Biblical software
Biblical software or Bible software is a group of computer applications designed to view and study biblical texts and concepts. Biblical software programs are similar to e-book readers in that they include digitally-formatted books, may be used to display a wide variety of inspirational books and bibles, and can be used on portable computers. However, biblical software is geared more toward word and phrase searches, accessing study bible notes and commentaries, referencing various modern translations, cross-referencing similar passages and topics, biblical dictionaries, original language texts and language tools, maps, charts, and other e-books deemed relevant to understanding texts from a philological approach.
Bible software varies in complexity and depth, depending on the needs of users, just as the purposes of the users vary from devotional reading and personal study to lesson and sermon preparation, inspirational publishing and even further research tools and translations. Basic bible software is typically aimed at mobile phones, and is designed simply display the text of a single Bible translation, with word and phrase searches as the only available tool. More advanced packages run on personal computers and boast far more features, display a wider variety of theological resources (see above), and may offer features such as synopses and harmonies of the Gospel narratives, morphological and syntactical searches of original texts, sentence diagramming, user notes, manual and dynamic highlighting, lectionary viewers, etc.
History
Interest in using computers to quickly search the Bible and copy sections of the text quickly into lessons and sermons emerged in the early 1980s.
Verse Search is said to have been "the very first Bible study program available for home computer users", around 1980[1] or 1981, released on the Apple II.[2][3]
Bible software was much faster than traditional study tools in a book forms. Early bible software was aimed simply at word and phrase searches in different modern translations. Later, as computers improved in handling foreign language fonts, the original Hebrew Old Testament and Koine Greek New Testament texts of the Bible were added. When working with the original biblical languages, one of the first capabilities was morphology or parsing, providing information on the parts of speech of various words to assist in understanding the intent of the text. At this point many bible software programs emerged which are still in publication today.[4]
Library building
Most Bible software publishers offer a variety of initial packages from basic, to intermediate, to advanced levels, ranging in price from a free, to well over the price of the computer it runs on.[5] Bible software producers commonly offer customers expandibility—that users can build on their initial monetary investment with the purchase of additional resources such as dictionaries, commentaries, translations, and other inspirational books. Initial packages normally include many bundled works, while add-on titles represent a more significant investment. Normally, the advanced packages include all the features of the more basic packages, though a customer may stand to benefit from two or more bundles by purchasing packages from different publishers—especially those which work seamlessly in the same format. For instance a user purchasing a package from LOGOS Bible Software, which runs on a Libronix DLS format, could also buy a Thomas Nelson package, which runs in the same format, and all works would be integrated. Similarly, STEP compatible resources from different publishers also could be combined. Olive Tree Bible Software allows several Bibles and other study tools to be combined into a Library study system.
Desktop Bible software
Windows
- Bible Analyzer – A freeware Bible study and analysis application with Advanced Searching, Bible Statistics, Parallel Text Generator, Text-To-Speech, Audio, and more. Many free modules available with immediate download of premium modules. Highly rated by Download.com [6]
- e-Sword – Free Bible software.[7][8] Includes STEP Library compatibility with a pane and tab system similar to Pradis;
- LOGOS Bible Software – Producer of the Libronix Digital Library System, or Libronix DLS, which they also license to other publishers. Through the emergence of the predecessor format, the LOGOS Library system, and the growth in the market share which followed, LOGOS is known for advanced tools for Greek and Hebrew studies and allows users to build a virtual library from a variety of publishers which work together seamlessly. Dynamic linking ties works together to the same biblical text, even as a user moves through the works. The system also provides topical linking; a user accessing a different dictionary will find it already opened to the same topic they chose in another work. LOGOS packages include helps with harmonies, parallel passages, and even offers such things as automatic citation of references, such as APA, MLA, etc., depending on the preference.
- eBible library – A set of Thomas Nelson titles operating within the Libronix DLS, and/or supplementing users' other titles in the LOGOS/Libronix Digital Library System. While Thomas Nelson once launched the New King James Version translation without collaboration, they have demonstrated the ability to market their biblical software titles in the popular Libronix DLS format, while avoiding the perception of a format war.
- Pradis – This was Zondervan's Bible Study Software File Format, until they partnered with LOGOS Bible Software.
