Setting Up and Using e-Sword

e-Sword is a very nice free Bible program with lots of features. It is available at here. I mentioned the e-Sword Bible program in my Instructable "Learn New Testament Greek." Later in this Instructable I will refer to some steps in that Instructable rather than duplicate information.

Download the basic program ("application installation"--16.6 MB). Install it.

In the drop down menu you can see various categories of add-on modules that are also available. Most are free. Some require you to pay a copyright royalty fee.

e-Sword is not available for Macintosh or for Linux, but you can find somewhat similar programs for both of those.

Step 1: Preliminary information

This screen shows briefly when you open e-Sword. While e-Sword is free, notice the warning not to sell copies to anyone. If someone tries to sell you a copy, you are to report it. The home page location is also given on this screen, in case you forget.

Comments

[aesipov]

Thank you very much for the article: My cross

[aesipov]

Thank you very much for the article: My cross

[aesipov]

Thank you very much for the article: My cross

[aesipov]

Thank you very much for the article: My cross

[Ray-l-l]

Thanks for a great instructable.Although I also have quick verse on my machine, I find myself using this program instead most of the time

[Phil B]

Thank you for your comment.  I believe e-Sword gives many of the commercially available Bible software programs strong competition.  Since doing this Instructable I recently did another on a third party module for e-Sword that allows searching the Septuagint by Strong's numbers.  It explains why that can be a very helpful thing to do. 

[grnqrtr]

This is my favorite Bible software! You said that it isn't available for Linux, which is correct, but you can install in in Linux through WINE. I use Ubuntu Linux and have been running e-Sword for a long time. It works great! Thank for the instructable Phil!

[kens]

hi grnqrtr
i have also installed e-sword on ubuntu, but the app does not display text, neither bible,dicts nor commentaries.
the instalaltion appears to be healthy exept for the text??
pleez help
kens

[grnqrtr]

I'm not sure how to fix your specific problem; I've never encountered that before.  I installed e-sword through wine using this script -> http://uploading.com/files/3ffc31d4/e-sword-installer

It automatically checks for the correct version of wine and installs e-sword 9.0.3.  You can also install add-ons and backup your e-sword files with the script.

I hope that helps, maybe you just need to reinstall it.

[Phil B]

Thanks for the information. I normally use Windows XP, but use a Live CD for Puppy Linux 4.1 on my laptop when I want to access the Internet with the laptop. I am such a Linux 'noob'. I tried installing a German Bible program called "Die Volksbibel" in its Linux version. After that experience I resolved just to use on-line Bible programs like Bible Gateway and Crosswalk. I have heard of WINE, but have not used it and do not know how it would work when booting from a Live CD version of Linux.

[Transquesta]

Fantastic Instructable! I've been using E-Sword for years, but it's nice to know somebody's got the guts to post a Bible 'how-to' on ANY site these days. :-)

[Phil B]

Thank you. I put my toe in the water with an Instructable on "Learn New Testament Greek" (mentioned in this Instructable a couple of times). The intent in both was not to preach, but to give useful information. There was one caustic comment, but it disappeared after a few short hours. It is to the credit of both the moderators and the people who are registered at Instructables that everyone is very respectful of others, of their submissions, and of their ideas. I have not seen that in other places on the Net. Did you use e-Sword's Training instruction, or did you just start out and follow your nose, like I did?

[Transquesta]

>Thank you. I put my toe in the water with an Instructable on "Learn New >Testament Greek" (mentioned in this Instructable a couple of times). The >intent in both was not to preach, but to give useful information. These days it doesn't seem to matter. You mentioned. . .gasp! . . . the BIBLE! "OFF with his digital noggin!" :-> >There was one caustic comment, but it disappeared after a few short >hours. It is to the credit of both the moderators and the people who are >registered at Instructables that everyone is very respectful of others, of their >submissions, and of their ideas. I have not seen that in other places on the >Net. You're right. This IS a somewhat statistically 'special' site/place. That's specifically why I registered (given that I don't register for many sites at all). >Did you use e-Sword's Training instruction, or did you just start out and >follow your nose, like I did? I nosed my way in like most people did in the early days of e-sword. I found the program doing a search for computer bible/Koran/Talmud/etc. software programs. Religion, politics and sociology (along with tinkering) fascinate me. Maybe one day I'll build my own ark or tower of Babel. :-)

[Phil B]

One day people will look back at our hyper-tolerant enlightened age and gasp at how intolerant it really is/was. There was a time when companies told their salesmen to read the Bible in order to increase the vocabulary of the salesmen so that they could speak better with customers. There are numerous quotations from important people in our nation's history about how it is impossible to govern our nation and impossible for it to survive unless the Bible leads the hearts of its people and its leaders. I did finally view a couple of the e-Sword Flash Movies for training. The one on using the Study Notes feature carries a special repeated warning to deactivate the button that links words in the Bible text with articles in the ISBE (Step 11). Apparently, your teeth rot and your hair falls out if you do not deactivate that button before writing and saving your notes. It is more like something in the program becomes really, really messed up. You could always build your own gold-plated replica of the Ark of the Covenant. Allegedly, (according to some) it acted like a big high-voltage capacitor and that is why unauthorized people died when they touched it. Just a thought... Thanks for your comments.

[prestux]

Thanks Phil, another great Instructable. You revealed to me a few things about this great software I was previously unaware of.

[Phil B]

Thanks. As I mentioned in the Instructable, I still find little things I did not know were there. Some of them are probably not in the Training Flash Movies. Most are little shortcuts. Once in a while it is something more significant.

[gmjhowe]

You have managed a great break down of a very usefull program! Despite being the ultimate geek, i prefer my analog bible.

[Phil B]

I fully understand. You may notice I said I have not used the computer to record my own study notes, but write them in the margins of bound volumes. I think it is the old "high tech. - high touch" phenomenon. The more technical aspects of life become, the more we long for something we can hold close. Usually that is related to relationships, but it could also be an old friend in the form of a bound volume that has been with us through thick and thin. When I began writing this Instructable I was hoping to keep it down to fewer steps. I really want to get going on an another Instructable for a very useful saw guide. Thanks much.

[gmjhowe]

Indeed, i do like a good book, im currently working on making a hefty leather bound book (about 12 x 9 x 2.5 inchs) Mainly because i want a big old hefty looking book, i figure im going to use it either for a autobiography type thing, or an ultimates sketch ideas book!