Hover tooltips, clickable cross-references, easier highlighting

- Tooltips on hover and keyboard focus across the app: icon-only buttons show
  their label, existing titles show in the app's style without the browser's
  delay, and the reader's main buttons show shortcut hints ("Search (/)").
  Touch screens are unaffected.
- Reader: cross-references (under verses and in the Cross-refs tab) open the
  passage's text in the side panel without leaving the chapter; "Open chapter"
  goes there when wanted
- Reader: the verse panel now has a Highlight row of colours for one-tap
  whole-verse highlighting (tap again to remove, Clear for all, with Undo);
  selecting words still highlights just those
- Fix: a cross-reference preview was cleared when React ran the panel's
  effect twice (development builds)

Co-Authored-By: Claude Sonnet 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

src/App.jsx

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import { ToastProvider, useToast } from './components/Toasts.jsx';
 import CommandPalette from './components/CommandPalette.jsx';
 import ShortcutsHelp from './components/ShortcutsHelp.jsx';
 import SharedOutlineView from './components/SharedOutlineView.jsx';
+import Tooltips from './components/Tooltips.jsx';
 import { useAudio } from './hooks/useAudio.js';
 import { useAuth } from './hooks/useAuth.js';
 import { useBibleReader } from './hooks/useBibleReader.js';
@@ -437,6 +438,7 @@ const AppInner = () => {
       </Suspense>
       {paletteOpen && <CommandPalette onClose={() => setPaletteOpen(false)} />}
       {helpOpen && <ShortcutsHelp onClose={() => setHelpOpen(false)} />}
+      <Tooltips theme={reader.readerTheme} />
     </AppContext.Provider>
   );
 };

src/components/Tooltips.jsx

@@ -0,0 +1,112 @@
+// Hover (and keyboard-focus) tooltips for the whole app, without touching every button:
+//  - anything with data-tip="…" shows that text (used for shortcut hints like "Search (/)")
+//  - anything with title="…" shows it too, in the app's style and without the browser's long delay
+//  - an icon-only button (no visible words) shows its aria-label
+// Touch screens have no hover, so nothing appears there.
+import { useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react';
+import { themeVars } from './reader/readerThemes.js';
+
+const SHOW_DELAY = 450;
+const SELECTOR = '[data-tip], [title], button[aria-label], a[aria-label], [role="button"][aria-label], [role="tab"][aria-label]';
+
+const canHover = () => (typeof window.matchMedia === 'function' ? window.matchMedia('(hover: hover)').matches : true);
+
+// The words a tooltip should show for an element, or '' for none. A title is moved to data-tip the first
+// time (so the browser's own tooltip doesn't also appear); a title on a button with no other name becomes
+// its aria-label so screen readers keep it.
+export function tipFor(el) {
+  if (!(el instanceof HTMLElement)) return '';
+  if (el.hasAttribute('title')) {
+    const title = el.getAttribute('title').trim();
+    if (title) {
+      if (!el.getAttribute('aria-label') && el.textContent.replace(/\s+/g, '').length <= 2) el.setAttribute('aria-label', title);
+      if (!el.hasAttribute('data-tip')) el.setAttribute('data-tip', title);
+    }
+    el.removeAttribute('title');
+  }
+  const tip = el.getAttribute('data-tip');
+  if (tip) return tip;
+  // Icon-only controls (little or no text of their own) explain themselves with their label
+  const label = el.getAttribute('aria-label');
+  const visible = el.textContent.replace(/\s+/g, '').length;
+  return label && visible <= 2 ? label : '';
+}
+
+export default function Tooltips({ theme }) {
+  const [tip, setTip] = useState(null); // { text, x, y, below }
+  const timer = useRef(null);
+  const current = useRef(null);
+  const box = useRef(null);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const hide = () => {
+      window.clearTimeout(timer.current);
+      if (current.current) current.current.removeAttribute('aria-describedby');
+      current.current = null;
+      setTip(null);
+    };
+    const show = (el, text) => {
+      const r = el.getBoundingClientRect();
+      current.current = el;
+      el.setAttribute('aria-describedby', 'app-tooltip');
+      setTip({ text, x: r.left + r.width / 2, y: r.top, bottom: r.bottom });
+    };
+    const find = (node) => (node instanceof Element ? node.closest(SELECTOR) : null);
+
+    const onOver = (e) => {
+      if (!canHover()) return;
+      const el = find(e.target);
+      if (!el || el === current.current) return;
+      hide();
+      const text = tipFor(el);
+      if (!text || el.disabled) return;
+      timer.current = window.setTimeout(() => show(el, text), SHOW_DELAY);
+    };
+    const onOut = (e) => {
+      const el = find(e.target);
+      if (!el || (e.relatedTarget instanceof Node && el.contains(e.relatedTarget))) return;
+      hide();
+    };
+    const onFocus = (e) => {
+      const el = find(e.target);
+      if (!el || !el.matches(':focus-visible')) return; // only keyboard focus, not a mouse click
+      const text = tipFor(el);
+      if (text) { window.clearTimeout(timer.current); show(el, text); }
+    };
+    const onKey = (e) => { if (e.key === 'Escape') hide(); };
+
+    document.addEventListener('pointerover', onOver);
+    document.addEventListener('pointerout', onOut);
+    document.addEventListener('pointerdown', hide, true);
+    document.addEventListener('focusin', onFocus);
+    document.addEventListener('focusout', hide);
+    document.addEventListener('keydown', onKey);
+    window.addEventListener('scroll', hide, true);
+    window.addEventListener('resize', hide);
+    return () => {
+      window.clearTimeout(timer.current);
+      document.removeEventListener('pointerover', onOver);
+      document.removeEventListener('pointerout', onOut);
+      document.removeEventListener('pointerdown', hide, true);
+      document.removeEventListener('focusin', onFocus);
+      document.removeEventListener('focusout', hide);
+      document.removeEventListener('keydown', onKey);
+      window.removeEventListener('scroll', hide, true);
+      window.removeEventListener('resize', hide);
+    };
+  }, []);
+
+  if (!tip) return null;
+  // Centred over the control, kept inside the window, and flipped below it when there's no room above
+  const width = box.current?.offsetWidth ?? 0;
+  const left = Math.max(8, Math.min(tip.x - width / 2, window.innerWidth - width - 8));
+  const flip = tip.y < 40;
+  return (
+    <div
+      ref={box} id="app-tooltip" role="tooltip" style={{ ...themeVars(theme), left, top: flip ? tip.bottom + 8 : tip.y - 8, transform: flip ? 'none' : 'translateY(-100%)' }}
+      className="pointer-events-none fixed z-[120] max-w-[16rem] rounded-lg bg-[var(--r-text)] px-2.5 py-1.5 font-sans text-xs leading-snug text-[var(--r-bg)] shadow-lg"
+    >
+      {tip.text}
+    </div>
+  );
+}

