Abbreviations for the Books of the Bible and for
Ancient Jewish and Christian Literature
These
are the abbreviations established in The SBL Handbook of Style (Peabody,
MA: Hendrickson, 1999).
(For an alternative set of abbreviations, see http://rosetta.reltech.org/TC/TC-abbrev.html.
For yet another set see http://journalofbiblicalstudies.org/Abbreviations.htm.)
(If you have the proper fonts installed
you can cut and paste these abbreviations into your own document.)
Note: Abbreviations
for books of the Old Testament, New Testament, Apocrypha, and Septuagint are
not italicized and do not have periods following them.
Old
Testament
|
Gen Genesis |
Prov Proverbs |
|
Exod Exodus |
Eccl (or Qoh) Ecclesiastes/Qoheleth |
|
Lev Leviticus |
Song Song of Songs/Song of Solomon |
|
Num Numbers |
Isa Isaiah |
|
Deut Deuteronomy |
Jer Jeremiah |
|
Josh Joshua |
Lam Lamentations |
|
Judg Judges |
Ezek Ezekiel |
|
Ruth Ruth |
Dan Daniel |
|
1–2 Sam 1–2 Samuel |
Hos Hosea |
|
1–2 Kgdms 1–2 Kingdoms (LXX) |
Joel Joel |
|
Amos Amos |
Obad Obadiah |
|
1–2 Kgs 1–2 Kings |
Jonah Jonah |
|
3–4 Kgdms 3–4 Kingdoms (LXX) |
Mic Micah |
|
1–2 Chr 1–2 Chronicles |
Nah Nahum |
|
Ezra Ezra |
Hab Habakkuk |
|
Neh Nehemiah |
Zeph Zephaniah |
|
Esth Esther |
Hag Haggai |
|
Job Job |
Zech Zechariah |
|
Ps/Pss Psalm/Psalms |
Mal Malachi |
New
Testament
|
Matt Matthew |
1–2 Thess 1–2 Thessalonians |
|
Mark Mark |
1–2 Tim 1–2 Timothy |
|
Luke Luke |
Titus Titus |
|
John John |
Phlm Philemon |
|
Acts Acts |
Heb Hebrews |
|
Rom Romans |
Jas James |
|
1–2 Cor 1–2 Corinthians |
1–2 Pet 1–2 Peter |
|
Gal Galatians |
1–3 John 1–3 John |
|
Eph Ephesians |
Jude Jude |
|
Phil Philippians |
Rev Revelation |
|
|
|
Apocrypha
and Septuagint
|
Bar Baruch |
Jdt Judith |
|
Add Dan Additions to Daniel |
1–2 Macc 1–2 Maccabees |
|
Pr Azar Prayer of Azariah |
3–4 Macc 3–4 Maccabees |
|
Bel Bel and the Dragon |
Pr Man Prayer of Manasseh |
|
Sg Three Song of the Three Young Men |
Ps 151 Psalm 151 |
|
Sus Susanna |
Sir Sirach/Ecclesiasticus |
|
1–2 Esd 1–2 Esdras |
Tob Tobit |
|
Add Esth Additions to Esther |
|
|
Ep Jer Epistle of Jeremiah |
|
Dead Sea Scrolls are cited by cave number
attached to the letter “Q”, manuscript number or abbreviated name, fragment number
(if there is one it is given in Arabic numerals), column number (in Roman
numerals, either capitalized or lowercase) and line number (in Arabic
numerals). Thus (reading from the end to
the reference to the front) 1Q27 1 ii 25 would refer to line 25 of the first column of the first
fragment of manuscript 27 from cave 1.
1QpHab I 2 refers to the second line of the first column of Pesher Habakkukfrom cave 1. A complete list of Dead Sea Scrolls
has been posted on the web (scroll to the bottom of the linked page and search
by cave). See also Appendix F of the SBL
Handbook of Style.
