Bible: 19 translations on your iPhone

When I was going through a minor existential crisis a few years ago, I read the Bible from cover to cover. The copy I had was the rattiest, oldest paperback version I could find: I got it for two bucks at a library booksale.

The Bible app for iPhone and iPod touch, however, beats even that, because it's free. Bible is published by YouVersion.com, a social website for people reading the Bible that allows annotation and discussion of passages in the book.

Bible includes 13 English translations, three Spanish translations, and one translation each in French, German, and Simplified Chinese. It's searchable by term or location (chapter and verse), and includes a "daily read" tool that -- if you stick with it -- you can use to read the whole kit and kaboodle in a year.

There are more than 20 other Bible applications available in the App Store, costing as much as $30. The upshot is that some don't require an internet connection to view the text. (Thanks, commenters, for that one.) For example, Acro Bible NIV is $28.99, and includes only the New International Version. In this crowded category, there is also another app identically named "Bible," but it's $14.99.

There is also a free version of the Qur'an, called iQuran, available too. For the devout, there are web apps to help with prayer times as well, but no native iPhone app yet. As yet there isn't a full version of the Torah in the App Store, but there are both KosherMe (the mealtime blessings for $6.99) and Pocket Luach Lite (Jewish calendar conversion for $3.99).

Bible -- the YouVersion (uh) version -- is free, and available at the App Store.

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Source: http://youversion.com/iphone/

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When I was going through a minor existential crisis a few years ago, I read the Bible from cover to cover. The copy I had was the...

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Nathaniel Palmer

Do the devs have to pay a licensing fee if they a version other than the kjv?

August 18 2008 at 2:17 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Rosstafari

For non iPod users, check out www.podbible.org.

August 10 2008 at 2:44 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Gordon U

I'm adding to JonathanB's voice calling in the wilderness. We're all discussing how many versions of a 2,000-plus year old collection of myths and superstitions you can get on a 21st Century wonder of modern (man made) science. As J says - try reading the God Delusion before downloading any more Bible apps!

August 08 2008 at 8:15 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Jim Barr

I've used Bible applications on the Palm platform for a LONG time, so it was exciting to discover the variety of available apps for the iPhone/iPod Touch. I own and iPod Touch, so an online application is, quite simply, useless. Offline access is essential. Don't get me wrong, the "Bible" app is very nice, intuitive, quick, and deep, but its reliance on an Internet connection makes it nothing more than a Web App in my opinion.

That said, I have purchased and installed several free and not free Bible applications including the other "Bible" app, BibleScape, Mantis Bible Study, and AcroBible NIV. They all have their merits, but I have to say that AcroBible NIV is my app of choice. Despite some of the scholarly issues surrounding the NIV version, it is readable and very good. The application is solid, intuitive, and quick, and most importantly, it works all offline.

I'm glad to see the variety, and many others will appreciate the varied Bible versions as well as differing approaches to application design. But as an iPod Touch user, offline access is absolutely essential.

August 07 2008 at 9:46 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Unregistered

I used to have an e-bible using eReader on Jailbreak while on 1.1.4. I really miss that. Not looking forward to paying so much for a Bible app. Tops I would go is $9.99.

Would it be wrong to use the 'I own the cd or game cartridge, therefore i can rip an mp3 or run the rom from an emulator' argument here?

Can of worms.

August 06 2008 at 11:09 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

JonathanB

Let me know when the God Delusion is available for the iPhone!

August 06 2008 at 7:28 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to JonathanB's comment

In the meantime, I'd suggest Julia Sweeney's wonderful series, available on YouTube (as audio, for now), entitled "Giving Up God" -- it's a great one-woman show. You should be able to get that on your iPhone/iPod touch pretty easily with a search in YouTube.

Also, I'd also recommend "Why Doesn't God Heal Amputees?" and others in this series. It's a nice YouTube series that challenges beliefs with logical-yet-simple discussions. Share it with your theist friends.

August 06 2008 at 8:09 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

josh S

Nice app. Just wish they had the New World Translation version

August 06 2008 at 7:16 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Steve_C

nevermind... ha

August 06 2008 at 6:57 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Steve_C

Where did my comment go?

August 06 2008 at 6:56 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Steve_C

Can't we all just give up superstitions and not need a pocket bible? Anyone got any Hemingway for the iPhone yet? Sagan? Gould?

August 06 2008 at 6:27 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

2 replies to Steve_C's comment

Jason Blosser

Why are you wasting so much time reading superstitious comments about such superstitions? The Bible stands up to more historical, archaeological and manuscript evidence than any other ancient (or modern) writing.

August 07 2008 at 1:19 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Steve_C

I'm not a slow reader. So it took very little time.

Which part of the bible stands up to all that scrutiny?

Very very little. Unless you believe in talking burning bushes, virgin births and zombies absolving us of the original sin of "adam and eve" who didn't even exist.

2000 year old tribes just don't write very good fiction.

August 07 2008 at 10:02 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply