The Online Bible has been around for a long time and has developed over time. There is quite a bit of material available to expand your version.
On this site we use the word "Titles" to describe the different material that is available. We avoid the use of the word Book, as that is only one type. Each type has its own specific way to open and use it. Below you see a list of the various types:
- Bibles - these are the most important obviously. They appear in the main screen of both the apps and the Windows program. Opening a Bible is always by Bible book (e.g. Genesis), chapter and verse.
- Commentaries - Bible commentaries are normally linked to a specific Bible translation, but they can be used with any Bible. In the app these open in the second screen (at the bottom). They are also always opened by Bible book, chapter and verse, and can be synchronised with Bibles, so that Bible and Commentary stay in sync when scrolling through the Bible. Commentaries cannot be read as books unless you jump from verse to verse in the Bible.
- Books (old name Topics) - Books are titles that are opened at the beginning, normally have an index, and are read in a similar way to an e-reader. There is no synchronisation with other open material, although hyperlinks in the text can e.g. open a Bible verse. In the app books are opened in the second screen.
- Lexicons (split in Hebrew and Greek) - These show the definition of specific Hebrew and Greek words. The index is the Strong number for that specific word. In the Online Bible only a limited number of Bibles has been coded with Strong numbers. When a Bible has the Strong numbers that option is available to select. Selecting a Strong number will normally open the appropriate lexicon. The New Testament has the Greek Strong numbers and the Old Testament the Hebrew ones. In the apps these open in the second screen.
- Dictionaries - These are explanation of specific words and terms (such as Jerusalem). Clicking on a word in a Bible of commentary will normally open the relevant dictionary entry. In the apps these open in the second screen
- Apocypha or Non Standard Bible - These work the same as Bibles, but contain the Apocypha books. In the apps these open in the main screen.
Note: In the store within the apps the dictionaries and lexicons have been combined, but once installed they are separated and work differently.
Where we mention "second screen" this is the functionality in the Android and iOS (iPhone/iPad) apps where the bar at the bottom of the screen can be slid up to split the screen.
Most material can be opened op all platforms. However, the Hebrew and Greek text titles will only open in Windows for technical reasons. Some other titles, such as the atlas will also only open in Windows.
Around 2009 most content was moved from standard ANSI to Unicode. For the less technical reader, this is the format in which a character is recorded.
The Online Bible version of both Windows and the apps can work with either. However, when you use older material, you might find that accents and special characters are not shown properly on the screen.
In both apps and Windows the dictionaries and lexicon entries will appear in pop-up screens when selecting a word or Strong number (in Windows when resting the mouse on it).