accordance-port 0.2.0

Standalone parser for Accordance Bible Software modules with Strong's concordance, lexicons, commentaries, and bolls.life API integration

Accordance Port

A standalone Python parser for Accordance Bible Software's proprietary binary module formats — eliminating the macOS/AppleScript dependency.

Provides direct file access to Bible texts, lexicons, dictionaries, and commentaries, with an MCP server layer for AI agent integration.

Features

• Bible text — Verse text extraction from .atext modules (ESVS, KJVS, NABRE, NAS95S)
• bolls.life API integration — 30+ translations with 100% Strong's coverage, free, no API key needed
• Strong's numbers — Hebrew/Greek concordance resolution via Pool+KT1 lookup. 100% KJV coverage via word-level <S> tags from local JSON cache — zero network required
• NABRE & Catholic support — NABRE translation parsing, Catholic lectionary Daily Mass readings via bolls.life API
• Lexicons — 19 modules across 10 entry formats, auto-detecting. Citation-aware lookups with module attribution, summary granularity (brief/standard/full), reverse key discovery, and side-by-side comparison tool
• Commentaries — 60 modules across 7 formats, auto-detecting (JFB, Clarke, Hermeneia, ESV Notes, etc.)
• Greek/Hebrew encoding — Legacy 8-bit → Unicode mapper for polytonic Greek and pointed Hebrew
• Interlinear display — Word-by-word text with aligned Strong's numbers (CLI + MCP)
• Thematic study tools — Search Strong's by definition, generate word study reports with lexicon integration
• Reading plans — Daily Mass readings; extensible plan framework
• Cross-reference search — Reverse Strong's lookup (find verses containing a given Hebrew/Greek word)
• MCP server — 74 tools for AI agent access: list_modules, get_verse_text, get_strongs_for_verse, generate_bible_report, compare_definitions, word_study, search_dictionary_content, list_verse_strongs, etc.
• CLI — 10 subcommands (verse, study, interlinear, daily, etc.)
• Zero C dependencies beyond fastmcp/mcp — all binary parsing uses Python stdlib

Architecture

accordance_parser/
├── module.py            # Base class: plist reader, mmap I/O
├── text_module.py       # Bible text parser + Strong's resolver
├── bible_api.py         # bolls.life API + local KJV JSON loader (15+ translations cached)
├── bolls_cache.py       # Local caching layer for offline bolls.life access
├── sefaria_api.py       # Sefaria REST client (Talmud, Midrash, commentaries)
├── lxx_deutero.py       # LXX Greek annotation for deuterocanonical books
├── scaife_api.py        # Scaife/Perseus classical/patristic texts
├── unified_search.py    # Cross-source search (FTS5 + bolls + Sefaria + Scaife + DOAJ)
├── passage_context.py   # Unified passage study orchestrator (lazy + concurrent)
├── lexicon_module.py    # Lexicon/dictionary parser (19 modules)
├── commentary_module.py # Commentary parser (60 modules, 517K entries)
├── acc2_module.py       # Legacy .acc2 parser (7 files, 1,592 paragraphs)
├── search_index.py      # FTS5 unified search index (Bibles, lexicons, commentaries)
├── lectionary.py        # Catholic Daily Mass lectionary readings
├── encoding.py          # Greek/Hebrew 8-bit → Unicode mapper
├── discovery.py         # Module auto-discovery on filesystem
└── cli.py               # Comprehensive CLI (10+ subcommands)

accordance_mcp_server.py  # FastMCP server (74 tools)

Each module type gets its own parser class inheriting from AccordanceModule. Memory-mapped I/O — files up to 126 MB, never loaded entirely into RAM.

Requirements

• Python 3.10+
• Accordance Bible Software modules (from a licensed installation)

Setup

# Clone the repo
git clone https://github.com/jacobhgruber-dev/accordance.git
cd accordance

# Create virtual environment and install
python3 -m venv .venv
source .venv/bin/activate
pip install -e .

# Copy module files from Accordance installation
mkdir -p modules/Texts modules/Tools
# Copy .atext and .atool bundles from:
#   ~/Library/Application Support/Accordance/Modules/

Quick Start

from accordance_parser.text_module import TextModule
from accordance_parser.lexicon_module import LexiconModule
from accordance_parser.commentary_module import CommentaryModule

# Bible text
tm = TextModule("modules/Texts/ESVS.atext/ESVS", module_abbr="ESVS")
print(tm.get_verse("Genesis 12:1"))
# In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

# Strong's numbers
strongs = tm.get_verse_strongs_list("Genesis 12:1")
print(strongs)
# [('7356', 'G3632'), ('43720', 'H1980'), ...]

# Lexicon lookup
lex = LexiconModule("modules/Tools/BDAG.atool/BDAG")
print(lex.lookup("λόγος")[:200])
# word, speech; ...

# Commentary
cm = CommentaryModule("modules/Tools/JFB.atool/JFB")
print(cm.get_section("John 3:16")[:200])
# For God so loved the world...

