Longest book in the Bible (Psalms or Jeremiah)
Quick Summary
The longest book in the Bible is often said to be Psalms, though Jeremiah comes close depending on how you measure. By chapter count, Psalms wins easily with 150 chapters. By Hebrew word count, Jeremiah narrowly surpasses Psalms. Both books stand among Scripture’s most powerful and personal writings. One is a collection of prayers, the other as the cry of a prophet and the hope of God.
Measuring Length in Scripture
When we ask what the “longest book” is, we must clarify what we mean. In English Bibles, Psalms appears longer because it spans the most chapters. However, in the original Hebrew manuscripts, Jeremiah contains slightly more words. The difference is small, and both books play enormous roles in the spiritual life of God’s people.
Psalms – 150 chapters, roughly 43,000 Hebrew words
Jeremiah – 52 chapters, roughly 33,000 verses but over 42,000 Hebrew words
Depending on translation and counting methods, some scholars rank Jeremiah first and Psalms second in total word count. Still, Psalms holds the record for the most chapters and the broadest emotional range.
The Book of Psalms: The Longest by Chapters
The Book of Psalms is a collection of 150 songs, prayers, and poems composed over centuries. It serves as the prayer book of the Bible, teaching us how to bring every human emotion into God’s presence. From lament to thanksgiving, from quiet trust to loud praise, the psalms give language to the heart’s conversation with God.
Each psalm stands on its own, yet together they form one great chorus. Their structure invites worshipers into a rhythm of honesty and hope. It’s no accident that this book, with its vast number of chapters, holds the central place in many printed Bibles. It’s the longest in chapters because faith requires many songs.
The Book of Jeremiah: The Longest by Words
If we measure by Hebrew word count, Jeremiah takes the title. The prophet’s message spans decades of warning, heartbreak, and hope. His writing includes both prophecy and personal lament, describing the fall of Jerusalem and God’s promise of restoration.
Jeremiah’s words are often heavy. He is called “the weeping prophet” for good reason. Yet even amid judgment, his message is full of mercy. Jeremiah 31, for example, contains the promise of a new covenant—a vision later fulfilled in Christ. His long and often painful book reminds us that God’s word endures even when nations fall.
Comparing Psalms and Jeremiah
The psalms give us the voice of faith; Jeremiah gives us the voice of the prophet. Both teach us to persevere through hardship and to trust God when life feels uncertain. The psalmist sings through tears; Jeremiah weeps while speaking truth. Together, they cover the range of human response to divine presence.
Psalms is long because praise is ongoing. Jeremiah is long because truth must be spoken fully. Both lengths serve their purpose—one stretching wide across worship, the other deep through lament and warning.
The Longest Book: Meaning for Today
Whether we name Psalms or Jeremiah as the longest, the message is the same: God’s word is not shallow. Both books show the cost and beauty of faith lived out over time. They remind us that God welcomes honesty, that faith requires endurance, and that revelation unfolds slowly.
The psalmist prays through every emotion. Jeremiah preaches through every season. Both point us toward a God who remains steadfast through it all. In the end, the “longest” book is the one that continues to speak long after the words are read.
FAQ
What is the longest book in the Bible?
By chapters, Psalms. By Hebrew word count, Jeremiah.
How many chapters are in Psalms?
150, the most of any book in the Bible.
How many chapters are in Jeremiah?
52 chapters, but it contains more Hebrew words than Psalms.
Why are both books so long?
Psalms gathers a lifetime of worship; Jeremiah records a lifetime of prophecy.
What can we learn from their length?
That faith and truth are lifelong pursuits—spoken, sung, and lived in relationship with God.