src/components/Tooltips.test.jsx

@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+import { render, screen, fireEvent, act } from '@testing-library/react';
+import { vi, beforeEach, afterEach, test, expect } from 'vitest';
+import Tooltips, { tipFor } from './Tooltips.jsx';
+
+beforeEach(() => vi.useFakeTimers());
+afterEach(() => vi.useRealTimers());
+
+const over = (el) => act(() => { fireEvent.pointerOver(el); vi.advanceTimersByTime(600); });
+
+function setup() {
+  render(
+    <>
+      <button aria-label="Search" data-tip="Search (/)">🔍</button>
+      <button aria-label="Close">×</button>
+      <button title="Out a level (Shift+Tab)">←</button>
+      <button aria-label="Save changes">Save changes</button>
+      <button disabled aria-label="Nothing">·</button>
+      <Tooltips theme="paper" />
+    </>,
+  );
+}
+
+test('shows a data-tip after a short pause, and hides when the pointer leaves', () => {
+  setup();
+  const btn = screen.getByLabelText('Search');
+  over(btn);
+  expect(screen.getByRole('tooltip')).toHaveTextContent('Search (/)');
+  expect(btn).toHaveAttribute('aria-describedby', 'app-tooltip');
+  act(() => { fireEvent.pointerOut(btn); });
+  expect(screen.queryByRole('tooltip')).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+  expect(btn).not.toHaveAttribute('aria-describedby');
+});
+
+test('does not appear before the pause', () => {
+  setup();
+  act(() => { fireEvent.pointerOver(screen.getByLabelText('Search')); vi.advanceTimersByTime(100); });
+  expect(screen.queryByRole('tooltip')).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+});
+
+test('an icon-only button shows its label', () => {
+  setup();
+  over(screen.getByLabelText('Close'));
+  expect(screen.getByRole('tooltip')).toHaveTextContent('Close');
+});
+
+test('a title is shown in the app style and the browser\'s own tooltip is turned off', () => {
+  setup();
+  const btn = screen.getByText('←');
+  over(btn);
+  expect(screen.getByRole('tooltip')).toHaveTextContent('Out a level (Shift+Tab)');
+  expect(btn).not.toHaveAttribute('title');
+  expect(btn).toHaveAttribute('aria-label', 'Out a level (Shift+Tab)'); // a screen reader still gets its name
+});
+
+test('a button that already says what it is gets no tooltip, and neither does a disabled one', () => {
+  setup();
+  over(screen.getByText('Save changes'));
+  expect(screen.queryByRole('tooltip')).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+  over(screen.getByLabelText('Nothing'));
+  expect(screen.queryByRole('tooltip')).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+});
+
+test('clicking, scrolling or Escape dismisses it', () => {
+  setup();
+  const btn = screen.getByLabelText('Search');
+  over(btn);
+  act(() => { fireEvent.pointerDown(btn); });
+  expect(screen.queryByRole('tooltip')).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+  over(btn);
+  act(() => { fireEvent.keyDown(document, { key: 'Escape' }); });
+  expect(screen.queryByRole('tooltip')).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+  over(btn);
+  act(() => { fireEvent.scroll(window); });
+  expect(screen.queryByRole('tooltip')).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+});
+
+test('nothing shows on a device without hover (touch)', () => {
+  vi.stubGlobal('matchMedia', () => ({ matches: false }));
+  setup();
+  over(screen.getByLabelText('Search'));
+  expect(screen.queryByRole('tooltip')).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+  vi.unstubAllGlobals();
+});
+
+test('tipFor ignores things that are not elements', () => {
+  expect(tipFor(null)).toBe('');
+  expect(tipFor(document.createTextNode('x'))).toBe('');
+});

