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Getting Started

BibleMarker follows the inductive Bible study method, emphasizing observation (what does the text say?), interpretation (what does it mean?), and application (how do I live it?). Mark key words, make lists, note contrasts and time expressions, and identify themes—all in one place.

First Steps

1. Open the app — NASB 2020 is bundled and ready to use with no setup required
2. Choose a book and chapter to read
3. Optionally add up to 3 translations side-by-side for comparison
4. Select text to mark, or open the toolbar to define key words

Available Translations

NASB 2020 is bundled with the app and works fully offline. Additional translations are available as downloadable SWORD modules (see Translations and Modules). The ESV is available with a free API key from Crossway.

Toolbar Overview

The bottom toolbar gives you quick access to core features. Press number keys 1–3, or tap the gear icon:

• 1 — Mark: Define and manage keywords; apply colors and symbols to selected text
• 2 — Observe: Record observations — lists, 5 W's & H, contrasts, time expressions, places, people
• 3 — Analyze: Summaries and worksheets — chapter at a glance, book overview, timeline, places map, themes, interpretation, application, conclusions
• ⚙️ Settings: Appearance, Bible modules, backup/restore, studies, and help

How to Read and Navigate

Selecting a Translation

Use the translation picker in the navigation bar to choose your primary Bible translation. You can add up to 2 more for side-by-side comparison.

Choosing Book and Chapter

Use the book and chapter dropdowns in the navigation bar to jump to any passage. Chapters you've visited are cached for offline reading.

Multi-Translation View

View up to 3 translations side-by-side with synchronized scrolling. This helps you observe how different translations render the same passage.

Navigating Between Chapters

• Use arrow keys: Left for previous chapter, Right for next
• Use J and K for vim-style navigation (J = next, K = previous)
• Use the chapter picker in the navigation bar

How to Mark Text

Select any text in the Bible to open the selection menu. From there you can:

• Apply a key word — Mark the selection with an existing keyword (color and symbol)
• Add as variant — Create a variant of an existing keyword for slight differences (e.g., "God" vs "god")
• Create new key word — Define a new keyword and apply it in one step
• Add to observation list — Capture the text in a list (e.g., contrasts, time expressions)
• Strong's Lookup — View the original Hebrew or Greek word (available for SWORD modules with Strong's tagging)

All markings use keywords for consistency. Once you define a keyword, BibleMarker automatically highlights every matching occurrence across all visible translations.

How to Use Key Words

Key words are central to inductive study—authors repeat them to convey their point. Define keywords once and BibleMarker tracks every occurrence.

Creating Key Words

• Open the Mark panel from the toolbar (press 1)
• Click "Add Key Word" and enter the word or phrase (e.g., "God", "Jesus", "love")
• Choose a color and symbol for consistent marking
• Or: select text first, then choose "Create Key Word" from the selection menu

Scoping with Studies

Create studies to limit keywords to specific books. Manage studies in Settings → Studies. Global keywords (no study) apply everywhere.

Strong's Numbers Lookup

When reading a SWORD module that includes Strong's data (such as NASB 2020), you can look up the original Hebrew or Greek word for any term in the text.

1. Select a word in the Bible text
2. If Strong's data is available for that word, a Strong's Lookup button appears in the selection menu
3. Tap it to see the original word, transliteration, pronunciation, and definition

Strong's lookup works fully offline — the Hebrew and Greek dictionaries are bundled with the app. Not all translations include Strong's tagging; it depends on the SWORD module.

How to Add Notes and Observations

Verse Notes

Click any verse number to add a note. Notes support Markdown for formatting (headers, bold, italic, lists, links). Use notes to capture interpretation and application.

Add to List

Select text and choose "Add to List" from the selection menu to capture observations. You can add to existing lists or create new ones.

Observe Panel

Open Observe from the toolbar (press 2) to manage:

• Lists (e.g., "What I learn about God", "Commands to obey")
• 5 W's & H (Who, What, When, Where, Why, How)
• Contrasts and comparisons
• Time expressions
• Places and geography
• People and groups

Analyze Panel

Open Analyze from the toolbar (press 3) for summaries and worksheets:

• Chapter at a glance and book overview
• Timeline of time expressions
• Interactive places map
• Theme tracker
• Interpretation and Application worksheets
• Conclusions

How to Search

• Press Cmd+F (Mac) or Ctrl+F (Windows), or click the search icon in the navigation bar
• Search across Bible text, notes, and annotations
• Search by verse reference (e.g., "John 3:16") to jump directly to a passage

How to Backup and Export

Your study data stays on your device. To protect it:

• Export backup (JSON): Go to Settings → Data. Export a full backup for recovery. Store it in a cloud folder (iCloud Drive, Google Drive) for automatic syncing across devices.
• Export study notes (Markdown): Export your notes as a readable, formatted document
• Auto-backup: Enable auto-backup in Settings to save periodic backups to a folder of your choice
• Restore: Import a backup from Settings → Data to recover your study work

Translations and Modules

BibleMarker uses local SWORD modules for offline Bible text. No account is required to get started.

Included with the App

NASB 2020 is included with the app and works fully offline with no setup.

Downloadable SWORD Modules

Additional translations are available as downloadable SWORD modules. Go to Settings → Bible → Manage Modules to browse and download them. Modules are stored locally and work offline once downloaded.

ESV (English Standard Version)

Get a free API key from Crossway's ESV API and enter it in Settings → Bible. Subject to noncommercial use terms. Requires an internet connection per fetch.

API keys are stored locally on your device only and are never transmitted to Kevin Spears' servers.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Contact

Need help? Have a question, bug report, or feature request?

• Email: biblemarker@spearssoftware.com

For bug reports, please include as much detail as you can: device, OS version, and steps to reproduce. We'll do our best to respond promptly.

You can also report issues on GitHub or visit spearssoftware.com for more information.