Skip to content
SBC-Standard The data standard for libraries

Abbreviations (books of the Bible)

Abbreviations for the books of the Bible following the Loccum guidelines (external site).

The Old Testament – historical books#

Abbreviation Book of the Bible Note
Gen Genesis Bereshit, first book of Moses
Ex Exodus Shemot, second book of Moses
Lev Levitikus (Leviticus) Wayiqra, third book of Moses
Num Numeri (Numbers) Bamidbar, fourth book of Moses, Arithmoi
Dtn Deuteronomium (Deuteronomy) Devarim, fifth book of Moses
Jos Das Buch Josua (Book of Joshua) Yehoshua, Jesus son of Nave
Ri Das Buch der Richter (Book of Judges)
Rut Das Buch Rut (Book of Ruth) Ruth
1 Sam Das 1. Buch Samuel (1 Samuel) Shmuel, 1 Kingdoms
2 Sam Das 2. Buch Samuel (2 Samuel) Shmuel, 2 Kingdoms
1 Kön Das 1. Buch der Könige (1 Kings) 3 Kingdoms
2 Kön Das 2. Buch der Könige (2 Kings) 4 Kingdoms
1 Chr Das 1. Buch der Chronik (1 Chronicles) Divrei Hayamim, 1 Paralipomenon
2 Chr Das 2. Buch der Chronik (2 Chronicles) Divrei Hayamim, 2 Paralipomenon
1 Esr Das 1. Buch Esra (1 Esdras) Orthodox Bible only, in the appendix of the Latin Bible, also known as 3 Esdras
Esra Das Buch Esra (Book of Ezra) also known as 1 Esdras or 2 Esdras
Neh Das Buch Nehemia (Book of Nehemiah) also known as 2 Esdras
Tob Das Buch Tobit (Book of Tobit) Tobias; Roman Catholic and Orthodox Bibles only
Jdt Das Buch Judit (Book of Judith) Roman Catholic and Orthodox Bibles only
Est Das Buch Ester (Book of Esther) Esther; parts of the book only in Roman Catholic and Orthodox Bibles
1 Makk Das 1. Buch der Makkabäer (1 Maccabees) Roman Catholic and Orthodox Bibles only
2 Makk Das 2. Buch der Makkabäer (2 Maccabees) Roman Catholic and Orthodox Bibles only
3 Makk Das 3. Buch der Makkabäer (3 Maccabees) Orthodox Bible only
4 Makk Das 4. Buch der Makkabäer (4 Maccabees) only as an appendix in the Orthodox Bible

The Old Testament – wisdom books and psalms#

Abbreviation Book of the Bible Note
Ijob Das Buch Ijob (Book of Job) Hiob, Job; a small part of the book only in the Orthodox Bible
Ps Die Psalmen (Psalms) psalm 151 only in the Orthodox Bible, in the appendix of the Latin Bible
Spr Das Buch der Sprichwörter (Book of Proverbs) Proverbs of Solomon
Koh Das Buch Kohelet (Ecclesiastes) Ecclesiastes, Qohelet
Hld Das Hohelied (Song of Songs) Song of Songs of Solomon
Weish Das Buch der Weisheit (Book of Wisdom) Wisdom of Solomon; Roman Catholic and Orthodox Bibles only
Sir Das Buch Jesus Sirach (Sirach) Wisdom of Sirach, Ecclesiasticus; Roman Catholic and Orthodox Bibles only
GebMan Das Gebet des Manasse (Prayer of Manasseh) only in the apocrypha of the Luther Bible, in the appendix of the Latin Bible and in some Orthodox Bibles
Klgl Die Klagelieder des Jeremia (Lamentations) in the Catholic canon after Jeremiah

The Old Testament – prophets#

Abbreviation Book of the Bible Note
Jes Das Buch Jesaja (Book of Isaiah) Yeshayahu, Isaias, Esaias
Jer Das Buch Jeremia (Book of Jeremiah) Yirmeyahu, Jeremias
Klgl Die Klagelieder Jeremias (Lamentations) Eikhah; in the Protestant canon among the wisdom books
Bar Das Buch Baruch (Book of Baruch) Roman Catholic and Orthodox Bibles only
BrJer Der Brief des Jeremia (Letter of Jeremiah) often also as the last chapter of the Book of Baruch
Ez Das Buch Ezechiel (Book of Ezekiel) Yehezkel, Jezekiel, Hesekiel
Dan Das Buch Daniel (Book of Daniel) parts of the book only in Roman Catholic and Orthodox Bibles
3 Esr Das 3. Buch Esra (3 Esdras) only in some Orthodox Bibles, in the appendix of the Latin Bible, also known as 2 Esdras or 4 Esdras

