV:1Cor.1.31">
        <path>/verses/KJV:1Cor.1.31</path>
        <name>1 Corinthians 1:31</name>
        <id>KJV:1Cor.1.31</id>
      </verse>
    </previous>
    <copyright>
      <![CDATA[The King James Version is public domain. Copy and distribute freely.]]>
    </copyright>
  </verse>
  <verse id="KJV:1Cor.2.2">
    <auditid>0</auditid>
    <verse>2</verse>
    <lastverse>2</lastverse>
    <id>KJV:1Cor.2.2</id>
    <osis_end>KJV:1Cor.2.2</osis_end>
    <label />
    <text>
      <![CDATA[<span class="para"><span class="v46_2_2"><sup class="v46_2_2">2</sup>For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.</span></span>]]>
    </text>
    <reference>1 Corinthians 2:2</reference>
    <parent>
      <chapter id="KJV:1Cor.2">
        <path>/chapters/KJV:1Cor.2</path>
        <name>1 Corinthians 2</name>
        <id>KJV:1Cor.2</id>
      </chapter>
    </parent>
    <next>
      <verse id="KJV:1Cor.2.3">
        <path>/verses/KJV:1Cor.2.3</path>
        <name>1 Corinthians 2:3</name>
        <id>KJV:1Cor.2.3</id>
      </verse>
    </next>
    <previous>
      <verse id="KJV:1Cor.2.1">
        <path>/verses/KJV:1Cor.2.1</path>
        <name>1 Corinthians 2:1</name>
        <id>KJV:1Cor.2.1</id>
      </verse>
    </previous>
    <copyright>
      <![CDATA[The King James Version is public domain. Copy and distribute freely.]]>
    </copyright>
  </verse>
  [... Verses removed for brevity ...]
</verses>

References

GET /chapters/#{version_id}:#{book_id}.#{chapter_number}/verses.xml?start=1&end=14

Returns a collection of verses for the reference specified by the start and end querystring parameters. The available version IDs can be listed with the versions endpoint. The book ID is specified with the OSIS normative abbreviation for the book. The chapter number is a number that is a valid chapter in the book and version.

Note: start and end parameters represent the verse number attribute.

Example:

Request
GET https://biblesearch.americanbible.org/chapters/KJV:1Cor.2/verses.xml?start=5&end=6
Response
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<verses>
  <verse id="KJV:1Cor.2.5">
    <auditid>0</auditid>
    <verse>5</verse>
    <lastverse>5</lastverse>
    <id>KJV:1Cor.2.5</id>
    <osis_end>KJV:1Cor.2.5</osis_end>
    <label />
    <text>
      <![CDATA[<span class="para"><span class="v46_2_5"><sup class="v46_2_5">5</sup>that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.</span></span>]]>
    </text>
    <reference>1 Corinthians 2:5</reference>
    <parent>
      <chapter id="KJV:1Cor.2">
        <path>/chapters/KJV:1Cor.2</path>
        <name>1 Corinthians 2</name>
        <id>KJV:1Cor.2</id>
      </chapter>
    </parent>
    <next>
      <verse id="KJV:1Cor.2.6">
        <path>/verses/KJV:1Cor.2.6</path>
        <name>1 Corinthians 2:6</name>
        <id>KJV:1Cor.2.6</id>
      </verse>
    </next>
    <previous>
      <verse id="KJV:1Cor.2.4">
        <path>/verses/KJV:1Cor.2.4</path>
        <name>1 Corinthians 2:4</name>
        <id>KJV:1Cor.2.4</id>
      </verse>
    </previous>
    <copyright>
      <![CDATA[The King James Version is public domain. Copy and distribute freely.]]>
    </copyright>
  </verse>
  <verse id="KJV:1Cor.2.6">
    <auditid>0</auditid>
    <verse>6</verse>
    <lastverse>6</lastverse>
    <id>KJV:1Cor.2.6</id>
    <osis_end>KJV:1Cor.2.6</osis_end>
    <label />
    <text>
      <![CDATA[<span class="para"><span class="v46_2_6"><sup class="v46_2_6">6</sup>Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:</span></span>]]>
    </text>
    <reference>1 Corinthians 2:6</reference>
    <parent>
      <chapter id="KJV:1Cor.2">
        <path>/chapters/KJV:1Cor.2</path>
        <name>1 Corinthians 2</name>
        <id>KJV:1Cor.2</id>
      </chapter>
    </parent>
    <next>
      <verse id="KJV:1Cor.2.7">
        <path>/verses/KJV:1Cor.2.7</path>
        <name>1 Corinthians 2:7</name>
        <id>KJV:1Cor.2.7</id>
      </verse>
    </next>
    <previous>
      <verse id="KJV:1Cor.2.5">
        <path>/verses/KJV:1Cor.2.5</path>
        <name>1 Corinthians 2:5</name>
        <id>KJV:1Cor.2.5</id>
      </verse>
    </previous>
    <copyright>
      <![CDATA[The King James Version is public domain. Copy and distribute freely.]]>
    </copyright>
  </verse>
</verses>