Old
Testament Pseudepigrapha
|
Ahiqar |
Ahiqar |
3 Macc. |
3 Maccabees |
|
|
Use L.A.B. |
4 Macc. |
4 Maccabees |
|
Apoc. Ab. |
Apocalypse of Abraham |
5 Macc. |
5 Maccabees (Arabic) |
|
Apoc. Adam |
Apocalypse of Adam |
Mart. Ascen. Isa. |
Martyrdom and Ascension of Isaiah |
|
Apoc. Dan. |
Apocalypse of Daniel |
Mart. Isa. |
Mart. Ascen. Isa. 1–5 |
|
Apoc. El. (H) |
Hebrew Apocalypse of Elijah |
Odes Sol. |
Odes of Solomon |
|
Apoc. El. (C) |
Coptic Apocalypse of Elijah |
P. J. |
Use 4 Bar. |
|
Apoc. Ezek. |
Use Apocr. Ezek. |
Ph. E. Poet |
Philo the Epic Poet |
|
Apoc. Mos. |
Apocalypse of Moses |
Pr. Jac. |
Prayer of Jacob |
|
Apoc. Sedr. |
Apocalypse of Sedrach |
Pr. Jos. |
Prayer of Joseph |
|
Apoc. Zeph. |
Apocalypse of Zephaniah |
|
Prayer of Manasseh |
|
Apoc. Zos. |
Use Hist. Rech. |
Pr. Mos. |
Prayer of Moses |
|
Apocr. Ezek. |
Apocrypon of Ezekiel |
Ps.-Eup. |
Pseudo-Eupolemus |
|
Aris. Ex. |
Aristeas the Exegete |
Ps.-Hec. |
Pseudo-Hecataeus |
|
Aristob. |
Aristobulus |
Ps.-Orph. |
Pseudo-Orpheus |
|
Artap. |
Artapanus |
Ps.-Philo |
Use L.A.B. |
|
Ascen. Isa. |
Mart. Ascen. Isa. 6–11 |
Ps.-Phoc. |
Pseudo-Phocylides |
|
As. Mos. |
Assumption of Moses |
Pss. Sol. |
Psalms of Solomon |
|
2 Bar. |
2 Baruch (Syriac Apocalypse) |
Ques. Ezra |
Questions of Ezra |
|
3 Bar. |
3 Baruch (Greek Apocalypse) |
Rev. Ezra |
Revelation of Ezra |
|
4 Bar. |
4 Baruch (Paraleipomena Jeremiou) |
Sib. Or. |
Sibylline Oracles |
|
Bib. Ant. |
Use L.A.B. |
Syr. Men. |
Sentences of the Syriac Menander |
|
Bk. Noah |
Book of Noah |
T. 12 Patr. |
Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs |
|
Cav. Tr. |
|
T. Ash. |
Testament of Asher |
|
Cl. Mal. |
Cleodemus Malchus |
T. Benj. |
Testament of Benjamin |
|
Dem. |
Demetrius (the Chronographer) |
T. Dan |
Testament of Dan |
|
El. Mod. |
Eldad and Modad |
T. Gad |
Testament of Gad |
|
1 En. 1 Enoch |
(Ethiopic Apocalypse) |
T. Iss. |
Testament of Issachar |
|
2 En. 2 Enoch |
(Slavonic Apocalypse) |
T. Jos. |
Testament of Joseph |
|
3 En. 3 Enoch |
(Hebrew Apocalypse) |
T. Jud. |
Testament of |
|
Eup. |
Eupolemus |
T. Levi |
Testament of Levi |
|
Ezek. Trag. |
Ezekiel the Tragedian |
T. Naph. |
Testament of Naphtali |
|
4 Ezra |
4 Ezra |
T. Reu. |
Testament of Reuben |
|
5 Apoc. Syr. Pss. |
Five Apocryphal Syriac Psalms |
T. Sim. |
Testament of Simeon |
|
Gk. Apoc. Ezra |
Greek Apocalypse of Ezra |
T. Zeb. |
Testament of Zebulun |
|
Hec. Ab. |
Hecataeus of Abdera |
T. 3 Patr. |
Testaments of the Three Patriarchs |
|
Hel. Syn. Pr. |
Hellenistic Synagogal Prayers |
T. Ab. |
Testament of Abraham |
|
Hist. Jos. |
History of Joseph |
T. Isaac |
Testament of Isaac |
|
Hist. Rech. |
History of the Rechabites |
T. Jac. |
Testament of Jacob |
|
Jan. Jam. |
Jannes and Jambres |
T. Adam |
Testament of Adam |
|
Jos. Asen. |
Joseph and Aseneth |
T. Hez. |
Testament of Hezekiah (Mart. Ascen. Isa. 3:13–4:22) |
|
Jub. |
Jubilees |
T. Job |
Testament of Job |
|
L.A.B. |
Liber antiquitatum biblicarum (Pseudo-Philo) |
T. Mos. |
Testament of Moses |
|
L.A.E. |
Life of Adam and Eve |
T. Sol. |
Testament of Solomon |
|
Lad. Jac. |
Ladder of Jacob |
Theod. |
Theodotus, On the Jews |
|
Let. Aris. |
Letter of Aristeas |
Treat. Shem |
Treatise of Shem |
|
Liv. Pro. |
Lives of the Prophets |
Vis. Ezra |
Vision of Ezra |
|
Lost Tr. |
The Lost Tribes |
Vis. Isa. |
Use Ascen. Isa. |
Philo
There are two sets of acceptable abbreviations
for the works of Philo, based on the titles in Latin and English. Those titles have been paired together
here. Of course an author should show
consistency in using one approach or the other.
