The ancient stone columns of Persepolis under a clear sky, Iran

The Bible Around the World

The Bible in IranFlag of Iran

Iran's official Christian minority is small, yet a growing underground house-church movement is reported here — and Father's Heart Bible reveals God as a near and loving Father. Free online, with audio.

Yes — the Bible is free to read online, with audio. Iran’s recognized Christians — mainly ethnic Armenians and Assyrians — are a small minority, yet a growing underground Persian house-church movement is reported, with estimates of its size well above the official count; Christianity is legal only for those ethnic minorities, while Persian-language Bibles and evangelism are heavily restricted and converts can face persecution. The Father’s Heart Bible™ is free to read and hear on any phone, with no app and no account. The complete Persian edition is free to read today and published in print — for a people of ancient faith and deep searching, where Father’s Heart Bible™ reveals God as a near and loving Father.

Last updated October 2026

Key takeawayPersia is woven into the Bible's own story — and today, amid a deep spiritual hunger, Father's Heart Bible™ (FHB) longs to reveal in Persian the Father who is found by all who seek Him.

Iran at a glance

Iran is one of the world’s oldest civilizations — the heart of ancient Persia, woven into the Bible through Cyrus, Esther, Daniel, and the Magi who sought the newborn King. Today it is a land of poets and mountains and a remarkably searching people, among whom a quiet, growing number are finding faith.

People
about 92 million
A searching nation
a deep spiritual hunger
Persian (Farsi)
82 million worldwide
In the Bible
Cyrus, Esther, the Magi

What Iran is known for

Few lands carry a longer story — or a deeper place in the Bible — than Persia.

Woven into the Bible

Cyrus, who freed God’s people; Esther, the Persian queen; Daniel; and the Magi from the East — Persia is in Scripture’s story.

Ancient Persia

Persepolis and a 2,500-year civilization make Iran one of the great cradles of human culture.

Poets of the soul

Rumi, Hafez, and Saadi gave the world some of its most beloved poetry of love and longing.

A searching generation

Many reports describe a growing movement to Christ in Iran — a sign of deep spiritual hunger.

Mountains and gardens

From snow-capped Damavand to the famed Persian gardens, Iran’s beauty is profound.

Warmth and hospitality

Iranians are known the world over for their generosity, kindness, and welcome.

Three generations of an Iranian familyA young Iranian womanAn elderly Iranian manTwo Iranian boys in a village

Photos via Pexels & Wikimedia Commons.

Faith and the Bible in Iran

Persia runs all through the Bible. It was Cyrus of Persia who freed God’s people and was called His anointed; Esther, a Persian queen, who saved her nation; Daniel, who served in its courts; and the Magi from the East who came seeking the newborn King.

Today Iran is overwhelmingly Muslim. Yet across the nation, often quietly and in homes, a remarkable number are coming to faith — some researchers and ministries report rapid growth. Persian Scripture and audio are treasured by this searching, growing community.

It is a sign of deep hunger. Many long to know God not only as distant and almighty, but as a near and loving Father. That is what this translation, in their own beautiful tongue, can reveal.

Sources: World Bank, Population, total (2024) — compiled from UN World Population Prospects 2024 and national statistics officesU.S. Department of State, 2023 Report on International Religious Freedom: Iran, Religious Demography (Statistical Center of Iran 2016 census: 117,700 Christians of recognized denominations; World Religion Database 2020: about 579,000; Article 18: 500,000 to 800,000)Pew Research Center, How the Global Religious Landscape Changed From 2010 to 2020 (June 2025), Appendix B religious composition table - Iran 2020: 0.1% ChristianChristianity in Iran — WikipediaIran — Encyclopaedia Britannica

What pains Iran

Behind Iran’s ancient glory and warm hospitality, families carry heavy burdens — and it is into these exact aches that the Father’s heart speaks.

economic hardship
has pressed hard on ordinary families and the young
a generation
wearied by uncertainty and longing for hope and home
orphans
and vulnerable children carry the weight of hard years
addiction
wounds many families and shortens lives
grief and loss
have touched countless homes across the nation
the searching heart
longing, more than ever, to be truly known and loved

Iran’s people carry deep burdens — economic hardship, weariness and uncertainty, the wounds of addiction and loss. Beneath an ancient and proud civilization runs a profound ache to be known and loved, and a hunger for hope.

These are not statistics to a Father. They are sons and daughters He longs to gather. Iran’s searching heart is not far from Him — it longs to know it is held by a Father who is found by all who seek Him.

