The Bible Search supports a rich syntax to help you find verses quickly. Below are the operators and wildcards you can use:
Operator / Syntax
Description
Example Query & Result
+ (or space)
Logical AND: Finds verses containing all terms. Note that searching words separated only by a space behaves as an exact phrase. Use + to find terms anywhere in the same verse.
jesus + wept
Finds verses containing both "jesus" and "wept" in any order.
-
Logical NOT / Exclude: Excludes verses containing the term after the minus sign.
jesus - wept
Finds verses containing "jesus" but NOT "wept".
|
Logical OR: Finds verses containing either term.
grace | mercy
Finds verses containing "grace", "mercy", or both.
%
Multi-character Wildcard: Matches zero or more non-space characters.
behav%
Matches "behave", "behaved", "behaveth", "behavior", etc.
_
Single-character Wildcard: Matches exactly one single alphabetical character.
h_t
Matches "hat", "hot", "hit", etc.
" "
Exact Phrase: Wraps a search term in double quotes to find an exact match for the entire phrase.
"in the beginning"
Finds verses containing exactly "in the beginning" with no variations.
[Book]
Search Scope: Restricts your search to a specific book, range of books, or chapter range.
lord [Matt](Only Matthew) faith [Heb - Jam](Hebrews to James) spirit [Matt 4 - 8](Matthew Ch. 4 to 8) love [John 1:1 - 3:16](Specific range)
Bible Display Settings
Adjust the text size of the bible verses (14px - 28px).
Show section headings
Show the words of Christ in red
Flow verses together in continuous paragraphs instead of listing them verse-by-verse. New paragraphs start at pilcrow (¶) markers.
Highlight words with Strong's Hebrew and Greek concordance references to view definitions.
3:4As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
20:42And David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,