|
Abr. |
De Abrahamo |
Ios. |
De Iosepho |
|
Abraham |
On the Life of Abraham |
Joseph |
On the Life of Joseph |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aet. |
De aeternitate mundi |
Leg. 1, 2,
3 |
Legum allegoriae I, II, III |
|
Eternity |
On the Eternity of the World |
Alleg. Interp. 1, 2, 3 |
Allegorical Interpretation 1, 2, 3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Agr. |
De agricultura |
Legat. |
Legatio ad Gaium |
|
Agriculture |
On Agriculture |
Embassy |
On the Embassy to Gaius |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anim. |
De animalibus |
Migr. |
De migratione Abrahami |
|
Animals |
Whether Animals Have Reason (= Alexander) |
Migration |
On the Migration of Abraham |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
De cherubim |
Mos. 1, 2 |
De vita Mosis I, II |
|
Cherubim |
On the Cherubim |
Moses 1, 2
|
On the Life of Moses 1, 2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conf. |
De confusione linguarum |
Mut. |
De mutatione nominum |
|
Confusion |
On the Confusion of Tongues |
Names |
On the Change of Names |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contempl. |
De vita contemplativa |
Opif. |
De opificio mundi |
|
Contempl. Life |
On the Contemplative Life |
Creation |
On the Creation of the World |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Congr. |
De congressueru ditionis gratia |
Plant. |
De plantatione |
|
Prelim. Studies |
On the Preliminary Studies |
Planting |
On Planting |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Decal. |
De decalogo |
Post. |
De posteritate Caini |
|
Decalogue |
On the Decalogue |
Posterity |
On the Posterity of Cain |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deo |
De Deo |
Praem. |
De praemiis et poenis |
|
God |
On God |
Rewards |
On Rewards and Punishments |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Det. |
Quod deterius potiori insidari soleat |
Prob. |
Quod omnis probus liber sit |
|
Worse |
That the Worse Attacks the Better |
Good Person |
That Every Good Person Is Free |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deus |
Quod Deus sit immutabilis |
Prov. 1, 2
|
De providentia I, II |
|
Unchangeable |
That God Is Unchangeable |
|
On |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ebr. |
De ebrietate |
QE 1, 2 |
Quaestiones et solutiones in Exodum I, II |
|
Drunkenness |
On Drunkenness |
QE 1, 2 |
Questions and Answers on Exodus 1, 2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exsecr. |
De exsecrationibus |
QG 1, 2,
3, 4 |
Quaestiones et solutiones in Genesin I, II, III, IV |
|
Curses |
On Curses (= Rewards 127–72) |
QG 1, 2,
3, 4 |
Questions and Answers on Genesis 1, 2, 3, 4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Flacc. |
In Flaccum |
Sacr. |
De sacrificiis Abelis et Caini |
|
Flaccus |
Against Flaccus |
Sacrifices |
On the Sacrifices of Cain and Abel |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fug. |
De fuga et inventione |
Sobr. |
De sobrietate |
|
Flight |
On Flight and Finding |
Sobriety |
On Sobriety |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gig. |
De gigantibus |
Somn. 1, 2
|
De somniis I, II |
|
Giants |
On Giants |
Dreams 1,
2 |
On Dreams 1,
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Her. |
Quis rerum divinarum heres sit |
Spec. 1,
2, 3, 4 |
De specialibus legibus I, II, III, IV |
|
Heir |
Who Is the Heir? |
Spec. Laws 1, 2, 3, 4 |
On the Special Laws 1, 2, 3, 4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hypoth. |
Hypothetica |
Virt. |
De virtutibus |
|
Hypothetica |
Hypothetica |
Virtues |
On the Virtues |
Josephus
There are two sets of acceptable
abbreviations for the works of Josephus, based on the titles in Latin and
English. Those titles have been paired
together here. Of course an author should
show consistency in using one approach or the other.