Sources: Iran — Encyclopaedia BritannicaIran — Joshua Project

What “our Father” offers Iran

Iran is searching, and finding. Father’s Heart Bible™ does not bring a Western religion — it answers a universal longing: to be held by a Father who never abandons His children. In this translation, Scripture reveals God not only as the Almighty, but as a Father who is found by all who seek Him.

For the searching heart

To a people hungry for truth, Scripture promises, “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”

For the weary and burdened

To all who carry hardship, the Father says, “Come to me, all you who are weary… and I will give you rest.”

For the orphan and the vulnerable

To children who carry the weight of hard years, Scripture promises “a father to the fatherless” — a Father who gathers His own.

For the heirs of an ancient story

Persia once sought the newborn King; today Father’s Heart Bible™ reveals the Father who runs to His child — near, not far.

Why Father's Heart Bible™ for Iran

God revealed as Father

For a searching nation, Father’s Heart Bible™ reveals God as Father wherever Scripture reveals Him that way — from Genesis 1:1 onward.

Free, with audio, on any phone

No purchase, no app, no sign-up. The whole Bible is free to read online with audio on every chapter — quiet and personal, on the phone in your hand.

Now in Persian

The complete Persian edition — for some 82 million speakers across Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and beyond — is published: read it free, or see the print edition.

The translation opportunity for Iran

Persian is the heart language of an ancient, searching people — some 82 million across Iran and the region — now with a Bible that reveals not a distant power, but the Father’s voice.

Every language is a door. You can start reading the editions available today, free. English has verse-by-verse audio.

Side by side, in the Father’s voice

Read the opening of Scripture side by side — the English Father’s Heart Bible on the left, Persian on the right.

Register: Persian (Farsi), reverent contemporary
Genesis 1 · پیدایش ۱ 31 verses

1 In the beginning, our Heavenly Father created the heavens and the earth.

1 در آغاز، پدر آسمانی ما آسمان‌ها و زمین را آفرید.

2 The earth was formless and empty; darkness lay over the deep's surface, and the Spirit of our Father was hovering over the waters' surface.

2 و زمین بی‌شکل و خالی بود، و تاریکی بر روی ژرفا قرار داشت، و روحِ پدر ما بر روی آب‌ها در حرکت بود.

3 Then our Father said, "Let there be light," and there was light.

3 آنگاه پدر ما گفت: «روشنایی بشود»، و روشنایی شد.

4 He saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.

4 او دید که روشنایی نیکوست، و روشنایی را از تاریکی جدا کرد.

5 He called the light "day" and called the darkness "night." There was evening, and there was morning—the first day.

5 او روشنایی را «روز» نامید، و تاریکی را «شب» نامید. و شام شد و صبح شد—روز نخست.

6 And our Father said, "Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water."

6 و پدر ما گفت: «گستره‌ای در میان آب‌ها پدید آید تا آب را از آب جدا کند.»

7 He made the expanse and separated the water under it from the water above it. And it was so.

7 پس او گستره را ساخت و آب زیر گستره را از آب بالای آن جدا کرد. و چنین شد.

8 He called the expanse "sky." So there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.

8 او گستره را «آسمان» نامید. پس شام شد و صبح شد—روز دوم.

9 Then our Father said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear." And it was so.

9 آنگاه پدر ما گفت: «آب‌های زیر آسمان در یک جا گرد آیند، و خشکی پدیدار شود.» و چنین شد.

10 He named the dry ground "land," the gathered waters "seas." And he saw it was good.

10 او خشکی را «زمین» نامید، و آب‌های گرد آمده را «دریاها» نامید. و دید که نیکوست.

11 Then he said, "Let the land grow vegetation: seed-bearing plants, fruit trees bearing fruit with seed in it, after its kind." And it was so.

11 آنگاه گفت: «زمین گیاهان برویاند: گیاهانِ دانه‌آور و درختانی که میوه‌های دانه‌دار می‌آورند، هر یک از نوع خود.» و چنین شد.

12 The land produced vegetation—seed-bearing plants by kind, and trees bearing seed-bearing fruit by kind—and our Father saw that it was good.

12 زمین گیاهان رویانید: گیاهانِ دانه‌آور هر یک از نوع خود و درختانی که میوه‌های دانه‌دار می‌آورند هر یک از نوع خود. و پدر ما دید که نیکوست.

