Review of e-Sword Bible Software Program

If you want a free yet extremely versatile Bible software program, e-Sword may be what you’ve been looking for. It can be easily downloaded, and installation is a breeze, thanks to the self-extracting feature build into the basic program. This software is a pleasure to use and offers a large selection of add-on modules, all self-extracting, that are available for easy downloading.

To install e-Sword on your computer, you will need to download the basic program module, which includes the King James Version Bible as well as Strong’s numbers and Strong’s dictionary. For more versatility, you’ll no doubt want to add additional Bibles to the basic e-Sword program. These Bible modules are free of cost and include the ASV, Young’s Literal Translation, Weymouth New Testament, Literal Translation of the Holy Bible, Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, Bible in Basic English, and a number of others. The Amplified Bible and the American Standard Study Bible set can also be downloaded but are copyrighted Bibles and require payment of a modest fee before they can be used with e-Sword.

In addition to Bibles, a number of commentaries can be downloaded and added to the basic e-Sword program, all at no cost. These include Albert Barnes’ Notes, Adam Clarke’s Commentary, Jamieson, Fausset and Brown Commentary, Matthew Henry’s Commentary, Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament, Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament, Vincent’s Word Studies, and a number of others.

You can also download a number of dictionaries to further supplement the e-Sword program. All are free of charge. The list includes Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Definitions, Thayer’s Greek Definitions, Nave’s Topical Bible, Easton’s Bible Dictionary, International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, and several others.

The basic screen layout of e-Sword includes three separate windows. One displays Bible text. Another displays Commentary, and a third screen displays a dictionary. However, it’s an easy matter to click on one button to display only Bible text on the entire screen, if desired. Clicking on another button will display only commentary, and clicking another button displays only a dictionary. Clicking another button returns you to the standard three-window screen display as before.

Searching is an easy and speedy task in e-Sword and can be done in all Bible versions. A search can be done either by word or by phrase, and can be limited to only the Old Testament, only the New Testament, or the entire Bible. Similar Word or phrase searches can be done in commentaries and dictionaries as well.

Several features make the e-Sword Bible display window even more versatile. By clicking on a single button, the window can be split into two separate segments, each with its own separate scroll bar, to allow easy comparisons of different portions of the text. Clicking on another button activates a text magnifier to make it easier to read Bible verses. It’s easy to compare an individual Bible verse from each installed Bible in e-Sword by clicking on the Compare tab. If you prefer to compare versions side-by-side, you can click on the Parallel tab to display passages of Scripture from either two, three, or four different Bible translations.

Copying Bible, Commentary, or Dictionary text to your printer is very straightforward as well. It’s also easy to make your own set of personalized notes to accompany Bible verses. Your notes can also be printed if desired, either alone or with accompanying Bible text.

These and many other features (too numerous to mention in this review) make e-Sword one of the best Bible software bargains available. This free software compares favorably to other programs costing several hundred dollars. This truly outstanding software can be downloaded from the following website:
Free E-Sword Bible Software

E-Sword Bible Software Modules