4 Ways to Share Bible Verses with Shorter URLs
To follow up on the previous blog post about short URLs for sharing websites, and to be more Bible-centric with URLs, here are 4 URL shorteners made just for sharing Bible verses:
bib.ly
Description: bib.ly is a tiny website that helps you easily create links to Bible verses like this one: http://bib.ly/Ez9.11. Most Bible reference links take visitors to a specific Bible website (youversion.com, biblia.com, etc.). But when your friends click on a bib.ly URL, they are taken to a page that lets them choose the Bible website they prefer for reading. You can specify a translation, but they get to choose the website or software they like best.
bib.ly is more than a Bible URL shortener; it also can automatically creates Bible popups on your website when you embed its JavaScript code or use its plugin for WordPress or Drupal. Developed by John Dyer, author of From the Garden to the City: The Redeeming and Corrupting Power of Technology.
bib.ly was featured at the ChurchMag blog churchm.ag/bibly (May 2011).
esv.to
Description: Simple, short links to your favorite scripture passages in the ESV Bible (English Standard Version). esv.to is provided by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
esv.to is very flexible with whatever reference format people like to use, with the ability to parse different punctuations, even spaces, in the URL.
ref.ly
Description: Transform Bible references to short URLs. ref.ly is a service of Faithlife / Logos Bible Software and works with their online Bible.
ref.ly was featured on ChurchMag (June 2009) and on Mashable (August 2009).
wordof.gd
Described as an “one-step Bible lookup web app,” wordof.gd connects Bible references in its URL to 35 different Bible versions and translations using 3 Bible websites—biblegateway.com, youversion.com, and biblestudytools.com. Provided by Godvertiser.com.
wordof.gd was featured at the ChurchMag blog (September 2010).
These short link generators for Bible verses were developed before the new top-level domains were introduced to the Internet. Now with domain extensions like .bible and .link available (and many others), there are new possibilities to provide Bible links that are easy to share and easy to remember. URLs are no longer just links to a website destination, URLs can be a direct link to not only Bible verses but also specific Bible-related content in text, photo, audio, or video formats.
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This article is part of the blog series, 66 Ideas for .BIBLE Domain Names, with practical ideas for using .BIBLE domain names. Individuals and organizations can now register .BIBLE domain names that are more shareable, memorable, and meaningful at any accredited registrar.