e‑Sword

Getting Started

User Preferences

You may want to adjust the display settings, such as background color and font size. To do this, select the "Options" menu on the app's top menu bar, then choose "Display Settings" or "Font Settings" as needed.

Downloading Modules

You will want to download some resources to study with. To do this, select the "Download" menu on the app's top menu bar, then choose a resource type — for example, "Bibles" — to see a listing of everything available for download. Select the item you wish to download to begin the process. Repeat as needed for each resource type you would like to add.

Modules listed under the "Premium" sub-section are locked and must be purchased directly from their publisher. The publisher will then provide a product key for installation. Modules previously purchased for use with any of the other e-Sword apps are also available for use in e-Sword at no additional cost.

When installing a locked module, you will be prompted to enter your credentials — your email address and product key — to verify your license. If you do not have this information available, select the "Recover Product Key" button on the dialog that prompts for it.

General Use Tips

Mouse Gestures

Scrolling the mouse wheel will move the content of the view up or down.

Clicking anywhere on a Bible verse makes that verse the active verse. By default, this action synchronizes the Commentary view with the selected verse. In addition, whichever word you click on will be looked up in the Dictionary view, or, if you click on a Strong's number, it will be looked up in the Lexicon view. Because of this, where exactly you click matters.

Right-clicking brings up a context-specific popup menu. The items available in this menu will change depending on the current selection, or lack thereof.

Hovering the mouse pointer over a Scripture reference link will display a popup tooltip showing that passage. Likewise, hovering over a Strong's number will display a popup tooltip with its definition. Throughout the resources, you will encounter Scripture reference links — click on any of these to move directly to that Bible reference.

Navigating the Bible

Go to a Bible Verse

Basic navigation is accomplished by clicking the Bible Navigator button (). Select the Book, then the Chapter, then the Verse. You may also use the Navigation sidebar on the left side of the screen, or the Go To field directly above the sidebar, where you can simply type in the passage you wish to visit.

To go to an encouraging, random verse, select the Awesome button ().

After navigating to a Bible verse, you will notice that its reference background is highlighted with a pale blue coloring. This highlighting denotes that verse as the active Bible verse and synchronizes the Commentary view with it.

To make a different verse the active verse within the current chapter, simply click on that verse.

Searching for a Word or Phrase

To search for a word or phrase, click on the Search tab. Enter the search word or words into the Search Words field, then refine how the search is performed by adjusting the various search settings. All Words is typically the best search type to try first.

You can also search for a word or phrase by selecting that text, right-clicking over the selection, and choosing Search from the popup menu.