|
Vita |
Vita |
A.J. |
Antiquitates
judaicae |
|
Life |
The Life |
|
Jewish
Antiquities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. Ap. |
Contra
Apionem |
B.J. |
Bellum
judaicum |
|
Ag. Ap. |
Against
Apion |
J.W. |
Jewish War |
Mishnah,
Tosefta, Talmud
Prefixes: y. indicates a tractate of the
Jerusalem Talmud.
b. indicates a tractate of the Babylonian Talmud.
t. indicates a tractate of the Tosefta.
m. indicates a tractate of the Mishnah.
bar. indicates a baraita.
Passages of the Mishnah and Tosefta are
cited by chapter and paragraph with a colon separating them, e.g., m. Bik.
1:3.
Passages of the Talmud are cited by folio
(two-page layout) and side (a or b), e.g., b. Bik. 3b. Read more about a page of the Talmud.
The abbreviations below were prepared using the Doulos
SIL font available from the SIL
website. I recommend this font for
all transliteration needs. If you
install this font in your computer you should be able to simply cut and paste
these abbreviations and names from this page to your own document. The third column lists the titles according
to the general-purpose style of The SBL Handbook of Style (using Times
New Roman). To see the same
abbreviations in Times New Roman and SPAtlantis
see this page.
|
Abbreviation |
Full Name |
General Purpose |
|
ʿAbod. Zar. |
ʿAbodah Zarah |
Avodah Zarah |
|
ʾAbot |
ʾAbot |
Avot |
|
ʿArak. |
ʿArakin |
Arakhin |
|
B. Bat. |
Baba Batra |
Bava Batra |
|
B. Meṣiʿa |
Baba Meṣiʿa |
Bava Metzi’a |
|
B. Qam. |
Baba Qamma |
Bava Qamma |
|
Bek. |
Bekorot |
Bekhorot |
|
Ber. |
Berakot |
Berakhot |
|
Beṣah |
Beṣah (=Yom Ṭob) |
Betzah (= Yom Tov) |
|
Bik. |
Bikkurim |
Bikkurim |
|
Demai |
Demai |
Demai |
|
ʿErub. |
ʿErubin |
Eruvin |
|
ʿEd. |
ʿEduyyot |
Eduyyot |
|
Giṭ. |
Giṭṭin |
Gittin |
|
Ḥag. |
Ḥagigah |
Hagigah |
|
Ḥal. |
Ḥallah |
Hallah |
|
Hor. |
Horayot |
Horayot |
|
Ḥul. |
Ḥullin |
Hullin |
|
Kelim |
Kelim |
Kelim |
|
Ker. |
Kerithot |
Keritot |
|
Ketub. |
Ketubbot |
Ketubbot |
|
Kil. |
Kilʾayim |
Kil’ayim |
|
Maʿaś. Š. |
Maʿaśer Šeni |
Ma’aser Sheni |
|
Maʿaś. |
Maʿaśerot |
Ma’aserot |
|
Mak. |
Makkot |
Makkot |
|
Makš. |
Makširin |
Makhshirin |
|
Meg. |
Megillah |
Megillah |
|
Meʿil. |
Meʿilah |
Me’ilah |
|
Menaḥ. |
Menaḥot |
Menahot |
|
Mid. |
Middot |
Middot |
|
Miqw. |
Miqwaʾot |
Mikwa’ot |
|
Moʾed |
Moʾed |
Mo’ed |
|
Moʾed Qaṭ. |
Moʾed Qaṭan |
Mo’ed Qatan |
|
Naš. |
Našim |
Nashim |
|
Naz. |
Nazir |
Nazir |
|
Ned. |
Nedarim |
Nedarim |
|
Neg. |
Negaʿim |
Nega’im |
|
Nez. |
Neziqin |
Neziqin |
|
Nid. |
Niddah |
Niddah |
|
ʾOhal. |
ʾOhalot |
Ohalot |
|
