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.
After browsing the Study Bibles below, see Best Bible Commentary Series: Top 50. Based on aggregate reviews.
50 Study Bibles Compared
| Name | Translation/ Red Letter/ Columns | Theme Uniqueness | Notes & Illustrations | Browse |
The Amplified Study Bible | – Amplified – No – two | enhanced understanding of Greek and Hebrew | 5,000+ study notes; Full-color maps | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
| The Apologetics Study Bible  | – CSB – No – two | helping readers defend the faith | bottom of page, apologetics articles; charts, maps, defending the Bible’s credibility | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
| Archaeological Study Bible  | – NIV – Yes – one | color pictures of statues, artifacts, scrolls, and more | bottom of page, 520 articles; 500 four-color pictures | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
| Biblical Theological Study Bible  | – NIV – No – one | tracing God’s redemptive plan in Scripture | 20,000 verse-by-verse study notes; 100’s of color photos, 90 maps, 60 charts | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
| The Catholic Study Bible  | – NABRE – No – two | Roman Catholic perspectives and interpretations | bottom of the page; 32 full-color maps | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
| Chronological Life Application Study Bible  | – NLT – No – two | tracing 10 eras of Bible history in chronological order | section intros, timelines, historical notes; full-color photos | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
| The Complete Jewish Study Bible  | – original – No – one | seeing how the OT points to Jesus | 145 articles, Hebrew keywords; color-coded overviews, maps, charts | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
| CSB Ancient Faith Study Bible  | – CSB – No – two | study notes from early church fathers | bios of early church fathers; styled headings, chapter titles, and letters | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
| CSB Study Bible  | – HCSB – Yes – two | 16,000 study notes based on HCSB translation | includes 368 word studies on Greek and Hebrew words; 94 photos, 55 maps, 61 timelines | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
| Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible  | – NIV, NKJV – Yes – two | insight into the customs, culture, and literature | bottom of page; 300+ articles; 375 color photos; dozens of charts/maps | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
| Dake Annotated  | – KJV, NKJV – Yes – two | 35,000 notes | bottom of page, 500k chain references; color maps | See 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.
| Name | Translation/ Red Letter/ Columns | Theme Uniqueness | Notes & Illustrations | Browse |
| ESV Archaeology Study Bible  | – ESV – No – two | notes were written by field-trained archaeologists | bottom of page notes, additional articles; 400+ color pics; 200+ maps, diagrams | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
| 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+ charts | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
| Systematic Theology Study Bible  | – ESV – No – two | showing how Christian doctrine arises the Bible | 400+ doctrinal summaries, 25+ longer articles | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
| Every Man’s Bible  | – NLT – No – two | thousands of notes on topics related to men | explanatory notes on select verses, 44 charts | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
| Everyday Life Bible (Joyce Meyer)  | – Amplified – No – two | Meyer’s notes, commentary, and application | in-text articles, application notes; color-shaded articles | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Fire Bible | – KJV, ESV – No – two | helps Pentecostal pastors and lay leaders | study notes for select verses, 70 articles; in-text charts and maps | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
| First-Century Study Bible  | – NIV – No – two | answers questions about life in Bible times | notes, articles, word studies; color maps, charts, diagrams | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
| Harper Collins Study Bible  | – NRSV – No – one | based on the latest critical scholarship | explanations on difficulties in biblical text; maps, tables, and charts | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
| Henry Morris Study Bible  | – KJV – Yes -one | apologetics focusing on creationism | 10,000 study notes; Full-color maps | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
| HCSB Study Bible  | – HCSB – No – two | every clarifying resource is on the same page | 15,000+ notes, bottom of page; 141 photos; 62 timelines | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
| The Jeremiah Study Bible  | – NJKV – Yes – two | from pastor David Jeremiah | 10,000+ notes and 55 articles; maps, charts, and tables are in color | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
| The Jewish Study Bible  | – JPS – Yes – one | 40 essays on Jewish life and worship | study notes in right column, bottom of page; color, Oxford bible maps | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
| Key Word Study Bible  | – KJV, NIV – Yes – two | Greek and Hebrew word studies | key words, word studies, Strong’s numbers | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
