The 5 Contenders: Unmasking The True Longest Word In The Bible (And Why It’s Not What You Think)
For centuries, biblical scholars, trivia enthusiasts, and curious readers have debated a seemingly simple question: What is the longest word in the Bible? As of December 25, 2025, the popular answer remains the tongue-twisting prophetic name Maher-shalal-hash-baz, found in the Book of Isaiah. However, a deeper dive into biblical scholarship, linguistic analysis, and the nuances of English translation reveals that this answer is far from conclusive. The true record holder depends entirely on whether you count proper nouns, hyphenated names, or common, everyday vocabulary.
This article will settle the debate by exploring the five main contenders across different translations and linguistic categories, moving beyond the surface-level answer to uncover the true complexity of the biblical text and the surprising words that hold the actual record in the King James Version (KJV) and other major translations. Understanding the longest word is less about letter count and more about appreciating the theological significance embedded in the original Hebrew and Greek languages.
The Reigning Champion: Maher-shalal-hash-baz (18 Letters)
The most commonly cited answer to the question of the longest word in the Bible is the name Maher-shalal-hash-baz. This word is not a common noun or verb but a proper noun—the symbolic name given by the prophet Isaiah to his second son, as recorded in the Old Testament.
The name appears twice in the Book of Isaiah, specifically in chapter 8, verses 1 and 3.
- Source: Isaiah 8:1, 3
- Letter Count: 18 characters (when hyphenated in KJV)
- Meaning: The name is a direct prophecy, translating from Hebrew to mean "Swift is the spoil, speedy is the prey" or "Hasten the spoil, speed the prey."
- Theological Significance: The name served as a stark, living sign to the people of Judah that the Assyrian army would soon conquer the kingdoms of Syria and Israel (Ephraim), taking away their wealth quickly.
While Maher-shalal-hash-baz is the longest word in the Bible’s English transliteration, its status as a single "word" is immediately challenged due to its hyphenation in the King James Version (KJV) and many other popular English translations. Furthermore, in the original Hebrew, the name is actually a phrase consisting of four distinct words (Maher Shālal Hāsh Baz), making the 18-letter English version a product of transliteration and punctuation choices by biblical translators.
The Linguistic Controversy: Proper Nouns vs. Common Words
The central issue in this debate lies in the distinction between proper nouns (names) and common words (vocabulary). If we strictly adhere to the rule that the word must be a single, unhyphenated, non-proper noun—a word you might find in a standard dictionary—the list of contenders changes dramatically. This is the realm of true linguistic analysis in biblical scholarship.
The Longest Common Words in the Old Testament KJV
If we exclude all proper names (like Maher-shalal-hash-baz, Shear-jashub, or Nebuchadnezzar) and look for the longest single, unhyphenated common words, the following terms rise to the top of the list in the King James Version (KJV).
1. Evilfavouredness (16 Letters)
This archaic 16-letter word is often cited as the longest non-proper noun in the Old Testament. It appears in Deuteronomy 17:1, where the KJV instructs the Israelites not to sacrifice a bullock or sheep that has "any blemish, or any evilfavouredness."
2. Lovingkindnesses (16 Letters)
Tied with the former, this powerful theological term also has 16 letters and is used primarily in the Psalms to describe God's enduring mercy and grace. It appears multiple times, notably in Psalm 25:6, where the psalmist asks God to remember "thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses."
Other notable 14-letter contenders that frequently appear in this category include Uncircumcised and Fellowlabourers, further illustrating the rich vocabulary of the KJV translation.
The Longest Word in the New Testament
The New Testament, originally written in Koine Greek, presents its own set of long words. When translated into English, the longest common word is generally accepted to be Covenantbreakers (16 letters), found in Romans 1:31.
However, the original Greek text contains a truly massive verb: προκεχειροτονημένοις (prokecheirotonēménois). This single Greek word has 20 letters in its English transliteration and means "having been chosen beforehand." While not a single word in English, its 20-letter form in the New Testament Greek is a fascinating piece of linguistic trivia.
The Hyphenation Debate: Unhyphenated Proper Nouns
If we return to the category of proper names but insist the word must be a single, unhyphenated entity, the answer shifts again, depending heavily on the specific Bible edition being used.
While Maher-shalal-hash-baz is usually hyphenated, some modern translations and biblical analyses choose to render it as a single, unhyphenated 18-letter word: Mahershalalhashbaz.
If we accept this unhyphenated form, it stands as the longest single word. However, if we restrict the search to names that are always unhyphenated in the KJV, the record is often given to Amalickiahites (14 letters), a name that appears in the Book of Mormon, which is not part of the standard Protestant or Catholic biblical canon.
For the purpose of the canonical Bible (Protestant/Catholic), the word Covenantbreakers (16 letters) remains the strongest contender for the longest unhyphenated word that is not a proper name, though Evilfavouredness and Lovingkindnesses are also strong.
The Deeper Meaning Behind the Letter Count
The pursuit of the longest word in the Bible, while fun, ultimately serves a greater purpose: to highlight the complexity and richness of biblical translations and the profound depth of the original languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek).
The Prophetic Power of Names
The fact that the longest word is a name (Maher-shalal-hash-baz) is highly significant. In the Old Testament, names were not arbitrary labels; they were prophetic statements, reflections of character, or declarations of God’s purpose.
- Maher-shalal-hash-baz declared impending judgment.
- Shear-jashub (Isaiah’s other son, meaning "A remnant shall return") declared future hope.
These names were concise theological summaries, acting as powerful, portable sermons for the people of Israel. The length of the word in English simply reflects the complex idea being condensed into a single identifier in Hebrew.
The Role of Transliteration and Translation
The entire debate hinges on transliteration—the process of converting the Hebrew or Greek script into the Latin alphabet used for English. Because Hebrew is written without vowels (a system called *abjad*), translators must make choices about which vowels to insert, which often affects the final English letter count. Furthermore, the KJV translators, working in the 17th century, used English vocabulary that is now considered archaic, which is why words like Evilfavouredness and Lovingkindnesses—long by modern standards—exist in the text.
The ongoing work of biblical translations, such as the New International Version (NIV), English Standard Version (ESV), and New American Standard Bible (NASB), often simplifies or modernizes these longer KJV terms, subtly changing the results of this linguistic trivia over time.
Conclusion: The Definitive Answer
The answer to the question "What is the longest word in the Bible?" depends entirely on the rules you choose to follow. Here is the definitive breakdown of the top contenders:
- Longest Word (Hyphenated Proper Noun): Maher-shalal-hash-baz (18 letters, Isaiah 8:1, 3). This is the most popular, though linguistically contested, answer.
- Longest Word (Unhyphenated Proper Noun): Mahershalalhashbaz (18 letters), in versions that omit the hyphens.
- Longest Common Word (Old Testament KJV): Evilfavouredness or Lovingkindnesses (16 letters). These are the true winners if names are excluded.
- Longest Common Word (New Testament KJV): Covenantbreakers (16 letters, Romans 1:31).
- Longest Word in Original Text (Greek): προκεχειροτονημένοις (20 letters in transliteration, meaning "having been chosen beforehand").
Ultimately, while Maher-shalal-hash-baz is the word that wins the trivia contest, the 16-letter common words—Evilfavouredness and Lovingkindnesses—offer a more compelling answer for those seeking the longest true vocabulary word in the English Bible. This linguistic journey underscores the importance of precision in biblical analysis and reminds us that the Bible’s power lies not in the length of its words, but in the depth of their meaning.
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