AI Bible Study Assistant

AndBible includes a built-in AI assistant that can translate, explain, summarize, annotate, and perform word studies on Bible text. It works by sending selected text to an external AI provider and displaying the result directly in the app.

Note

The AI assistant requires an internet connection and an API key from a supported provider. Usage may incur costs depending on your chosen provider and model.

Warning

When you use an AI prompt, the selected text is sent to your chosen external AI provider for processing. Do not use this feature with content you wish to keep private.

Getting Started

Choosing a Provider

AndBible supports a range of AI providers, including:

• Google Gemini – Google’s AI models. Has a generous free tier; a good starting point.

• OpenAI (ChatGPT) – The company behind ChatGPT.

• Anthropic (Claude) – Maker of the Claude family of models.

• xAI (Grok) – AI models from xAI.

• Mistral – European AI provider with efficient models.

• DeepSeek – Cost-effective models with strong multilingual capabilities.

• Groq – Extremely fast inference with open-source models.

• Alibaba Cloud (Qwen) – Multilingual models.

• OpenRouter – Aggregator that provides access to models from many providers through a single API key.

• Custom – Connect to any OpenAI- or Anthropic-compatible API endpoint (self-hosted or other providers).

The list of providers and the available models for each one is maintained inside the app. To see the exact, up-to-date list, open AI Settings > Configure Connection > Add provider.

If you are new to AI services, Google Gemini is a good starting point because it offers a free usage tier that is sufficient for casual use.

Getting an API Key

To use the AI assistant, you need an API key from your chosen provider:

1. Visit the provider’s API key console (AndBible provides direct links in the setup screen).

2. Create an account if you don’t have one.

3. Generate a new API key.

4. Copy the key – you will paste it into AndBible.

Note

API keys are stored securely on your device. They are never included in backups or synchronized to the cloud.

Adding a Provider

1. Open the top left main menu (☰).

2. Tap AI Settings.

3. Tap Configure Connection.

4. Tap Add provider.

5. Select your provider from the list.

6. Paste your API key.

7. Choose a model (a sensible default is pre-selected).

8. Tap Save.

The first provider you add becomes the default. You can change this later.

Multiple Providers

You can configure multiple providers simultaneously. This is useful if you want to use a cheaper model for simple tasks (like translation) and a more capable model for complex tasks (like word studies).

The first provider is used by default. Individual prompts can be configured to use a specific provider, overriding the default.

Available Models

AndBible ships with a built-in list of recommended models for each provider. For providers that publish a public model catalogue, AndBible also fetches the current list automatically the first time a provider is set up through the Easy Setup wizard, so newly released models become available without an app update.

In the AI Models screen you can also:

• Add a custom model – Type a model name manually if you want to use a model that is not in the built-in or fetched list.

• Set the default model – Choose which model is used when a prompt doesn’t specify its own.

Note

Not every provider supports model listing. For those that do not, the built-in list and manually added models are the only options.

Using AI Prompts

Prompts are instructions that tell the AI what to do with your selected text. AndBible comes with several built-in prompts and allows you to create your own.

Built-in Prompts

AndBible includes a set of built-in prompts. They are organised into three categories.

Study prompts

These prompts focus on understanding and analysing Bible text. Most of them are Bible-only, meaning they only appear when the active document is a Bible.

Explain Verses

Explains the meaning, context, and theological significance of the selected verses, grounded in the available commentaries.

Explain Verses (Study Pad)

Like Explain Verses, but builds a Study Pad with a structured verse-by-verse explanation, bookmarks, key themes, and an application section.

Word Study

Analyzes the original Hebrew or Greek words in the selected text, providing definitions, usage patterns, and dictionary entries.

Cross-References

Finds and explains Bible passages related to the selected verses.

Compare Translations

Shows how different installed Bible translations render the same passage.

Thematic Study

Builds a Study Pad with passages and notes around the central theme of the selected verses.

Notes prompts

These prompts help create and improve notes and study material.

Bookmark Annotate

Creates a bookmark with an AI-generated study note for the selected verses.

Enhance Note

Improves the grammar, clarity, and readability of an existing bookmark note. This prompt rewrites the note text in place (see Text transformation prompts below).

Study Layout

Opens commentary and parallel translation windows for further study of the selected passage.

General prompts

These prompts work on any document type, not only Bibles.

Translate

Translates the selected text into the language your app interface is set to. If a translation in that language is already installed, it can use it directly instead of generating a new translation. The prompt name in the menu shows the actual target language, e.g. “Translate to Finnish”. This is a text-transformation prompt (see below).