| The King James Study Bible  | – KJV – Yes – two | study aids developed for KJV | 5,700 notes on theology, people, history; 100’s of maps and charts | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
| The Lutheran Study Bible  | – ESV – Yes – two | Lutheran perspectives and lectionary | bottom of page; prayers quotations; maps, info graphics | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
| Life Application Study Bible  | – NIV – Yes – Single | helps bible readers “take it personally” | bottom of page; 16 full-color maps; 400+, maps, charts | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
| Life Principles (Charles Stanley)  | – NKJV, NIV – Yes – two | Stanley’s study notes and applications | bottom of page notes; bios, Q & A’s, articles, maps | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
| MacArthur Study Bible  | – NASB, NKJV – No – two | utilizes MacArthur’s research | 20,000+ notes, 80,000 references; color maps: 140+ 2-color maps, timelines | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
| The Maxwell Leadership Bible  | – NKJV – Yes – Two | Articles on Maxwell’s leadership | Notes connect with leadership principles; color-shaded articles | See on Amazon using 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 maps | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
| The New Inductive Study Bible  | – NASB, ESV – No – one | 32-page explanation of the inductive study method | step-by-step instructions for how to mark text; 23 pages of color charts, timelines, maps | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
| NIV Study Bible  | – NIV – Yes – two | NIV concordance, subject and study notes indexes | character studies, archaeology, application; 16 color maps; in-text maps, charts, diagrams | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
| NLT Illustrated  | – NLT – Yes – two | lots of color; targets visual learners | bottom of page, articles, tables, charts, graphics; color maps | See 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.
| Name | Translation/ Red Letter/ Columns | Theme Uniqueness | Notes & Illustrations | Browse |
| The Orthodox Study Bible  | – LXX, NKJV – No – two | notes from an Orthodox perspective | liturgical readings, book intros, outlines, color maps, and icons | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
| Prophecy Study Bible  | – NKJV – No – two | Pastor John Hagee is the General Editor | prophecy articles; prophecy Q & A: prophecy index; maps | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
| The Pursuit of God Bible (A.W. Tozer)  | – NIV – No – two | Tozer’s insights on Christian living | 600 readings from Tozer; maps, stylized text | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
| Quest Study Bible  | – NIV – No – one | helps new and young Christians | 7,000 sidebar notes, 350 articles; 16 pages of color map; 150 charts, timelines, maps | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
| Rainbow Study Bible  | – NIV – No -one | underlines all words directly spoken by God | color-system; reading guide, concordance; 12 pages of color maps | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
| Reformation Study Bible  | – ESV, NKJV – No – one | team of 75 pastors and theologians led by R.C. Sproul | 10,000+ notes, bottom of page; 8 pages of color maps | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
| The Ryrie Study Bible  | – NASB, KJV, ESV – Yes – two | premillennial perspective | 10,000+ notes, articles on theology; 16 color maps; 8-page timeline | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
| The Scofield Study Bible (New)  | – NKJV – Yes – two | 550 in-text definitions; chain reference system | topical articles, charts, and lists; 16 color maps; 70 charts, maps | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
| The Scofield Study Bible (Old)  | – KJV – Yes – two | premillennial teaching from C.I. Scofield | 1917 notes; 16 pages of color; Oxford Bible Maps | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
| Spirit-Filled Life Bible  | – NKJV – Yes – two | Jack Hayford, General Editor | 650 word studies; 192 guided prayers; color design maps and charts | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
| Spiritual Warfare Bible  | – MEV – Yes – two | Spiritual Warfare focused notes | 250 prayers; 200 tips for spiritual warfare; maps, charts, styled texts | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
| The Swindoll Study Bible  | – NLT – Yes – two | pastoral commentary, application focus | bio articles, geography articles, written prayers; blue and gray theme; maps, photos | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
| Thompson Chain-Reference  | – KJV, ESV – Yes – two | “self-contained library” of bible study tools | 100,000 topical references; 8,000 chain topics; 14 color maps | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
| The Wiersbe Study Bible  | – NKJV – Yes – two | teaching from Warren Wiersbe | verse-by-verse notes, color maps | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
| The Woman’s Study Bible  | – NIV – Yes – two | contributions from over 80 women | 300 in-text articles, essays for women; full-color throughout, charts, maps, tables | See on Amazon using exact ISBN |
Also Best Romans Commentaries to learn more.
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