How many times is Jews mentioned in the Bible?
The word Jews appears 257 times in the King James Version, in 244 verses. Counting every form (Jews, Jew), it appears 289 times in 270 verses across 21 of the 66 books. The World English Bible uses Jews 253 times (284 with every form).
Jews in the King James Version and the World English Bible
Each form of Jews counted in each translation.
| Form | KJV | WEB |
|---|---|---|
| Jews | 257 | 253 |
| Jew | 32 | 31 |
| Total | 289 | 284 |
Which books mention Jews most
Jews appears in 21 books of the 66 in the King James Version. Acts has the most (79), then John (70) and Esther (53).
Also in: Revelation (2), 2 Chronicles (1), Zechariah (1), 2 Corinthians (1), Colossians (1), 1 Thessalonians (1).
First and last mention of Jews
At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drave the Jews from Elath: and the Syrians came to Elath, and dwelt there unto this day.
Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
The verse that uses it most is Esther 8:17, 3 times (tied with John 19:21, 1 Corinthians 9:20, Galatians 2:14):
And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.
Where the two translations differ
6 verses match in the KJV but not in the World English Bible, and 1 verse matches only in the World English Bible, usually because the other translation chose a different word there.
Esther 6:13: counted in the KJV only
And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him.
Haman recounted to Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his wise men and Zeresh his wife said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of Jewish descent, you will not prevail against him, but you will surely fall before him.”
Acts 12:11: counted in the KJV only
And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.
When Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I truly know that the Lord has sent out his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from everything the Jewish people were expecting.”
John 4:20: counted in the World English Bible only
Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.”
Verses with Jews on our topic pages
19 verses that use Jews in the World English Bible are in our topic collections.
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all given to drink into one Spirit.
On: Baptism, Church, Unity, What Does the Bible Say About Slavery? 26 Verses
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
On: Identity in Christ, Unity, What Does the Bible Say About Slavery? 26 Verses
Jesus therefore said to those Jews who had believed him, “If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples.
On: Discipleship, Freedom
For I am not ashamed of the Good News of Christ, because it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes; for the Jew first, and also for the Greek.
On: Salvation, Evangelism
For if you remain silent now, then relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Who knows if you haven’t come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
On: Purpose
“Go, gather together all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day. I and my maidens will also fast the same way. Then I will go in to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish.”
On: Fasting
as the days in which the Jews had rest from their enemies, and the month which was turned to them from sorrow to gladness, and from mourning into a good day; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, and of sending presents of food to one another, and gifts to the needy.
On: Christmas
They braided a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and a reed in his right hand; and they kneeled down before him, and mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”
On: Suffering
Now there were six water pots of stone set there after the Jews’ way of purifying, containing two or three metretes apiece.
On: Alcohol
Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not of this world. If my Kingdom were of this world, then my servants would fight, that I wouldn’t be delivered to the Jews. But now my Kingdom is not from here.”
So they took Jesus’ body, and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury.
Then because of the Jews’ Preparation Day (for the tomb was near at hand) they laid Jesus there.
Common questions
How many times is Jews in the Old Testament and the New Testament?
In the King James Version, counting every form, 92 of the 289 uses are in the Old Testament and 197 in the New Testament. Jews appears in 21 books of the 66 in the King James Version. Acts has the most (79), then John (70) and Esther (53).
Where is Jews first mentioned in the Bible?
The first use in the King James Version is 2 Kings 16:6: "At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drave the Jews from Elath: and the Syrians came to Elath, and dwelt there unto this day." The last is Revelation 3:9.
More word counts: Egyptians, Amorites, Canaanites, Chaldeans, Pharisees, Sadducees, Hittites, Amalekites, or all 484 words.
Counted by Bible Says About from the full public-domain text of the King James Version (1769 edition) and the World English Bible. Verse text only: headings and psalm titles are left out. A word is a run of letters: a hyphenated name like Beer-sheba counts as two, and an apostrophe stays inside its word (LORD'S is one). Matching ignores capital letters. Data compiled 2026-10-22.