Summary

Creates a concise summary of the selected text.

Ask Question

Lets you ask a free-form question about the selected passage.

Custom Prompt

Runs a free-form, one-off instruction on the selected passage without creating a saved custom prompt.

Workspace Assistant

Manages windows on your behalf: it can create, close, rearrange and change documents in the current workspace based on your instructions.

Prompt Categories

Prompts are organised into categories (Study, Notes, General). Categories control how prompts are grouped in the AI Actions menus and in AI Settings.

You can:

• Create your own categories for custom prompts.

• Move custom prompts between categories.

• Hide an entire category (including its prompts) from the AI Actions menus – useful for parking your own work-in-progress prompts out of the way.

Built-in prompts are pre-assigned to the appropriate categories and cannot be moved.

Special Prompt Behaviors

Some prompts behave differently from the default “ask a question, get an answer” pattern.

Bible-only prompts

Many study-oriented prompts (like Explain Verses, Cross-References or Word Study) only appear when the active document is a Bible. They are hidden in commentaries, dictionaries and other documents because their templates assume Bible text.

Text-transformation prompts

A few prompts replace text instead of producing a separate result:

• Translate – replaces (or augments) the selected text with its translation.

• Enhance Note – rewrites the existing bookmark note in place.

When you run a text-transformation prompt, the result is written back to the source rather than shown as a new AI document.

Tool restrictions

Each prompt declares which tools it is allowed (or denied) to use. For example, Summary uses no tools at all, while Explain Verses is limited to Bible-reading tools. This means the same AI provider may have fewer tools available in one prompt than in another – this is intentional and helps each prompt stay focused.

Where Prompts Appear

AI prompts are available in several places throughout the app. Each prompt is configured to appear in the contexts where it is most useful. In menus they are typically grouped under an AI Actions submenu.

AI Text Processing (document display)

Process an entire chapter or document through AI. Enable by selecting an AI Text Processing prompt in the window’s text display settings. The result replaces the document view.

Verse selection

When you tap a verse and the verse action dialog appears, available AI prompts are shown as action buttons.

Text selection

When you select text by long-pressing and dragging, AI prompts appear in the selection menu, under AI Actions.

Window menu

Long-press the window button at the bottom of the screen to open the window popup menu. AI prompts are listed under AI Actions.

Workspace menu

AI prompts also appear in the workspace toolbar’s three-dot menu, under AI Actions.

Note editor

When editing a bookmark note, AI prompts can assist with writing.

Running a Prompt

Example: Explaining a verse

1. Tap a verse to open the verse action dialog.

2. Tap the Explain Verses button.

3. The AI processes your request and displays the result.

Example: Using AI Text Processing for a whole chapter

1. Long-press the window button at the bottom of the screen.

2. Tap Text Options, then All Text Options.

3. Under the AI Text Processing section, select a prompt (e.g. Translate).

4. The entire chapter is processed through the selected prompt.

Example: Word study on selected text

1. Long-press a word in the Bible text to start a text selection.

2. Extend the selection if needed.

3. Tap Word Study from the context menu.

The Agent Log

When an AI prompt runs, a log panel shows the progress in real time. You can see:

• Which tools the AI is calling (e.g. reading verses, looking up dictionaries)

• Permission requests for write operations

• Token usage and estimated cost

You can cancel a running prompt at any time by tapping the cancel button.

AI Tools

AI prompts can use tools – specialized functions that let the AI read data from your app or make changes. This is what allows the AI to look up cross- references, search your Bible, read your bookmarks, and more.

Read Tools

Read tools retrieve information without making any changes. They run without asking — there is no runtime permission prompt for them. If you want to keep a read tool away from the AI, disable it instead (globally or for a single prompt) using the tool list described under Permissions. For example, you can keep prompts from reading your bookmarks by disabling the bookmark read tools either globally or just for that one prompt.

• Read verse content – Retrieve the text of any verse or chapter from any installed Bible translation.

• Search Bible – Search for verses containing specific keywords.

• Read commentaries – Look up commentary on specific verses from installed commentary modules.

• Look up dictionary entry – Look up entries in installed dictionaries and lexicons (e.g. Strong’s, Robinson’s).

• Get bookmarks for verse – Retrieve your bookmarks at a specific verse.

• Get bookmarks with label – Get all bookmarks assigned to a specific label.

• List all labels – Get a list of all your labels.

• Read study pad content – Read entries from a study pad.

