Etymology

chapter and verse

Today it means: The chapter number and verse number (within a particular book) that locate a quotation from the Bible. Full definition →

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The story

From the practice, especially among Protestant Christians, of using quotations from the Bible to support positions taken in sermons or discussions. Such quotations gain additional weight when the speaker is able to name not only the book he cites from, but the specific chapter and verse.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.