The Bible is full of wisdom, history, poetry, and prophecy. Some books are short and direct. Others are long and full of deep truths. But one book stands out as the longest. Let’s look at which book it is, why it’s so long, and what it teaches us.
The Longest Book in the Bible Is Psalms
The Book of Psalms is the longest book in the Bible. It has 150 chapters (also called psalms), more than any other book in Scripture.
Even though each psalm is a chapter, many of them are short. But a few are very long, like Psalm 119, which is the longest chapter in the Bible with 176 verses.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Longest Book | Psalms |
| Number of Chapters | 150 |
| Longest Chapter | Psalm 119 (176 verses) |
| Type of Book | Poetry and Worship |
| Author(s) | David and others |
Why Psalms Is So Long
Psalms is a collection of songs and prayers. It’s like a hymn book for God’s people. It was written over many years by different people. King David wrote most of them, but others like Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, and Moses also contributed.
Each psalm expresses emotions—joy, fear, hope, sorrow, or praise. Because it covers so many feelings and life situations, there are many different psalms.
Psalm 119 – The Longest Chapter
Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible and is all about God’s Word. It’s written as an acrostic poem in Hebrew. Each section begins with a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet. There are 22 sections, and each one has 8 verses.
This chapter praises God’s laws, commands, and Word over and over again. It repeats how good it is to follow God’s ways.
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” — Psalm 119:105 (ESV)
What We Learn from the Book of Psalms
The Psalms teach us how to speak to God from our hearts. They show us that it’s okay to feel joy, sadness, fear, and hope. We can bring all these to God.
- Trusting God
- Praising God
- Repenting of sin
- Asking for help
- Giving thanks
Who Wrote Psalms?
Many people helped write the Book of Psalms. King David is the best-known author. He wrote about half of the psalms. Others include:
| Author | Notable Psalms |
|---|---|
| David | Psalms 23, 51, 103 |
| Asaph | Psalms 73–83 |
| Sons of Korah | Psalms 42–49 |
| Solomon | Psalm 72, Psalm 127 |
| Moses | Psalm 90 |
| Anonymous | Some authors are not named |
How Psalms Can Help Us Today
People have turned to Psalms for comfort for thousands of years. Whether you’re happy, afraid, or confused, there’s a psalm that speaks to you.
- When afraid: “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” (Psalm 27:1)
- When guilty: “Create in me a clean heart, O God.” (Psalm 51:10)
- When thankful: “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.” (Psalm 107:1)
Summary Table
| Topic | Key Point |
|---|---|
| Longest Book | Psalms (150 chapters) |
| Longest Chapter | Psalm 119 (176 verses) |
| Author(s) | David, Asaph, Solomon, others |
| Main Theme | Worship, prayer, and praise |
| Modern Use | Prayer, encouragement, worship songs |