src/components/reader/ReaderBars.jsx

@@ -9,9 +9,9 @@ export function TopBar({ title, onBack, onOpenNavigator, onSearch, onBookmarks,
   return (
     <div className="safe-top sticky top-0 z-30 border-b border-[var(--r-line)] bg-[var(--r-bar)] font-sans">
       <div className="mx-auto flex h-12 max-w-4xl items-center gap-1 px-2">
-        <button type="button" onClick={onBack} className="flex h-9 items-center gap-0.5 rounded-lg pl-1 pr-2 text-[var(--r-sub)] transition hover:bg-black/5" aria-label="Back to home"><ChevronLeft /><span className="hidden text-xs sm:inline">Home</span></button>
+        <button type="button" onClick={onBack} className="flex h-9 items-center gap-0.5 rounded-lg pl-1 pr-2 text-[var(--r-sub)] transition hover:bg-black/5" aria-label="Back to home" data-tip="Back to home"><ChevronLeft /><span className="hidden text-xs sm:inline">Home</span></button>
         <button type="button" onClick={onOpenNavigator}
-          className="mx-auto flex min-w-0 items-center gap-1.5 rounded-lg px-3 py-1.5 text-sm font-medium text-[var(--r-text)] hover:bg-black/5">
+          className="mx-auto flex min-w-0 items-center gap-1.5 rounded-lg px-3 py-1.5 text-sm font-medium text-[var(--r-text)] hover:bg-black/5" data-tip="Go to a book and chapter (G)">
           <span className="truncate">{title}</span><ChevronDown />
         </button>
         {onDoneDrawing ? (
@@ -21,12 +21,12 @@ export function TopBar({ title, onBack, onOpenNavigator, onSearch, onBookmarks,
           </button>
         ) : (
           <>
-            <button type="button" onClick={onSearch} className={iconBtn} aria-label="Search"><SearchIcon /></button>
-            <button type="button" onClick={onBookmarks} className={`${iconBtn} relative ${bookmarkCount ? 'text-[var(--r-accent)]' : ''}`} aria-label="Bookmarks">
+            <button type="button" onClick={onSearch} className={iconBtn} aria-label="Search" data-tip="Search (/)"><SearchIcon /></button>
+            <button type="button" onClick={onBookmarks} className={`${iconBtn} relative ${bookmarkCount ? 'text-[var(--r-accent)]' : ''}`} aria-label="Bookmarks" data-tip="Bookmarks and highlights">
               <BookmarkIcon filled={bookmarkCount > 0} />
             </button>
-            <button type="button" onClick={onCompare} className={`${iconBtn} ${compareActive ? 'text-[var(--r-accent)]' : ''}`} aria-label="Compare translations" aria-pressed={!!compareActive} title="Compare translations"><CompareIcon /></button>
-            <button type="button" onClick={onSettings} className={`${iconBtn} w-10 text-sm font-medium`} aria-label="Reading settings">Aa</button>
+            <button type="button" onClick={onCompare} className={`${iconBtn} ${compareActive ? 'text-[var(--r-accent)]' : ''}`} aria-label="Compare translations" aria-pressed={!!compareActive} data-tip="Compare translations (C)"><CompareIcon /></button>
+            <button type="button" onClick={onSettings} className={`${iconBtn} w-10 text-sm font-medium`} aria-label="Reading settings" data-tip="Text size, typeface and theme (,)">Aa</button>
           </>
         )}
       </div>
@@ -42,11 +42,11 @@ export function BottomBar({
   return (
     <div className="fixed inset-x-0 bottom-0 z-30 border-t border-[var(--r-line)] bg-[var(--r-bar)] pb-[env(safe-area-inset-bottom)] font-sans">
       <div className="mx-auto flex h-14 max-w-4xl items-center gap-0.5 px-2">
-        <button type="button" onClick={onPrev} disabled={prevDisabled} className={iconBtn} aria-label="Previous chapter"><ChevronLeft /></button>
-        <button type="button" onClick={onAudio} className={`${iconBtn} ${audioActive ? active : ''}`} aria-label="Listen"><HeadphonesIcon /></button>
-        <button type="button" onClick={onPen} className={iconBtn} aria-label="Draw notes"><PenIcon /></button>
-        <button type="button" onClick={onCrossRefs} className={`${iconBtn} ${crossRefsOn ? active : ''}`} aria-label="Show cross-references under verses"><LinkIcon /></button>
-        <button type="button" onClick={onFocus} className={iconBtn} aria-label="Hide controls"><FocusIcon /></button>
+        <button type="button" onClick={onPrev} disabled={prevDisabled} className={iconBtn} aria-label="Previous chapter" data-tip="Previous chapter (←)"><ChevronLeft /></button>
+        <button type="button" onClick={onAudio} className={`${iconBtn} ${audioActive ? active : ''}`} aria-label="Listen" data-tip="Listen to this chapter"><HeadphonesIcon /></button>
+        <button type="button" onClick={onPen} className={iconBtn} aria-label="Draw notes" data-tip="Draw notes on this page"><PenIcon /></button>
+        <button type="button" onClick={onCrossRefs} className={`${iconBtn} ${crossRefsOn ? active : ''}`} aria-label="Show cross-references under verses" data-tip="Show cross-references under each verse"><LinkIcon /></button>
+        <button type="button" onClick={onFocus} className={iconBtn} aria-label="Hide controls" data-tip="Hide the controls (F)"><FocusIcon /></button>
         <div className="mx-auto" />
         {primary && (
           <button type="button" onClick={primary.onClick}
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ export function BottomBar({
             {primary.done ? null : <CheckIcon />}{primary.label}
           </button>
         )}
-        <button type="button" onClick={onNext} disabled={nextDisabled} className={iconBtn} aria-label="Next chapter"><ChevronRight /></button>
+        <button type="button" onClick={onNext} disabled={nextDisabled} className={iconBtn} aria-label="Next chapter" data-tip="Next chapter (→)"><ChevronRight /></button>
       </div>
     </div>
   );