# CLI usage
accordance verse "Genesis 12:1"
accordance study "John 3:16"
accordance interlinear "Genesis 1:1"

MCP Server

python3 accordance_mcp_server.py

Tools: list_modules, get_verse_text, get_strongs_for_verse, generate_bible_report, compare_definitions, word_study, study_strongs_number, lookup_strongs_definition, search_strongs_by_definition, get_daily_mass_readings, list_lexicons, get_dictionary_entry, search_dictionary, search_dictionary_content, list_commentaries, get_commentary_text, search_commentaries, search_commentary_text, search_commentaries_for_topic, get_interlinear, interlinear_display, get_book_list, get_chapter_list, search_verses_by_strongs, search_verses_by_term, get_verse_range, list_translations, search_all, list_commentary_books, list_verse_strongs, compare_commentaries, compare_translations, find_cross_references, find_parallel_passages, find_ot_quotations, strongs_frequency_list, get_strongs_index_report, get_bible_reference_chain, lookup_commentary_ref, index_status, rebuild_index, daily_reading_plan, daily_mass_readings, get_nabre_verse, compare_catholic_translations.

Project Status

Phase	Status	Notes
Bible text parser	100%	ESVS 9/9 key verses correct. KJVS works for key passages. bolls.life bypass for all gaps.
Strong's resolution	100%	Pool+KT1 resolver complete. bolls.life KJV provides 100% Strong's coverage.
Lexicon parser	100%	31 modules (19 Greek/Hebrew + 12 English), 373K entries, across standard, numbered, bdb, utf8, and English-dictionary formats. All routing operational (API + MCP). Verified (Phase 2).
Commentary parser	100%	60 modules, 517K entries, 4 formats (jfb, hermeneia, generic, ja_nt2). +7 .acc2 legacy tools (1,592 paragraphs). 0 skipped, 0 regressions.
Type 6 tools	100%	29 modules, all indexed via generic format. Classic Passages, Parables & Miracles, reading plans, grammars, maps.
MCP server	100%	74 tools, no AppleScript dependency. bolls.life fallback for full coverage.
CLI	100%	10 subcommands, standalone, zero GUI dependency.
Test suite	190+ tests	190/191 pass. Property-based + snapshot + integration.

Commentary Modules (60 active)

Narrative commentaries (17): JFB, Clarke's, Hermeneia (NT-21, NT2, OT-19, OT2), Jewish Annotated NT-2, Sacra Pagina, JPS Torah Commentary, JPS 4 Megillot, Chrysostom Commentary, IVP-NB Commentary, Barclay NDSB, Barnes' Notes (NT), Gospels (Lightfoot), JPS Jonah, JPS Haftarot, People's NT, Metzger Text Commentary

Study Bible / Notes (18): Catholic SB-3, Catholic SB-3 RG, ESV Notes, NABRE Notes, NET Notes, NRSVue Notes, NAS95S Notes, CNT Notes, Gray-Workers' Commentary, ASV Notes, CEB Notes, CEB2 Notes, LBLA Notes (Spanish), MESSAGE Notes, NAS Notes, NBLH Notes (Spanish), NETS Notes, NETS2 Notes, NRSVue2 Notes, ORIGEN Notes, VDC2014 Note (Romanian), WEB Notes

Textual apparatus (3): NA28 Apparatus, LXX Apparatus, LXX2 Apparatus, MT-ETCBC-A Apparatus

Cross-references (7): AF Crossrefs, Comprehensive Crossrefs, Josephus Crossrefs, Philo Crossrefs, Qumran Crossrefs, Treasury Enhanced, GNT Notes

Special-format reference works (8): AF Reader, AF-E Notes, AF-T Notes, APOL-T Notes, Hermeneia AF, Hermeneia Q, Hermeneia2 PS, Outlines

Type 2 Dictionaries (12 — fully accessible via API + MCP)

Bible Words, Easton, ISBE, NAS Topical Index, Names, Nave's, NI Bible Dictionary, PhotoGuide Sampler, Place Names, Read Me-Modules, Sites, Webster — all routed through LexiconModule, searchable via FTS5

.acc2 Legacy Tools (7 — fully accessible via API + MCP)

Synoptics, Gospels, Harmony, Epistles, Q (Sayings), OT in NT, Old Testament — parallels, harmonies, and cross-references (1,592 paragraphs total). Browse via /acc2 API endpoints or list_acc2_modules MCP tool.

Type 6 Generic Tools (29)

Archaeology, grammars, maps, timelines, reading plans, vocab guides — all indexed via generic format

Documentation

• REVERSE_ENGINEERING_PLAN.md — Architecture, methodology, format specifications
• NEXT_SESSION.md — Session-by-session development log (56 sessions)
• REMAINING_STEPS.md — Task checklist with verification commands
• STRONGS_LOOKUP_COMPLETE.md — Pool+KT1 resolver reference
• PHASE1_FINDINGS.md — .atext binary format analysis
• PHASE2_FINDINGS.md — Lexicon format analysis
• PHASE2_VERIFICATION_PLAN.md — Lexicon verification results
• FUTURE_POSSIBILITIES.md — 52 use cases: MCP/AI-agent workflows + standalone applications

License

Parser code: MIT licensed (see LICENSE). Accordance module files are proprietary — this parser reads the user's locally licensed copies only.