Scripture SuperSearch

Version 2.0

User's Guide

Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life:
and they are they which testify of Me.
John 5:39

Introduction

Scripture SuperSearch is a web based search and passage retrieval program. It includes a powerful search engine, which can search the entire Bible and/or the Book of Mormon, or at your option, search only the requested book(s), chapter(s) or passage reference(s). Scripture SuperSearch can also look up multiple passage references at once, including complex references.

Table of Contents

Searches

Search Options

Search Type

All Words
Any Word
Exact Phrase
Proximity Search
Chapter Search
Regular Expression
Boolean Search

Search Pagination
Seeing results in context

Boolean Searches

Phrases and Regular Expressions
Parentheses
Implied AND
Operator Aliases
Wildcard Searches
With Proximity Search

Limiting your Searches

Looking up passages

Custom Search Limitation

Formatting Options

Text Size

Advanced Search

Custom Proximity Range

Searches [top]

Basic Searches [top]

Enter a word or words into the “Search” text box, and click "search". The search is equivalent to an exhaustive concordance; it will return ALL verses with the given word(s).

By default, the system will display all verses returned, and will search for verses with ALL the words entered. The searches are NOT case sensitive.

Search Options [top]

Search Type [top]

The search type is selected by the radio buttons or drop down menu, if applicable, on the form:

Whole Words Only [top]

Check “Whole words only” check box for searches for the exact word(s) only. For example: Searching for work does not return worked, works, worker or working.

Search Pagination [top]

For searches, twenty verses are displayed at a time. Click on a page number to move to that page, or click on the arrows to move to the previous or next page. To see all search results on one page, click on “Show All.” When showing all results on one page, the results can be paginated by clicking on “Paginate Results.”

Seeing Results in Context [top]

You can easily see your search results in context by clicking on the VERSE reference for a particular verse. This will show the entire verse, plus two verses before it and two verses after it (in the same chapter.) Clicking on the Book and Chapter reference will show you the entire chapter for this verse.

Example, for Acts 4:12, clicking on “12” will give Acts 4:10-14; while clicking on “Acts 12” will give Acts chapter 12.

Since the search engine only displays the verses with the word(s) that you requested, this is a very useful feature to get the full meaning of a verse. This feature also works with all INDIVIDUAL verses that you look up (see below).

Boolean Searches [top]

The Boolean search allows you to specify advanced search queries using operators AND, OR, and NOT.  It also allows grouping of terms with parentheses ( ).

A search term is defined as a word or phrase that is part of the search query.

• AND  – returns verses with both words

• OR – returns verses with either word
• XOR - (exclusive OR) – returns verses with only ONE of the words
• NOT - returns verses without the word (to be used only in conjunction with other search terms)
• PROX(N) - searches for both words within N verses (in the same chapter).*
• CHAP - searches for both words within the same chapter.*
  

The operators work similar to mathematical operators. Order of operations is followed. Operations are preformed starting at the innermost set of parentheses, progressing to the outermost set, then NOT, then AND, then OR, then PROX() and CHAP (see below).

Example: 'Jesus AND Lord OR Christ'

Returns verses with BOTH 'Jesus' AND 'Lord', and verses with 'Christ', and verses containing all three words, 'Jesus,' 'Lord,' and 'Christ'

Example:'Jesus OR Lord NOT Christ'

Returns verses with either 'Jesus' or 'Lord' or both 'Jesus' and 'Lord', but only those that do not contain the word 'Christ'

Phrases and Regular Expressions [top]

You can also search for phrases and regular expressions, enclosed with double quotations (“”) with the Boolean search.

Example: “Lord Jesus” OR Christ

Returns verses with either “Lord Jesus” (exact phrase) or 'Christ' or both the phrase “Lord Jesus” and the word 'Christ' (not in any particular order.)

Parentheses [top]

Search terms can be grouped using parentheses. You may also use brackets [ ] { }.

Example: '(Lord OR Christ) AND Jesus'

Returns verses with 'Jesus' and 'Lord or 'Jesus' and 'Christ' or 'Lord' and 'Christ' and 'Jesus'

More examples:

'(preserved OR stand) AND (word OR truth)'

'((Lord OR Christ) AND Jesus OR God) AND disciples

Implied AND [top]

If an operator is not specified between terms, Scripture SuperSearch interprets the query as if there was an AND between the terms.

