Billions of Copies, a Lifetime of Devotion

How much do you really know about the Bible? Sure, some names stand out, and worshippers build their lives around its teachings, but this popular book carries more history than you think. Unfortunate typos, thousands of translations, and Bibles that went to space—come with us as we flip through the pages of history’s most printed book.  

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1. It’s the Best-Selling Book of All Time

With over two billion Christians in the world, it’s no surprise that this beloved book has seen nearly twice as many copies printed. Though it’s hard to pinpoint the exact number, it’s estimated that five to seven billion copies of the Bible exist today, with roughly 100 million printed every year. 

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2. It’s the Most Shoplifted Book 

So much for “thou shalt not steal.” Given the sheer volume of copies, this sacred text is also the most shoplifted in the world. Readily available in hotel rooms and church pews alike, many people don’t have any qualms about breaking this commandment.

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3. It’s Been Translated into Thousands of Languages

As recorded in late 2024, the full Bible has actually been translated into 756 languages. However, the Old and New Testaments rack up their numbers to well over a thousand. The New Testament alone has seen an additional 1,726 languages, whereas various excerpts have been translated into nearly 3,800 languages. 

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4. There’s No Physical Description of Jesus

We’ve seen him in movies, plays, musicals, paintings, and statues—but the Bible doesn’t have a physical description of Jesus. The Book of Revelation describes the Son of Man as having “eyes of fire” and hair “white as snow,” but it’s believed to depict Jesus in his heavenly form, not his earthly appearance. 

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5. There Are No Surviving Original Manuscripts

Despite its prevalence, scholars don’t actually have any original manuscripts. All they have to work with now are copies of copies of the original text. They may not be perfectly preserved, but historians can still get their hands on scrolls and fragments from the 6th and 7th centuries. 

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6. China Produces the Largest Number of Bibles

In the coastal province of Jiangsu sits China's Amity Printing Co., a printing facility that churns out 70 Bibles every minute. They’ve been around since the ‘80s, and boast the title as one of the world’s largest printing hubs for the book. They can crank out millions every year, and even designed and launched seven new versions for churches in the country. 

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7. There Wasn’t a Documented Number of Wise Men

Upon Christ’s birth, we know he was given three symbolic items: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Though we have the offerings down pat, the Bible never actually specified how many wise men visited; the Book of Matthew only mentioned the gifts. 

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8. One Verse is Only Two Words

There’s no denying the Bible’s length, but did you know that one verse only contains two words? It’s considered one of the most popular in Christianity, and it belongs to John 11:35—the verse simply reads, “Jesus wept.”

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9. One Hebrew Bible Sold For Millions of Dollars

Historians and collectors often scramble for well-preserved relics, and none proved their interest more than The Codex Sassoon. In 2023, a 1,100-year-old Hebrew Bible was sold at Sotheby's New York for a whopping $38.1 million. It’s considered the earliest surviving, most complete Hebrew Bible out there, so we get the fascination. 

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10. The Word “Trinity” is Never Mentioned

Christians know all about the Holy Trinity, but you likely remember it from Mass or school. You certainly didn’t read about it in the Bible; the book never explicitly mentions the word “trinity.” The Old and New Testaments, however, do mention the doctrine throughout as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 

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11. It Was Originally Written in Three Languages

Bibles today may see thousands of translations, but the original copies centered around three primary languages: Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic. The majority of the Old Testament was written in Hebrew (with some parts in Aramaic), while the New Testament was originally written in Koine Greek.

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12. It Was Written Across Three Continents

To call the Bible unique is an understatement; it’s seen countless translations, inspired hundreds of versions, and is still one of the most widely read books today. Adding to its originality is the fact that it was composed on three continents: Asia, Africa, and Europe. 

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13. It’s Almost as Long as The Harry Potter Series

In its entirety, the Harry Potter series is over one million words across seven books. Believe it or not, the Bible nearly tops it. Most King James versions today have anywhere between 750,000 and 800,000 words. Original copies taper off around 500,000 to 600,000. 

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14. The Original Gospels Don’t Have Authors

We attribute the gospels to Christ’s disciples: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—but scholars believe that the original gospels didn’t have authors. It’s widely believed that the original stories were passed down by word of mouth or written traditions. 

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15. The Oldest Surviving Bible Dates Back to the 4th Century

We may not have the original text, but that doesn’t mean historians are empty-handed. The oldest surviving Bible is the Codex Sinaiticus, a Greek manuscript that scholars date back to 325-360. Talk about a handwritten testament to history. 

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16. The 1611 “She Bible”

With so many versions printed throughout the years, you’re bound to encounter a few typos. You can trace a pretty famous one to the 1611 King James Bible. In reference to Boaz, Ruth 3:15 reads, “he went into the city,” while another edition reads “she went into the city.” Strangely enough, that typo isn’t blamed on a printing mistake; scholars squabble about the text’s ambiguity even today, and translations remain divided. 

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17. The “Adulterous Bible” Typo

Who knew that one little word could cause so much upheaval? There’s really no defending this one. In the 1631 edition of the King James Bible, worshippers could spot a typo in the seventh commandment: "Thou shalt commit adultery." The misprint earned it the nickname, “The Wicked Bible.”

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18. A Bible Went to the Moon

In 1966, the National Cash Register (NCR) printed the World Publishing Company's No. 715 Bible on nothing more than a 2" x 1-3/4" microform card. Though small in stature, it wound up in space by 1971, where Apollo 14 Lunar Module pilot, Edgar Mitchell, took it to the moon. It’s currently located in the Tennessee Bible Museum.

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19. Only 93 Women Speak in the Bible

After four years of research, author Lindsay Hardin Freeman discovered that only 93 women speak within the Bible. Of that measly number, a mere 49 of them were properly named. Her studies concluded that Judith, Esther, and Hannah were among the women who spoke most, though the total word count sits around 14,000. 

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20. It Took 1,500 Years to Write

The exact number is still debated, but many religious scholars agree that the Bible took 1,500 years to complete. It’s speculated that at least 40 people had a hand in bringing it to life, and books spread across hundreds of years. 

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