How many times is youth mentioned in the Bible?
The word youth appears 70 times in the King James Version, in 66 verses. Counting every form (youth, youths, youthful), it appears 73 times in 69 verses across 25 of the 66 books. The World English Bible uses youth 73 times (86 with every form).
Youth in the King James Version and the World English Bible
Each form of youth counted in each translation.
| Form | KJV | WEB |
|---|---|---|
| youth | 70 | 73 |
| youths | 2 | 9 |
| youthful | 1 | 4 |
| Total | 73 | 86 |
Which books mention youth most
Youth appears in 25 books of the 66 in the King James Version. Psalms has the most (11), then Ezekiel (9) and Jeremiah (8).
Also in: Lamentations (1), Hosea (1), Joel (1), Zechariah (1), Matthew (1), Mark (1), Luke (1), Acts (1), 1 Timothy (1), 2 Timothy (1).
First and last mention of youth
And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.
Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
The verse that uses it most is Judges 8:20, 2 times (tied with 1 Samuel 17:33, Ecclesiastes 11:9, Ezekiel 23:21):
And he said unto Jether his firstborn, Up, and slay them. But the youth drew not his sword: for he feared, because he was yet a youth.
Where the two translations differ
3 verses match in the KJV but not in the World English Bible, and 13 verses match only in the World English Bible, usually because the other translation chose a different word there.
Job 29:4: counted in the KJV only
As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle;
as I was in the ripeness of my days, when the friendship of God was in my tent,
Job 30:12: counted in the KJV only
Upon my right hand rise the youth; they push away my feet, and they raise up against me the ways of their destruction.
On my right hand rise the rabble. They thrust aside my feet, They cast up against me their ways of destruction.
1 Samuel 12:2: counted in the World English Bible only
And now, behold, the king walketh before you: and I am old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day.
Now, behold, the king walks before you. I am old and gray-headed. Behold, my sons are with you. I have walked before you from my youth to this day.
2 Kings 2:23: counted in the World English Bible only
And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.
He went up from there to Bethel. As he was going up by the way, some youths came out of the city and mocked him, and said to him, “Go up, you baldy! Go up, you baldy!”
Verses with youth on our topic pages
16 verses that use youth in the World English Bible are in our topic collections.
Flee from youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
On: Jealousy, Lust, What Does the Bible Say About Sex Before Marriage? 26 Verses, What Does the Bible Say About Masturbation? 25 Verses
Let no man despise your youth; but be an example to those who believe, in word, in your way of life, in love, in spirit, in faith, and in purity.
Let your spring be blessed. Rejoice in the wife of your youth.
On: Marriage, What Does the Bible Say About Sex Before Marriage? 26 Verses, What Does the Bible Say About Adultery? 28 Verses
who satisfies your desire with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Even the youths faint and get weary, and the young men utterly fall;
On: Anxiety, Loneliness
Now as for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
Yet you say, ‘Why?’ Because Yahweh has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously, though she is your companion, and the wife of your covenant.
On: What Does the Bible Say About Adultery? 28 Verses, Remarriage
Don’t remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions. Remember me according to your loving kindness, for your goodness’ sake, Yahweh.
On: Mercy
For you are my hope, Lord Yahweh; my confidence from my youth.
On: Hope
God, you have taught me from my youth. Until now, I have declared your wondrous works.
As arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so are the children of youth.
On: Children
who forsakes the friend of her youth, and forgets the covenant of her God:
Common questions
How many times is youth in the Old Testament and the New Testament?
In the King James Version, counting every form, 67 of the 73 uses are in the Old Testament and 6 in the New Testament. Youth appears in 25 books of the 66 in the King James Version. Psalms has the most (11), then Ezekiel (9) and Jeremiah (8).
Where is youth first mentioned in the Bible?
The first use in the King James Version is Genesis 8:21: "And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done." The last is 2 Timothy 2:22.
More word counts: Joram, Hazor, Hivites, iron, weeping, rabbi, Ashkelon, enemy, or all 635 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 2026-10-24.