Study Bibles Comparison Chart (for Devotions, Small Groups, and More)

Study Bibles not only contain the full text of Scripture, but also include explanatory notes, insightful commentary, historical timelines, comparison charts, and colorful illustrations, which help readers understand God’s Word and apply it to their lives.

The comparison chart below is a quick-reference guide to 50 different Study Bibles. If you need help further help in making a choice, please see this helpful guide: How to Choose a Study Bible.

Bible study
Please see my video on Study Bibles below

After browsing the Study Bibles below, see Best Bible Commentary Series: Top 50. Based on aggregate reviews.

50 Study Bibles Compared

NameTranslation/
Red Letter/
Columns
Theme
Uniqueness
Notes & IllustrationsBrowse
The Amplified Study Bible

amplified study bible
– Amplified
– No
– two
enhanced understanding of Greek and Hebrew5,000+ study notes; Full-color maps See on
Amazon
using
exact
ISBN
The
Apologetics
Study Bible

apologetics study bible
– CSB
– No
– two
helping readers defend the faithbottom of page, apologetics articles; charts, maps, defending the Bible’s credibilitySee on
Amazon
using
exact
ISBN
Archaeological
Study Bible

archaeological study bible
– NIV
– Yes
– one
color pictures of statues, artifacts, scrolls, and morebottom of page, 520 articles; 500 four-color picturesSee on
Amazon
using
exact
ISBN
Biblical
Theological
Study Bible

biblical theology study bible
– NIV
– No
– one
tracing God’s redemptive plan in Scripture20,000 verse-by-verse study notes; 100’s of color photos, 90 maps, 60 chartsSee on
Amazon
using
exact
ISBN
The
Catholic
Study Bible

catholic study bible
– NABRE
– No
– two
Roman Catholic perspectives and interpretationsbottom of the page; 32 full-color mapsSee on
Amazon
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exact
ISBN
Chronological
Life Application
Study Bible

chronological life application study bible
– NLT
– No
– two
tracing 10 eras of Bible history in chronological ordersection intros, timelines, historical notes; full-color photosSee on
Amazon
using
exact
ISBN
The
Complete Jewish
Study Bible

complete jewish study bible
– original
– No
– one
seeing how the OT points to Jesus145 articles, Hebrew keywords; color-coded overviews, maps, chartsSee on
Amazon
using
exact
ISBN
CSB
Ancient Faith
Study Bible

ancient faith study bible
– CSB
– No
– two
study notes from early church fathersbios of early church fathers; styled headings, chapter titles, and lettersSee on
Amazon
using
exact
ISBN
CSB
Study Bible

csb study bible
– HCSB
– Yes
– two
16,000 study notes based on HCSB translationincludes 368 word studies on
Greek and Hebrew words; 94 photos, 55 maps, 61 timelines
See on
Amazon
using
exact
ISBN
Cultural
Backgrounds
Study Bible

Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible
– NIV, NKJV
– Yes
– two
insight into the customs, culture, and literaturebottom of page; 300+ articles; 375 color photos; dozens of charts/mapsSee on
Amazon
using
exact
ISBN
Dake
Annotated

dake annotated study bible
– KJV, NKJV
– Yes
– two
35,000 notesbottom of page, 500k chain references; color mapsSee on
Amazon
using
exact
ISBN

Whole-Bible Commentaries are excellent resources for people who want to learn more about the Bible. See One-Volume Bible Commentaries: The Top 25 to learn more.

NameTranslation/
Red Letter/
Columns
Theme
Uniqueness
Notes & IllustrationsBrowse
ESV
Archaeology
Study Bible

ESV Archaeology Study Bible
– ESV
– No
– two
notes were written by field-trained archaeologistsbottom of page notes, additional articles; 400+
color pics;
200+ maps,
diagrams
See on
Amazon
using
exact
ISBN
ESV
Study
Bible

ESV Study Bible
– ESV
– Yes
– one
20,000 notes; endorsed by John Piper

Also see the
Best ESV
Study Bibles
bottom of page, 50+ articles; 200+ chartsSee on
Amazon
using
exact
ISBN
Systematic Theology
Study Bible