13 And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.

13 و شام شد و صبح شد—روز سوم.

14 And our Father said, "Let there be lights in the sky's expanse to separate day from night, and serve as signs to mark seasons, days, and years,

14 و پدر ما گفت: «نورهایی در گسترهٔ آسمان پدید آیند تا روز را از شب جدا کنند، و نشانه‌هایی باشند برای تعیین فصل‌ها و روزها و سال‌ها،»

15 and let them be lights in the sky's expanse, to give light on the earth." And it was so.

15 «و در گسترهٔ آسمان نورهایی باشند تا بر زمین روشنایی بخشند.» و چنین شد.

16 Our Father made two great lights—the greater light to rule the day, the lesser light to rule the night. He also made the stars.

16 پدر ما دو نور بزرگ ساخت: نور بزرگ‌تر را برای فرمان‌روایی بر روز و نور کوچک‌تر را برای فرمان‌روایی بر شب. او ستارگان را نیز ساخت.

17 He set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth,

17 او آنها را در گسترهٔ آسمان قرار داد تا بر زمین روشنایی بخشند،

18 to rule the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. He saw it was good.

18 تا بر روز و شب فرمان برانند، و روشنایی را از تاریکی جدا کنند. و دید که نیکوست.

19 So there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.

19 پس شام شد و صبح شد—روز چهارم.

20 Then our Father said, "Let the water swarm with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth, across the sky's expanse."

20 آنگاه پدر ما گفت: «آب‌ها از موجودات زنده پُر شوند، و پرندگان بر فراز زمین در گسترهٔ آسمان پرواز کنند.»

21 So he created the great sea creatures, every living creature that moves and swarms in the water by its kind, and every winged bird by its kind. And he saw it was good.

21 پس او جانوران بزرگ دریایی و هر موجود زنده‌ای را که در آب می‌جنبد و فراوان است آفرید، هر یک از نوع خود، و هر پرندهٔ بال‌داری را از نوع خود. و دید که نیکوست.

22 Our Father blessed them and said, "Be fruitful, multiply, fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on earth."

22 پدر ما آنها را برکت داد و گفت: «بارور و افزون شوید و آب‌های دریاها را پُر کنید، و پرندگان بر زمین افزون شوند.»

23 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day.

23 و شام شد و صبح شد—روز پنجم.

24 And our Father said, "Let the land produce living creatures by kind: livestock, crawling creatures, and wild animals, each by kind." And it was so.

24 و پدر ما گفت: «زمین موجودات زنده را از نوع خود پدید آورد: چارپایان، خزندگانی که بر زمین می‌جنبند، و جانوران وحشی، هر یک از نوع خود.» و چنین شد.

25 He made wild animals by their kind, livestock by their kind, and every creature crawling the ground by its kind. And he saw that it was good.

25 او جانوران وحشی را از نوع‌هایشان ساخت، و چارپایان را از نوع‌هایشان، و همهٔ خزندگانی را که بر زمین می‌جنبند از نوع‌هایشان. و دید که نیکوست.

26 Then our Father said, "Let us make humanity in our image, in our likeness, to rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, all the earth, and every creature crawling on the ground."

26 آنگاه پدر ما گفت: «انسان را به صورت خود و به شباهت خود بسازیم، تا بر ماهیان دریا و پرندگان آسمان، بر چارپایان، بر تمامی زمین، و بر هر خزنده‌ای که بر زمین می‌جنبد فرمان برانند.»

27 So our Father created humanity in his own image; in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

27 پس پدر ما انسان را به صورت خویش آفرید؛ به صورت پدر و پسر و روح‌القدس آنان را آفرید؛ آنان را نر و ماده آفرید.

28 Our Father blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every living creature that moves on the earth."

28 پدر ما آنان را برکت داد و به ایشان گفت: «بارور و افزون شوید؛ زمین را پُر سازید و آن را تحت تسلط درآورید. بر ماهیان دریا و پرندگان آسمان، و بر هر موجود زنده‌ای که بر زمین می‌جنبد فرمان برانید.»

29 Then he said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant across the whole earth, and every tree with seed-bearing fruit—they will be your food.

29 آنگاه گفت: «من هر گیاه دانه‌آور را که بر روی تمامی زمین است و هر درختی را که میوهٔ دانه‌دار می‌آورد به شما می‌بخشم. اینها برای خوراک شما خواهند بود.

30 To every animal of the earth, every bird of the sky, everything crawling on the ground with breath of life, I give every green plant for food." And so it happened.

