The shortest verse in the Bible varies depending on whether you count words or letters, use English or the original Hebrew/Greek, and which translation or manuscript you follow. In English, John 11:35 (“Jesus wept”) is often considered the shortest with two words and nine letters, though Job 3:2 (“He said”) can be shorter at just six letters in some versions.
In the original languages, 1 Thessalonians 5:16 has 14 Greek letters, while 1 Chronicles 1:25 has only nine Hebrew consonants (without vowels). Including vowels shifts the shortest verse again, sometimes to Luke 20:30 with 12 letters.
Ultimately, no single verse is universally the shortest—it depends on the counting method. John 11:35 remains the most commonly cited in popular English Bibles.
