kjv

Display books

$ kjv -l

$ kjv [Genesis]

$ kjv [Genesis] [2]

$ kjv [John] [3]:[16]

$ kjv [Proverbs] [3]:[1-6]

$ kjv [Matthew] [1]:[7]-[2]:[6]

$ kjv /[Plagues]

$ kjv [1Jn]/[antichrist]

kjv BOOK [CHAPTER [VERSE_START [VERSE_END]]]
kjv {-s | --search} TEXT
kjv {-l | --list | -L | --long-list} [BOOK_FRAGMENT]
kjv [-v | --version | -h | --help | -i | --interactive]

BOOK
    The name or common abbreviation of a biblical book (e.g., "Gen", "Genesis", "Jn", "John").

CHAPTER
    The chapter number within the specified book. If omitted, the entire book is displayed.

VERSE_START
    The starting verse number within the chapter. If only a chapter is provided, the entire chapter is displayed.

VERSE_END
    The ending verse number. If omitted with VERSE_START, only the single starting verse is displayed. This parameter is used to display a range of verses.

-s, --search TEXT
    Searches for the specified TEXT (case-insensitive) throughout the entire Bible. The search string can be enclosed in quotes for phrases.

-l, --list [BOOK_FRAGMENT]
    Lists all biblical books if no BOOK_FRAGMENT is provided, or lists books whose names match the fragment.

-L, --long-list [BOOK_FRAGMENT]
    Similar to -l, but also displays the total number of chapters for each listed book.

-v, --version
    Displays the version information of the kjv command and exits.

-h, --help
    Displays a concise help message with syntax and common options, then exits.

-i, --interactive
    Starts kjv in an interactive prompt mode, allowing continuous input of commands and queries without re-invoking the command.

The kjv command is a dedicated command-line utility designed for quick and efficient access to the King James Version of the Bible. It enables users to display specific passages, chapters, or entire books directly within their terminal environment. Beyond simple display, kjv also provides robust search capabilities, allowing users to find specific words or phrases throughout the entire biblical text. This makes it an invaluable tool for researchers, students, or anyone needing immediate access to Bible verses without leaving the command line. Its simple syntax and direct output make it ideal for scripting or for quick reference in a console-driven workflow. Whether you need to quote a specific verse, read an entire chapter, or perform a full-text search, kjv offers a streamlined and accessible method for engaging with the King James Version.

The kjv command typically provides access solely to the King James Version of the Bible. Users requiring other translations will need a different tool.
The availability and exact feature set of kjv may vary depending on the Linux distribution and the specific package installed, as it is not a core Linux utility.

When kjv is run without any arguments (i.e., just `kjv`), it enters an interactive mode. In this mode, users can type book, chapter, or verse references directly at a prompt, or use search commands, without needing to re-type `kjv` each time. This mode is useful for extended study or browsing sessions.

kjv understands many common abbreviations for biblical books, such as 'Gen' for Genesis, 'Ex' for Exodus, 'Ps' for Psalms, 'Jn' for John, etc. This allows for quicker input when specifying passages.

The kjv command is generally part of community-maintained packages (e.g., kjv-bible on Debian/Ubuntu-based systems) rather than a core component of the Linux kernel or standard utilities. It typically originates from individual open-source projects aimed at providing a simple, console-based Bible lookup tool. Its development history is tied to specific contributors who sought to make the King James Version easily accessible from the command line, often leveraging plain text data files of the Bible.

grep(1), less(1), more(1)