# Bible Gateway API

> Bible Gateway returns Bible passages, verse search results, and the Verse of the Day as a workflow and API.

Bible Gateway reads a passage by reference and translation, returning verse text and passage details. Search bible finds verses matching words or topics, optionally narrowed by Bible section, result count, and translation. Get verse of the day returns the daily verse in a requested translation, defaulting to NIV.

- Page: https://fous.com/workflows/bible-gateway
- Handle: `@bible-gateway`
- Category: [Education](https://fous.com/workflows/category/education)
- Source website: https://biblegateway.com
- Last verified: Sep 29, 2026
- Fous is not affiliated with Bible Gateway.

## Methods

### Get passage

Operation `get_passage`, version 1. 1 credit per call.

Read up to one chapter of a Bible passage in a chosen Bible Gateway translation. Licensed translations may show only part of the requested passage.

**Input**

| Field | Type | Required | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `reference` | string | yes | `"John 3:16"` | Bible passage, for example John 3:16, Psalm 23, or Romans 8:28-39. |
| `translation` | string | no | `"King James Version"` | Translation name or abbreviation, for example King James Version or KJV; defaults to NIV. |

**Input schema**

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "reference"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "reference": {
      "type": "string",
      "description": "Bible passage, for example John 3:16, Psalm 23, or Romans 8:28-39.",
      "examples": [
        "John 3:16",
        "Psalm 23",
        "Romans 8:28-39"
      ]
    },
    "translation": {
      "type": "string",
      "default": "NIV",
      "description": "Translation name or abbreviation, for example King James Version or KJV; defaults to NIV.",
      "examples": [
        "King James Version",
        "NIV",
        "KJV"
      ]
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "examples": [
    {
      "reference": "John 3:16"
    },
    {
      "reference": "Psalm 23",
      "translation": "King James Version"
    },
    {
      "reference": "Romans 8:28-39",
      "translation": "NIV"
    }
  ]
}
```

**Output**

| Field | Type | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `link` | string | `"https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%203%3A16&version=NIV"` | Bible Gateway passage page. |
| `verses` | array |  |  |
| `verses[].book` | string | `"John"` |  |
| `verses[].text` | string | `"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have et` |  |
| `verses[].chapter` | integer | `3` |  |
| `verses[].verse_number` | integer | `16` |  |
| `copyright` | string or null | `"Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. Al` | Copyright line shown for the translation. |
| `reference` | string | `"John 3:16"` | Passage reference as shown on Bible Gateway. |
| `translation_name` | string | `"New International Version"` |  |
| `translation_abbreviation` | string | `"NIV"` |  |

**Example input**

```json
{
  "reference": "John 3:16"
}
```

**Example output**

```json
{
  "link": "https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%203%3A16&version=NIV",
  "verses": [
    {
      "book": "John",
      "text": "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.",
      "chapter": 3,
      "verse_number": 16
    }
  ],
  "copyright": "Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.",
  "reference": "John 3:16",
  "translation_name": "New International Version",
  "translation_abbreviation": "NIV"
}
```

### Get verse of the day

Operation `get_verse_of_the_day`, version 1. 1 credit per call.

Get Bible Gateway’s Verse of the Day in the requested translation (NIV by default). The date follows Bible Gateway’s daily update, which may differ from your local date. Some translations may not show the selected verse.

**Input**

| Field | Type | Required | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `translation` | string | no | `"King James Version"` | Bible translation name or abbreviation, such as King James Version or KJV. Defaults to NIV. |

**Input schema**

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "translation": {
      "type": "string",
      "default": "NIV",
      "description": "Bible translation name or abbreviation, such as King James Version or KJV. Defaults to NIV.",
      "examples": [
        "King James Version",
        "ESV"
      ]
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "examples": [
    {},
    {
      "translation": "King James Version"
    },
    {
      "translation": "ESV"
    }
  ]
}
```

**Output**

| Field | Type | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `date` | string | `"2026-09-28"` | Date assigned by Bible Gateway to this verse. |
| `link` | string | `"https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%202%3A14&version=NIV"` | Bible Gateway passage link. |
| `reference` | string | `"1 Corinthians 2:14"` | Bible book, chapter, and verse. |
| `verse_text` | string | `"The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishnes` | Verse as plain text. |
| `translation_name` | string | `"New International Version"` | Full name of the translation. |
| `translation_abbreviation` | string | `"NIV"` | Abbreviation of the translation. |

**Example input**

```json
{}
```

**Example output**

```json
{
  "date": "2026-09-28",
  "link": "https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%202%3A14&version=NIV",
  "reference": "1 Corinthians 2:14",
  "verse_text": "The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.",
  "translation_name": "New International Version",
  "translation_abbreviation": "NIV"
}
```

### Search bible

Operation `search_bible`, version 1. 1 credit per call.