30 «و به همهٔ جانوران زمین، همهٔ پرندگان آسمان، و همهٔ خزندگانی که بر زمین می‌جنبند—هر آنچه نفسِ زندگی در آن است—هر گیاه سبز را برای خوراک می‌بخشم.» و چنین شد.

31 Our Father saw all he had made, and it was very good. So there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.

31 پدر ما همهٔ آنچه را که ساخته بود دید، و بسیار نیکو بود. پس شام شد و صبح شد—روز ششم.

John 3 · یوحنا ۳ 36 verses

1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

1 و مردی از فریسیان بود به نام نیقودیموس، که از بزرگان یهود بود.

2 This man came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from our Father, for no one can do these signs you do unless our Father is with him."

2 این مرد شبانه نزد عیسی آمد و به او گفت: «ربّی، می‌دانیم که تو معلمی هستی که از جانب پدر ما آمده‌ای، زیرا هیچ‌کس نمی‌تواند این آیاتی را که تو به‌جا می‌آوری انجام دهد، مگر آنکه پدر ما با او باشد.»

3 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I tell you: unless someone is born from above, he can't see the kingdom of our Father."

3 عیسی به او پاسخ داد: «به‌راستی، به‌راستی به تو می‌گویم، تا کسی از نو زاده نشود، نمی‌تواند پادشاهی پدر ما را ببیند.»

4 Nicodemus asked, "How can a man be born when he's old? Can he enter his mother's womb again and be born?"

4 نیقودیموس به او گفت: «چگونه ممکن است انسان در پیری زاده شود؟ آیا می‌تواند بار دیگر به رحم مادرش بازگردد و زاده شود؟»

5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I tell you, unless one is born of water and the Holy Spirit, he can't enter our Father's kingdom.

5 عیسی پاسخ داد: «به‌راستی، به‌راستی به تو می‌گویم، تا کسی از آب و روح‌القدس زاده نشود، نمی‌تواند به پادشاهی پدر ما درآید.»

6 Born of the flesh is flesh, and born of the Holy Spirit is spirit.

6 آنچه از جسم زاده شود جسم است، و آنچه از روح‌القدس زاده شود روح است.

7 Don't be amazed that I said to you, 'You must be born from above.'

7 شگفت‌زده مشو که به تو گفتم: ”شما باید از نو زاده شوید.“

8 Wind blows where it wants; you hear its sound but don't know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

8 باد هر جا که بخواهد می‌وزد، و صدای آن را می‌شنوی، اما نمی‌دانی از کجا می‌آید یا به کجا می‌رود. هرکه از روح‌القدس زاده شود نیز چنین است.

9 Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?"

9 نیقودیموس به او گفت: «چگونه ممکن است این چیزها واقع شود؟»

10 Jesus answered him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things?

10 عیسی به او پاسخ داد: «آیا تو معلم اسرائیل هستی و این چیزها را نمی‌فهمی؟»

11 Truly, truly, I tell you: we speak what we know, we testify to what we've seen, yet you don't accept our testimony.

11 به‌راستی، به‌راستی به تو می‌گویم، ما از آنچه می‌دانیم سخن می‌گوییم، و به آنچه دیده‌ایم شهادت می‌دهیم، اما شما شهادت ما را نمی‌پذیرید.

12 If I told you earthly things and you don't believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

12 اگر دربارهٔ امور زمینی به شما گفتم و باور نکردید، چگونه باور خواهید کرد اگر دربارهٔ امور آسمانی به شما بگویم؟

13 No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.

13 هیچ‌کس به آسمان بالا نرفته است، مگر آن که از آسمان فرود آمد، یعنی پسر انسان.

14 As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,

14 و همان‌گونه که موسی مار را در بیابان برافراشت، پسر انسان نیز باید برافراشته شود،

15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

15 تا هر که به او ایمان آورد، حیات جاودان داشته باشد.

16 For our Father so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

16 زیرا پدر ما جهان را آن‌قدر محبت کرد که پسر یگانهٔ خود را داد، تا هر که به او ایمان آورد هلاک نشود، بلکه حیات جاودان داشته باشد.

17 For our Father did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but so the world could be saved through him.

17 زیرا پدر ما پسر خود را به جهان نفرستاد تا جهان را محکوم کند، بلکه تا جهان به‌واسطهٔ او نجات یابد.

