A Bible for close reading · For iPhone and Android
Read the words behind the words.
FirstWord puts the Hebrew and Greek beneath every verse, reads the chapter aloud with you, and keeps your notes and reading progress in sync.
Coming soon to the App Store and Google Play. Free, with no subscription.
The Word Became Flesh
1aIn the beginning was bthe Word, and cthe Word was with God, and dthe Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3eAll things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4fIn him was life,1 and gthe life was the light of men.
01 / Close to the original
Every word,
one tap deeper.
See the Hebrew or Greek under the English, word by word, with its gloss, Strong’s number and grammar.
Tap a word for its lexicon entry, and every other place it appears. No second app, no browser tab, no losing your place.
Try the example: switch between the Hebrew and the Greek.
In the beginning
Two beginnings
Genesis 1:1 and the opening of John 1:1, as FirstWord lays them out.
Genesis 1:1 · Hebrew
- בְּרֵאשִׁיתIn the beginningH7225
- בָּרָאcreatedH1254
- אֱלֹהִיםGodH430
- אֵת—H853
- הַשָּׁמַיִםthe heavensH8064
- וְאֵתandH853
- הָאָרֶץthe earthH776
רֵאשִׁית · beginning, first, chief. The same word opens the Bible and names the “firstfruits” offered to God.
Opening of John 1:1 · Greek
- ἘνInG1722
- ἀρχῇbeginningG746
- ἦνwasG2258
- ὁtheG3588
- λόγοςWordG3056
λόγος · word, message; in John 1, the Word, Christ himself. John echoes Genesis: “In the beginning” is the same opening the Greek Old Testament used.
Example interlinear layout.
Read along
Press play. Keep your place.
Chapter audio follows the verse being spoken, turns the page when the chapter ends, and starts from wherever you’re reading. You can hear the Hebrew and Greek, too, down to a single word.
02 / A daily rhythm
Today’s reading.
Right where you left it.
Open FirstWord and Today has your reading, a word of the day from the Hebrew or Greek, and the verse you stopped on.
Choose from nine reading plans, from Bible in a Year, M’Cheyne and Chronological to the Gospels or Psalms in 30 days. Or follow F260, Robby Gallaty’s plan from Replicate Ministries: 260 readings through the Bible’s core storyline, five days a week, with the weekend free to catch up.
03 / See the design
The patterns were
always there.
Chiasms, wordplay and repeated sounds are easy to miss in translation. FirstWord shows you where they are.
Explore mirrored structures, puns that only work in the Hebrew, and alliteration, then save your own outlines beside the text.
Example structure, ESV with the Greek beneath.
Everything in one place
A study desk
in your pocket.
Search
Find the verse you half remember
Search by the words you remember or by what a passage is about—“God’s faithfulness when we doubt.”
Notes
Your margins, kept
Notes, highlights, bookmarks and tags stay private and sync across your devices through iCloud.
Cross-references
Scripture explaining Scripture
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge cross-references, Nave’s topics, and parallel passages side by side.
Lexicons
The scholars on the shelf
Hebrew and Greek lexicon entries, morphology and proper names, available without a connection.
Compare
More than one translation
Read verses side by side with the Septuagint and other translations to see what each one chose.
Insight
Help that shows its work
Optional AI insights point you to real verses you can read and check, and always name the model that answered.
No subscription
Free to read.
Free forever.
- Interlinear Hebrew and Greek
- Lexicons and cross-references
- Read-along audio
- Reading plans and Today
- Notes, highlights and tags
- Private iCloud sync on iPhone
- Chiasms, wordplay and structure
- Works offline
FirstWord has no paid tier. On iPhone, your notes and reading progress stay in your own iCloud account.
A few things to know
Your reading.
Your notes.
Does it work offline?
Yes. The Bible text, interlinear data and lexicons are stored on your phone, so you can read and study without a connection. On iPhone, notes sync through your private iCloud when you’re back online.
Why is it free?
FirstWord was built to be read, not to be sold. There’s no subscription and no plan to add one.
Do I need to know Hebrew or Greek?
Not at all. Every original word shows its English gloss beneath it, and a tap explains the rest. Read in English; go deeper whenever a word catches your eye. A gloss is a starting point. The surrounding passage decides what a word means.
Who can see my notes?
Only you. Notes, highlights and reading progress live on your device and, on iPhone, in your own iCloud account. FirstWord has no server that stores them.
Do I have to use the AI features?
No. Reading, study tools, notes and plans all work without them. When you do use them, answers point to verses you can open and read for yourself, and name the model that answered. Insights help you find and compare passages. They aren’t a teacher or a substitute for your church.
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Psalm 34:8
Coming soon to the App Store and Google Play. For iPhone (iOS 18 or later) and Android.