src/components/reader/ReaderText.jsx

@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ export default function ReaderText({
   title, translation, translationId, notice, verses, loading, error, layout, fontSize, wide,
   font = 'serif', spacing = 'normal', showVerseNumbers = true, parallel = null, showDiff = true,
   bookmarks, bookKey, chapter, selectedVerse, onSelectVerse, renderVerseText, searchLower,
-  crossRefs, showCrossRefs, onSelectionEnd, footer,
+  crossRefs, showCrossRefs, onOpenCrossRef, onSelectionEnd, footer,
 }) {
   // How much the second Bible's wording differs from the first, over the chapter and verse by verse
   const diff = useMemo(
@@ -56,7 +56,11 @@ export default function ReaderText({
   const chips = (v) => showCrossRefs && crossRefs?.[v.number]?.length > 0 && (
     <span className="ml-1 inline-flex flex-wrap gap-1 align-baseline font-sans">
       {crossRefs[v.number].slice(0, 4).map((ref, i) => (
-        <span key={i} className="rounded-full border border-[var(--r-line)] px-1.5 py-px text-[10px] text-[var(--r-sub)]">{formatCrossRef(ref)}</span>
+        // Opens that passage in the side panel; stopPropagation so the verse itself isn't also toggled
+        <button key={i} type="button" onClick={(e) => { e.stopPropagation(); onOpenCrossRef?.(v.number, ref); }}
+          onKeyDown={(e) => e.stopPropagation()}
+          className="rounded-full border border-[var(--r-line)] px-1.5 py-px text-[10px] text-[var(--r-sub)] hover:border-[var(--r-accent)] hover:text-[var(--r-accent)]"
+          data-tip={`Read ${formatCrossRef(ref)} in the side panel`}>{formatCrossRef(ref)}</button>
       ))}
     </span>
   );

src/components/reader/VerseSheet.jsx

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // The single home for per-verse tools: original words, cross-references,
 // commentary, and people & places, plus bookmark / copy.
-import { useEffect, useState } from 'react';
+import { useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react';
 import Sheet from './Sheet.jsx';
 import { CommentaryTab, PeoplePlacesTab } from '../StudyPanel.jsx';
 import { BookmarkIcon, CopyIcon } from '../../utils/bibleUtils.jsx';
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import { formatCrossRef, speakOriginalWord } from '../../utils/wordStudy.js';
 import { READER_TRANSLATIONS, fetchChapter } from '../../utils/bibleText.js';
 import { diffVerses, differenceLabel } from '../../utils/textDiff.js';
 import { DiffText } from './DiffText.jsx';
+import { HIGHLIGHT_COLORS, colorTitle } from '../../utils/highlightColors.js';
 
 const TABS = [['commentary', 'Commentary'], ['compare', 'Compare'], ['original', 'Original'], ['refs', 'Cross-refs'], ['people', 'People & places']];
 
