Scripture refers to sacred religious writings that believers consider authoritative and holy. It refers to texts that followers of a religion treat as divinely inspired or containing fundamental truths about how to live.

Different religions have different scriptures. Christians consider the Bible their scripture. Jews study the Torah and other Hebrew scriptures. Muslims read the Quran as their holy scripture. Hindus have the Vedas, and Buddhists have texts like the Sutras. Each of these collections of writings contains stories, teachings, laws, poetry, and wisdom that have guided billions of people for thousands of years.

When people quote scripture, they're citing these religious texts as a source of authority or guidance. A pastor might reference scripture during a sermon. A scholar might study ancient scriptures to understand how people lived long ago. The word can be singular (talking about scripture in general) or plural (talking about specific scriptures from different traditions).

Religious communities often study their scriptures carefully, debating what passages mean and how to apply ancient wisdom to modern life. For believers, scripture can be a living guide that shapes how they understand the world and their place in it.