Searching

GET /verses.xml?

You may append a number of optional querystring parameters to filter the verses returned:

  • keyword: the words(s) you are searching for. This parameter must be provided.
  • precision: may be “all” to return search results with all keywords or “any” to return search results where any keywords appear
  • exclude: any keywords that should not appear in the search results
  • spelling: may be “yes” to search for keywords like the terms you submitted if your keywords return no results
  • version: may be one or several of the version “version” values
  • language: may be one or several of version “language” values
  • testament: may be one or several of the book “testament” values
  • book: may be one or several of the book “abbreviation” values
  • sort_order: may be either “canonical” or “relevance”
  • offset: may be an integer to request records returned after this number of records. That is, if the offset is 1000, the records returned will start with the one thousand first record.
  • limit: may be an integer to request a maximum number of records be returned. If provided, limit must be less than or equal to 500.

Example:

Request
GET https://biblesearch.americanbible.org/verses.xml?keyword=love+peace&precision=all&testament=OT
Response
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<search>
  <result>
    <type>verses</type>
    <summary>
      <query>love peace</query>
      <start>1</start>
      <total>19</total>
      <rpp>15</rpp>
      <sort>relevance</sort>
      <versions>
        <version>GNT</version>
        <version>KJV</version>
        <version>CEV</version>
        <version>RVR60</version>
      </versions>
      <testaments>
        <testament>OT</testament>
      </testaments>
    </summary>
    <spelling>
      <entries>
        <entry>
          <query>love</query>
          <suggestions>
            <suggestion>live</suggestion>
          </suggestions>
        </entry>
      </entries>
    </spelling>
    <verses>
      <verse id='GNT:Ps.85.10'>
        <auditid>0</auditid>
        <verse>10</verse>
        <lastverse>10</lastverse>
        <id>GNT:Ps.85.10</id>
        <osis_end>GNT:Ps.85.10</osis_end>
        <label>Ps.085.010,GNT</label>
        <text>
          <![CDATA[<span class="level1"><sup class="v19_85_10">10</sup>Love and faithfulness will meet;
            </span>  
            <span class="level2">righteousness and peace will embrace.
              </span></span>]]>
        </text>
        <reference>Psalm 85:10</reference>
        <parent>
          <chapter id='GNT:Ps.85'>
            <path>/chapters/GNT:Ps.85</path>
            <name>Psalm 85</name>
            <id>GNT:Ps.85</id>
          </chapter>
        </parent>
        <next>
          <verse id='GNT:Prov.5.1'>
            <path>/verses/GNT:Prov.5.1</path>
            <name>Proverbs 5:1</name>
            <id>GNT:Prov.5.1</id>
          </verse>
        </next>
        <previous>
          <verse id='GNT:Job.1.1'>
            <path>/verses/GNT:Job.1.1</path>
            <name>Job 1:1</name>
            <id>GNT:Job.1.1</id>
          </verse>
        </previous>
        <copyright>
          <![CDATA[Scripture taken from the Good News Translation in Today's English Version- Second Edition Copyright © 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.]]>
