Sources and method
Last updated October 22, 2026.
BibleMeanings explains selected biblical names, words, numbers, objects and passages. Each explanation separates what a source says from what a reader may infer. The selected entries do not cover every word or passage in the Bible.
The source text comes first
Passage panels reproduce the named eBible editions: King James Version eng-kjv2006 (standard 1769 text), World English Bible Classic eng-web in US spelling, and American Standard Version eng-asv (1901). We consistently select the 66-book corpus for this reference. That scope is an editorial choice, rather than a judgment on the canons of other traditions.
The edition labels matter. WEB Classic is not a generic label for every later World English Bible revision. An ASV quotation is not a quotation from a modern revision. A passage link leads to its edition and chapter; surrounding text helps preserve speaker, addressee and argument.
A square-bracket ellipsis, […], marks a source-text omission. Selected panels may show excerpts rather than every verse of a chapter; the link opens the complete edition text. Retained quoted words and their punctuation are not silently harmonized across editions.
Rights and territory
eBible identifies the WEB Classic and ASV texts as public domain. Its KJV rights notice identifies the text as public domain in the United States and notes United Kingdom restrictions. This is a US reference publication. A US public-domain status is not a claim of unrestricted rights in every territory. Check the source notice and the rules that apply to your reuse.
Historical dictionaries and lexical entries
Name readings use Hitchcock, Easton and Smith in the CrossWire modules linked beside the entries. Word studies use the original Strong Hebrew and Greek dictionaries where a specific lemma and entry ID have been checked. These are historical tools. A Strong number is a lookup key, rather than proof of a passage's only possible sense.
Short glosses remain attributed. Differences between sources remain visible. A narrative's play on a name is distinguished from a full linguistic etymology. Greek and Hebrew terms are not treated as interchangeable simply because an English edition translates both with the same word.
Explanation, inference and uncertainty
A direct textual identification is labelled as such. A contextual reading follows the local passage. A theological or symbolic inference is stated within that scope. We do not turn a recurring number into an omen, identify modern people through Revelation, or present a disputed reading as universal scholarly agreement.
Chapter pages give an ordered outline. Verse pages keep the surrounding argument in view. Symbol pages distinguish literal objects from poetic or visionary uses. A gemstone's modern name does not prove its ancient mineral species. A personal name cannot predict a later bearer's life.
Resource comparisons
Software comparisons use public maker documentation to distinguish documented features from claims about performance. They distinguish the app, the licensed books and subscription access. They do not claim hands-on testing. Features, billing and library rights can change, so the exact resource and current terms remain part of a purchase decision.
Photographs and original explanation
The still-life photographs show generic study materials. They are illustrative scenes, not evidence of an ancient artifact, an exact book edition or a tested product. The editorial explanations are newly written for this independent publication.
Corrections
Email hello@biblemeanings.net with the page URL, edition, reference and proposed correction. Include a reachable primary source where possible. A source-wording correction, a broken link and a disagreement about interpretation are different requests; identify which applies so the claim can be checked in context.