Systematic Theology Study Bible
– ESV
– No
– two
showing how Christian doctrine arises the Bible400+ doctrinal summaries, 25+ longer articlesSee on
Amazon
using
exact
ISBN
Every
Man’s
Bible

every man's study bible
– NLT
– No
– two
thousands of notes on topics related to menexplanatory notes on select verses, 44 chartsSee on
Amazon
using
exact
ISBN
Everyday
Life Bible
(Joyce Meyer)

everyday life study bible
– Amplified
– No
– two
Meyer’s notes, commentary, and applicationin-text articles, application notes; color-shaded articlesSee on
Amazon
using
exact
ISBN
Fire Bible

fire study bible
– KJV, ESV
– No
– two
helps Pentecostal pastors and lay leadersstudy notes for select verses, 70 articles; in-text charts and mapsSee on
Amazon
using
exact
ISBN
First-Century
Study Bible

first-century study bible
– NIV
– No
– two
answers questions about life in Bible timesnotes, articles, word studies; color maps, charts, diagramsSee on
Amazon
using
exact
ISBN
Harper
Collins
Study Bible

Harper Collins Study Bible
– NRSV
– No
– one
based on the latest critical scholarshipexplanations on difficulties in biblical text; maps, tables, and chartsSee on
Amazon
using
exact
ISBN
Henry Morris
Study Bible

Henry Morris study bible
– KJV
– Yes
-one
apologetics focusing on creationism10,000 study notes; Full-color mapsSee on
Amazon
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exact
ISBN
HCSB
Study Bible

HCSB study bible
– HCSB
– No
– two
every clarifying resource is on the same page15,000+ notes, bottom of page; 141 photos; 62 timelinesSee on
Amazon
using
exact
ISBN
The Jeremiah
Study Bible

David Jeremiah Study Bible
– NJKV
– Yes
– two
from pastor David Jeremiah10,000+ notes and 55 articles; maps, charts, and tables are in colorSee on
Amazon
using
exact
ISBN
The Jewish
Study Bible

jewish study bible
– JPS
– Yes
– one
40 essays on Jewish life and worshipstudy notes in right column, bottom of page; color, Oxford bible mapsSee on
Amazon
using
exact
ISBN
Key Word
Study Bible

key word study bible
– KJV, NIV
– Yes
– two
Greek and Hebrew word studieskey words, word studies, Strong’s numbersSee on
Amazon
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exact
ISBN
The
King James
Study Bible

king james study bible
– KJV
– Yes
– two
study aids developed for KJV5,700 notes on theology, people, history; 100’s of maps and chartsSee on
Amazon
using
exact
ISBN
The
Lutheran
Study Bible

lutheran study bible
– ESV
– Yes
– two
Lutheran perspectives and lectionarybottom of page; prayers quotations; maps, info graphicsSee on
Amazon
using
exact
ISBN
Life Application
Study Bible

Life Application Study Bible
– NIV
– Yes
– Single
helps bible readers “take it personally”bottom of page; 16 full-color maps; 400+, maps, chartsSee on
Amazon
using
exact
ISBN
Life Principles
(Charles Stanley)

life principles study bible
– NKJV, NIV
– Yes
– two
Stanley’s study notes and applicationsbottom of page notes;
bios, Q & A’s,
articles, maps
See on
Amazon
using
exact
ISBN
MacArthur
Study Bible

John MacArthur Study Bible
– NASB, NKJV
– No
– two
utilizes MacArthur’s research20,000+ notes, 80,000 references; color maps: 140+ 2-color maps, timelinesSee on
Amazon
using
exact
ISBN
The Maxwell
Leadership Bible

John Maxwell Study Bible
– NKJV
– Yes
– Two
Articles on Maxwell’s leadershipNotes connect with leadership principles; color-shaded articlesSee on
Amazon
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exact
ISBN
The Nelson
Study Bible /
NKJV Study Bible

– NKJV
– Yes
– two
“the mind of a scholar and the heart of a pastor”15,000+ notes, 114 theology articles; 16 full-color mapsSee on
Amazon
using
exact
ISBN
The
New Inductive
Study Bible

new inductive study bible
– NASB, ESV
– No
– one
32-page explanation of the inductive study methodstep-by-step instructions for how to mark text; 23 pages of color charts, timelines, mapsSee on
Amazon
using
exact
ISBN
NIV
Study
Bible

NIV Study Bible
– NIV
– Yes
– two
NIV concordance, subject and study notes indexescharacter studies, archaeology, application; 16 color maps; in-text maps, charts, diagramsSee on
Amazon
using
exact
ISBN
NLT
Illustrated

NLT illustrated study bible
– NLT
– Yes
– two
lots of color; targets visual learnersbottom of page, articles, tables, charts, graphics; color mapsSee on
Amazon
using
exact
ISBN

Most people want a commentary on the book of Revelation more so than any other book of the Bible. See Best Revelation Commentaries to learn more.

