Bible Timeline

Help and information.

This interactive timeline lets you explore biblical events, historical periods, people, empires, and related world-history context across time.

Click and drag the timeline to move through history. You can drag left and right to move through years, or drag up and down to see groups above and below the central date line.

Timeline Controls

Time Scale: Use Compress Time to compress time so more years fit across the screen. Use Expand Time to expand time so years spread farther apart.

Zoom: Use Zoom Out to zoom out and see more of the canvas at once. Use Zoom In to zoom in for a closer view.

Display Modes: Use Timeline Mode for the main visual timeline, Table Mode for a table-style view, and Photo Mode for an image-focused browsing mode.

Compact Layout: Use Compact Layout to reduce vertical spacing between timeline items. When compact mode is active, use Expand Layout to return to the normal spacing.

Center Timeline: Use Center Timeline to return to the current saved view’s center point, or to the timeline’s default center when viewing all items.

Full Screen: Use Full Screen to expand the timeline to full screen. Use Exit Full Screen or your browser’s Escape key to leave full screen.

Using the Timeline

The horizontal date line separates different kinds of timeline groups. Biblical groups may appear above the line, while contextual or world-history groups may appear below it.

Periods are shown as horizontal bars spanning a range of years. Single-date events appear as compact labels near their date. Items are automatically arranged to reduce overlap.

Some events include additional details. The Help Information indicator shows that more information is available. The Photo Mode indicator shows that images are attached.

Click any event or period to open a detail popup with its date, group, description, and images when available.

Images

When an event includes multiple images, use the thumbnails or arrow buttons to move between them. Clicking the main image opens a larger image viewer.

The Photos display mode Photo Mode lets you browse images from the current view without navigating through the full timeline.

Saved Views

Saved views focus the timeline on selected groups, events, or periods. A view may also remember the timeline’s center position, time scale, zoom level, and compact layout setting.

If a view is selected from the dropdown, the Center Timeline button Center Timeline returns you to that view’s saved position.

Mouse and Trackpad Tips

  • Drag the timeline to pan around the canvas.
  • Use Ctrl + scroll, or Command + scroll on Mac, to zoom the canvas.
  • Use Shift + scroll to expand or compress the time scale.
  • Hover over the timeline to see the approximate year under your pointer.

Date Notes

Dates are shown using BCE and CE. Some ancient dates are approximate.

Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.