13 Best Study Bibles

In a hurry and need a quick list?  Here are our favorite study Bibles:

John MacArthur Study Bible

The MacArthur Study Bible, Second Edition - Revised and Updated

The John MacArthur Study Bible is not your average study Bible, it is so much more than average. Available in hardcover, paperback as well as Kindle versions you can have it in a form that is most convenient for you and your lifestyle.

The Bible study is versatile and written in modern language in the NASB translation. This makes the Bible study super easy to read.

When you choose this bible study guide, you will be choosing a book that is jam-packed with useful context, commentaries and so much more. Written in clear English this study guide will engage you and keep you engaged.

You will never get tired of it as you go through the word and find new insight each time you read it. In one line, we could say the John MacArthur Study Bible is a complete study Bible with additional content to make the Bible easy to understand and apply to your life.

Here is our full review of the John MacArthur Study Bible.

Zondervan Study Bible

Bible Review | NIV Zondervan Study Bible By D. A. Carson Editor

The NIV Zondervan Study Bible is a well-designed study Bible. It is quite large as it is packed with loads of added value information.

It is one of a few full-color options on the market and is a scholarly bible study guide with contributions from well-known Bible Scholars from major Universities. It is truly best described as “comprehensive” and you can guess this from the size.

As such, it is not the type of Bible you carry around with you. It is the type of Bible that stays in pretty much one place, in your study area in your home or office.

It’s also great when used for general reading because of its large size and the comprehensive amount of information.  You can always find something new when you study the Word of God.

With this study Bible, you can use it repeatedly and still learn something and still grow closer and closer to God and his truth for your life with each and every repeat read.

Here is our full review of the Zondervan Study Bible.

Life Application Study Bible

What’s New about the Life Application Study Bible, Third Edition? (Available 10/1/19)

While there is no “best” Bible study guide, you can find one that is just right for your needs. It is the features of a study Bible and how they help you to remain engaged and provide you with clarity that is what makes a good Bible. Knowing what features will enrich your Bible reading experience is what will help you to figure out which Bible Study guide is best for you.

It is a good choice for beginners or believers who are not entirely adept at their biblical knowledge and how to apply it to their everyday lives. Even more seasoned readers of the Bible will find this Bible study guide useful. It will provide readers with an easy-to-read unit that will not be intimidating. This, of course, will simply just make it easy to enjoy reading the word. With this Bible Study, you can look forward to your Bible study each day as you can now read with better understanding and with more clarity as to how to apply the word of God to your everyday life.

The Life Application Study Bible will make a great gift item for new believers. It can be gifted for weddings, graduations, and pretty much any other major life transition and can be given at any time of the year.

KJV Study Bible

The KJV Study Bible from Holman is a great choice. It is complete with good notes, better than most other study bibles. The full-color images and maps are beautiful and the study Bible is quite a feature-rich one. It is the only full-color KJV study bible available and that alone puts it in a class of its own. But this bible study is much more than simply pretty to look at. It is designed with a feature to help the reader to be transformed and grow in their faith and knowledge of the Lord and is the aim of our lives here on earth.

With over 2,400 pages this bible is packed with study notes, photos, timelines, maps, illustrations, reconstructions, and charts that bring the stories in the Bible to life. In addition to that, the study bible includes a 40-page concordance and has a total of 20 essays and articles along with a very helpful glossary that will help you to find meaning with 17th-century expressions.

With an included reading plan, and two different types of reading plans, you don’t have to know where to start. You just choose one and allow the study bible to guide you through it.

The KJV is one of the bestselling translations of the Bible, it is known for capturing the majesty and beauty of the word of God. This study Bible is a great option for a devotional bible or a resource Bible for men, women, students, and anybody looking to grow their relationship with God.

ESV Study Bible

Crossway ESV Study Bible Hardcover

The ESV Study Bible has sold over 1 million copies to date and has won the EXPA Book of the Year Award. The authors designed this study bible to provide its readers with an easier way for them to understand the Bible in the deepest possible way. It is a very feature-rich study bible with a plethora of study notes and cross-references to help guide the reader to a deeper understanding of scripture to better apply it to their lives.

The ESV study bible is a hands-down amazing bible for study purposes for anybody in the Christian faith. It is suitable for use by persons across denominations and using the ESV translation it truly is easy to understand. It is a heavy Bible but it is worth it due to the volume of information that is contained within the covers. Its offering strikes a perfect balance between practical applicability and biblical and theological depth.

Rainbow Study Bible

Rainbow Study Bible Review

The Rainbow Study Bible is a very aesthetically pleasing bible. But it is not color-coded just to be pretty. The color-coding instead provides you the reader with an easier way to delve into the Bible and to easier make correlations between different scriptures at a glance. This study bible is a great resource for beginners as it is for preachers and teachers as well.

The study bible is packed with a great amount of additional information and is not simply just a bible with a devotional reading plan. It features so many things outside of just the usual Books of the Bible with over 1500 pages of content and additional content in the back.