18 Whoever believes in him isn't condemned; whoever doesn't believe is condemned already, for not believing in the name of the one and only Son of our Father.

18 هر که به او ایمان آورد محکوم نمی‌شود، اما هر که ایمان نیاورد هم‌اکنون محکوم شده است، زیرا به نام پسر یگانهٔ پدر ما ایمان نیاورده است.

19 This is the judgment: light has entered the world, and people loved darkness more than light because their deeds were evil.

19 و داوری این است: روشنایی به جهان آمد، اما مردمان تاریکی را بیش از روشنایی دوست داشتند، زیرا کارهایشان بد بود.

20 Everyone who does evil hates the light and won't come to the light, so that his deeds aren't exposed.

20 زیرا هر که کارهای زشت می‌کند از روشنایی نفرت دارد و به‌سوی روشنایی نمی‌آید، مبادا کارهایش آشکار شود.

21 But whoever does the truth comes to the light, so it may be revealed that his works have been done in our Father."

21 اما هر که به‌راستی عمل می‌کند به‌سوی روشنایی می‌آید، تا آشکار شود که کارهایش در پدر ما به‌انجام رسیده است.

22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, where he stayed with them, baptizing.

22 پس از این، عیسی و شاگردانش به نواحی یهودیه رفتند، و او در آنجا با ایشان ماند و تعمید می‌داد.

23 John also baptized at Aenon near Salim, since water was plentiful there, and people came and were baptized,

23 یحیی نیز در عینون، نزدیک سالیم، تعمید می‌داد، زیرا در آنجا آب فراوان بود، و مردم می‌آمدند و تعمید می‌گرفتند،

24 for John had not yet been put in prison.

24 زیرا یحیی هنوز به زندان افکنده نشده بود.

25 Now a discussion arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew over purification.

25 آنگاه میان برخی از شاگردان یحیی و یک یهودی، بر سرِ تطهیر بحثی درگرفت.

26 They came to John and said, "Rabbi, the man with you beyond the Jordan, the one you testified about—he's baptizing, and everyone goes to him."

26 و آنها نزد یحیی آمدند و به او گفتند: «ربّی، آن کس که با تو در آن سوی اردن بود، همان که به او شهادت دادی—اینک او تعمید می‌دهد، و همه نزد او می‌روند.»

27 John replied, "A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.

27 یحیی پاسخ داد: «انسان نمی‌تواند حتی یک چیز هم دریافت کند، مگر آنکه از آسمان به او عطا شود.»

28 You yourselves can testify: I said 'I'm not the Christ, but sent ahead of him.'

28 شما خود می‌توانید شهادت دهید که گفتم: ”من مسیح نیستم، بلکه پیشاپیش او فرستاده شده‌ام.“

29 The one with the bride is the bridegroom—Jesus. The bridegroom's friend, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. So my joy is now complete.

29 آن که عروس را دارد داماد است—یعنی عیسی. اما دوست داماد، که می‌ایستد و سخن او را می‌شنود، از صدای داماد بسیار شادمان می‌شود. پس این شادیِ من اکنون کامل شده است.

30 He must increase, but I must decrease."

30 او باید فزونی یابد، و من باید کاستی گیرم.

31 The one who comes from above is above all. The one from earth belongs to earth and speaks in an earthly way. The one who comes from heaven is above all.

31 آن که از بالا می‌آید، برتر از همه است. آن که از زمین است، به زمین تعلق دارد و به‌گونه‌ای زمینی سخن می‌گوید. آن که از آسمان می‌آید، برتر از همه است.

32 He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony.

32 او به آنچه دیده و شنیده است شهادت می‌دهد، اما هیچ‌کس شهادت او را نمی‌پذیرد.

33 Whoever receives his testimony confirms that our Father is true.

33 هر که شهادت او را بپذیرد، تأیید می‌کند که پدر ما راست‌گوست.

34 The one our Father sent speaks our Father's words, for he gives the Holy Spirit without measure.

34 زیرا آن کس که پدر ما او را فرستاده است، کلام پدر ما را بازمی‌گوید، چرا که او روح‌القدس را بی‌اندازه عطا می‌کند.

35 Our Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand.

35 پدر ما پسر را محبت می‌کند و همه‌چیز را به دست او سپرده است.

36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son won't see life—our Father's wrath remains on him.

36 هر که به پسر ایمان آورد، حیات جاودان دارد؛ اما هر که از پسر اطاعت نکند، حیات را نخواهد دید، بلکه غضب پدر ما بر او باقی می‌ماند.

