Non-canonical or lost books referenced in biblical texts
Below is a list of books that are mentioned among the Biblical Texts but that have been either lost to history or are works from different traditions.
| Source | Referenced | Possible Source | Quotes |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Book of Jasher | Joshua 10:1; 2 Samuel 1:18; 1 Kings 8:53 LXX | “'Sun, stand still at Gibeon, and Moon, in the valley of Aijalon' And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped until the nation took vengeance on their enemies.” “Your glory, O Israel, lies slain upon your high places! How the mighty have fallen! Tell it not in Gath; proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice; the daughters of the uncircumcised will exult. You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain upon you nor bounteous fields! For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, anointed with oil no more. From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not turn back, nor the sword of Saul return empty. Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely! In life and in death they were not divided; they were swifter than eagles; they were stronger than lions. O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you with crimson, in luxury, who put ornaments of gold on your apparel. How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan lies slain upon your high places. I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; greatly beloved were you to me; your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war perished!” | |
| The Book of the Wars of the Lord | Numbers 21:14 | "Waheb in Suphah and the wadis. The Arnon and the slopes of the wadis that extend to the seat of Ar and lie along the border of Moab." | |
| The Chronicles of the Kings of Israel | 1 Kings 14:19 | No quotations | |
| The Chronicles of the Kings of Judah | 1 Kings 14:29 | No quotations | |
| The Book of Shemaiah the Prophet | 2 Chronicles 12:15 | No quotations | |
| History of Nathan the Prophet | 2 Chronicles 9:29 | No quotations | |
| Story of the Prophet Iddo, Visions of | 2 Chronicles 9:29; 12:15; 13:22 | No quotations | |
| The Manner of the Kingdom | 1 Samuel 10:25 | No quotations | |
| The Acts of Solomon | 1 Kings 11:41 | No quotations | |
| The Annals of King David | 1 Chronicles 27:24 | The rest of 1 Chronicles | No quotations |
| The Book of Samuel the Seer | 1 Chronicles 29:29 | 1 & 2 Samuel | No quotations |
| The Book of Gad the Seer | 1 Chronicles 29:29 | No quotations | |
| The Prophecy of Ahijah | 2 Chronicles 9:29 | 1 Kings 14:2–18 | No quotations |
| The Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel | 2 Chronicles 16:11; 27:7; 32:32 | 1 & 2 Kings | No quotations |
| The Book of Jehu | 2 Chronicles 20:34 | 1 Kings 16:1–7 | No quotations |
| The Story of the Book of Kings | 2 Chronicles 24:27 | No quotations | |
| The Acts of Uzziah | 2 Chronicles 26:22 | The Book of Isaiah | No quotations |
| The Vision of Isaiah | 2 Chronicles 32:32 | The Book of Isaiah or the Ascension of Isaiah | No quotations |
| The Acts of the Kings of Israel | 2 Chronicles 33:18 | The Book of the Kings of Israel | No quotations |
| The Sayings of the Seers | 2 Chronicles 33:19 | No quotations | |
| The Laments for Josiah | 2 Chronicles 35:25 | No quotations | |
| The Chronicles of King Ahasuerus | Esther 2:23; 6:1; 10:2; Nehemiah 12:23 | No quotations | |
| Book (or Wisdom) of Ahikar | Tobit 1:22; 2:10; 11:18; 14:10 | No quotations | |
| Five Books of Jason of Cyrene | 2 Maccabees 2:23 | No quotations 1 | |
| Aesop's fable of The Two Pots | Sirach 13:2–3 | ||
| The Egyptian Satire of the Trades, or an Unknown Tradition | Sirach 38:24–39:11 | To see a discussion of this source, see this article. | |
| Unknown Saying | 1 Corinthians 2:9 | Isaiah 64:4 | "But as it is written, 'No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined the things that God has prepared for those who love him." |
| Unknown Messianic Prophecy | Luke 24:46 | Hosea 6:2 or 1QIsaiah 52:12-53:12 | “Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day.” |
| Unknown Messianic Prophecy | Mark 9:12 | Isaiah 53 | “and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought” |
| Unknown Messianic Prophecy | Matthew 2:23 | Judges 13:5 | "he will be called a Nazorian" |
| Epistle to the Laodiceans | Colossians 4:16 | No quotations | |
| Letter to the Corinthians before 1 Corinthians | 1 Corinthians 5:9 | No quotations | |
| Letter to the Ephesians before Ephesians | Ephesians 3:3 | No quotations | |
| Unknown version of Genesis | 1 Corinthians 15:45 | “the Last Adam who became a life-giving spirit” | |
| Apocryphon of Jannes and Jambres | 2 Timothy 3:8 | “…as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses”2 |
1
The author of 2 Maccabees claims that their work is an abridgment of five books of Jason of Cyrene.
2
Origin argued in 250 AD that 2 Timothy refers to the Apocryphon of Jannes and Jambres but a complete manuscript wasn't discovered until 2024. Read more here.