Example: 'Jesus Lord OR Christ' interpreted as 'Jesus AND Lord OR Christ'
Example: '(Lord OR Christ) Jesus' interpreted as '(Lord OR Christ) AND Jesus'
Example: 'Jesus Lord Christ' interpreted as 'Jesus AND Lord AND Christ'

Operator Aliases [top]

To make the Boolean search quicker to use, the following operator aliases have been developed. Any of these can be used in place of the operator, for the same results.

Wildcard Searches [top]

You may specify wildcard characters in your Boolean searches using the following characters.

% -  Unlimited characters

_ - Single character

The unlimited characters wildcard allows for any amount of characters, while the single character wildcard only takes the place of one character.

Example: stand% returns stand, standing, standeth, standard
Example: %stand returns stand, understand.

Proximity Searches* [top]

You may specify a proximity search within a Boolean search, using the PROX(N) operator. N is the proximity range.

For example, 'preserve PROX(4) words|truth'

Proximity searches are interpreted as follows: for term1 PROX(4) term2 prox(20) term3, term2 must be found within 4 verses of term1, and term3 must be found within 20 verses of term 2.

Note: due to system limitation, the PROX() operator may not be enclosed within parentheses or brackets.

*Please note, the Proximity/Chapter search will run slower than other searches, because of the complexity of the computation involved. Also, using PROX() with a limitation specified to the verse (such as Gen 1:1-20) may produce undesired results. 

For a detailed description of Boolean searches, please visit this link: http://www.internettutorials.net/boolean.html

This is an article on Internet Boolean searches, but the concept is the same. Please note that while the Scripture SuperSearch Boolean search performs similarly to the searches described here, it may not function exactly as described.

Limiting Your Searches [top]

Your searches can be limited to certain, predefined sections of scripture by entering the following keywords in the “Look-up” textbox, or selecting them from the drop-down menu, if applicable. You may use either the name or any of the aliases. If one or more of the below limiters are not available in the drop-down menu, you may still use it by entering it into the look-up box.

(Note: submitting most of these shortcuts without a search will result in an error message because looking up multiple books at once will overload this server. Therefore, Scripture SuperSearch will give an error. You must enter the EXACT WORD OR PHRASE as listed below.)

Also see the “Custom Search Limitation” below.

Looking Up Passages [top]

Basic Passage Retrieval [top]

Enter the reference into the “passage” or “lookup” box, and click the “go” or “lookup” button. You may enter either the full name of the book, or any common abbreviation of it. You may also request whole chapters and books.

Multiple verses & Verse Ranges [top]

You may request multiple verses from a chapter using commas and hyphens.

Note: You may include spaces with your commas and hyphens, but they are not required.

Multiple books or chapters [top]

You may also request multiple chapters and books in the same way. However, you may only request multiple books in conjunction with a search. (See Custom Search Limitation below.)

Example: Rom 1, 3 (Chapters 1 and 3)
Example: Acts 2, 5-7 (Chapters 2 and 5 through 7)

Example: Mark-John
Example: Dan; Rev (Note, specifying individual books requires a semicolon (;), instead of a comma between the book names.)

Indefinite Ranges [top]

You may request retrieval to the end of a chapter without knowing the number of the last verse by inserting a hyphen after the starting verse, but omitting the final verse.

Example: Phil 3:5- (Chapter 3, verses 5 through the end of the chapter)
Example: Titus 2:-10 (Chapter 2, verses 1 through 10)

Cross Chapter Lookup [top]

You may look up verses across multiple chapters in the following manner:

Example: 1 Cor 4:8-5:2 (Chapter 4, verse 8 through chapter 5, verse 2)

Example: Dan 6:5-10:10 (Chapter 6, verse 5 through chapter 10, verse 10)

Starting and ending with a whole chapter.

If you want to start or end your request with a complete chapter, simply enter it with a colon but no verse reference like this:

Example: Rom 1:-2:5 (Chapter 1, verse 1 through chapter 2, verse 5)
Example: Acts 4:12-6: (Chapter 4, verse 12 through the end of chapter 6)

Whole chapter to whole chapter references:

Simply omit the verse reference and colon

Example: Mark 2-5

See also the “Multiple books or chapters” Section under “Commas and Ranges”

For convenience, the following entry methods will also work in the way they are noted below:

Example: Lk. 12-14:3 (Chapter 12, verse 1 through chapter 14, verse 3)
Example: Eph 1:8-3:- (Chapter 1, verse 8 through the end of chapter 3)

Note the following will NOT work as cross-chapter references:
Example: Gal 1:3-2 (interpreted as chapter 1, verses 3 through 2, will give error message)
Example: Ps 3:2-4 (will return chapter 3, verses 2-4)

Multiple Passages [top]

To look up multiple passages, enter the separate references with a semicolon (“;”) between them. You may add as few or as many spaces (before or after the semicolon) as you want.

Scripture SuperSearch can handle complex requests with any combination of references in the forms listed above.

Example: 1 Tim 5:2; Rom. 5:8
Example: Romans 1:16;Acts 4:12; Ps 119:11; Rom 8:5-7
Example: Rom 3:23, 6:23, 5:8, 10:9,13; Eph 2:8,9; Acts 4:12; Jn 8:31-32,36

Random Chapter & Random Verse [top]

For those who like to randomly open your Bible and start reading, this is for you!   

To veiw a random chapter, click "Random Chapter."

To veiw a random verse, click "Random Verse."

Note: If you refresh your page or edit your request, you will be given a different chapter or book.

Other Features [top]

Book number

You may look up references using the two digit number of the book instead of the name.

The books are numbered Genesis = 01, Exodus = 02 … Jude = 65, Revelation = 66. Note: The book number MUST be entered as a two digit number for it to work.

Example: 19 91 (Psalms 91)
Example: 01 1:1 (Genesis 1:1)

Custom Search Limitation [top]

You may search any selection of scripture passages using the custom search limitation feature. To use, simply enter the passage references to be searched in the “look up” box, and your search terms in the “search” box, and click the “look up” or “search” button. You may enter any reference as given above.

Examples:

look up: Heb 11, search: faith

look up: 1 Cor 15, search: resurrection

look up: Rom 3:23, 6:23, 5:8, 10:9-13; Jn 3:15-; Acts 4:12-25, search: saved

Formatting Options [top]

Text Size 

Large Text 

Medium Text

Small Text

Font Style 

Serif (Times New Roman)

Sans-Serif (Arial)

Monospace (Courier New)

Easy Copy

If you want the text to display in an easy-to-copy format, click on the Easy Copy icon. To revert to the nicer formatting, click Easy Copy again. This allows you to copy and paste scripture text easily into your favorite word processor while requiring minimal editing and formatting.

Browsing Scripture [top]

You may easily move between adjacent chapters and books using the browsing buttons as shown below. (Buttons may not look exactly as shown below.)

|← Show Previous Book

← Show Previous Chapter (May give last chapter of previous book.)

↔ Show Entire Text of This Chapter (If only some of the chapter is shown.)

→ Show Next Chapter (May give first chapter of next book.)

→| Show Next Book

Editing Requests [top]

If you made a mistake in entering your reference and/or search, or you would like to edit it for any other reason, you may do so by using the “Edit search” feature.

Just click on the “edit search”, “Edit Request” or “Edit” button (whichever is applicable), and your last passage request and/or search will appear in the request form. You may then edit them and repeat your request. You may also edit your search by clicking the text after “You requested:” (if applicable).

Note: This also sets the “search type” and “whole words only” to the settings you entered last, although the form does not show it.

Clearing the form.

To clear all passage and search entries from the form, click the “clear form” button (if applicable).

Advanced Search [top]

For advanced search options, click the “Advanced Search” icon. The advanced search gives these additional features:

Find:

You can combine these to produce advanced searches. For example, entering “Jesus God” into the “All” box and “Peter John” into the “Any” box results in a search for verses containing both “Jesus” AND “God,” and either “Peter” OR “John.”

Search Limitation [top]

You may limit all advanced searches by making a selection from the “restrict search to” menu, or entering a reference into the “Passage limitation” box.

Custom Proximity Search [top]

You can specify a custom range for a proximity search using the drop down menu and special search box. For example, if you want to find the words within 10 verses, select “± 10 verses.” Be sure to enter your keywords into the “proximity” search box.

Please note that when using the proximity search, all entries into other search related boxes will be ignored. However, your search restrictions will be applied.

Power Search [top]

Power users will like these extra large boxes for entering long passage and boolean search queries.