@@ -37,18 +38,59 @@ function OriginalTab({ words }) {
   );
 }
 
-function RefsTab({ refs, loading, onJump }) {
+// A cross-referenced passage shown in the panel: its words in the translation being read, without
+// leaving the chapter. "Open chapter" goes there when you want more.
+function RefPreview({ refItem, translation, onOpen, onClose }) {
+  const [state, setState] = useState({ key: '', verses: [], error: '' });
+  const key = `${translation}/${refItem.book}/${refItem.chapter}`;
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const controller = new AbortController();
+    fetchChapter(translation, refItem.book, refItem.chapter, { signal: controller.signal })
+      .then(({ verses }) => setState({ key, verses, error: '' }))
+      .catch((err) => { if (!controller.signal.aborted) setState({ key, verses: [], error: err.message || 'Unable to load that passage.' }); });
+    return () => controller.abort();
+  }, [key]); // eslint-disable-line react-hooks/exhaustive-deps
+
+  const end = refItem.endVerse && refItem.endVerse > refItem.verse ? refItem.endVerse : refItem.verse;
+  const picked = state.key === key ? state.verses.filter((v) => v.number >= refItem.verse && v.number <= end) : [];
+  const loading = state.key !== key;
+  return (
+    <div className="mb-3 rounded-xl border border-[var(--r-line)] bg-[var(--r-bg)] p-3" role="region" aria-label={`Cross-reference ${formatCrossRef(refItem)}`}>
+      <div className="mb-1.5 flex items-center justify-between gap-2">
+        <p className="text-sm font-medium">{formatCrossRef(refItem)} <span className="text-xs font-normal text-[var(--r-sub)]">{translation}</span></p>
+        <button type="button" onClick={onClose} aria-label="Close cross-reference" className="rounded p-1 text-[var(--r-sub)] hover:bg-black/5">×</button>
+      </div>
+      {loading ? <p className="text-sm text-[var(--r-sub)]">Loading…</p>
+        : state.error ? <p className="text-sm text-[var(--r-danger,#b42318)]">{state.error}</p>
+          : picked.length === 0 ? <p className="text-sm text-[var(--r-sub)]">Those verses weren’t found.</p>
+            : (
+              <p className="font-serif text-[15px] leading-relaxed">
+                {picked.map((v) => <span key={v.number}>{picked.length > 1 && <sup className="mr-0.5 font-sans text-[0.65em] text-[var(--r-sub)]">{v.number}</sup>}{v.text}{' '}</span>)}
+              </p>
+            )}
+      <button type="button" onClick={() => onOpen(refItem.book, refItem.chapter, refItem.verse)} className="mt-2 text-xs font-medium text-[var(--r-accent)] hover:underline">Open chapter</button>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
+
+const sameRef = (a, b) => a && b && a.book === b.book && a.chapter === b.chapter && a.verse === b.verse && (a.endVerse ?? a.verse) === (b.endVerse ?? b.verse);
+
+function RefsTab({ refs, loading, active, onPick, preview }) {
   if (loading && !refs) return <p className="text-sm text-[var(--r-sub)]">Loading…</p>;
   if (!refs?.length) return <p className="text-sm text-[var(--r-sub)]">No cross-references for this verse.</p>;
   return (
-    <div className="flex flex-wrap gap-1.5">
-      {refs.slice(0, 20).map((ref, i) => (
-        <button key={i} type="button" onClick={() => onJump(ref.book, ref.chapter, ref.verse)}
-          className="rounded-full border border-[var(--r-line)] px-2.5 py-1 text-xs hover:bg-black/5">
-          {formatCrossRef(ref)}
-        </button>
-      ))}
-    </div>
+    <>
+      {preview}
+      <p className="mb-1.5 text-[11px] text-[var(--r-sub)]">Tap one to read it here.</p>
+      <div className="flex flex-wrap gap-1.5">
+        {refs.slice(0, 20).map((ref, i) => (
+          <button key={i} type="button" onClick={() => onPick(ref)} aria-pressed={sameRef(active, ref)}
+            className={`rounded-full border px-2.5 py-1 text-xs ${sameRef(active, ref) ? 'border-[var(--r-text)] bg-[var(--r-text)] text-[var(--r-bg)]' : 'border-[var(--r-line)] hover:bg-black/5'}`}>
+            {formatCrossRef(ref)}
+          </button>
+        ))}
+      </div>
+    </>
   );
 }
 
