Bible software

Bible software is software which provides access to the texts of the Bible with facilities to aid research and study such as searches, cross references, integrated dictionaries and commentaries. Bible software may include one or more bible texts.

A Brief History

It did not take long after computers became "personal" (early 1980s) for people to start using them for Bible study. The initial advantage computers had over printed Bible study tools and materials was speed...they could search large amounts of text relatively quickly. So the first Bible programs were little more than basic electronic concordances, useful for finding where certain words were located (at first in the King James Bible, then other translations were added). Later as computers improved in their ability to handle foreign language fonts, the original Hebrew (OT) and Greek (NT) texts of the Bible were added. When working with the original biblical languages, one of the first capabilities to be added was morphology (often called parsing), information concerning the forms of verbs, nouns, adjectives, and other words (many of these parts of speech assume different forms in different contexts). At this point we saw the emergence of Bible software programs, some of which are still around today. [cite web|url=http://blog.bible.org/netbible/content/bible-software-history-101|title=Bible Software History 101|publisher=Hall Harris|date=2008-02-06|accessdate=2008-03-09]

Bible Software for Windows

* Free Software
** [http://www.kiyut.com/products/alkitab/ Alkitab Bible Study] - Open source. Uses the SWORD project environment.
** [http://crosswire.org/bibledesktop/index.html Bible Desktop] - Open source. Uses the SWORD project environment.
** Bible Analyzer - A comprehensive Bible study and analysis application. Free download. CD with several modules can be purchased for nominal fee.
** Bible Explorer - Partly free, light version of WORDsearch.
** BiblePRO - Uses an interface that reminds of a programming IDE. Light version can be downloaded for free. CD with several modules can be purchased for nominal fee.
** E-Sword - The most popular free Bible software. Some commercial modules available.
** [http://www.scripture4all.org Interlinear Scripture Analyzer] - Interlinear greek and hebrew bible. Wescott-Hort greek with Robinson morphology, WLC hebrew text with wovels but no morphology tags. Not suitable for serious study.
** SwordBible - Simple bible reading software for windows.
** The SWORD Project - Comprehensive open source multi-lingual Bible project. The project itself is actually not a program, but a programming environment as well as a resource database. Several front end programs are available for Windows, Linux, Mac and PDA's. One windows version is available with the same name.
** [http://www.theophilos.sk Theophilos]
** In the beginning was The Word - aka. The Word

* Commercial
** Bible Explorer - Partly free, light version of WORDsearch.
** BibleWorks - For a long time the most recommended sofware for greek and hebrew studies
** [http://www.ilumina.com/ iLumina] - Animated bible
** eBible library - A resource library from Nelson publishers for the Libronix digital libray (Logos, see below).
** Logos Bible Software - Producer of the Libronix digital library. This is the most popular high-end software on the market. Thousands of resources available for all audiences. Offers the most advanced tools for greek and hebrew studies.
** PC Study Bible - Complimented by reviewers for ease to use. Handles greek and hebrew studies well.
** [http://www.quickverse.com QuickVerse] - Not too expensive but rather limited resource library. Not suitable for original languages study.
** Pradis - Zondervan works are only licensed to its own sofware Pradis. If you want Zonderwan works, you'll have to use their software.
** SESB - (Stuttgart Elektronische Studie Bibel) A resource library from Deutsche bibelgesellschaft for the Libronix digital libray (Logos, see above). This is the only library that offers the critical apparatuses of BHS and NA27 / UBS4.
** SwordSearcher - An inexpensive but simple bible study programs. Includes mostly public domain modules. Not suitable for original languages study.
** WORDsearch - Offers a large library of english resources. Not the first choise for original languages study.

Bible Software for Mac OS

* Accordance - The most popular high-end sofware for Mac. Rather expensive but offers highy quality tools.
* [http://www.ilumina.com/ iLlumina] - Animated bible
* Logos Bible Sofware - Mac version currently in beta. Beta testers must own a library package for windows.
* MacSword - Uses the SWORD project environment (Free download)
* Online Bible - Currently in beta (Free download)
* [http://www.quickverse.com QuickVerse]
* [http://www.wordsearchmac.com/ WORDsearch 8 for Mac]

Bible Software for Linux/Unix

* Bible Analyzer - A comprehensive Bible study and analysis application. Free download. CD with several modules can be purchased.
* BibleTime - Free, open soucre software for the KDE framework. Uses the Sword Project.
* GnomeSword - Free, open source software the GNOME framework. Uses the Sword Project.

Bible Software for PalmOS

* Bible Reader for Palm
* [http://www.laridian.com Laridian]
* MyBible
* Olive Tree Bible Software - BibleReader - Free download. Several modules available, some free.
* Palm Bible Plus
* [http://www.quickverse.com QuickVerse]

Bible Software for WinCE

* Olive Tree Bible Software - BibleReader - Free download. Several modules available, some free.
* [http://www.laridian.com Laridian]
* PocketBible
* Pocket E-Sword - Free download. Some commercial modules available.
* [http://www.quickverse.com QuickVerse]

Bible Software for iPhone and iPod touch

* Olive Tree Bible Software - BibleReader
* [http://www.ibiblespace.org/ iBibleSpace]
* [http://www.laridian.com Laridian]

Bible Software for Java

* [http://www.kiyut.com/products/alkitab/ Alkitab Bible Study] - free, open source, public domain. Uses the SWORD project environment.
* [http://www.crosswire.org/jsword/ BibleDesktop] (JSword) - free, open source, LGPL. Uses the SWORD project environment.
* Go Bible

Bibles in HTML for Browser Access

* [http://biblepro.bibleocean.com/dox/welcome.aspx BiblePro online version]
* [http://www.crosswire.org/study The Bible Tool] - Uses the SWORD project environment.
* Blue Letter Bible
* [http://www.ccel.org/ Christian Classics Etheral library] - Defined as a christian library (like e.g. Libronix). Bible study interface with various bible versions and commentaries available.
* [http://bible.crosswalk.com/ Crosswalk Bible]
* e-Sword Live
* [http://www.biblegateway.com Gospel communications' Bible gateway]
* [http://next.bible.org NEXTbible]
* [http://www.youversion.com/ YouVersion] - Community commentary

References