The seventh Tab in the Master Control Panel is Bible Text Comparison.
Bible Text Comparison has four methods of comparing texts:
- Word
Level
The default method. It will mark every word that is different between the texts. - Keyword
Only lists verses where the keyword is omitted from the second text as compared to
the first. - Verse
Length
Compares the verse word count according to an entered range and marks the
different words
To use the Word Level method,
- Select
the Primary and Secondary text files using the two selection boxes.
- Enter
the reference in the Entry Box (book, chapter, or verse, see format below)
- Select
the Method you desire
- Click Compare
The results will be displayed under a Comp Tab in the Results Panel.
The only difference in the Keyword method is,
Instead of entering the reference in the Entry Box, you enter the Keyword.
For example, if you select AV-1769 as the primary text, ASV as the secondary and enter
the word Christ in the Entry Box, you will find the ASV omits Christ in 19 verses.
Hint:
To view a non-marked up verse in context, click the underlined reference at it will
display in the Bible Panel.
Note:
The Keyword method will only display omissions from the second text as
compared to the first text. The user must switch the files and make the second
text primary to reverse the comparison.
The Verse Length method will find all the verses between the texts that are equal to or
more than the number entered in the Word Range Box.
That is, if 3 is entered in the Word Range Box Bible Analyzer will compare the Secondary Text to the Primary Text and display all the verses that have a word count
difference of 3 or more.
Note:
So Bible Analyzer will count the words accurately when Verse Length is
selected, the Ignore Punctuation and Ignore Case options are checked. If the
Secondary text is the AV-1611, Ignore Spelling is checked and Ignore Compound (Words) is available.
Also, if a low number is entered in the Word Range Box, especially when a
modern version is compared with the AV, Bible Analyzer can take several
seconds to sort out the large number of differences. The time it takes is directly
proportional to the number entered. The lower the number the longer the time.
Bible Analyzer can understand most conventional book and chapter abbreviations, if
an Entry Error occurs, consult the Quick Help Tab.
To compare different sections of text, the following methods must be used:
- Gen
will compare the book Genesis
- Gen
5: will compare Genesis chapter 5
- Gen
5:5 will compare the verse
Note:
The colon (:) after the chapter is required to keep other chapters out of the
analysis. If Gen 2 without the colon is entered Bible Analyzer will also search for Gen. chapters 20, 21, and so on.
How to Read Bible Text Comparison's Display
Bible Text Comparison uses brackets, a bold font, and color coding to reveal the
differences in texts. Below is an example of Matt. 1:25 comparing the Authorized Version
1769 text and the ASV (with punctuation and case ignored),
Mat 1:25,
and knew her not till she had brought forth +a -her -firstborn son and he called
his name jesus
The Dark Red +a indicates the word a is added to the default text (here the AV).
The Dark Blue -her -firstborn shows the words her firstborn are omitted.
In short,
Dark Red = added
Dark Blue = subtracted
To view a non-marked up verse in context, click the teal colored underlined reference
(Mat 1:25), and it will display in the Bible Window Pane.
The normal black text with the dark blue is the reading of the Primary text. The
black text with the dark red is the reading of the Secondary text.
The number of differences Bible Text Comparison displays in its results is a count of
every added or subtracted word. In the example above it would show three differences.
Although this method of counting is aggressive, it is necessary to have consistent
results.