@@ -99,10 +141,27 @@ function CompareTab({ book, chapter, verse, current }) {
 
 export default function VerseSheet({
   verse, book, bookName, chapter, translation, words, crossRefs, crossRefsLoading, onLoadCrossRefs,
-  bookmarkColor, onToggleBookmark, onCycleColor, onJump, onClose,
+  bookmarkColor, onToggleBookmark, onCycleColor, onJump, onClose, request,
+  verseHighlights = [], colorLabels = {}, onHighlightVerse, onClearVerseHighlights,
 }) {
   const [tab, setTab] = useState('commentary');
   const [copied, setCopied] = useState(false);
+  const [preview, setPreview] = useState(null); // the cross-reference being read in the panel
+  const appliedRequest = useRef(0);
+  // Leaving this verse closes the preview; a cross-reference tapped in the text opens it here. (Tracks the
+  // previous verse so React's double-run of effects in development can't clear a preview it just opened.)
+  const previousVerse = useRef(null);
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const verseChanged = previousVerse.current !== verse?.number;
+    previousVerse.current = verse?.number;
+    if (request && request.verse === verse?.number && request.n !== appliedRequest.current) {
+      appliedRequest.current = request.n;
+      setTab('refs');
+      setPreview(request.ref);
+    } else if (verseChanged) {
+      setPreview(null);
+    }
+  }, [verse?.number, request?.n]); // eslint-disable-line react-hooks/exhaustive-deps
   useEffect(() => { if (verse && tab === 'refs') onLoadCrossRefs(); }, [verse?.number, tab]); // eslint-disable-line react-hooks/exhaustive-deps
   useEffect(() => { setCopied(false); }, [verse?.number]);
   if (!verse) return null;
@@ -134,6 +193,27 @@ export default function VerseSheet({
         </>
       )}
     >
+      {onHighlightVerse && (
+        // One-tap highlighting of the whole verse (to mark just some words, select them in the text)
+        <div className="mb-3 flex flex-wrap items-center gap-1.5" role="group" aria-label="Highlight this verse">
+          <span className="mr-1 text-xs text-[var(--r-sub)]">Highlight</span>
+          {HIGHLIGHT_COLORS.map((color) => {
+            const on = verseHighlights.some((h) => h.color === color && h.startOffset === 0 && h.endOffset >= verse.text.length);
+            return (
+              <button key={color} type="button" onClick={() => onHighlightVerse(color)} aria-pressed={on}
+                aria-label={`Highlight verse ${colorTitle(color, colorLabels).toLowerCase()}`} data-tip={`${colorTitle(color, colorLabels)}${on ? ' — tap to remove' : ''}`}
+                className={`h-6 w-6 rounded-full border-2 transition hover:scale-110 ${on ? 'border-[var(--r-text)]' : 'border-transparent ring-1 ring-black/10'}`}
+                style={{ backgroundColor: color }}>
+                {on && <span className="text-[10px] leading-none text-[#2b2620]" aria-hidden="true">✓</span>}
+              </button>
+            );
+          })}
+          {verseHighlights.length > 0 && (
+            <button type="button" onClick={onClearVerseHighlights} className="ml-1 text-xs text-[var(--r-sub)] underline hover:text-[var(--r-text)]">Clear</button>
+          )}
+          <span className="basis-full text-[11px] text-[var(--r-sub)]">Or select words in the text to highlight just those.</span>
+        </div>
+      )}
       <div role="tablist" aria-label="About this verse" className="mb-3 flex gap-1.5 overflow-x-auto pb-1">
         {TABS.map(([id, label]) => (
           <button key={id} type="button" role="tab" aria-selected={tab === id} onClick={() => setTab(id)}
@@ -145,7 +225,10 @@ export default function VerseSheet({
       {tab === 'commentary' && <CommentaryTab book={book} chapter={chapter} verse={verse.number} />}
       {tab === 'compare' && <CompareTab book={book} chapter={chapter} verse={verse.number} current={translation} />}
       {tab === 'original' && <OriginalTab words={words} />}
-      {tab === 'refs' && <RefsTab refs={crossRefs} loading={crossRefsLoading} onJump={onJump} />}
+      {tab === 'refs' && (
+        <RefsTab refs={crossRefs} loading={crossRefsLoading} active={preview} onPick={setPreview}
+          preview={preview && <RefPreview refItem={preview} translation={translation} onOpen={onJump} onClose={() => setPreview(null)} />} />
+      )}
       {tab === 'people' && <PeoplePlacesTab book={book} chapter={chapter} verse={verse.number} />}
     </Sheet>
   );

