diff --git a/src/utils/VerseFormatter.ts b/src/utils/VerseFormatter.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3a8de27
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/utils/VerseFormatter.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+/** `` `Genesis 1:2-3, 5` `` — inline reference rendered by the plugin's hover preview. */
+export function formatInlineReference(label: string): string {
+	return `\`${label}\``;
+}
+
+/** A fenced ```bible block the plugin renders as the full passage. */
+export function formatCodeBlock(label: string): string {
+	return "```bible\n" + label + "\n```";
+}
+
+/**
+ * A markdown blockquote of the actual verse text, ending in a "— <ref> (<version>)"
+ * citation. Every line of `text` is prefixed so multi-line quotes stay inside the quote.
+ */
+export function formatBlockquote(label: string, text: string, version: string): string {
+	const body = text
+		.split("\n")
+		.map((line) => `> ${line}`)
+		.join("\n");
+	return `${body}\n>\n> — ${label} (${version})`;
+}
diff --git a/test/VerseFormatter.test.ts b/test/VerseFormatter.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2d900fa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/VerseFormatter.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+import { test } from "node:test";
+import assert from "node:assert/strict";
+import { formatInlineReference, formatCodeBlock, formatBlockquote } from "../src/utils/VerseFormatter";
+
+test("VerseFormatter", async (t) => {
+	await t.test("inline reference is backtick-wrapped", () => {
+		assert.equal(formatInlineReference("Genesis 1:2-3, 5"), "`Genesis 1:2-3, 5`");
+	});
+
+	await t.test("code block is a fenced bible block", () => {
+		assert.equal(formatCodeBlock("Genesis 1:2-3"), "```bible\nGenesis 1:2-3\n```");
+	});
+
+	await t.test("blockquote quotes the text and cites the reference + version", () => {
+		const out = formatBlockquote("John 3:16", "For God so loved the world...", "ESV");
+		assert.equal(out, "> For God so loved the world...\n>\n> — John 3:16 (ESV)");
+	});
+
+	await t.test("blockquote prefixes every wrapped line with '> '", () => {
+		const out = formatBlockquote("Genesis 1:1", "line one\nline two", "ESV");
+		assert.equal(out, "> line one\n> line two\n>\n> — Genesis 1:1 (ESV)");
+	});
+});