Discourse Analysis Tool

Instructions

Getting started

Paste a passage into the Propositions box, then click Insert. It is split into sentences, and each gets a verse label (5a, 5b, 5c…).
- Verse numbers are found automatically, whether at the start of lines, in superscript, as [5] or [3:5], or run into the text.
- A reference like "Romans 3:21–26" on the first or last line, or in parentheses at the end, is recognized and removed from the text.
- Insert always adds to the propositions you already have. It never replaces them.
+ (next to Insert) adds a blank proposition after the selected sidebar row, or at the end.
Double-click a proposition to split it where you click. The new half keeps the same indent and verse, and the letters are updated.
Click a proposition's text to edit it. Ctrl+B / I / U make the selected words bold, italic, or underlined.
Click a row's label (e.g. "5a") to rename it. Enter saves and Esc cancels. A label you type yourself is kept as is; clearing it goes back to automatic numbering.
Drag ⋮⋮ in the Propositions list to reorder. Labels travel with their propositions.
× on a row deletes that proposition (after you confirm). Any bracket that depended on it is removed too.
Tab / Shift+Tab indents or outdents the selected propositions.

Selecting

Click a proposition in the work area to select it; click again to deselect. Select as many as you need.
Click a corner box (the small square beside a bracket) to select it. You can select several.
Click a bracket's line (its spine or arms) to select the whole bracket. It gets a blue outline.
Click empty space in the work area to deselect everything.

Building brackets

Add Two-Node Bracket (first toolbar button). First select one of:
- two propositions
- a corner box and a proposition (the new bracket attaches to that box)
- a selected bracket and a proposition (the new bracket wraps around both)
- two corner boxes from different brackets (the new bracket joins them)
Add Single-Node Bracket (second toolbar button). First select two or more propositions and/or corner boxes. Two corners of the same bracket can't be used together.
Then click the button. The layout is worked out for you, so brackets never cross.
Instructions (toolbar) opens the Bracketing Instructions: Fuller's bracket symbols, the steps of discourse analysis, and hints for bracketing, adapted from Beale's Exegetical Manual.

Labels and main point

Right-click a corner box to type its label (e.g. G, Inf, ∴). Enter/OK saves; Esc/Cancel closes.
Double-click a corner box to mark it as the passage's main point (shown in orange). Double-click again to unmark it.
Type \tf or \therefore in any label or text to get ∴.
🔗 in the header lists the logical relationships with their abbreviations.

Deleting, undo and redo

Select a bracket, then press Delete (or Backspace) to remove it after you confirm. Brackets attached to it stay, but become free-standing.
Clear Brackets removes every bracket and keeps your propositions.
Reset All clears everything: propositions, brackets, Text Flow, and Sentence Flow.
Ctrl+Z (or ↶) undoes your last change, up to 20 steps. Ctrl+Y or Ctrl+Shift+Z (or ↷) redoes it. While you're typing in a text box, these undo and redo your typing instead.

Moving around

Click and drag on empty space to pan the diagram.
− / + / ↺ zoom out, zoom in, and reset (30%–300%).
The panel button at the far left of the tab bar hides or shows the Propositions list. Drag the list's edge to make it wider or narrower; the width is remembered.

Header buttons

💾 saves the whole project as an HTML file (discourse-analysis-DATE.html). Open that file later to carry on where you left off. Your latest work in this browser is also kept automatically between visits.
📷 Export PNG downloads bracketing.png of the diagram.
Custom colors… at the bottom of the color scheme menu sets your own colors for any part of the tool.
🔗 opens the logical relationships reference. 📖 opens videos and reading on discourse analysis.
Hebrew Mode mirrors the diagram right-to-left for Hebrew.
The color scheme menu, the sun/moon switch (light/dark), and the UI size menu (50–150%) change how the tool looks.

Using this editor

Tab moves the text to the next tab stop, so clauses line up in columns. Shift+Tab removes the tab just before the cursor.
Ctrl+M / Ctrl+Shift+M indents or outdents the whole line.
Enter starts a new line with the same indent as the one above, so you can flow a passage with just Enter and Tab.
Ctrl+B / Ctrl+I / Ctrl+U make text bold, italic, or underlined.
Default tab sets the tab-stop spacing in inches (0.25 by default).
Each tab has its own zoom.
Pasting gives plain text; tabs in the pasted text become tab stops.
Ctrl+Z undoes typing here separately from the Brackets tab.
→ (Text Flow) copies each line into the Brackets tab as a proposition. How far a line is indented sets the proposition's indent, and verse numbers become labels. If Brackets already has content, you'll be asked whether to Replace it (this also clears the brackets) or Append to it.
Instructions opens Blake Franze's Text Flow Instructions (Text Flow) or the Sentence Flow Instructions adapted from Beale's Exegetical Manual (Sentence Flow).