Find Bible verses containing search words or related to a topic, with verse text and links. Returns up to 100 verses in Bible order.

**Input**

| Field | Type | Required | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `part` | string | no | `"old_testament"` | Part of the Bible to search, for example "new_testament". |
| `query` | string | yes | `"love is patient"` | Words or a topic to search for, for example "love is patient". |
| `max_results` | integer | no | `10` | Maximum verses to return, for example 25. |
| `translation` | string | no | `"King James Version"` | Bible translation name or abbreviation, for example "King James Version" or "KJV". |

**Input schema**

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "query"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "part": {
      "enum": [
        "whole_bible",
        "old_testament",
        "new_testament"
      ],
      "type": "string",
      "default": "whole_bible",
      "description": "Part of the Bible to search, for example \"new_testament\".",
      "examples": [
        "old_testament",
        "new_testament"
      ]
    },
    "query": {
      "type": "string",
      "description": "Words or a topic to search for, for example \"love is patient\".",
      "examples": [
        "love is patient",
        "forgiveness",
        "love"
      ]
    },
    "max_results": {
      "type": "integer",
      "default": 25,
      "maximum": 100,
      "minimum": 1,
      "description": "Maximum verses to return, for example 25.",
      "x-fous-developer": true,
      "examples": [
        10,
        100
      ]
    },
    "translation": {
      "type": "string",
      "default": "NIV",
      "description": "Bible translation name or abbreviation, for example \"King James Version\" or \"KJV\".",
      "examples": [
        "King James Version",
        "NIV"
      ]
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "examples": [
    {
      "query": "love is patient"
    },
    {
      "part": "old_testament",
      "query": "forgiveness",
      "max_results": 10,
      "translation": "King James Version"
    },
    {
      "part": "new_testament",
      "query": "love",
      "max_results": 100,
      "translation": "NIV"
    }
  ]
}
```

**Output**

| Field | Type | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `verses` | array |  |  |
| `verses[].link` | string | `"https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2013%3A4&version=NIV"` |  |
| `verses[].text` | string | `"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud."` |  |
| `verses[].reference` | string | `"1 Corinthians 13:4"` |  |
| `total_matches` | integer or null | `1` | Total matching verses within the selected part, when shown. |

**Example input**

```json
{
  "query": "love is patient"
}
```

**Example output**

```json
{
  "verses": [
    {
      "link": "https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2013%3A4&version=NIV",
      "text": "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.",
      "reference": "1 Corinthians 13:4"
    }
  ],
  "total_matches": 1
}
```

## Quick start

Call the API with a Fous API key (`FOUS_API_KEY`). To create one, turn on Developer mode in Fous Studio, then open Keys & connections → API keys (https://app.fous.com/keys).

```bash
# First set your key: export FOUS_API_KEY='YOUR_FOUS_API_KEY'
: "${FOUS_API_KEY:?Set FOUS_API_KEY before running this example}"

curl 'https://api.fous.com/v1/query' \
  --fail-with-body --silent --show-error --max-time 120 \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $FOUS_API_KEY" \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --data-raw '{
  "api": "@bible-gateway",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "get_passage",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "reference": "John 3:16"
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}'
```

```python
# Save as fous.py and run with python3 fous.py. No packages needed.
# First set your key: export FOUS_API_KEY='YOUR_FOUS_API_KEY'
import json
import os
import urllib.error
import urllib.request

api_key = os.environ.get("FOUS_API_KEY")
if not api_key:
    raise RuntimeError("Set FOUS_API_KEY before running this example")

body = json.loads("{\n  \"api\": \"@bible-gateway\",\n  \"visibility\": \"public\",\n  \"operation\": \"get_passage\",\n  \"version\": 1,\n  \"input\": {\n    \"reference\": \"John 3:16\"\n  },\n  \"response\": {\n    \"format\": \"json\"\n  }\n}")
request = urllib.request.Request(
    "https://api.fous.com/v1/query",
    data=json.dumps(body).encode("utf-8"),
    headers={
        "Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}",
        "Content-Type": "application/json",
    },
    method="POST",
)
try:
    with urllib.request.urlopen(request, timeout=120) as response:
        result = json.load(response)
except urllib.error.HTTPError as error:
    raise RuntimeError(f"HTTP {error.code}: {error.read().decode('utf-8', errors='replace')}") from error
if result.get("success") is False:
    raise RuntimeError(result.get("error", {}).get("message", "Request failed"))
print(json.dumps(result["data"]["output"], indent=2))
```