NameTranslation/
Red Letter/
Columns
Theme
Uniqueness
Notes & IllustrationsBrowse
The
Orthodox
Study Bible

Orthodox Study Bible
– LXX, NKJV
– No
– two
notes from an Orthodox perspectiveliturgical readings, book intros, outlines, color maps, and iconsSee on
Amazon
using
exact
ISBN
Prophecy
Study Bible

prophecy study bible
– NKJV
– No
– two
Pastor John Hagee is the General Editorprophecy articles; prophecy Q & A: prophecy index; mapsSee on
Amazon
using
exact
ISBN
The Pursuit
of God Bible
(A.W. Tozer)

tozer study bible
– NIV
– No
– two
Tozer’s insights on Christian living600 readings from Tozer; maps, stylized textSee on
Amazon
using
exact
ISBN
Quest
Study Bible

quest study bible
– NIV
– No
– one
helps new and young Christians7,000 sidebar notes, 350 articles; 16 pages of color map; 150 charts, timelines, mapsSee on
Amazon
using
exact
ISBN
Rainbow
Study Bible

rainbow study bible
– NIV
– No
-one
underlines all words directly spoken by Godcolor-system; reading guide, concordance; 12 pages of color mapsSee on
Amazon
using
exact
ISBN
Reformation
Study Bible

reformation study bible
ESV, NKJV
– No
– one
team of 75 pastors and theologians led by R.C. Sproul10,000+ notes, bottom of page; 8 pages of color mapsSee on
Amazon
using
exact
ISBN
The Ryrie
Study Bible

charles ryrie study bible
– NASB, KJV, ESV
– Yes
– two
premillennial perspective10,000+ notes, articles on theology; 16 color maps; 8-page timelineSee on
Amazon
using
exact
ISBN
The Scofield
Study Bible
(New)

scofield study bible new
– NKJV
– Yes
– two
550 in-text definitions; chain reference systemtopical articles, charts, and lists; 16 color maps; 70 charts, mapsSee on
Amazon
using
exact
ISBN
The Scofield
Study Bible
(Old)

scofield study bible old
– KJV
– Yes
– two
premillennial teaching from C.I. Scofield1917 notes; 16 pages of color; Oxford Bible MapsSee on
Amazon
using
exact
ISBN
Spirit-Filled
Life Bible

spirit-filled life study bible
– NKJV
– Yes
– two
Jack Hayford, General Editor650 word studies; 192 guided prayers; color design maps and chartsSee on
Amazon
using
exact
ISBN
Spiritual
Warfare
Bible

spiritual warfare study bible
– MEV
– Yes
– two
Spiritual Warfare focused notes250 prayers; 200 tips for spiritual warfare; maps, charts, styled textsSee on
Amazon
using
exact
ISBN
The Swindoll
Study Bible

swindoll study bible
– NLT
– Yes
– two
pastoral commentary, application focusbio articles, geography articles, written prayers; blue and gray theme; maps, photosSee on
Amazon
using
exact
ISBN
Thompson
Chain-Reference

theompson chain reference bible
– KJV, ESV
– Yes
– two
“self-contained
library” of bible study tools
100,000 topical references; 8,000 chain topics; 14 color mapsSee on
Amazon
using
exact
ISBN
The Wiersbe
Study Bible

wiersbe study bible
– NKJV
– Yes
– two
teaching from Warren Wiersbeverse-by-verse notes, color mapsSee on
Amazon
using
exact
ISBN
The Woman’s
Study Bible

women's study bible
– NIV
– Yes
– two
contributions from over 80 women300 in-text articles, essays for women; full-color throughout, charts, maps, tablesSee on
Amazon
using
exact
ISBN

Also Best Romans Commentaries to learn more.

Also see:

Best Matthew Commentaries

Best Acts Commentaries

Best Genesis Commentaries

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