        </copyright>
      </verse>
      <verse id='CEV:Eccl.3.8'>
        <auditid>0</auditid>
        <verse>8</verse>
        <lastverse>8</lastverse>
        <id>CEV:Eccl.3.8</id>
        <osis_end>CEV:Eccl.3.8</osis_end>
        <label>Eccl.003.008,CEV</label>
        <text>
          <![CDATA[ <span class="level1"><sup class="v21_3_8">8</sup>There is also a time</span> <span class="level1">for love and hate,</span> <span class="level2">for war and peace.</span></span>]]>
        </text>
        <reference>Ecclesiastes 3:8</reference>
        <parent>
          <chapter id='CEV:Eccl.3'>
            <path>/chapters/CEV:Eccl.3</path>
            <name>Ecclesiastes 3</name>
            <id>CEV:Eccl.3</id>
          </chapter>
        </parent>
        <next>
          <verse id='CEV:Song.1.1'>
            <path>/verses/CEV:Song.1.1</path>
            <name>Song of Solomon 1:1</name>
            <id>CEV:Song.1.1</id>
          </verse>
        </next>
        <previous>
          <verse id='CEV:Prov.1.1'>
            <path>/verses/CEV:Prov.1.1</path>
            <name>Proverbs 1:1</name>
            <id>CEV:Prov.1.1</id>
          </verse>
        </previous>
        <copyright>
          <![CDATA[Copyright 2006, American Bible Society]]>
        </copyright>
      </verse>
    [... Verses removed for brevity ... ]
    </verses>
  </result>
</search>

Show

GET /verses/#{version_id}:#{book_id}.#{chapter_number}.#{verse_number}.xml

Returns the specific verse resource with given version, book, chapter number, and verse number. The available version IDs can be listed with the versions endpoint. The book ID is specified with the OSIS normative abbreviation for the book. The chapter number is a number that is a valid chapter in the book and version. The verse number is a number that is a valid verse in the chapter and version.

Example:

Request
GET https://biblesearch.americanbible.org/verses/GNT:Acts.8.34.xml
Response
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<verses>
  <verse id='GNT:Acts.8.34'>
    <auditid>0</auditid>
    <verse>34</verse>
    <lastverse>34</lastverse>
    <id>GNT:Acts.8.34</id>
    <osis_end>GNT:Acts.8.34</osis_end>
    <label></label>
    <text>
      <![CDATA[<span class="para"><span class="v44_8_34"><sup class="v44_8_34">34</sup>The official asked Philip,  
          “Tell me, of whom is the prophet saying this? Of himself or of someone else?”
          </span></span>]]>
    </text>
    <reference>Acts 8:34</reference>
    <parent>
      <chapter id='GNT:Acts.8'>
        <path>/chapters/GNT:Acts.8</path>
        <name>Acts 8</name>
        <id>GNT:Acts.8</id>
      </chapter>
    </parent>
    <next>
      <verse id='GNT:Rom.11.23'>
        <path>/verses/GNT:Rom.11.23</path>
        <name>Romans 11:23</name>
        <id>GNT:Rom.11.23</id>
      </verse>
    </next>
    <previous>
      <verse id='GNT:John.14.1'>
        <path>/verses/GNT:John.14.1</path>
        <name>John 14:1</name>
        <id>GNT:John.14.1</id>
      </verse>
    </previous>
    <copyright>
      <![CDATA[Scripture taken from the Good News Translation in Today's English Version- Second Edition Copyright © 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.]]>
    </copyright>
  </verse>
</verses>