# What is a citation in an AI answer?

> A named source, such as a Bible reference or document, that supports a claim in an answer.

Source: https://www.lumin.faith/christian-ai-glossary/citation
By Andrew Kittridge · November 10, 2026

## Why it matters for Christians

A citation is only useful if it exists and says what the answer claims. Open it.

## What to do

Open every Bible reference an AI gives you. Read the verse and the verses around it. If the words are not there, or mean something else in context, set the answer aside.

## Read more

- [Bible verse checker](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-verse-checker)

## Related words

- [Hallucination](https://www.lumin.faith/christian-ai-glossary/hallucination.md): When an AI states something false with confidence, such as a made-up fact, quote, or Bible verse.
- [Grounding](https://www.lumin.faith/christian-ai-glossary/grounding.md): Giving a model real source text to answer from, such as Bible passages or church documents, instead of relying on memory alone.
- [Prompt](https://www.lumin.faith/christian-ai-glossary/prompt.md): The instructions or question you give an AI.

Every word: [Christian AI glossary](https://www.lumin.faith/christian-ai-glossary.md)