• Search study pads – Search study pad entries by keyword.

• List installed documents – Get a list of installed Bibles, commentaries, and dictionaries.

Write Tools

Write tools can create or modify data in your app. They are subject to the Permissions system: each write operation either runs after asking you (the default), follows a saved permission decision, or is blocked entirely by a per-tool override.

• Create bookmark – Create a new bookmark at a verse, optionally with a note.

• Add bookmark note – Add a note to an existing bookmark.

• Update bookmark note – Modify an existing bookmark’s note.

• Create label – Create a new label for organizing bookmarks and study pads.

• Add label to bookmark – Assign a label to a bookmark.

• Add study pad entry – Add a text entry to a study pad.

• Set document title – Set the title for an AI-generated document.

• Open study pad – Complete the task and open a specified study pad.

• Finish without document – End the task without producing a document (for action-only prompts that create bookmarks, etc.).

Tip

You can view all available tools and their descriptions directly in the app by opening the Available tools menu item in the prompt editor.

Available Data and Documents

The AI agent can access a wide range of data through its tools. Understanding what data is available helps you write more effective prompts.

Installed Bible Modules

The AI has access to all installed modules on your device:

• Bible translations – Any installed Bible version (e.g. KJV, ESV, NIV). The AI can read and compare text across multiple translations.

• Commentaries – All installed commentary modules. The AI can look up commentary entries for specific verses.

• Dictionaries and lexicons – Including Strong’s concordance, Robinson’s morphological codes, and any other installed dictionary modules. These allow in-depth word studies.

Tip

The more modules you have installed, the richer data the AI can work with. Installing additional commentaries, dictionaries, and translations gives the AI more resources for answering your questions.

Cross-Referencing Capabilities

The AI can combine information from multiple sources in a single response:

• Translation comparison – Compare how different Bible versions render the same passage.

• Commentary + dictionary integration – Read a verse, look up commentary, then look up individual words in a lexicon – all in one prompt.

• Word studies – Follow a chain from a verse to its Strong’s numbers to dictionary definitions to find the original meaning.

• Bible text search – Search for verses containing specific keywords across installed translations.

Your Personal Data

The AI can also access your personal study data:

• Bookmarks – Find bookmarks at specific verses or by label.

• Labels – List all your labels for organizing and filtering.

• Notes – Read bookmark notes you have written.

• Study pads – Read and search study pad content.

Writing Effective Prompts

To get the most out of the AI agent, mention the specific actions you want it to perform. The AI uses its tools based on your instructions.

Refer to capabilities by name:

• “Look up what Matthew Henry’s commentary says about this verse”

• “Search for all verses mentioning ‘grace’ in KJV”

• “Find the Strong’s dictionary entry for the main Greek word in this verse”

• “Check my bookmarks with the ‘Study’ label”

Combine multiple tools:

• “Compare this verse in KJV, ESV, and NIV, then look up the commentary”

• “Read this passage, look up the key Greek words in Strong’s dictionary, and summarize the findings in a study pad”

Specify the output format:

• “Create a study pad with a verse-by-verse analysis”

• “Add a bookmark note summarizing the cross-references”

• “Give a brief answer without creating any documents”

Ask for sources:

• “Include verse references for all claims”

• “Cite which commentary or dictionary you are quoting”

Permissions

Write tools require your permission before the AI can use them. This ensures the AI cannot modify your data without your knowledge.

Note

Read tools never ask for runtime permission. If you want to keep a read tool away from the AI, disable it entirely — either globally in Default tool settings or for one prompt in the prompt editor. Write tools have a separate runtime permission system, described below.

Permission Modes

There are four permission modes:

Always ask (default)

The AI asks for your permission every time it wants to use a write tool. A dialog shows what the tool will do and lets you approve or deny.

Ask once per run

The AI asks permission the first time it uses a write tool during a prompt run. After you approve, subsequent write operations in the same run proceed without asking.

Allow all

All write operations are allowed automatically without asking. Use this only if you fully trust the prompt.

Deny all

All write operations are denied automatically. The AI can only read data.

Setting Permissions

Permissions can be configured at three levels, with finer levels overriding coarser ones:

1. Global default – In AI Settings > Configure Connection > Manage tool permissions. This sets the default permission mode for all prompts.

2. Per-prompt – When editing a custom prompt, you can set a permission mode that overrides the global default for that prompt only.

