What is the middle verse of the Bible?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The Bible’s current division of chapters and verses was added centuries after the original texts and holds no divine significance in itself. However, using these manmade divisions, the Bible contains 31,102 verses, so there is no single middle verse. Instead, Psalm 103:1-2 are the two central verses. These verses encourage us to bless the Lord and remember His benefits, placing worship at the heart of Scripture. Though the divisions aren’t divinely inspired, the Bible’s current center point is a useful reminder to worship, reflecting the consistent biblical theme of praising and trusting in God.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• The Bible contains 31,102 verses (KJV, ESV). Because this total is an even number, there is no exact middle verse. Instead, two verses meet in the middle: Psalm 103:1-2. There are 15,500 verses before these two verses and 15,500 after them.
• The middle verses of the Bible read: "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits" (Psalm 103:1-2).
• Sometimes, Psalm 118:8 is mistakenly referred to as the middle verse of the Bible. This verse says, "It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man." This is a great reminder. But, if you are playing a Bible trivia game, it is not the correct answer to the question of What is the middle verse of the Bible? The middle chapter in the Bible is Psalm 117, but since chapters have varying numbers of verses, the middle verses do not fall in the middle chapter.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• The middle verse of the Bible is not found in the New Testament.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

The Bible's chapter and verse divisions were added long after the Scriptures were written. In fact, the Jewish Bible arranges the books of the Old Testament differently. So there is no particular spiritual relevance attached to a verse's placement, other than, of course, the contextual significance.

That being said, it seems relevant that this central point of the Bible is a passage of praise to the Lord. We should always be praising the Lord and remembering His benefits. The entirety of the Bible provides us with examples of His faithfulness and goodness to us—beginning, middle, and end. When all is said and done, there is no inherent significance attached to the middle verses of the Bible, but it is an interesting fact to know and a good reminder to keep the praise of the Lord in our hearts.

UNDERSTAND

• Psalm 103:1-2 are the middle verses of the Bible.
• These central verses highlight worshiping God as a key biblical theme.
• Chapter and verse divisions were added later and have no divine significance, but it’s still meaningful that the Bible’s midpoint focuses on praise.

REFLECT

• How often do you pause to bless the Lord and remember His benefits, like Psalm 103:1-2 urges you to?
• Does worship sit at the center of your life the way it sits at the center of Scripture?
• How can you cultivate a heart that praises God regardless of where you are in your spiritual journey—beginning, middle, or end?

ENGAGE

• Why is it meaningful that the central verses of the Bible focus on praising God?
• How do chapter and verse divisions help or hinder our understanding of Scripture’s message?
• How can we help one another make worship a regular and central part of our spiritual lives?