The book is more than just its color-coding. There are also features such as the more than 100,000 cross-references found within the study bible. There are also the maps and illustrations, notes and to help the reader to have a better understanding of the bible and how it can be used and applied to your life.

The Swindoll Study Bible

The Swindoll Study Bible is a favorite for many. It is filled with added information in the form of articles and insightful notes. The author provides these from his history and experience with theology over the years. In an NLT translation, the study bible provides clear and concise language that is easy to understand for its readers.

The primary focus of this Bible is to help the reader to be able to apply Bible teachings to their life. The additional materials in the study Bible help to further simply text and provide a clearer understanding of its user. The Bible’s primary focus is on getting readers to apply biblical principles to their lives and less on putting across the theological viewpoints of the author. But of course, there is information there that is from his viewpoint. All in all the Swindoll Study Bible is a great addition to your library for spiritual growth and clarity.

Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible

The Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible is the Zondervan replacement of the Archaeological Study Bible. Published in 2016, this bible is smaller in size but includes a lot more information and insight from a cultural perspective. The bulk of the trimming was done in the design and layout of the bible. It discusses multiple points of view and provides meaningful insight into the culture back then and how we can apply the Bible to our lives and the culture of today.

If you are interested in the culture and background of the authors of the bible then the Cultural Backgrounds study bible is a great choice for you. Not only does it offer insight into the writer’s background and culture but also of the culture of the time and the background of the audiences of the authors back then. It is a great study tool if you are looking into going into a more in-depth study of the scripture or if you are just starting and what to get it right the first time.

The Complete Jewish Study Bible

The Complete Jewish Study Bible is an invaluable tool for persons at all levels. It is ideal for both Christians and Jews and is great for those who want to study the Bible in a Hebrew or Jewish context. Those learning the language and culture can do well to cross-reference with this Bible.

It includes so much more than just the scripture as it provides you with information on Jewish customs, pronunciations, and the way in which you can understand the traditional Jewish view of the verses. It can be used for study as well as a source to refer back to for teachers and preachers.

The Complete Jewish Study Bible is a great addition to your library if you are looking for a book that will help you to clarify the Jewish nature of the New Testament or if you are a Christian that wants to know more about the Jewish traditions and origins of our faith and how they both intertwine.

Quest Study Bible

The Quest Study Bible was first created in 1989 by the Zondervan publishing company and Christianity Today International. The bible was developed in a way that would provide readers with the ability to provide persons with answers to challenging life questions. Some of these questions may already be in your mind while some of them may arise as you read through the scripture.

This study bible is unique as it was put together not just by scholars and world-renowned authors but also because it was compiled through input from over 1,000 people. The information was crowdsourced with people being asked to read a passage of scripture and then indicate what questions came to mind when they read the scripture. Their responses were responsible for how the questions were placed and posed in the notes section of this study Bible.

With each subsequent release of the Quest Study Bible, the notes section is updated. This helps to keep the content relevant to the needs of readers in modern times and in times to come.

Jeremiah Study Bible

The Jeremiah Study Bible is a great option. It is the type of study Bible that does not feel overly academic. They note that while it does guide you through a study of the Bible, it does so in a more intimate way than other study bibles. It does meet the aim that Dr. Jeremiah indicates he wanted it to meet when he authored it.

We believe that this study Bible is great for anyone who wants an in-depth Bible study and who is new. With over 2,200 pages of content, this study Bible is very insightful and offers practical content for our modern-day to day lives. The bible is academic, yet not dull and boring. It is easy to understand but still takes care of complex issues. It is great for those who are new to Bible study or for those who have done other studies and are now looking for a new perspective. It is a great study Bible, all in all, the type that you will always want to read again and will be sure to find something new each to you start over.

Tony Evans Study Bible

The Tony Evans Study Bible is a great option for those who are looking for a study Bible that can help to put the bibe into perspective. Dr. Evans has authored over 100 books, Bible studies, and booklets. Named as one of the most effective preachers in the English-speaking world he was the first African-American to publish a STudy Bible and Commentary.

The study Bible was developed by over 100 scholars from 17 different Christian denominations. It is accurate and faithful in the way that it captures the original meaning of the Bible and does not compromise the readability. It is designed to help you understand the word of God by making it easier to read and more clear and concise. Based on its translation it is great for all types of readers, from the youngest to the oldest and from new converts to the experienced preacher.

If you are looking for a highly trustworthy study Bible, that features a faithful translation and is easy to read, then look no further than the Tony Evans Study Bible.

Biblical Theology Study Bible

The NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible is an ideal choice if you are looking for a means of studying the Bible on your own or planning a message. It is great if you are a beginner or a long-time Christian. The study Bible provides reliable theology that’s deeply insightful. The text is faithful while the viewpoints are written conservatively.

Last update on 2023-01-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API