Copyright & Bible licenses

English Standard Version® (ESV®)

How BibleBot uses the ESV: When ESV is enabled for a deployment, passage text is retrieved from Crossway’s servers using the ESV API (HTTP requests with an application API key; text is shown in the BibleBot interface, not bulk-stored as a replacement Bible module). General information about the translation: ESV.org.

Crossway describes API access as follows:

“Crossway allows you to access the ESV Bible text from our server and include it on your website or app, free of charge for non-commercial use. To learn more or register for the API, visit api.esv.org.”

Crossway’s published notice of copyright for digital works quoting the ESV reads:

“Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

Limits on copying or downloading ESV text: Crossway’s Terms of Service for ESV.org (which governs use of Crossway’s ESV-related web services) state in part:

“You may download or print information from the Website, but you may not copy or download more than 500 consecutive verses or more than one-half of any book of the Bible or their equivalent measured in bytes.”

See the full Terms of Service for definitions (including what Crossway means by the “Website”), the rest of the license grant, and other conditions.

For broader context only: Crossway’s Guide to Permissions also describes standard-use rules for quoting the ESV in print, digital, and audio formats (for example when preparing your own publications or media). Those guidelines can include additional conditions—such as how much of your overall work may consist of quoted Scripture—that are distinct from viewing passages through an API-integrated app. Consult Crossway’s site for authoritative, up-to-date wording.

Authoritative policies and permission requests: Crossway — Guide to Permissions.

World English Bible (WEB)

BibleBot’s default English translation is typically the World English Bible, served from this project’s own database copy. The WEB is widely described as a public-domain English translation; for the source project’s own statements and files, see World English Bible. BibleBot does not provide legal advice; confirm terms with the publisher or project before redistributing text yourself.

Other translations

Additional translations may appear if configured in a given deployment. Refer to the publisher or license associated with each translation in your environment.