- SESB – (Stuttgart Elektronische Studienbibel) A resource library from Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft for the Libronix DLS (Logos, see above). This is the only library that offers the critical apparatuses of BHS and NA27 / UBS4.
- Online Bible – Bible Software Package around since 1987. Huge library of material of both English and other languages;
- QuickVerse – This was the first organization to utilize the STEP file format. It remains the only software to exclusively use that file format;
- Simple Bible – An open source Bible program that is cross platform.[9]
- SwordSearcher – An inexpensive but simple bible study program. Includes mostly public domain modules. Suitable for original languages study (Textus Receptus).
- The Word – free comprehensive Bible study software with features including Bibles in many languages, non-Bible study resources (including maps), rich cross-referencing system, easy user-created and edited modules (with image support, comprehensive hyperlinking, etc.), a "clipboard monitor" to display verse references, full library search capabilities, extensive user preferences, importing modules from other formats, user defined window layouts, and comprehensive copy and paste capabilities;
- WORDsearch – Offers a large library of English resources for free and for additional purchase. Very intuitive interface. Greek, Hebrew and other languages are searchable.
- Bible Explorer – Free, light version of WORDsearch.
Mac OS X
- Accordance – It is well known for its extensive library collection, extensive tools, ease of use, affordability and reliability. Accordance dynamically links ties the Biblical texts to other user works in a library, a user accessing various dictionaries or commentaries are able to search in another text, parallel passages, harmonies, automatic citation for bibliographies, complex to simple search techniques, maps, timelines, graphic resources, are all available. Charts, graphs, diagrams, and powerful analytical tools are all available in Accordances powerful search tools. Generally considered to be the high-end Bible Study software for Mac[10]
- BibleReader – Olive Tree Bible Software has long been a provider of mobile Bible study software. Their BibleReader platform is now available for your Mac desktop. With customizable features, enhanced study tools and an easy to use interface. BibleReader offers excillent cross platform support with the ability to share notes, personalizations, highlights and books between their mobile and desktop offerings. Olive Tree offers a large collection of both free and pay for resources making it easy to get started in building a library within BibleReader. [11]
- Eloquent – A free & open-source application for research and study of God and His Word. It is developed specifically for Macintosh computers running Mac OS X.[12]
- LOGOS Bible Software – Mac version of Logos, first released December 2008;
- WORDsearch – Offers a large library of English resources. Can search Greek, Hebrew and other languages;
Linux/Unix
- Bible Analyzer – A freeware Bible study and analysis application with Advanced Searching, Bible Statistics, Parallel Text Generator, Text-To-Speech, Audio, and more. Many free modules available with immediate download of premium modules;
- The SWORD Project – (multiplatform) See below under Programming API;
- Simple Bible – (multiplatform) A very simple open source Bible program that uses only the King James Bible;
Programming API
- The SWORD Project A comprehensive open source multi-lingual Bible project. The project is a programming platform and a collection of resources. Several front end programs are available for Windows, Linux, Mac OSX, various PDAs, etc.
- Alkitab Bible Study – Cross-platform front end that is based on Netbeans platform;
- And Bible – Front end for Android devices that is built in Java;
- Bible Desktop – Cross platform front end that is built in Java;
- BibleTime – Front end that is built on the Qt framework for the Windows, Linux, and BSD operating systems;
- BPBible – Front end for Windows;
- FireBible – Front end that installs as a Firefox extension;
- MacSword – Front end for the Mac OS X;
- PocketSword – Front end for the iPhone;
- SwordBible – Simple Bible reading software for Windows;
- SwordReader – Front end for Windows Mobile;
- The SWORD Project for Windows – Front end for Windows;
- Xiphos – Front end based on GTK for Windows, Linux, and BSD platforms;
Mobile platform
iPad tablet
iPhone and iPod Touch
Google Android
Blackberry
PalmOS
Windows Mobile (formerly Windows CE)
- BibleReader – Olive Tree Bible Software (no longer supported)
- Pocket E-Sword – in December 2009, it was announced that official support had ceased
- SwordReader – Front end for Windows Mobile. Support is available, but development has ceased
Java
- Alkitab Bible Study – Cross-platform front end that is based on Netbeans platform and uses The Sword Project API
- Bible Desktop – Cross platform front end that is built in Java, and uses The Sword Project API
- Go Bible – for JavaME mobile phones
Online tools
References