LibGuides: MLA Citation Guide (9th Edition): Religious Works

Religious & Classical Works

Religious Works in Print
Religious Works from a Website

Religious Works in Print

Works Cited List Citation

Name of Religious Work. Version or edition, edited by First Name Last Name if given, translated by First Name Last Name if given, Publisher, Year of Publication.

Example:

The Bible. Authorized King James Version, Oxford University Press, 2019.

In-Text Citation

(Name of Religious Work)

Example:

(The Bible)

Religious Works from a Website

Works Cited List Citation

Name of Religious Work. Version or edition, Year of Publication. Name of Website, URL. Accessed Day Month Year viewed (optional, add if there is no upload/publication date)..

Example:

The Tanakh. Translated by A.J. Rosenberg, 2021. Chabad.org, www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/63255/jewish/The-Bible-with-Rashi.htm.

In-Text Citation

(Name of Religious Work)

Example:

(The Tanakh)

Tips for Citing Religious or Classical Works

Name of Generic Religious Texts in the Body of Your Paper

Do not italicize or use quotation marks in your paper when referring to a generic religious text. These terms appear without italics or quotation marks when referred to in your paper:

Bible, Old Testament, Genesis, Gospels, Talmud, Qur'an (Koran), Upanishads.

Only italicize titles of individual published editions of religious texts (e.g., The Talmud of the Land of Israel: A Preliminary Translation and Explanation, The Interlinear Bible, etc.) when specifically citing them in your paper.

In-Text Citations

The titles of books of scripture are often abbreviated for the in-text citation. For a full list of abbreviations, consult section 1.6.4 of the MLA Handbook.