BibleMarker
BibleMarker is a local-first Bible study app built for inductive study: mark key words, capture observations, organize notes, and trace connections through Scripture without losing your place.
Website: biblemarker.app
iOS: Download on the App Store
Screenshots
Features
📖 Read and compare Scripture
- NASB 2020 and NASB 1995 bundled: Start studying right away with no extra setup
- More translations: Download additional SWORD modules or connect an optional ESV API key
- Offline-first reading: Keep downloaded translations available without an internet connection
- Multi-translation view: Compare up to 3 translations side-by-side with synchronized scrolling
- Strong's Numbers: Look up original Hebrew and Greek definitions from the text selection menu
✏️ Mark the text as you study
- Flexible markings: Apply colors, underline styles, and custom symbols to words and phrases
- Keyword presets: Reuse markings and automatically highlight matching words across visible translations
- Precise matching: Use case-sensitive keywords when distinctions matter, such as
LORD and Lord
- False-positive control: Dismiss unwanted auto-matches with undo support
- Chapter titles and section headings: Add your own structure to help remember the flow of a passage
- Notes: Add markdown-supported notes to any verse
🔍 Observe, analyze, and apply
- Observation tools: Track people, places, times, contrasts, conclusions, themes, and 5 W's/H observations
- Custom lists: Create lists for repeated ideas, commands, promises, questions, or anything else you want to trace
- Chapter analysis: Record chapter titles, themes, structure, and study notes in one place
- Interpretation worksheet: Work through what the text means
- Application worksheet: Capture personal application without mixing it into your observation notes
- Reference view: Review people, places, keywords, Strong's entries, and cross references while you study
📚 Organize focused studies
- Study system: Keep keywords, markings, and observations organized by study
- Book-scoped keywords: Limit keywords to specific books for focused studies
- Book-scoped people and places: Scope observation entries where they belong
- Clear book highlights: Start fresh on a book while preserving your reusable study structure
💾 Own your study data
- Local storage: Your study data lives locally in SQLite
- Automatic backups: Configure backup frequency and retention
- Import/export: Restore or move your full BibleMarker data when needed
- Study export: Export formatted study notes with observations and applications
- iCloud sync: Optionally sync study data between macOS and iOS through iCloud Documents
⚡ Built for daily use
- Native app: Runs on macOS, Windows, Linux, and iOS through Tauri
- Keyboard shortcuts: Navigate with arrow keys, J/K, chapter shortcuts, search, and marking hotkeys
- Appearance options: Choose dark, light, or system theme and select from multiple scripture fonts
- Touch-friendly workflow: Use the bottom toolbar on iPhone and iPad for Mark, Observe, Analyze, Reference, and Settings
Download & Installation
iOS: Download on the App Store
Desktop: Pre-built apps (macOS, Windows, Linux) are on GitHub Releases.
Windows: SmartScreen may warn for unsigned downloads. Click More info → Run anyway. For signed builds (no warning), see Windows code signing.
Building from source
- Clone the repository:
git clone https://github.com/spearssoftware/BibleMarker.git
cd biblemarker
- Install dependencies:
corepack enable
corepack prepare pnpm@latest --activate
pnpm install
- Run desktop app in development:
pnpm run tauri:dev
- Build desktop app for production:
pnpm run tauri:build
See docs/MAC_APP_GUIDE.md for detailed macOS-specific instructions.
Configuration
Bible Translations
NASB 2020 and NASB 1995 are bundled with the app. Additional translations are available as downloadable SWORD modules in Settings → Bible → Manage Translations.
ESV API Key (Optional)
For the ESV translation, register for a free API key at api.esv.org and add it in Settings → Bible → API Configuration.
Keyboard Shortcuts
Navigation
↑ / ↓ - Navigate between versesJ / K - Navigate between verses (Vim-style)← / → - Previous/Next chapter⌘/Ctrl + F - Search
Marking
1 - Quick color 12 - Quick color 23 - Quick color 3
View all shortcuts in Settings → Help → Keyboard Shortcuts
Development
Project Structure
biblemarker/
├── src/
│ ├── components/ # React components (feature-based folders)
│ ├── stores/ # Zustand state management
│ ├── lib/ # Core libraries
│ │ ├── bible-api/ # SWORD module reader + ESV API
│ │ ├── database.ts # All CRUD and SQL operations
│ │ ├── sqlite-db.ts # SQLite driver and migrations
│ │ ├── sync.ts # iCloud sync API
│ │ └── ...
│ └── types/ # TypeScript type definitions
├── src-tauri/ # Tauri native app code (Rust)
├── docs/ # Documentation
└── public/ # Static assets
Tech Stack
- Frontend: React 19, TypeScript, Tailwind CSS 4
- State Management: Zustand
- Database: SQLite via @tauri-apps/plugin-sql
- Desktop/Mobile: Tauri 2 (Rust)
- Build: Vite, pnpm, Vitest, ESLint
- Bible Data: SWORD modules (local Z-Text format), ESV API
- Maps: MapLibre GL + OpenFreeMap
Debug Logging
The app includes toggleable debug logging for development:
- Go to Settings → Help → Debug Logging
- Enable "Keyword Matching" or "Verse Text Rendering"
- Open browser/dev console to see detailed logs
This is useful for troubleshooting keyword matching issues or rendering problems.
Scripts
# Development
pnpm dev # Run web dev server
pnpm run tauri:dev # Run Tauri desktop dev
# Building
pnpm build # Build web app
pnpm run tauri:build # Build desktop app
# Testing & Linting
pnpm test # Run tests (Vitest)
pnpm run lint # Run ESLint
# Utilities
pnpm run generate-icons # Generate app icons
pnpm run version:sync # Sync version across configs
License
BibleMarker is licensed under the GNU Affero General Public License v3.0 or later (AGPL-3.0-or-later).
In summary:
- ✅ Free to use, modify, and self-host — for individuals, churches, ministries, and organizations
- ✅ You may distribute modified versions, provided you release your source code under the same license
- ✅ Commercial use is permitted under the same terms
- 🤝 If you'd like to ship BibleMarker as part of a paid product, hosted offering, or curriculum without those copyleft requirements, contact us — we're happy to discuss commercial licensing
See LICENSE for full terms.
Bible text licensing
BibleMarker source code is licensed under AGPL-3.0-or-later. The NASB Bible text is not part of this repository. NASB is licensed by The Lockman Foundation to Spears Software (the official BibleMarker developer) for use exclusively in the official BibleMarker app. The biblemarker.app endpoints that distribute NASB modules are restricted to the official app via a build-time signing key that is not present in this public source.
If you fork BibleMarker and want to ship a similar app:
- Your fork will not have NASB available. The build-time signing key is absent from the public source, so requests to biblemarker.app for NASB modules will be rejected.
- The American Standard Version (ASV, public domain) ships bundled with the app. Many other public-domain SWORD modules are downloadable from CrossWire on demand.
- To distribute NASB with a fork, you must obtain your own license from The Lockman Foundation.
Trademark
"BibleMarker" and the BibleMarker logo are trademarks of Spears Software. The AGPL license grants you rights to the source code. It does not grant rights to use the BibleMarker name or branding. Forks must rebrand.
Contributing
Contributions are welcome. Before your first pull request can be merged, you'll be asked to sign our Contributor License Agreement — a one-click process via the CLA Assistant bot. See CONTRIBUTING.md for details.
Support
For questions or issues:
Acknowledgments
Disclaimer
BibleMarker is independent software and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Precept Ministries International or any other organization.
Made for deeper Bible study 📖✨
