The Bible contains two main parts: the Hebrew Bible (or Old Testament, see table 1) and the New Testament (see table 3). Occasionally, the Daily Office Lectionary also includes readings from the deuterocanonical works (or Apocrypha, see table 2). Each part contains several books. The books further divide into chapters, and chapters into verses.

When referring to an entire book of the Bible, the book name is usually spelled out. When referring to a section of a book, the abbreviated book name appears first, followed by a chapter number. When referring to verses within a chapter, the chapter number is followed by a colon, then one or more verses. Consecutive verses are connected with an endash (–). A comma followed by a space separate nonconsecutive verses. Sometimes a semicolon followed by a space separate references to different chapters.

For example, Zech 12:9–11; 13:1, 7–9 refers to the book of Zechariah (from the Hebrew Bible), chapter 12, verses 9 through 11, then chapter 13, verse 1, then verses 7 through 9.