What is the shortest verse in the Bible?

In English, the shortest verse in the Bible is just two words:

“Jesus wept.”John 11:35 (KJV)

Short as it is, it carries enormous weight: standing before Lazarus' tomb — moments before raising him — Jesus weeps with the mourners. The Greek verb here (dakryo) is used of Jesus nowhere else; it means to shed tears quietly.

Interestingly, in the original Greek the shortest verse is a different one — "Rejoice evermore" is only two Greek words (pantote chairete), slightly shorter than "Jesus wept" (edakrysen ho Iesous):

“Rejoice evermore.”1 Thessalonians 5:16 (KJV)

The two shortest verses in the Bible, then, are "Jesus wept" and "Rejoice evermore" — grief and joy, side by side, both commanded to fit in two words.

Read John 11 in context →

Word studies behind this answer

More Bible questions

• • What was Jesus' real name in Hebrew?
• • What does agape love mean in the Bible?
• • What does YHWH mean? (God's name in the Bible)
• • What does Selah mean in the Psalms?
• • What does hallelujah mean?
• • What does hosanna mean?

Verse text quoted from the King James Version. Study any passage free at Ekdia — no ads, no subscriptions.