Bible facts: Surprising truths about the world's most read and stolen book

When you think of the Bible, a collection of sacred texts central to Christianity and influential across global culture. Also known as the Holy Bible, it’s not just a religious book—it’s a cultural constant found in hotel rooms, prisons, hospitals, and classrooms around the world. You might not realize it, but the Bible is also the most stolen book in history. Not because it’s expensive, but because it’s given away for free—often by the Gideons—and people take it without thinking twice. Libraries report it’s stolen more than any other title, even thrillers and bestsellers.

And it’s not just stolen—it’s bought more than anything else on Earth. Every year, over 100 million copies are printed and distributed globally. That’s more than smartphones, coffee, or even water bottles. Why? Because it’s given out by missionaries, included in wedding gift lists, and passed down through families. The Gideon Bible, a specific edition distributed for free in hotels and hospitals since 1908 is the single most common version you’ll find. Meanwhile, the oldest religious text, the Hebrew Bible’s earliest parts date back over 2,700 years—older than the Quran by more than a millennium. These aren’t just facts; they’re signs of how deeply this book is woven into human history.

People don’t just read the Bible for faith—they read it for stories, history, and even psychology. The Book of Job explores suffering better than most modern novels. The Psalms give voice to grief, anger, and joy in ways that still resonate today. And the parables of Jesus? They’re some of the most powerful storytelling tools ever created. Even if you’re not religious, the Bible shaped law, language, art, and literature across continents. It’s the reason phrases like "the writing on the wall" or "a drop in the ocean" exist in everyday speech.

Below, you’ll find real stories and hard data about this book—why it’s stolen, why it sells, how it compares to other sacred texts, and what makes it stick around when so many other books fade. No fluff. Just the facts that matter.