Reading the Bible

This page covers the reading area, navigation, translations, tabs, and display modes.

The reading area

The Bible text fills the main part of the window, with verse numbers as small markers beside it. The toolbar above the text holds the controls for the current passage. The chapter title sits above the text, with chevrons on either side that move between chapters. ← Prev and Next → buttons below the last verse also move between chapters.

Navigating to a passage

Go to Passage dialog. Click the chapter title at the top of the reading area (for example, "Psalm 23"), or the book icon at the right end of the search bar. The Go to Passage dialog opens with a box at the top and a grid of Old Testament and New Testament books below it.

• Choose a book, then a chapter. Below the chapter grid, Topics lists the passage headings in that book, when the site has them; click one to go to that passage.
• Or type in the box to narrow the book list, or type a reference such as John 3:16 and press Enter. Typing other words offers to search for them.
• The current translation is shown beside the box, with a Select Translation link to change it.

Search bar. Type a reference such as John 3:16, Romans 8, Gen 1:1-5, or Ps 23, and press Enter. References are recognized automatically, including near-misses like jonh 3:16. See Searching.

Chapter navigation. ← Prev and Next → below the last verse, the chevrons beside the chapter title, and the chevrons at the right end of the toolbar move one chapter at a time. They cross book boundaries; for example, Next → at the end of Malachi goes to Matthew.

History. The toolbar's back arrow returns to the previous passage. The clock button beside it opens Recent passages, a list of the passages you have visited.

After you follow a cross-reference or a link in a commentary, a "Back to …" bar appears above the text. Click it to return. It disappears after about 30 seconds, or you can dismiss it with ✕.

Switching translations

The toolbar button showing the translation abbreviation (KJV, ASV, and so on) opens the Select Translation dialog. It lists the site's translations, with a filter box at the top. Switching translations keeps you on the same passage.

Multiple tabs

Tabs along the top of the reading area hold separate passages.

• The house button at the start of the tab bar shows the home screen.
• The + button at the end of the tab bar opens a new tab.
• Click a tab to switch to it. Drag tabs left or right to reorder them.
• The ✕ on a tab closes it.
• Ctrl+click (Cmd+click on a Mac) a search result or a Bible reference in a commentary to open it in a new tab.

Tabs are remembered for a while in that same browser for when you come back to the site.

Display modes

The dropdown in the toolbar switches between three display modes.

Standard is the default. Each verse is marked with its number.

Reading shows the text as paragraphs, without verse numbers.

Study adds the original Greek or Hebrew beneath the reading language, with Strong's numbers you can hover over or click. However, this requires a Bible translation that has interlinear data provided (which many don't). It adds two checkboxes:

• Interlinear shows the original-language words. While it is on, Stacked and Inline buttons switch the interlinear layout.
• Notes shows the translation publisher's notes, if the translation includes them.

Many translations have no interlinear data or notes. The app shows a message when they're missing. See Study Tools.

Words of Christ in red

Open Settings (the gear icon in the header), go to the Text Size tab, and turn on Words of Jesus in Red. This affects the reading area only, and only in translations that include red-letter data. See Personalizing Your Experience.