Short Bible Verses
Some of the Bible's most memorable verses are only a line long. John 11:35 is the shortest verse in most English Bibles, Hebrews 13:8 says Jesus never changes, and Exodus 14:14 promises that the Lord will fight for his people while they stay still. Short verses are easy to learn by heart.
A short verse can travel with you in a way a long passage cannot. You can learn it on the way to work, write it on a sticky note or say it under your breath in a hard moment. Every verse on this page fits on a single line.
Among the shortest verses in scripture
A handful of verses are just a few words long, yet they carry a great deal. One shows Jesus in tears beside a friend's grave, others call us to constant joy, prayer and love. They are easy to learn and hard to forget.
Jesus wept.
John 11:35 (BSB)
Rejoice at all times.
1 Thessalonians 5:16 (BSB)
Pray without ceasing.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 (BSB)
Do everything in love.
1 Corinthians 16:14 (BSB)
Short verses about who God is
When life is loud, it helps to have a few plain truths to stand on. These verses say that God is good, that his kindness reaches everything he has made, and that Jesus is the same in every age. Try repeating one slowly before you sleep.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Hebrews 13:8 (BSB)
Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!
Psalm 34:8 (BSB)
The Lord is good to all; His compassion rests on all He has made.
Psalm 145:9 (BSB)
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His loving devotion endures forever.
Psalm 136:1 (BSB)
One-line verses for courage
Fear rarely gives us time to look up a long passage. These lines are short enough to remember in the moment, and each points to God as the one who stands with us. They work well as a quiet breath prayer.
The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
Exodus 14:14 (BSB)
The Lord is on my side; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
Psalm 118:6 (BSB)
The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
Proverbs 18:10 (BSB)
Be strong and courageous, all you who hope in the Lord.
Psalm 31:24 (BSB)
Short verses to live by
Some verses work like a compass for ordinary choices. Treat others the way you would want to be treated, answer evil with good, and hand your plans to God. Pick one for the week and see where it shows up.
Commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be achieved.
Proverbs 16:3 (BSB)
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:21 (BSB)
Do to others as you would have them do to you.
Luke 6:31 (BSB)
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Psalm 119:105 (BSB)
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Colossians 3:2 (BSB)
A prayer
Lord, thank you that your word can be small enough to carry and still big enough to hold me. Plant a few of these lines deep in my heart, so they come back to me when I need them most. When I am afraid, remind me that you are on my side. When I am busy, turn my mind back to you. Let even a single verse be a light for my next step today. Amen.
Questions people ask
What is the shortest verse in the Bible?
In most English Bibles the shortest verse is John 11:35, which records Jesus weeping at the tomb of his friend Lazarus. It is only two words long. In the original Greek, 1 Thessalonians 5:16, the call to rejoice always, is actually shorter by letter count.
What is a good short Bible verse to memorise?
Hebrews 13:8, Psalm 119:105 and Proverbs 16:3 are all easy to learn and useful in daily life. A good way to start is to choose one verse that speaks to something you are facing this week, write it somewhere you will see it often, and say it aloud each morning.
What is a short Bible verse for strength?
Exodus 14:14 and Psalm 31:24 are both a single line and speak directly to courage. Proverbs 18:10 pictures the name of the Lord as a strong tower people can run to for safety. Any of them can be prayed quietly in a moment of pressure.
Why memorise Bible verses at all?
Psalm 119 speaks of hiding God's word in the heart, and Jesus himself answered temptation with scripture he knew by memory. A verse you know by heart is available when your phone is not, at three in the morning or in a hospital corridor. Short verses are the easiest place to begin.
Keep reading
A verse for how you feel, every morning
FaithGuide asks how you are feeling, then gives you a verse, a short reflection and a prayer for exactly that. Anxious, weary, grateful or hopeful, there is scripture for it. Free to start on iPhone and Android.
Scripture quotations are from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB), which is in the public domain.