```typescript
// Save as fous.mts and run with npx tsx fous.mts.
// First set your key: export FOUS_API_KEY='YOUR_FOUS_API_KEY'
const apiKey = process.env.FOUS_API_KEY;
if (!apiKey) throw new Error("Set FOUS_API_KEY before running this example");

const response = await fetch("https://api.fous.com/v1/query", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {
    "Authorization": `Bearer ${apiKey}`,
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
  },
  signal: AbortSignal.timeout(120_000),
  body: JSON.stringify({
  "api": "@bible-gateway",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "get_passage",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "reference": "John 3:16"
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}),
});
type ApiResult = { success: boolean; data?: { output: unknown }; error?: { message: string } };
const result: ApiResult = await response.json();
if (!response.ok || result.success === false) {
  throw new Error(result.error?.message ?? `HTTP ${response.status}`);
}
if (!result.data) throw new Error("Missing API response data");
console.log(result.data.output);
```

Or describe the data in plain language: send `{"api":"@bible-gateway","prompt":"Describe the data you need, with every detail"}` to the same URL. Fous fills in the input, runs the method that fits and returns only the fields you asked for; `data.route.calls[].request` is the exact call it made. Routing is free; the run costs the same.

## Use cases

- Read a Bible passage in a chosen translation
- Find verses containing a phrase or related to a topic
- Explore search results from a selected Bible section
- Display the Verse of the Day in a chosen translation

## FAQ

### Is Fous affiliated with Bible Gateway?

No. Fous is not affiliated with Bible Gateway. This workflow reads the public biblegateway.com website and returns its data.

### How much does it cost?

Each run costs 1 credit. With pay-as-you-go, a credit costs 1¢; monthly plans cost less per credit.

### Do I need a Bible Gateway account?

No. You only need a Fous account.

### How current is the data?

Fous gets the data from biblegateway.com when you run it; repeating the same request within a day may return the saved result. Fous checks this workflow automatically; it last passed a check on Sep 29, 2026.

### How can I read a Bible passage?

Use Get passage with a required passage reference and an optional translation.

### How can I find verses about a topic?

Use Search bible with a required query and optional Bible section, result count, and translation.

### How can I get the Verse of the Day?

Use Get verse of the day, with an optional translation; it defaults to NIV.

## Related

- [Quran.com API](https://fous.com/workflows/quran-com.md): Quran.com provides Quran reading and search: up to 50 verses with Arabic and translations, optional transliteration, and only the first 50 verses of longer passages.
- [Project Gutenberg API](https://fous.com/workflows/project-gutenberg.md): Project Gutenberg offers free public-domain ebooks and reading materials, with searchable book details and plain text from the most-downloaded matching edition available.
- [Merriam-Webster API](https://fous.com/workflows/merriam-webster.md): Merriam-Webster provides definitions, pronunciations, examples, word histories, synonyms, antonyms, and related words for publicly listed entries, plus Word of the Day entries for today or published archive dates.
- [Google Books API](https://fous.com/workflows/google-books.md): Google Books searches books and provides book details, reader ratings, and local ebook prices when available; newest results sort by publication date.
- [BrainyQuote API](https://fous.com/workflows/brainyquote.md): BrainyQuote returns topic-matched quotes in displayed order, a person’s description and up to 100 quotes with topic tags and links, or the quote shown for the chosen daily category and BrainyQuote’s current day.
- [Goodreads API](https://fous.com/workflows/goodreads.md): Goodreads returns public book searches, matched-book details with variable editions, popular or newest reviews, author books by popularity or date, and up to 100 quotes.
- [The Verge API](https://fous.com/workflows/the-verge.md): The Verge provides technology, science, entertainment, and policy headlines and searchable articles, including public stories and older archives, with search limited to the first 100 matches.
- [Open Library API](https://fous.com/workflows/open-library.md): Open Library returns book search results, catalog details, and author works; availability reflects listed editions, not current loan availability, and catalog details may be missing.
- [All Education workflows](https://fous.com/workflows/category/education)