How many times is world mentioned in the Bible?
The word world appears 287 times in the King James Version, in 248 verses. Counting every form (world, worlds, world's), it appears 290 times in 251 verses across 33 of the 66 books. The World English Bible uses world 252 times (257 with every form).
Worldly is a different word and is not counted.
World in the King James Version and the World English Bible
Each form of world counted in each translation.
| Form | KJV | WEB |
|---|---|---|
| world | 287 | 252 |
| worlds | 2 | 2 |
| world's | 1 | 3 |
| Total | 290 | 257 |
Which books mention world most
World appears in 33 books of the 66 in the King James Version. John has the most (80), then 1 Corinthians (29) and 1 John (23).
Also in: 2 Corinthians (4), Galatians (4), Colossians (4), 1 Timothy (4), Job (3), Jeremiah (3), 2 Timothy (2), Titus (2), 1 Peter (2), 1 Samuel (1), 2 Samuel (1), 1 Chronicles (1), Proverbs (1), Ecclesiastes (1), Lamentations (1), Nahum (1), Philippians (1), 2 John (1).
First and last mention of world
He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S, and he hath set the world upon them.
The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
The verse that uses it most is John 15:19, 5 times:
If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
Where the two translations differ
33 verses match in the KJV but not in the World English Bible, and 2 verses match only in the World English Bible, usually because the other translation chose a different word there.
Psalm 22:27: counted in the KJV only
All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.
All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to Yahweh. All the relatives of the nations shall worship before you.
Psalm 73:12: counted in the KJV only
Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
Behold, these are the wicked. Being always at ease, they increase in riches.
Proverbs 8:31: counted in the World English Bible only
Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.
rejoicing in his whole world. My delight was with the sons of men.
Luke 21:26: counted in the World English Bible only
Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
men fainting for fear, and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world: for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
Verses with world on our topic pages
55 verses that use world in the World English Bible are in our topic collections.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.
On: Guidance, Jealousy, Self Control, Grief
I have told you these things, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have oppression; but cheer up! I have overcome the world.”
On: Peace, Anxiety, Comfort, Depression
Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, give I to you. Don’t let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful.
Charge those who are rich in this present world that they not be haughty, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on the living God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy;
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, isn’t the Father’s, but is the world’s.
On: Pride, Lust, Temptation, Modesty
For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him.
For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
On: Demons, Spiritual Warfare, What Does the Bible Say About Witchcraft? 25 Verses, What Does the Bible Say About War? 27 Verses
Beloved, don’t believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
On: Dreams, What Does the Bible Say About Halloween? 24 Verses, What Does the Bible Say About Witchcraft? 25 Verses, Psychics
You are of God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world.
Before the mountains were born, before you had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, you are God.
On: Creation, What Does the Bible Say About Dinosaurs? 26 Verses, Time
because he has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he has ordained; of which he has given assurance to all men, in that he has raised him from the dead.”
On: End Times, Resurrection, What Does the Bible Say About Reincarnation? 26 Verses
Common questions
How many times is world in the Old Testament and the New Testament?
In the King James Version, counting every form, 46 of the 290 uses are in the Old Testament and 244 in the New Testament. World appears in 33 books of the 66 in the King James Version. John has the most (80), then 1 Corinthians (29) and 1 John (23).
Where is world first mentioned in the Bible?
The first use in the King James Version is 1 Samuel 2:8: "He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S, and he hath set the world upon them." The last is Revelation 17:8.
More word counts: earth, heaven, beloved, firstborn, law, rich, door, hand, or all 680 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 2026-10-26.