Your privacy is important to us. This Privacy Policy explains how the Rhema Study Bible app ("App") collects, uses, and protects your information.
1. Information We Collect
Account Information (optional): If you choose to sign in with email or Google, we collect your email address and a unique account ID through Firebase Authentication. The app works fully without an account.
Personal Study Data (only if signed in): bookmarks, verse highlights, your personal Strong's lexicon, sermon collection notes, and reading streak are stored in Cloud Firestore under your account ID so they sync across your devices. Without sign-in, this data stays only on your device.
App Preferences: chosen translation, font size, theme style (classic/modern), dark mode, voice selection, and similar settings are stored locally on your device only.
AI Feature Inputs (only when actively used): when you tap Search with AI mode, ask the Codex, or use Find Similar / Cross-references, the verse text or query is sent to Google's Gemini API to generate the response. We do not retain these queries; Google's API terms apply to that round-trip.
Usage Data: We do not collect analytics, do not track which verses you read, and do not log how long you use the app.
2. Information We Do Not Collect
- No location data
- No contacts, calendar, photos, or other device data
- No advertising identifiers (the app contains no ads)
- No cookies or tracking pixels on the website
- No microphone access except when you actively tap voice search (handled on-device by the OS speech recognizer)
- No data sold or shared with third parties for marketing
3. How We Use Your Information
- Account data — authenticate you and sync your study data across devices
- Preferences — personalize your reading experience locally
- AI feature inputs — generate the AI response only; nothing is stored on our side
4. Data Storage & Security
Account and study data is stored on Google Cloud Firestore with TLS 1.2+ encryption in transit and AES-256 at rest. Per-user Firestore security rules ensure only you can read or write your own bookmarks, highlights, lexicon, and sermon notes. Local preferences never leave your device.
5. Third-Party Services
- Firebase Authentication (Google) — sign-in only. Firebase Privacy
- Cloud Firestore (Google) — sync of your study data. Firebase Privacy
- Google Gemini API — AI search, codex, and cross-reference responses. Google Privacy
- STEPBible Tagged Texts (TAGNT, TAHOT, TBESG, TBESH — CC BY 4.0) — Strong's concordance and lexicon, downloaded with the app. No network calls at runtime.
- API.Bible — fetches translations not bundled offline (only when you select an online translation).
- OpenStreetMap — map tiles for the Bible Maps feature, served by the OSM tile server.
- Apple Text-to-Speech / Google Speech Services — narrator audio. Synthesis happens on-device once a voice is downloaded; no audio leaves your device.
6. Children's Privacy
Rhema is rated for ages 13+ on Google Play and App Store. The app includes a Kids Mode (Settings → Kids Mode) designed for young readers, which disables AI features and external links and operates entirely from locally stored content. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child under 13 has signed in, contact us and we will delete the account immediately.
7. Data Retention & Deletion
If you sign in, your bookmarks, highlights, lexicon, and sermon notes are retained until you sign out or delete the account. To delete your account and all associated data:
- In the app: Settings → Account → Delete account
- On the web: rhemabibles.com/delete-account.html
Account deletion is immediate and irreversible. Local preferences can be cleared by uninstalling the app.
8. Your Rights
- Use the entire app fully offline without ever signing in
- Export your bookmarks, highlights, and sermon notes via the Share button on each list
- Request a copy of your stored data — email privacy@rhemabibles.com
- Delete your account at any time
9. Changes to This Policy
If this policy changes, we will update the "Last updated" date below. For material changes, we will surface a notice in the app. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance.
10. Contact Us
Privacy questions: privacy@rhemabibles.com
General support: support@rhemabibles.com
Website: rhemabibles.com