NEW: Smart Bible Search
Smart Bible search gives you the ability to easily search individual Bibles for whatever you are looking for, without needing to know special syntax. Now you can use natural language to search your Bible in a brand new way, using this new mode to run searches like courageous women or care for the needy.
Smart Bible search typically finds more relevant verses faster than using Precise search and results will be shown in order of relevance rather than canonical or resource order. This search mode will also use the Smart search engine by default, unless you enter Precise search syntax (such as using an exact phrase/in quotes, query contains special syntax, or the entire query is in Greek or Hebrew).
The license for Smart Bible search is included in all subscription plans, and users without a subscription have the opportunity to try it out!
This new search mode is available on Desktop and Web today. It will be available on Mobile tomorrow.
Let us know what you think in the comments!
Comments
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I'm not seeing the smart search for Bible. Do I need to do an update?
Edit: Never mind it updated and now I see it. Thanks
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I am impressed so far
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I wrote up some thoughts on the significance of Smart Bible Search in the 40+ history of Bible study software on my personal blog today. There are a number of example searches at the end that might be helpful as you explore various ways to utilize this new search capability.
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Very nice write-up. Indeed a milestone.
"If myth is ideology in narrative form, then scholarship is myth with footnotes." B. Lincolm 1999.
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I am not seeing the "smart search"…….am I missing something? (Ran update + restarted) On Mac 37.2.12
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I am not seeing the "smart search"…….am I missing something? (Ran update + restarted) On Mac 37.2.12
This feature is only available in v40 of the Logos engine (which shipped today).
v37 is quite old; are you running a supported version of macOS (macOS 13 or later) that can run the latest version of Logos?
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@Phil Gons (Logos)
Hey Phil,Loved your "New Era of Searching the Bible" piece—February 2025’s got a gem!These AI search tools you’re raving about are incredible, going way beyond basic word hunts to tackle emotions, theology, and intertextual links fast. It’s a game-changer for biblical theology—think word patterns and allusions filtered through an intuitive lens. That Jesus compassion example? Brilliant. It’s like the Bible’s layers come alive effortlessly. You’re spot on: this isn’t just tech—it’s deep discovery, amplifying our wrestle with Scripture. How do you see it shaping my study of a passage or theme? Great stuff, man!Cheers,
…
These AI search tools are blowing my mind, racing through theology, patterns, and allusions faster than I can say “amen.” It’s like the Bible’s secrets are unfolding at warp speed. Here’s the funny part: scholars from the pre-AI days would be green with envy, watching us zip through PhDs and Master’s in theology with an AI sidekick—zip, zap, dissertation done! Who needs coffee-fueled all-nighters when you’ve got this making life easy? They’d probably roll over in their library stacks, muttering, “Back in my day, we had to lug 50 books and a prayer!”
Titles impress people, obedience impresses God.
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Well written article Phil with some good examples and warnings. Bible smart search with Logos data sets is really a great tool.
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I just searched for "the angel of the lord as a Christophany" and it gave some great results. One of them was Joshua 5:13-15, a passage that never specifically mentions an angel, and the only indication that the man Joshua meets might be God is that Joshua is told to take off his sandals because he's standing on holy ground. Pretty amazing.
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Nice.
Seen the previous post, I was wondering how / where it would be noted if the export to a Passage List from Smart Bible Search will be possible.
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That might be it……I just updated my work pc and see smart search there. Man is it good! Well done and thank you!
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This is extremely useful to me. I'm very impressed at how well it works, considering it was only just released. So far it has given me everything I've looked for, even though I'm giving it some difficult queries. To have a little fun, I searched for my most recent query in ChatGPT as well:
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This is an excellent use of AI to enhance searchability and that does not use AI as substitute to spiritual work. Well done and thank you!
@Phil Gons (Logos) will you also be posting in the forum not just the link to your blog but a list of distilled points (usage examples, current limitations)? This would give greater visibility and searchability to this content on the forum.
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A couple questions:
- There are definite advantages to searching the Bible in Bible search rather than in Book search. Aside from the clear formatting advantages, is this otherwise the exact same search (i.e., same results) or have new tweaks have been added? I notice for instance, the mention of finding related or "at odds" verses.
- As more features are made AI dependent, will the AI monthly limit per subscription tier be adjusted?
- At this stage of development, is Bible Smart Search a suitable replacement for using topic, theme or counseling themes searches or not quite yet?
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- Smart Search and Smart Bible Search work very differently. Smart Bible Search should give far superior results if you want Bible verses.
- We're monitoring AI usage. It doesn't seem to be an issue right now.
- I think that Bible Smart Search is a suitable replacement for using topic, theme, or counseling themes, especially if you want the most relevant verses rather than all the verses. In fact, in my experience, it often outperforms those manually created datasets.
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It only list about 15 passage results and then you have to keep on clicking more. Can you list all the results at once and can they be in canonical order?