Custom colors

Overrides apply on top of the selected color scheme, in this browser only. ↺ puts one color back to the scheme's own.

The Logical Relationships

Coordinate Relationships

Series (S): Each proposition makes its own independent contribution to a whole.

Conjunctions: and, moreover, likewise, neither, nor, καί, δέ.

warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom (Col 1:28)

Progression (P): Like series, but each proposition is a further step toward a climax.

Conjunctions: then, and, moreover, furthermore, καί, δέ.

first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain (Mark 4:28)

Alternative (A): Each proposition expresses a different possibility arising from a situation.

Conjunctions: or, but, while, on the other hand, δέ, ἤ, μέν.

Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another? (Matt 11:3)

Support by Contrary Statement

Concessive (Csv): A main clause that stands despite a contrary statement.

Conjunctions: although, though, yet, nevertheless, but, however, δέ, πλήν.

I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them (2 Pet 1:12)

Situation-Response (Sit/R): A situation and its surprising or counter-intuitive response.

Conjunctions: and.

How often would I have gathered your children … and you were not willing! (Matt 23:37)

Support by Distinct Statement

Ground (G): A statement and the argument or reason for that statement (supporting proposition follows).

Conjunctions: for, because, since, γάρ, ὅτι, ἐπεί, διότι.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matt 5:3)

Inference (∴): A statement and the argument or reason for that statement (supporting proposition precedes).

Conjunctions: therefore, accordingly, οὖν, διό, ὅπως.

The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled (1 Pet 4:7)

Bilateral (BL): A proposition that supports two other propositions, one preceding and one following.

Conjunctions: for, because, therefore, so, γάρ, ὅτι, οὖν, διό.

the mind set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit… (Rom 8:7-8)

Action-Result (Ac/Res): An action and a consequence or result which accompanies that action.

Conjunctions: so that, that, with the result that, ὥστε.

there arose a great storm, so that the boat was being swamped (Matt 8:24)

Action-Purpose (Ac/Pur): An action and its intended result.

Conjunctions: in order that, so that, that, lest, ἵνα, εἰς τὸ.

I say this in order that no one may delude you (Col 2:4)

Action-Means (Ac/M): An action and the means by which it is carried out or accomplished.

Conjunctions: in that, by, participles.

He emptied Himself by taking the form of a servant (Phil 2:7)

Conditional (If/Th): Like Action-Result except that the existence of the action is only potential and the result is contingent upon it.

Conjunctions: if…then, provided that, except, unless, εἰ, ἐάν, εἴτε, ἆρα.

if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life (Exod 21:23)

Temporal (T): A statement and the occasion when it is true or can occur.

Conjunctions: when, whenever, after, before, ὅταν, ὅτε, πρίν.

when you fast, do not look gloomy (Matt 6:16)

Locative (L): A statement and the place where it is true or can occur.

Conjunctions: where, wherever, ὅπου.

For where you go I will go (Ruth 1:16)

Support by Restatement

General-Specific (G/S):A proposition stating the whole and one or more which set forth the parts of the whole.

Conjunctions: which, that is, namely.

you received the word of God which you heard from us (1 Thess 2:13)

Action-Manner (A/Mn): An action and a statement indicating the way or manner that action is carried out.

Conjunctions: in that, by, with, participles.

Walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience (Eph 4:1-2)

Comparison (//): An action and a statement that clarifies that action by showing what it is like.

Conjunctions: even as, as…so, like, just as, ὡς, καθώς.

Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ (1 Cor 11:1)

Negative-Positive (-/+): Two statements, one of which is denied so that the other is enforced. Also for contrasting statements.

Conjunctions: not…but, ἀλλά.

do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is (Eph 5:17)

Idea-Explanation (Id/Exp): The relationship between an original statement and one clarifying its meaning.

Conjunctions: that is, in other words, ὅτι, γάρ, ἵνα.

Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven… blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin (Rom 4:7-8)

Question-Answer (Q/A): The statement of a question and the answer to that question.

Conjunctions: question mark.

what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God… (Rom 4:3)

Discourse Analysis Resources

Text Flow Instructions

Source: Blake Franze

Sentence Flow Instructions

Source: Daniel Fuller and Gregory Beale

Bracketing Instructions