3. Per-tool override – In the same tool permissions dialog, you can force individual write tools to Always allow or Always deny regardless of the current permission mode. Per-tool overrides are useful when you trust certain operations (e.g. creating bookmarks) but want to keep approving others manually.

Custom Prompts

Creating a Custom Prompt

You can create your own prompts for specialized tasks:

1. Open the top left main menu (☰).

2. Tap AI Settings.

3. Tap the + button.

4. Fill in the prompt details:

   • Name – A short name shown in menus.

   • Description – What the prompt does (shown in the prompt list).

   • Template – The instructions sent to the AI. This is the core of your prompt.

   • Contexts – Where this prompt should appear (verse selection, text selection, window menu, etc.).

   • Provider and model – Optionally override which provider and model to use for this prompt.

5. Tap Save.

Editing Built-in Prompts

Built-in prompts cannot be modified directly. To customize one:

1. Open the built-in prompt you want to modify.

2. Use the Copy to customize option.

3. Edit the copy as needed and save.

Prompt Template Tips

• Be specific – Clearly describe what you want the AI to do and what format the output should be in.

• Mention tools – If you want the AI to look up commentaries or dictionaries, mention it in the prompt. For example: “Look up relevant commentary entries to support your explanation.”

• Define the output format – Specify whether you want bullet points, paragraphs, a table, or other formats.

• Set the language – If you want output in a specific language, say so explicitly.

Sharing Prompts (CSV)

Custom prompts can be exported and imported as CSV files, making it easy to share your prompts with other AndBible users:

• Export – From the prompt list, use the export option to save your custom prompts to a CSV file.

• Import – Use the import option to load prompts from a CSV file. You will be asked whether to import the file as a normal CSV import (the prompts become regular, editable custom prompts) or as an add-on prompt pack (see below).

Add-on Prompt Packs

In addition to importing prompts directly into your prompt list, you can install prompt packs as add-on modules. When a CSV is imported as an add-on:

• Prompts from the pack appear in your prompt list with an add-on badge showing where they came from.

• The prompts are read-only – you cannot edit them, but you can copy them to customize.

• Removing the add-on module removes all its prompts at once.

• Add-on prompts are not synchronized via cloud sync; the underlying CSV file lives with the add-on module.

This is useful for distributing curated prompt collections (for example study packages produced by a third party) without polluting your personal prompt list with prompts you cannot easily remove later.

Cost Tracking

AndBible tracks token usage and provides estimated costs for each provider:

• Token counts – Input tokens (text sent to the AI), output tokens (text received), and prompt-cache tokens (when the provider’s own prompt caching kicks in) are tracked separately.

• Estimated cost – Calculated based on each model’s published pricing.

• Per-provider breakdown – Each configured provider shows its own usage and cost.

• Reset – You can reset the usage counters at any time.

View cost tracking in AI Settings > Configure Connection under the Usage section.

Note

Cost estimates are approximate. Always check your provider’s billing dashboard for actual charges.

Cloud Sync

When Cloud Sync is enabled, the following AI data is synchronized between your devices:

• Synced:

  • Custom prompts (including their categories and per-prompt settings)

  • Prompt categories (built-in and user-created)

  • Provider configurations (provider type, endpoint, configured models)

  • Default model selection and other global AI settings

  • Usage and cost statistics

• Not synced:

  • API keys – these remain on each device for security

API keys are intentionally left out of sync. You need to enter your API key separately on each device. Add-on prompt packs are also not synced through this mechanism – they come with the add-on module they live in.

Tips and Troubleshooting

Recommended Setup for Beginners

1. Start with Google Gemini – it has a free tier that is sufficient for trying out the AI features.

2. Try the Explain Verses prompt first – tap a verse and select it from the verse action dialog.

3. Keep the permission mode set to Always ask until you are comfortable with how the AI uses tools.

Reducing Costs

• Use a smaller, cheaper model for simple tasks like translation.

• Use a more capable (and expensive) model only for complex tasks like word studies.

• Configure multiple providers and assign them to specific prompts.

Common Issues

“API key invalid” or authentication errors

Double-check that your API key is entered correctly. Visit your provider’s console to verify the key is active.

Slow responses or timeouts

AI responses can take several seconds, especially for longer passages or complex prompts. Check your internet connection if responses consistently fail.

Unexpected or low-quality results

Try a more capable model, or refine your prompt to be more specific about what you want. Different models have different strengths.

Higher costs than expected

Check which model you are using – larger models cost significantly more. Review the cost tracking in AI Settings to identify which prompts consume the most tokens. Consider switching to a smaller model for routine tasks.