Updated (July 12): Bible app YouVersion, which recently announced its 100 millionth download of its mobile app, has released its list of the most popular verses shared by its users via Facebook, email, Twitter, and text message in 2012.
The results?
YouVersion users only held two verses in common with the top lists released by King James Bible Online and Bible Gateway:
- Philippians 4:13 ("I can do all this through him who gives me strength") and
- Jeremiah 29:11 ("'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future'").
Like last year, John 3:16 did not rank in the top 10 verses YouVersion users shared through any of the four venues mentioned above. By contrast, at Bible Gateway and King James Bible Online, which both calculate top verses based on number of visitors' online views, John 3:16 remained in the top three most popular verses.
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What Bible verse was the most popular in 2012? It depends (somewhat) on where you search.
According to King James Bible Online, the most popular Bible passage of 2012 was Psalm 23:4–"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."
Two of the most popular online Bibles, Bible Gateway and YouVersion, have not yet released their lists of the most-popular verses of 2012. However, many of the verses on the King James's 2012 list appeared on Bible Gateway and YouVersion lists in 2011.
One noticeable exception? YouVersion users didn't overwhelmingly bookmark John 3:16. (The popular passage ranks within the top 3 verses of each of the other sites.)
Bible Gateway's most popular passage of 2011 was Jeremiah 29:11–"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future (NIV).'"
YouVersion's most bookmarked verse in 2011 was Philippians 4:6–"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God (NIV)."
CT noted the Bible verses most quoted on Twitter and Facebook after the death of Osama bin Laden.
CT also reported on Zondervan's purchase of Bible Gateway, as well as YouVersion's "volunteer army" and how mobile apps help Christians better engage the Bible.
