Canonical Scripture Source
Bible text and audio are provided by Crossway through the ESV API.
Mission Statement
Helping people read, hear, and follow Scripture.
BibleHighlights.com exists to make Scripture easier to follow by pairing the English Standard Version text with spoken audio and synchronized highlighting. The first completed chapter is John 3.
Current Project Status
John chapter 3 is the first completed demo.
BibleHighlights.com is still in an early stage. At this time, I have completed John chapter 3 as the first working chapter with ESV text, ESV audio, timing metadata, and synchronized highlighting.
Each additional chapter requires alignment work, timing review, metadata storage, testing, and ongoing infrastructure. If this project is useful to you, support through Ko-fi helps me continue building more chapters.
About the project
What is BibleHighlights.com?
BibleHighlights.com is a free website that allows users from around the world to read the Bible in the English Standard Version (ESV). The site uses Bible text and audio provided by Crossway through the ESV API, and stores metadata to synchronize audio playback with highlighted Bible text as it is read aloud.
We do not sell products or services. Donations through Ko-fi are optional and help cover hosting, storage, and infrastructure costs.
How it works
The layers behind BibleHighlights.com
The project combines Scripture access, audio delivery, timing metadata, and a custom highlighting experience.
Alignment & Timing Layer
Metadata is stored so the spoken audio can be connected to the correct words in the Bible text.
Presentation Layer
The reading experience is built with React and Next.js to present Scripture, footnotes, audio, and highlighting together.
Streaming Layer
Audio is delivered through the BibleHighlights.com player and supporting infrastructure.
Highlight Synchronization Engine
As the ESV audio is read aloud, the matching Bible text is highlighted in real time.
Why support helps
Keeping BibleHighlights.com free and available
Donations help support the ongoing infrastructure needed to keep BibleHighlights.com online, including hosting, database storage, audio delivery, development, maintenance, and related project costs.
BibleHighlights.com is intended to remain free to use. Support is appreciated, but never required.
Donate on Ko-fi