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Does the AI use the Logos data sets such as People, Places, Things or Events or Speaker Labels?
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This is not possible, because Smart Bible search works differently than Precise Bible search. Smart search will try to list the most relevant passages first, while Precise search will list the results in canonical order. Also, Smart search does not have a specific number of results as does Precise search. It simply becomes less and less relevant as you generate more results and scroll down.
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I searched the CSB for "pericopes that mention hubris" and it gave me pericopes. I searched for "verses that mention hubris" and it gave me verses. Even though the word "hubris" is never used in the CSB. I really love this new feature.
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This is a true game-changer. I've been using it on the Beta for awhile and it is fantastic.
Macbook Air (2024), Apple M2, 16gb Ram, Mac Sequoia, 1TB storage
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@Francis …is this otherwise the exact same search (i.e., same results) or have new tweaks have been added? I notice for instance, the mention of finding related or "at odds" verses.
Smart Bible Search gives specific answers to queries like Provide examples of personification in Revelation (and the same for hyperbole, image, metaphor).
Dave
===Windows 11 & Android 13
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Wow Awesome 👏 The future is looking bright! Let’s keep praying for fine tuning older features and improving the newer ones!
DAL
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Is this working on mobile now for anyone?
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v40 Stable has not yet been released on mobile, but that is likely to change very soon.
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My 10 prompts in Logos Smart Bible Search.
Logos Smart Bible Search can sometimes struggle with longer prompts, even though it’s built for natural language. Shorter, punchier queries might hit the mark better. Refine them to 2-5 words, keeping the exegetical depth and intertextual focus inspired by (for example) Dr. G.K Beale’s approach. These will trace patterns, allusions, and thematic growth across Scripture, staying concise to play nice with Smart Search.
Here are my 10 prompts:
- "Seed to Messiah"
- Genesis 3:15 to Galatians 3:16.
- "Stone becomes Christ"
- Psalm 118:22 to 1 Peter 2:6.
- "God’s dwelling grows"
- Exodus 25:8 to John 1:14.
- "Abraham’s covenant echoes"
- Genesis 12:3 to Galatians 3:8.
- "Shepherd turns king"
- Ezekiel 34:11 to John 10:11.
- "Rest from Sabbath"
- Genesis 2:2 to Hebrews 4:9.
- "Serpent to Satan"
- Genesis 3:1 to Revelation 12:9.
- "New creation unfolds"
- Isaiah 65:17 to Revelation 21:1.
- "Servant to cross"
- Isaiah 53:5 to Mark 10:45.
- "Glory in temple"
- Exodus 40:34 to Ephesians 2:21.
Why These Fit
- Short but Sharp: 2-4 words keep it digestible for Smart Search, focusing on key terms or concepts.
- Beale’s Criteria: They lean on unique words ("seed," "stone"), recurrence (e.g., "shepherd" across Ezekiel and John), and thematic coherence (e.g., "rest" from Genesis to Hebrews).
- Intertextual: Each bridges Old and New Testament, tracing seeds growing into trees.
Titles impress people, obedience impresses God.
4 - "Seed to Messiah"
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I am thrilled with this new feature. Many thanks to all who worked hard to make it a reality.
As I was testing it, I put in "pray for leaders." I was expecting to get 1 Tim 2:1-2 as a result and, of course, it was the first one returned. What I was not expecting was Psalm 72:1 which does not use the words "leader" or "pray." However, the verse is clearly Solomon interceding for the royal family. It is exactly this type of gem that I would have probably not found otherwise without this search feature. (At least without putting much more effort into it than I was planning.) Thank you Logos!
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So in the original post when Anna said it would be available on mobile “tomorrow” is that referring to the beta?
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So in the original post when Anna said it would be available on mobile “tomorrow” is that referring to the beta?
The stable release is available now (in the UK) - at least on iOS
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v40 & Smart search are available now also on Android, so you should be able to use it.
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I'm not seeing smart search on my ipad or iphone yet.
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I'm not seeing smart search on my ipad or iphone yet.
What version of the app do you have?
And what part of the world are you in?
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What version are you running on these devices? You may need to update from the App store.
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I am in USA and there is no update in the app store.39.02
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Nevermind, it wasn't showing where most of the other updates for apps show up, but when I clicked on the app to go to the app page, it showed the update there.
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If the app hasn't yet updated automatically, you should be able to trigger an update by visiting the App Store and finding the Logos app or visiting the Updates section.
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Now that v 40 is released I've been able to try out Smart Bible Search. So far, it's very helpful! I understand why the Smart Bible Search would default to
relevance rankingof results. However, there are certainly times when I'd like to use the excellent natural language power of Smart Bible Search but then have the search results placed in canonical order. I realize that I can switch to Precise Bible Search and use the "Passages" option, but then I lose the natural language function.Yes, I would like to have my cake and eat it, too 😊. Are you able to add sort order options such as "Passages" (or "Canonical Order") and "Relevance" to the results panel, to the left of the "Add Versions" button, just like it is arranged in the Precise Search results panel? That would be the best of both worlds!