The Old Testament – the Twelve (minor prophets)#

Abbreviation Book of the Bible Note
Hos Das Buch Hosea (Book of Hosea) Hoshea, Osee
Joël Das Buch Joël (Book of Joel)
Am Das Buch Amos (Book of Amos)
Obd Das Buch Obadja (Book of Obadiah) Obdias
Jona Das Buch Jona (Book of Jonah) Jonas
Mi Das Buch Micha (Book of Micah) Michaeas
Nah Das Buch Nahum (Book of Nahum) Nahum, Naoum
Hab Das Buch Habakuk (Book of Habakkuk) Habakkuk, Ambakoum
Zef Das Buch Zefanja (Book of Zephaniah) Zephaniah, Sophonias
Hag Das Buch Haggai (Book of Haggai) Haggai, Aggaeus
Sach Das Buch Sacharja (Book of Zechariah) Zechariah, Zacharias
Mal Das Buch Maleachi (Book of Malachi) Malachi, Malachias

Diese werden im Judentum zu einem Buch zusammengefasst und Das Buch der Zwölf genannt.

The New Testament – the gospels#

Abbreviation Book of the Bible Note
Mt Das Evangelium nach Matthäus (Gospel of Matthew)
Mk Das Evangelium nach Markus (Gospel of Mark)
Lk Das Evangelium nach Lukas (Gospel of Luke)
Joh Das Evangelium nach Johannes (Gospel of John)

The New Testament – the apostolic writings – historical book#

Abbreviation Book of the Bible Note
Apg Die Apostelgeschichte des Lukas (Acts of the Apostles)

The New Testament – the apostolic writings – the Pauline epistles#

Abbreviation Book of the Bible Note
Röm Der Brief an die Römer (Letter to the Romans)
1 Kor Der 1. Brief an die Korinther (1 Corinthians)
2 Kor Der 2. Brief an die Korinther (2 Corinthians)
Gal Der Brief an die Galater (Letter to the Galatians)
Eph Der Brief an die Epheser (Letter to the Ephesians)
Phil Der Brief an die Philipper (Letter to the Philippians)
Kol Der Brief an die Kolosser (Letter to the Colossians)
1 Thess Der 1. Brief an die Thessalonicher (1 Thessalonians)
2 Thess Der 2. Brief an die Thessalonicher (2 Thessalonians)
1 Tim Der 1. Brief an Timotheus (1 Timothy)
2 Tim Der 2. Brief an Timotheus (2 Timothy)
Tit Der Brief an Titus (Letter to Titus)
Phlm Der Brief an Philemon (Letter to Philemon)

The New Testament – the apostolic writings – the catholic (general) epistles#

Abbreviation Book of the Bible Note
Hebr Der Brief an die Hebräer (Letter to the Hebrews)
Jak Der Brief des Jakobus (Letter of James)
1 Petr Der 1. Brief des Petrus (1 Peter)
2 Petr Der 2. Brief des Petrus (2 Peter) not in the Syriac Bible
1 Joh Der 1. Brief des Johannes (1 John)
2 Joh Der 2. Brief des Johannes (2 John) not in the Syriac Bible
3 Joh Der 3. Brief des Johannes (3 John) not in the Syriac Bible
Jud Der Brief des Judas (Letter of Jude) not in the Syriac Bible

The New Testament – the apostolic writings – apocalyptic literature#

Abbreviation Book of the Bible Note
Offb Die Offenbarung des Johannes (Revelation)

