ESV Global Study Bible is excellent, easy-to-use, and free online. With this tool, you can quickly do basic research on a Bible passage. It offers many explanations and helps you to compare Scripture with Scripture.


Getting Started

1. Go to ESV Bible: www.esvbible.org/Genesis+1/

2. Bookmark this link in your browser so you can use ESV Bible anytime.

3. Click Global Study Bible in the right-hand column underneath the 'Study Bibles' heading.



5. When you have clicked the Global Study Bible App, a new column will appear on the right side of your screen. This column offers various items about the Bible book you are looking at, plus explanations for verses in the particular chapter you are reading. You can scroll down the right column to see more notes about that chapter. 


Studying a Passage
Let's use Matthew 7:1-6 as a sample passage to study.
Type Matthew 7 in the search box found in the upper right corner of the screen and hit enter/return. (You can also enter a word or phrase in this search box to find everywhere the word/phrase appears in the Bible.)



Reading explanations

1. In the right column there is a link titled Introduction to Matthew. You can click this if you want a quick overview of the book.

2. As you scroll down the right column, you see explanations of various phrases:

Matt. 7:1-2 Judge not forbids pronouncing another person guilty before God. But see note on vv. 3-5.

Matt. 7:3-5 The metaphor of a log in your own eye is an intentional overstatement (compare 5:29-30). then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. Jesus does not forbid all evaluation or judgment of others. However, only the person who feels grieved and humbled over his own sin is able to help remove the "speck" from others. What Jesus rules out is pride that views oneself as better than others.

Matt. 7:6 In the ancient world, dogs were usually scavengers, not pets (15:26-27; Ps. 59:14-15). Jews used the term to describe unclean people and enemies (1 Sam. 17:43; Ps. 22:16). Pigs were unclean according to OT law. Pearls symbolize the great value of the message of the kingdom of heaven (compare Matt. 13:45-46). Believers should wisely recognize the true character of people and not indefinitely continue proclaiming the gospel to those who keep on rejecting it (compare 10:14; Acts 13:46).

3. If you click Matthew Fact #6: Pearls, you will discover:

Fact: Pearls
Today pearls are often grown in oyster or clam farms, but this was not the case in ancient Palestine. Out of a 6,000-pound (2,700 kg) haul of oysters, one might find only three or four perfect pearls. Such priceless objects certainly shouldn't be thrown to pigs (7:6).


Such comments in Global Study Bible come from leading Bible scholars and researchers. They provide grammatical, literary, historical, and theological insights that will help you interpret a passage accurately.


Comparing Scripture With Scripture

One of the most helpful features of ESV Global Study Bible is quickly finding other statements in the Bible that are closely related to a phrase or idea in the passage you are studying.

1. Notice the small letters that appear here and there slightly above the biblical words. For example, in Matthew 7:1-2, notice the r, s, and t.

7 r "Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 s For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and t with the measure you use it will be measured to you."

2. Move your pointer/cursor to r.



3. Click on r to see some some passages in other parts of the Bible that relate to "Judge not..." The screen will show nearly identical passages in Luke where Jesus teaches this. If you scroll down, you will also see the following passages:

Romans 14:13
13 aTherefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide bnever to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.

1 Corinthians 4:5
5 Therefore qdo not pronounce judgment before the time, rbefore the Lord comes, swho will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. tThen each one will receive his commendation from God.

James 5:9
9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers, nso that you may not be judged; behold, othe Judge is standing pat the door.

4. In Matthew 7:2, ESV says: 2 s For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged.
Move your pointer/cursor to the s and click. You will see several related passages.



A big part of exegesis is exploring statements in other parts of the Bible that may shed light on a statement in the passage you are studying. ESV Global Study Bible is a huge help in doing this.

Now that you have a sense of how to use Global Study Bible, do some exploring and clicking around to become more familiar with the various features.


Last modified: Monday, June 19, 2023, 10:47 AM