src/components/study/PageShell.jsx

@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ export default function PageShell({ title, onBack, actions, active = null, maxWi
           </nav>
           <div className="ml-auto flex items-center gap-2">
             {openPalette && (
-              <button type="button" onClick={openPalette} aria-label="Search and go to"
+              <button type="button" onClick={openPalette} aria-label="Search and go to" data-tip="Search studies, notes and passages (⌘K)"
                 className="flex items-center gap-2 rounded-full border border-[var(--r-line)] bg-[var(--r-bg)] px-3 py-1 text-xs text-[var(--r-sub)] hover:bg-black/5">
                 <SearchIcon /><span className="hidden sm:inline">Search</span><kbd className="hidden rounded border border-[var(--r-line)] px-1 text-[10px] md:inline">⌘K</kbd>
               </button>

src/pages/ReaderPage.jsx

@@ -106,6 +106,7 @@ export default function ReaderPage() {
   const [chromeVisible, setChromeVisible] = useState(true);
   const [readerDrawMode, setReaderDrawMode] = useState(false);
   const [selectionPicker, setSelectionPicker] = useState(null);
+  const [xrefRequest, setXrefRequest] = useState(null); // a cross-reference tapped in the text: { verse, ref, n }
   const swipeTouchRef = useRef(null);
   const readerPageInkStrokes = readerInkByPage?.[`${readerBookAbbrev}_${readerChapter}`] ?? NO_STROKES;
 
@@ -298,6 +299,18 @@ export default function ReaderPage() {
     removeTextHighlight(id);
     if (gone) toast('Highlight removed', { action: { label: 'Undo', onClick: () => restoreTextHighlight(gone) } });
   };
+  // Highlighting a whole verse from the verse panel: tapping the same colour again takes it off.
+  const highlightVerse = (color) => {
+    if (!selectedVerse) return;
+    const existing = verseHighlights.find((h) => h.color === color && h.startOffset === 0 && h.endOffset >= selectedVerse.text.length);
+    if (existing) { removeHighlight(existing.id); return; }
+    addTextHighlight({ book: readerBookAbbrev, chapter: readerChapter, verse: selectedVerse.number, startOffset: 0, endOffset: selectedVerse.text.length, color, text: selectedVerse.text });
+  };
+  const clearVerseHighlights = () => {
+    const gone = verseHighlights;
+    gone.forEach((h) => removeTextHighlight(h.id));
+    if (gone.length) toast(`Removed ${gone.length} highlight${gone.length === 1 ? '' : 's'}`, { action: { label: 'Undo', onClick: () => gone.forEach((h) => restoreTextHighlight(h)) } });
+  };
   const removeBookmark = (key, color) => {
     toggleReaderBookmark(key);
     toast('Bookmark removed', { action: { label: 'Undo', onClick: () => restoreReaderBookmark?.(key, color) } });
@@ -387,6 +400,7 @@ export default function ReaderPage() {
   }).sort((a, b) => a.bookIndex - b.bookIndex || a.chapter - b.chapter || a.verse - b.verse || a.startOffset - b.startOffset);
 
   const selectedVerse = readerSelectedVerse != null ? readerVerses.find((v) => v.number === readerSelectedVerse) : null;
+  const verseHighlights = selectedVerse ? (readerTextHighlights || []).filter((h) => h.book === readerBookAbbrev && h.chapter === readerChapter && h.verse === selectedVerse.number) : [];
   const selectedKey = selectedVerse ? `${readerBookAbbrev}-${readerChapter}-${selectedVerse.number}` : null;
   const title = `${readerBook?.name ?? ''} ${readerChapter} · ${readerTranslation}`;
   const audio = {
@@ -459,6 +473,7 @@ export default function ReaderPage() {
             searchLower={chapterSearch}
             crossRefs={readerCrossRefs}
             showCrossRefs={readerShowCrossRefs}
+            onOpenCrossRef={(verse, ref) => { setReaderSelectedVerse(verse); setXrefRequest((r) => ({ verse, ref, n: (r?.n ?? 0) + 1 })); }}
             onSelectionEnd={handleSelectionEnd}
             footer={(
               <PlanFooter
@@ -528,6 +543,9 @@ export default function ReaderPage() {
           onCycleColor={() => cycleBookmarkColor(selectedKey)}
           onJump={jump}
           onClose={() => setReaderSelectedVerse(null)}
+          request={xrefRequest}
+          verseHighlights={verseHighlights} colorLabels={readerColorLabels ?? {}}
+          onHighlightVerse={highlightVerse} onClearVerseHighlights={clearVerseHighlights}
         />
       )}
 

src/pages/ReaderPage.test.jsx

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
-import { render, screen, fireEvent } from '@testing-library/react';
+import { render, screen, fireEvent, within, waitFor } from '@testing-library/react';
+import { StrictMode } from 'react';
 import { vi, test, expect } from 'vitest';
 
 const noop = () => {};
@@ -58,6 +59,64 @@ test('the compare button next to Aa opens the comparison sheet, and choosing a B
   expect(ctx.setReaderParallel).toHaveBeenCalledWith('NET');
 });
 
