bible

The word "bible" does not only mean the Bible—the central Christian canon of sacred writing. It comes from the Greek term biblia (books), and it once referred to any respected body of written authority. In everyday usage, a "bible" can mean a definitive reference: a chef’s "cookbook bible" of core recipes, or a television team’s "script bible" used to keep a long project consistent.

When capitalized as "the Bible," it usually refers specifically to the Christian scriptures: the Old Testament (overlapping with Jewish tradition) and the New Testament. It has shaped law, art, literature, and everyday language across cultures for centuries. In legal or ceremonial settings, people may also speak of being "sworn on the Bible" when taking a formal oath.

The word "bible" has a long linguistic history. It was adopted from Greek biblia (meaning "books"), and in earlier periods it could describe any substantial collection of writings regarded as authoritative. Before the term narrowed to a single sacred title in common speech, it often meant any trusted body of reference material in a field or profession.

Today the term most commonly denotes the Christian Bible, the compilation of writings Christians regard as divinely inspired. It contains the Old Testament (which includes the Jewish Tanakh tradition) and the New Testament, centered on Jesus of Nazareth and the earliest Christian movement. For billions of people, it functions as a moral and spiritual guide, not only a historical document.

Beyond religion, the word has entered everyday English in expressions and metaphors. People speak of things done on "biblical proportions" when describing something huge or catastrophic, echoing stories like the Great Flood. If someone says they "live by the Bible," they mean they follow its guidance closely; if a programmer calls a manual their "bible," they mean it is the essential reference for their work. Other religious traditions use their own terms—such as the Quran or the Vedas—and in English "bible" can still function as shorthand for any text treated as ultimate authority in a context.