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.
9:38And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.
27:8And, hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called The fair havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea.