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The Bible is more than the words inscribed in ancient scrolls, bound volumes or computer screens. Translation studies, definitions, grammar and sentence diagrams tell us little about the settings, characters, their relationships and activities. Full comprehension requires a different set of tools and a new kind of database.

Download Bible Data

All of the information I have gathered to support this website and other projects is available upon request. It is structured to link every piece of information to related data. For example, a verse that mentions a person or place is tied to a record with details about that named entity. An entry in the events table links back to the verses that describe the event, the people involved, and the place where it happened. Below is an overview of what’s in the the database:

  • Books, Chapters, and Verses: The text of the King James Version of the Bible (1769 edition), linked to the writer and more details about people, places, and events described in each verse.
  • People and groups: Biographical details about unique individuals, including alternate names, birth/death place and year (if known), family relationships, and the verses that mention the person by name. Individuals who can be identified with key groups such as a tribe of Israel, the disciples, or those in Jesus’ genealogy are tagged as members of those groups.
  • Places: Geographical information derived from openbible.info/geo, augmented with classification (region, city, water, etc.) and linkage to other databases of historical places. Most locations are tagged with verse references, people who have been there, and events which occurred in that place.
  • Events: This table is suitable for building a timeline which includes dates, duration, predecessors, participants, location, and verses. Events are also grouped into higher-level periods. This table is still under construction. Old Testament event records are complete. New Testament records are still being compiled.

A detailed listing of tables, fields, and source references is located here. The formats available are: CSV, JSON, Airtable, and Neo4j. When you submit a data request form, I will reply with instructions on how to access it and answer any questions that are unique to your needs.