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Remember that a smart search doesn't have an overall count because it does not know all the search results, only the results it has returned. Therefore, any return in passage list sequence would be provisional … until you asked for the next chunck of results.
Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."
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The version 40 announcement today (Feb 27) indicated non-subscribers would be able to try Smart Bible Search. The announcement was not clear if it was a limited trial (e.g. 30 days or 100 queries), or if it would be available permanently. I'm assuming making Smart Bible Search available to non-subscribers is a way entice them to subscribe. Since these searches are limited to Bibles, maybe Logos can run them on in-house hardware inexpensively rather than out-sourcing the AI. That would be a big benefit for people who otherwise wouldn't use AI.
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You get 3 free tries per month, as an unsubscriber. Like remembering your security code.
And the sophistication of the results suggests significant 3rd party training.
"If myth is ideology in narrative form, then scholarship is myth with footnotes." B. Lincolm 1999.
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It’s now on iPhone 📲 Yes 🙌
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I tried the search. Before I could figure out what was going on, I had used them up. Poof, gone. Oh, well.
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I was thinking today with the smart Bible search and the smart regular book search, maybe a future idea is a smart media search? One of my biggest gripes is finding charts and images I know are in there but I can’t seem to find them.
:)
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Excellent question. After you're question, I decided to create a window (in my big layout) of my best maps/charts, maybe 25 or so, and grouped. I tagged them for searching. And added a search bar just for those maps. Refreshingly better than Factbook (no clue as to book) and Media Search (miscellaneously organized).
That said, my new idea is like a very poor bandaid. A smart search specifically for media really is needed.
"If myth is ideology in narrative form, then scholarship is myth with footnotes." B. Lincolm 1999.
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After you're question, I decided to create a window (in my big layout) of my best maps/charts, maybe 25 or so, and grouped. I tagged them for searching. And added a search bar just for those maps.
That sounds good. Would you care to share a screenshot? And how do you tag maps that are included in books?
See here for similar vote.
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Well, I wouldn't brag about my design … another thread (Matillo to Phil, I think) noted how media searches are pretty iffy. Ergo need a smart media search. But I'm not even sure how that'd be possible … as you mention, tags are needed. Or at least an image explanation nearby. Obviously, I can't solve either! Presumably AI could examine simpler imagery for sermons.
What I did, was group my atlas's in a 4-panel window (a panel for basic atlas's, 2 panels for Carta's Understanding OT/NT, and then a panel for specialty atlas's). I tagged all the participating resources, so a search panel (far left) can show me which atlas has possible info I want. In the example below, I was wanting the period around Egypt being north of the hill country (Beth-Sheen being most east).
The basic problem in Logos, is that tagging is incomplete. Tagging in terribly basic. And thus, presentation is random. I like nice and organized.
"If myth is ideology in narrative form, then scholarship is myth with footnotes." B. Lincolm 1999.
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Thank you very much, @DMB !
Setting up a similar layout with my resources, I discovered that there are some maps e.g. in the ESV Global Study Bible, too.
And it seems that not all spellings of the name given by you ("beth-shean") yield identical results - which reminds me of @MJ. Smith' last post about hebrew calender names.
Now I'd have to make a similar layout for all pictures…
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Yes .. spellings are a problem! Mainly I just try to get in the ballpark, and then scroll around. I didn't know the Beth-sheen mound was that high.
We probably need to return to 'Smart Search'!
"If myth is ideology in narrative form, then scholarship is myth with footnotes." B. Lincolm 1999.
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Indeed, Smart Search with "Place:Bet-Schean" comes up with a lot of maps (not so Smart Search with only "Bet-Schean", this results in text mainly).
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@NichtnurBibelleser Indeed, Smart Search with "Place:Bet-Schean" comes up with a lot of maps (not so Smart Search with only "Bet-Schean", this results in text mainly).
The results from your Ort:Bet-Schean query come from a Precise Search (watch for the Popup message that tells you it has switched to Precise). Text is what you expect from Smart Search.
In English UI Beth-shean is the map name, but Logos does not recognise Place:Beth-shean. And "Place:Beth-shean" (with quote marks) is recognised as an ALL Smart Search query, but is not as productive as Beth-shean.
OTOH, Place:Beth-shan is recognised and often finds Beth-shean on maps, but the two are not treated identically.
Dave
===Windows 11 & Android 13
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@Dave Hooton, thanks for chiming in. Given that Scythopolis is an other name for Bet-Schean (see middle column), shouldn't be Ort:Scythopolis (or Ort:Skythopolis) be known by search (other than shown in the right column) ?
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