ʿOr. |
ʿOrlah |
Orlah |
|
Parah |
Parah |
Parah |
|
Peʾah |
Peʾah |
Pe’ah |
|
Pesaḥ. |
Pesaḥim |
Pesahim |
|
Qinnim |
Qinnim |
Qinnim |
|
Qidd. |
Qiddušin |
Qiddushin |
|
Qod. |
Qodašim |
Qodashim |
|
Roš Haš. |
Roš Haššanah |
Rosh HaShanah |
|
Sanh. |
Sanhedrin |
Sanhedrin |
|
Šabb. |
Šabbat |
Shabbat |
|
Šeb. |
Šebiʿit |
Shevi’it |
|
Šebu. |
Šebuʿot |
Shevu’ot |
|
Seder |
Seder |
Seder |
|
Šeqal. |
Šeqalim |
Sheqalim |
|
Soṭah |
Soṭah |
Sotah |
|
Sukkah |
Sukkah |
Sukkah |
|
Taʿan. |
Taʿanit |
Ta’anit |
|
Tamid |
Tamid |
Tamid |
|
Tem. |
Temurah |
Temurah |
|
Ter. |
Terumot |
Terumot |
|
Ṭehar. |
Ṭeharot |
Teharot |
|
Ṭ. Yom |
Ṭebul Yom |
Tevul Yom |
|
ʿUq. |
ʿUqṣin |
Uqtzin |
|
Yad. |
Yadayim |
Yadayim |
|
Yebam. |
Yebamot |
Yevamot |
|
Yoma |
Yoma (= Kippurim) |
Yoma |
|
Zabim |
Zabim |
Zavim |
|
Zebaḥ. |
Zebaḥim |
Zevahim |
|
Zera. |
Zeraʿim |
Zera’im |
Other Common Abbreviations Used for Rabbinic Works
For more abbreviations see The SBL
Handbook of Style. This was also
prepared using the Doulos
SIL font (which I recommend) available from the SIL
website. To see the same
abbreviations in Times New Roman and SPAtlantis
see this page
|
ʾAbot R. Nat. |
ʾAbot de Rabbi Nathan |
ʾAvot of Rabbi Nathan |
|
Gem. |
Gemara |
Gemara |
|
Mek. |
Mekilta |
Mekilta |
|
Mez. |
Mezuzah |
Mezuzah |
|
Midr. |
Midrash |
Midrash |
|
Pesiq. Rab. |
Pesiqta Rabbati |
Pesiqta Rabbati |
|
Pirqe R. El. |
Pirqe Rabbi Eliezer |
Pirqe Rabbi Eliezer |
|
Rab. |
Rabbah |
Rabbah |
|
Sep. Torah |
Seper Torah |
Sefer Torah |
|
Sipra |
Sipra |
Sifra |
|
Sipre |
Sipre |
Sifre |
|
Tanḥ. |
Tanḥuma |
Tanhuma |
|
Tep. |
Tepillin |
Tefillin |
Targums
|
Tg. Onq. |
Targum
Onqelos |
|
|
Targum of
the Prophets |
|
Tg. Ket. |
Targum of
the Writings |
|
Frg. Tg. |
Fragmentary
Targum |
|
Sam. Tg. |
Samaritan
Targum |
|
Tg. Isa. |
Targum
Isaiah |
|
Tg. Neof. |
Targum
Neofiti |
|
Tg. Ps.-J. |
Targum
Pseudo-Jonathan |
|
Tg. Yer. I |
Targum
Yerušalmi |
|
Tg. Yer. II
|
Targum
Yerušalmi I |
|
Yem. Tg. |
Yemenite
Targum |
|
Tg. Esth.
I, II |
First or Second
Targum of Esther |
Apostolic
Fathers
|
Barn. |
Barnabas |
|
1–2 Clem. |
1–2 Clement |
|
Did. |
Didache |
|
Diogn. |
Diognetus |
|
Herm. Mand. |
Shepherd of Hermas, Mandate |
|
Herm. Sim. |
Shepherd of Hermas, Similitude |
|
Herm. |
Shepherd Hermas, Vision |
|
Ign. Eph. |
Ignatius, To the Ephesians |
|
Ign. Magn. |
Ignatius, To the Magnesians |
|
Ign. Smyrn. |
Ignatius, To the Smyrnaeans |
|
Ign. Phld. |
Ignatius, To the Philadelphians |
|
Ign. |
Ignatius, To the Romans |
|
Ign. Pol. |
Ignatius, To Polycarp |