TBS Scripture Tagger
Automatically converts plain-text Bible references into interactive links with hoverable verse previews from The Bible Says.
Consider an alternative
TBS Scripture Tagger shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. Was last updated 8 months ago, and scores 36/100 on our health check.
- Small user base (<10 active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- Only tested up to WordPress 6.9 (latest is 7.1)
How does it stack up?
Side-by-side on installs, updates, ratings & supportDaily downloads
Download spikes usually follow a new release — each site that auto-updates counts as a download.
Rankings
Where TBS Scripture Tagger stands todayWordPress.org search rankings
Live position in the plugin search, top 100| Keyword | Position |
|---|---|
| bible | #45 |
| references | >100 |
| scripture | #10 |
| theology | #4 |
| tooltip | >100 |
About TBS Scripture Tagger
From the official readme · v1.0.3Description
TBS Scripture Tagger scans your website content and transforms plain-text Bible references (like “John 3:16” or “Genesis 1:1”) into interactive links.
When users hover or tap on a reference, a clean tooltip appears with the verse text retrieved directly from The Bible Says API.
This plugin is inspired by tools like Blue Letter Bible’s ScriptTagger, but fully optimized for modern browsers and multilingual usage (English, Portuguese, and Chinese).
External Services
This plugin can connect to The Bible Says API to fetch verse previews. You must explicitly enable this in Settings → TBS Scripture Tagger before any external requests are made.
- Service: The Bible Says API
- Service URL: https://content-api.thebiblesays.com
- Data sent: the Bible reference and detected language code. The browser may also include the page URL as a standard referrer header.
- Terms of Use & Privacy Policy: https://thebiblesays.com/about
Key Features
* Automatically detects and links Bible references.
* Displays hoverable tooltips with verse previews.
* Ignores already linked references (optional).
* Excludes specific HTML tags and CSS classes.
* Detects user language for correct book name and API.
* Lightweight and fast — no external dependencies.
* Compatible with all major WordPress themes.
Example
Add “John 3:16” or “Genesis 1:1” to any post or page, and the plugin will instantly make it interactive.
License
This plugin is open-source software licensed under the GPLv2 or later.
You are free to modify and redistribute it under the same license.
Installation
- Upload the
tbs-scripture-taggerfolder to your/wp-content/plugins/directory, or install it through the WordPress admin (“Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin”). - Activate the plugin through the “Plugins” menu in WordPress.
- Go to Settings → TBS Scripture Tagger to configure:
- Hyperlink Mode (convert all, hover-only, or none)
- Open links in a new tab
- Ignore existing hyperlinks
- Exclude specific HTML tags or CSS classes
- Dark/light/auto tooltip theme
- Add any Bible reference (e.g., “Romans 8:28”) to a post or page — the plugin will automatically tag it.
Frequently asked questions
Does this plugin use any external services?
Yes. It can fetch Bible verses from The Bible Says API at https://content-api.thebiblesays.com, but only after you enable external requests in the plugin settings.
Where can I find the Terms and Privacy Policy for the external service?
https://thebiblesays.com/about
Can I use it in other languages?
Yes, it automatically detects if your website is in English (en), Portuguese (pt), or Chinese (zh) and adjusts accordingly.
Will it overwrite my existing hyperlinks?
No — by default, the plugin ignores existing tags that already contain Bible references. You can toggle this behavior from the settings page.
Does it slow down my website?
Not at all. The script is lightweight, async-loaded, and optimized for minimal impact on page performance.
Changelog
First stable version of TBS Scripture Tagger.
1.0.0
- Initial public release.
- Added automatic verse detection and hover tooltip.
- Added admin settings for tag exclusions, dark mode, and hyperlink behavior.
- Multilingual support (English, Portuguese, Chinese).
For developers
Is this your plugin? Show off the numbers.
Add a live badge to your site, docs or GitHub README. It updates on its own — no account needed.
Best TBS Scripture Tagger alternatives
All bible plugins →FAQ
TBS Scripture Tagger: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Sep 30, 2026
Is TBS Scripture Tagger free?
Yes. TBS Scripture Tagger is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.
Is TBS Scripture Tagger safe to use in 2026?
TBS Scripture Tagger shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. Was last updated 8 months ago, and scores 36/100 on our health check.
How many websites use TBS Scripture Tagger?
TBS Scripture Tagger is active on <10 WordPress websites and has been downloaded 619 times since it launched in January 2026. It was downloaded 79 times in the last 30 days.
Does TBS Scripture Tagger work with WordPress 7.1?
TBS Scripture Tagger is officially tested up to WordPress 6.9.9, while the latest release is 7.1.2. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.
What PHP version does TBS Scripture Tagger need?
TBS Scripture Tagger requires PHP 7.4 or higher. Most hosts run PHP 8.x today, so it works on any modern WordPress hosting.
When was TBS Scripture Tagger last updated?
The latest version, 1.0.3, was released on January 29, 2026 (8 months ago).
Who makes TBS Scripture Tagger?
TBS Scripture Tagger is developed and maintained by thebiblesays.
What are the best alternatives to TBS Scripture Tagger?
The most popular alternatives to TBS Scripture Tagger are Logos Reftagger (10K+ installs), Bible Verse of the Day (3K+ installs) and Visual Bible Verse of the D… (1K+ installs).
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