Giuseppe Guarino
It’s not that anything changes, but I think it is interesting to make a simple clarification.
John 11:35 is commonly thought to be the shortest verse in the Bible. I believe this is because of the influence of the King James Version, the most famous Bible in English, and perhaps the most famous Bible in the world. This verse actually reads: “Jesus wept.”
However, the original text, not its translation, is the definitive answer to even such a simple question. In that case, John 11:35 is not the shortest verse, at least not in the New Testament.
John 11:35 in Greek is composed of 16 letters: ἐδάκρυσεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς
But 1 Thessalonians 5:16 reads: πάντοτε χαίρετε and is shorter with only 14 letters.
This applies to supporters of the Textus Receptus or Majority Text, like me. But does not apply for the critical reconstruction of the New Testament text by the United Bible Societies and the Nestle-Aland.
I prefer the Majority Text, but it must be said that for those who use the Nestle-Aland the shortest verse is Luke 20:30, καὶ ὁ δεύτερος . 12 letters.
A simple curiosity, nothing more; but also a myth to be debunked.
We could also look at the Hebrew text of the Old Testament, and perhaps one day we will. But not now.