+test('a cross-reference under a verse opens the side panel with that passage, without leaving the chapter', async () => {
+  const saved = { ...ctx };
+  Object.assign(ctx, {
+    readerShowCrossRefs: true, readerSelectedVerse: 1,
+    readerCrossRefs: { 1: [{ book: 'ROM', chapter: 5, verse: 8, endVerse: 9 }] },
+    jumpToReaderVerse: vi.fn(),
+  });
+  vi.stubGlobal('fetch', vi.fn((url) => Promise.resolve({
+    ok: true,
+    json: () => Promise.resolve(String(url).includes('/api/bible/')
+      ? { verses: [{ number: 7, text: 'Seven.' }, { number: 8, text: 'But God shows His love for us.' }, { number: 9, text: 'Much more shall we be saved.' }, { number: 10, text: 'Ten.' }] }
+      : { chapter: { content: [] } }),
+  })));
+  render(<StrictMode><ReaderPage /></StrictMode>); // dev builds run effects twice; the preview must survive that
+  const chip = within(screen.getByRole('article')).getByRole('button', { name: 'Romans 5:8-9' });
+  fireEvent.click(chip);
+  const card = await screen.findByRole('region', { name: /cross-reference romans 5:8-9/i });
+  await waitFor(() => expect(within(card).getByText(/But God shows His love/)).toBeTruthy());
+  expect(within(card).getByText(/Much more shall we be saved/)).toBeTruthy();
+  expect(within(card).queryByText('Seven.')).toBeNull(); // only the verses in the reference
+  expect(ctx.setReaderSelectedVerse).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith(null); // the click didn't toggle the verse off
+  fireEvent.click(within(card).getByRole('button', { name: /open chapter/i }));
+  expect(ctx.jumpToReaderVerse).toHaveBeenCalledWith('ROM', 5, 8); // only now does it leave the chapter
+  fireEvent.click(within(card).getByRole('button', { name: /close cross-reference/i }));
+  expect(screen.queryByRole('region', { name: /cross-reference romans/i })).toBeNull();
+  Object.assign(ctx, saved);
+  vi.unstubAllGlobals();
+});
+
+test('the verse panel has one-tap highlight colours for the whole verse', () => {
+  const saved = { ...ctx };
+  Object.assign(ctx, { readerSelectedVerse: 2, addTextHighlight: vi.fn(), removeTextHighlight: vi.fn(), restoreTextHighlight: vi.fn(), readerTextHighlights: [] });
+  render(<ReaderPage />);
+  const row = screen.getByRole('group', { name: /highlight this verse/i });
+  fireEvent.click(within(row).getByRole('button', { name: /highlight verse green/i }));
+  expect(ctx.addTextHighlight).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.objectContaining({
+    book: 'JHN', chapter: 3, verse: 2, startOffset: 0, endOffset: 'This man came to Jesus by night.'.length, color: '#bbf7d0', text: 'This man came to Jesus by night.',
+  }));
+  Object.assign(ctx, saved);
+});
+
+test('tapping a verse colour again takes it off, and Clear removes them all (with Undo)', () => {
+  const saved = { ...ctx };
+  const text = 'This man came to Jesus by night.';
+  const hl = (id, color, start = 0, end = text.length) => ({ id, book: 'JHN', chapter: 3, verse: 2, startOffset: start, endOffset: end, color });
+  Object.assign(ctx, { readerSelectedVerse: 2, addTextHighlight: vi.fn(), removeTextHighlight: vi.fn(), restoreTextHighlight: vi.fn(), readerTextHighlights: [hl('a', '#bbf7d0'), hl('b', '#fef08a', 5, 8)] });
+  render(<ReaderPage />);
+  const row = screen.getByRole('group', { name: /highlight this verse/i });
+  expect(within(row).getByRole('button', { name: /highlight verse green/i })).toHaveAttribute('aria-pressed', 'true');
+  expect(within(row).getByRole('button', { name: /highlight verse yellow/i })).toHaveAttribute('aria-pressed', 'false'); // a part-verse highlight isn't "the verse"
+  fireEvent.click(within(row).getByRole('button', { name: /highlight verse green/i }));
+  expect(ctx.removeTextHighlight).toHaveBeenCalledWith('a');
+  expect(ctx.addTextHighlight).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  fireEvent.click(within(row).getByRole('button', { name: /^clear$/i }));
+  expect(ctx.removeTextHighlight).toHaveBeenCalledWith('b');
+  Object.assign(ctx, saved);
+});
+
 test('tapping a verse selects it', () => {
   render(<ReaderPage />);
   fireEvent.click(screen.getByText(/This man came to Jesus/));