Translation continues book by book, and each one is free to read the moment it is published. Read what is available today →

Iran and the world

Persian is far more than the tongue of one nation, and Iran’s searching heart is felt across a wide diaspora. To give Iran the Father’s heart in Persian is to reach a whole region and a people scattered worldwide.

82 million
Persian speakers worldwide the Persian edition reaches
a regional tongue
Persian links Iran, Afghanistan (Dari), and Tajikistan (Tajik)
a wide diaspora
millions of Iranians live across the world, many seeking faith

A language across nations

Persian and its close cousins — Dari and Tajik — are spoken across Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asia. A Persian Father’s Heart Bible™ reaches a whole region.

A searching diaspora

Millions of Persian speakers live across Europe, North America, and the Gulf — many of them, freed to seek, are finding faith.

A growing, quiet church

A growing movement to Christ is unfolding among Persian speakers — ready to carry the Father’s heart onward.

An ancient seeking people

Persia once sent wise men to seek the King; that searching spirit endures, and the Father welcomes it still.

His Word will not return void

When our Father said, “Let there be light,” there was light. His Word accomplishes what He sends it to do. Into every quiet home and searching heart across this ancient land, His Word will not return empty — it will find the seeking and the weary, and it will not fail.

“…so will my word be that goes out from my mouth: it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” — Isaiah 55:11

Know God as a Father near to you

To every seeking heart: read God in His own voice as Father — free, with audio, on any phone.

Read FHB free

Keep reading

Begin with the whole Bible free online with audio, learn why Father’s Heart Bible™ exists, or get oriented with our Bible reading guides — including where to start and what the gospel is. Browse Scripture by theme on our Bible verses by topic pages.

Learn more about Iran

Trusted sources for the facts on this page — and for going deeper into Iran’s people, faith, and story.

Frequently asked questions

How many Christians are there in Iran?

Iran's officially recognized Christians — mostly ethnic Armenians and Assyrians — number about 118,000 (2016 census), a small minority of the 88-million population. Some estimates are far higher — about 580,000 (World Religion Database) to 500,000–800,000 (the advocacy group Article 18) — including a Persian-language house-church movement that is reported to be growing. You can read and hear the Scriptures free in Father's Heart Bible™ at fathersheartbible.com/read.

Is it legal to be a Christian in Iran?

Christianity is legal only for Iran's recognized ethnic minorities; evangelism and Persian-language (Farsi) churches are heavily restricted, and Muslim-born converts can face arrest and persecution. Persian Bibles are restricted too — but wherever there is internet, Father's Heart Bible™ can still be read free online with audio at fathersheartbible.com/read.

Can I read the Bible online free in Persian?

Yes. Father's Heart Bible™ is free to read online in Persian (Farsi) — all 66 books, no account, no purchase, no app — at fathersheartbible.com/read/fa/, for a people with a deep and growing spiritual hunger. The English edition is free too, with audio.

Is there a free audio Bible I can listen to?

Yes. Every chapter of the English Father's Heart Bible™ comes with free audio, so it can be heard quietly and personally on any phone.

What is the most popular Bible translation in Persian?

The most widely used Persian Bibles are the Today’s Persian Version (Tarjumeh-ye Hezareh-ye No / New Millennium Version) and the historic Old Persian Version. Persian Scripture and audio are quietly treasured by a growing community of believers.

Is Father's Heart Bible available in Persian?

Yes. The complete Persian edition — all 66 books — is free to read at fathersheartbible.com/read/fa/ and published in print (fathersheartbible.com/bibles/persian-bible/). Persian (Farsi) is spoken by some 82 million people across Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and a wide diaspora.

Portrait of Kevin White

About the author

Kevin White

Founder, Spirit Media Publishing · Father's Heart Bible™

Kevin White is founder of Spirit Media Publishing the publisher of Father's Heart Bible™, a translation centered on revealing God's heart as Father through every passage. He pastors readers toward the love of our Father — in plain English — and writes here about Scripture, sonship, and the modern Father-heart movement.

The Azadi Tower in Tehran, IranSnow-capped Mount Damavand, IranNaqsh-e Jahan Square in Isfahan, IranThe ruins of Persepolis, Iran

Photos via Pexels & Wikimedia Commons.

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From Genesis to Revelation, free online with audio — a translation that reveals God as a loving Father to every beloved son and daughter, in Iran and across the Persian-speaking world.

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