How do I cite the Bible in Turabian?

To cite the Bible in Turabian (9th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.

What does the in-text citation look like for the Bible in Turabian?

In Turabian, the in-text citation for the example above is Note: John 3:16 (New Revised Standard Version)

How to Cite the Bible in Turabian (9th edition)

Learn how to cite the Bible, scripture, and other sacred texts in Turabian format (9th edition). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.

Turabian Bibliography Format

Here is the standard Turabian format for citing the Bible in your bibliography:

Not listed in the bibliography — cite in a note: 1. John 3:16 (New Revised Standard Version).

Turabian Example for the Bible

A complete Turabian reference for the Bible, formatted by the official Turabian CSL style definition — the same engine that powers the generator on this site:

The Holy Bible, New Revised Standard Version. 1989. New York: Meridian Bibles.

Matching in-text citation: (The Holy Bible, New Revised Standard Version 1989)

Turabian In-Text Citation

Use one of these formats when referencing this source within your paper:

Parenthetical

Note: John 3:16 (New Revised Standard Version)

Narrative

As John 3:16 (NRSV) states...

Key Turabian Formatting Rules

Turabian follows Chicago: cite the Bible in a note or in the text, not the bibliography.
Give the abbreviated book, chapter, and verse, separated by a colon — never a page number.
Identify the version in the first citation; later citations may use its abbreviation.
Books of the Bible are not italicized.

Step-by-Step Guide

Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your Bible.
Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the Turabian (9th edition) template shown above.
Create the in-text citation: Add a parenthetical or narrative citation in your paper where you reference this source.
Add to your bibliography: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match Turabian requirements.

Evidence and review notes

Worked examples are generated by citeproc from the published CSL definition, not written by a language model. Editorial guidance and sources in this section were reviewed on 2026-08-14.

CSL style record: turabian.csl

Metadata to collect

version or translation
book, chapter and verse
publisher and year of the edition, when the style requires them
URL for an online edition

Common metadata traps

Name the version in the first citation; translations word verses differently.
Cite book, chapter and verse, never page numbers.

Editorial sources

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite the Bible in Turabian?: To cite the Bible in Turabian (9th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the Turabian format for the Bible citation?: The Turabian format for the Bible is: Not listed in the bibliography — cite in a note: 1. John 3:16 (New Revised Standard Version).
What does the in-text citation look like for the Bible in Turabian?: In Turabian, the in-text citation for the example above is Note: John 3:16 (New Revised Standard Version)