---
title: "Get scripture passages by reference"
method: GET
path: "/scriptures/{corpus}/{ref}"
tags: ["Scriptures"]
---

# Get scripture passages by reference

`GET /scriptures/{corpus}/{ref}`

## Request

- Base URL: `https://api.urantia.dev`
- URL: `https://api.urantia.dev/scriptures/{corpus}/{ref}`
- Auth: none required

Returns the passages for a reference. Use `2.47` (chapter and verse), `2.47-49` (a range of up to 50), or `2` (a whole chapter). Each text has its own number of levels (`refLevels`): the Dhammapada, the Japji, and the Shinto oracles have one (`Dhp 183`), Epictetus has three (`Epictetus 3.22.5`), and the others have two. A ref with fewer numbers names a whole part, such as `Epictetus 3.22`. The ref prefix is optional: `BG 2.47` and `2.47` are the same.

## Path parameters

- `corpus` string, required: Corpus id, slug, or ref prefix, e.g. `bhagavad-gita`, `bg`, or `dhammapada`
- `ref` string, required: A passage (`2.47`, `BG 2.47`, `Dhp 183`, `Epictetus 3.22.5`), a short range (`2.47-49`), or a whole chapter (`2`)

## Response `200`

The passages

- object
  - `data` object, required
    - `corpus` object, required
      - `id` string, required
      - `slug` string, required
      - `religion` string, required
      - `title` string, required
      - `translator` string, required
      - `year` integer, required
      - `refPrefix` string, required
      - `urantiaSection` string, nullable, required: The Paper 131 section headed with this religion, or null when Paper 131 has no such heading
    - `passages` object[], required
      - `id` string, required
      - `ref` string, required
      - `division` integer, required
      - `divisionTitle` string, nullable, required
      - `subdivision` integer, nullable, required
      - `text` string, required

## Other responses

- `400`: Invalid reference
- `404`: Corpus or passage not found
- `429`: Too many requests
- `500`: Internal server error

## Changes

- **2026-10-07** `802a1007bb68`: 1 info
  - endpoint added

[Operation history](https://skmtc.dev/urantia/apis/urantia-papers-api/changes/scriptures/:corpus/:ref/get.md)

---

[API](https://skmtc.dev/urantia/apis/urantia-papers-api.md) - [All operations](https://skmtc.dev/urantia/apis/urantia-papers-api/llms.txt) - [OpenAPI document](https://skmtc.dev/urantia/apis/urantia-papers-api/revisions/d046ecd9b449?raw)