Abbreviations in alphabetical order#

Abbreviation Meaning
Am Amos (Book of Amos)
Apg Apostelgeschichte (Acts of the Apostles)
Apk* see Offb
Bar Baruch
BrJer Brief des Jeremia (Letter of Jeremiah)
1 Chr 1. Buch der Chronik (1 Chronicles)
2 Chr 2. Buch der Chronik (2 Chronicles)
Dan Daniel (Book of Daniel)
Dtn Deuteronomium = 5. Buch Mose (Deuteronomy, fifth book of Moses)
Eph Epheserbrief (Letter to the Ephesians)
Esra Buch Esra (Book of Ezra)
1 Esr 1. Buch Esra (1 Esdras)
2 Esr 2. Buch Esra (2 Esdras)
3 Esr 3. Buch Esra (3 Esdras)
4 Esr 4. Buch Esra (4 Esdras)
Est Buch Ester (Book of Esther)
Ex Exodus = 2. Buch Mose (Exodus, second book of Moses)
Ez Ezechiel (Ezekiel)
Gal Galaterbrief (Letter to the Galatians)
GebMan Gebet des Manasse (Prayer of Manasseh)
Gen Genesis = 1. Buch Mose (Genesis, first book of Moses)
Hab Habakuk (Habakkuk)
Hag Haggai
Hebr Hebräerbrief (Letter to the Hebrews)
Hiob* see Ijob
Hld Hoheslied (Song of Songs)
Hos Hosea
Ijob Ijob (Job)
Lev Levitikus = 3. Buch Mose (Leviticus, third book of Moses)
Jak Jakobusbrief (Letter of James)
Jdt Buch Judit (Book of Judith)
Jer Jeremia (Book of Jeremiah)
Jes Jesaja (Isaiah)
Joël Buch Joël (Book of Joel)
1 Joh 1. Johannesbrief (1 John)
2 Joh 2. Johannesbrief (2 John)
3 Joh 3. Johannesbrief (3 John)
Joh Johannesevangelium (Gospel of John)
Jona Jona (Book of Jonah)
Jos Josua (Book of Joshua)
Jud Judasbrief (Letter of Jude)
Klgl Klagelieder Jeremias (Lamentations)
Koh Kohelet (Ecclesiastes)
Kol Kolosserbrief (Letter to the Colossians)
1 Kön 1. Buch der Könige (1 Kings)
2 Kön 2. Buch der Könige (2 Kings)
1 Kor 1. Korintherbrief (1 Corinthians)
2 Kor 2. Korintherbrief (2 Corinthians)
Laod Laodizäerbrief (Letter to the Laodiceans)
Lev Levitikus (Leviticus)
Lk Lukasevangelium (Gospel of Luke)
1 Makk 1. Makkabäerbuch (1 Maccabees)
2 Makk 2. Makkabäerbuch (2 Maccabees)
3 Makk 3. Makkabäerbuch (3 Maccabees)
4 Makk 4. Makkabäerbuch (4 Maccabees)
Mal Maleachi (Malachi)
Mi Micha (Book of Micah)
Mk Markusevangelium (Gospel of Mark)
Mt Matthäusevangelium (Gospel of Matthew)
Nah Nahum
Neh Buch Nehemia (Book of Nehemiah)
Num Numeri = 4. Buch Mose (Numbers, fourth book of Moses)
Obd Obadja (Obadiah)
Off* see Offb
Offb Offenbarung des Johannes (Revelation)
1 Petr 1. Petrusbrief (1 Peter)
2 Petr 2. Petrusbrief (2 Peter)
Ps Buch der Psalmen (Psalms)
Phil Philipperbrief (Letter to the Philippians)
Phlm Philemonbrief (Letter to Philemon)
Ri Buch der Richter (Book of Judges)
Röm Römerbrief (Letter to the Romans)
Rut Buch Rut (Book of Ruth)
Sach Sacharja (Book of Zechariah)
1 Sam 1. Buch Samuel (1 Samuel)
2 Sam 2. Buch Samuel (2 Samuel)
Sir Jesus Sirach (Sirach)
Spr Buch der Sprichwörter (Book of Proverbs)
1 Thess 1. Thessalonicherbrief (1 Thessalonians)
2 Thess 2. Thessalonicherbrief (2 Thessalonians)
1 Tim 1. Timotheusbrief (1 Timothy)
2 Tim 2. Timotheusbrief (2 Timothy)
Tit Titusbrief (Letter to Titus)
Tob Buch Tobit (Book of Tobit)
Weish Buch der Weisheit (Book of Wisdom)
Zef Zefanja (Zephaniah)

* abbreviation formerly in use.

This page was translated automatically from the German original. If anything reads oddly or looks wrong, please let us know — the German edition prevails.