Reader & study tools

Search Scripture opens passages (e.g. Jn 3:16, comma-separated verses like Bible Gateway) or searches for words and phrases across translations available on this site. The home page passage field is a shortcut to the same passage lookup.

Popular passages: John 3:16, Psalm 23, Genesis 1, Romans 8:28, Philippians 4:13, Proverbs 3:5, Matthew 5, Isaiah 53.

Read is the chapter reader. Choose book and chapter from the controls, pick a translation from the list (only translations currently available on this site appear as selectable). The URL stores your place (book, chapter, translation, optional verse) so you can bookmark or share a passage.

Keyboard: N / P or [ / ] previous and next chapter; F focus reading; S toggle Study; / search this passage; Ctrl+K focus the book menu—when focus is not in a text field.

Verse: when a chapter is loaded, use the small Verse field next to the chapter controls: type a verse number and press Enter to jump (or use the next/previous controls at the bottom of the passage).

Canon & order: the reader uses the standard sixty-six-book Protestant canon in the usual book order. Deuterocanonical books are not included in Read.

Parallel reading: set Compare with to a second translation. Two columns appear for the same chapter; verse numbers align by position.

Study column: choose Study in the header to open Matthew Henry commentary, book context, Strong's, meditation, notes, and the on-device assistant. On wide screens, drag the divider to resize. On phones, commentary and context also appear in collapsible panels under the passage. Focus reading hides study tools until you turn it off or open Study again.

Turn on Study, then pick a category: Background (commentary and context), Reference (Strong's), or Notes & Reflect (meditation, notes, assistant). Phone: press and hold a verse number for notes and marker colors. Desktop: long-press cycles the marker; right-click picks a color (and notes). Double-click for notes. Phrase highlights: select text, then color, Notes, or cancel.

Verse numbers support notes, bookmarks, highlights, and phrase selection (see Notes & backup). Preferences (type size, reader typeface, focus reading, advanced display) live in the reader Display menu.

Reading partner is a two-person flow: open the same passage in Read with shared context (commentary and background in the Study panel, plus Strong's), reflect privately, then compare notes. Nothing is uploaded—session state stays in your browser.

Use it for small-group prep, accountability reading, or teaching a passage without one voice dominating the discussion.