A new Bible iPhone app is in town and it’s none other than the ESV.
But this is no ordinary app, because it’s fully loaded with over 2,700 pages of extensive biblical resources in addition to the Good Word.
It’s also not “ordinary” because it’ll set you back about $28.00 bucks as well.
Is this something you’d be interested in purchasing? Have you gone all “digital” with your Bible, and instead of whipping out the leatherbound you’re rocking the iPhone?
I don’t plan on dropping 28 bucks on this app, so let me know if you do it.
Dennis says
I have it and love it! It has everything my hard copy, 2.5″ thick, 4.2 lb copy has…on the iPhone (yes I have both…). I have a smaller NIV that I carry in my laptop bag, so this was a great addition for the Study Bible portion alone. $28…I had a gift card 🙂
Jay says
Thankfully I have access to my church's wireless, so with my iPod Touch I just access the ESV site and follow along from there and its great. There's quite a few people in church taking advantage of using their handheld devices instead of book. http://www.esv.org/
But that may get replaced because I just downloaded the YouVersion Bible from Lifechurch.tv to my Blackberry. Wow! What a great application. Something like 15 Bible versions (including ESV), a daily reading schedule and the ability contribute just like you can on their website. It's awesome.
That being said, when I am in deeper study (like at a desk), I'd rather have my big leather study Bible in front of me instead of my handheld device.
dewde says
Pretty cool. Glad to see this out there even if I'm not an iPhone user.
peace|dewde
human3rror says
which means you're awesome.
Mike says
One other option is to download the free Amazon Kindle reader for the iphone/ipod touch and then get the ESV Study Bible for Kindle. It's only $9.99 at http://www.amazon.com/ESV-Study-Bible-ebook/dp/B0…
The ESV Bible is free for the Kindle as well
Susan_Stewart says
I've been teased for years about my "five-pounder." I love my ratty, old Bible because it has so much more than just Bible verse in it. It has my spiritual story.
I use Biblegateway.com when at my computer, don't have anything on my iPod Touch yet. I'm sure I will soon. Will I trade that for my five-pounder at church, I don't think so. I love being able to not quickly insights God gives me. Will I pay $28. for it? Not sure. Would like to see more about it and compare to others before I decide.
Interesting, Jay, that your church has wireless. I wonder though, how many are tempting to take a "quick" check of email during prayer.
Jeff says
I stopped carrying me hard copy Bible with me a few months ago. I have been using the Bible app made by YouVersion on my iPhone and love it, and it is free. I know the downside is that I need to have access to the internet to use it, but I have yet to be in a location that I am unable to do my daily reading in the Bible app made by YouVersion.
I have had a few people look at me funny during the Worship service, they probably think I am texting when I am looking up the verses being talked about during the sermon.
chrishill says
Download the free Amazon Kindle app, download the free ESV bible Kindle version. Once you have the kindle copy, no wifi needed (and no analog Bible needed either).
Erik says
You can also download local copies of some of the YouVersion iPhone bibles. Internet connection optional. Check under settings > offline translations.
Josh Wagner says
I wish there was a way you could use the ESV on iPhone (or whatever) for free or at least cheap if you already have the ESV Study Bible. It seems silly for someone to buy it twice just for different versions. (I must admit, though, my ESV Study Bible was a gift, so maybe I'm just being cheap!) But I would use it.
Also, I think until we can make our notes and mark up "our" copy just like the paper version, people will mostly use the "five-pounder". (I think the Kindle might do this already, but I can't remember)
stephenbateman says
That's a good idea. it doesn't really cost them any more to do that either…
buchanan23 says
$28… wow. That's one hefty app! No doubt it is useful and I'm stoked to see it out there. I checked out the App Store to see what else the offered and it turns out they have 10 different readers that you can purchase with 9 of them being priced at $9.99 or more, even all the way up to $46.99 – ouch!
But even still, great to see God's Word permeating the media world and I hope they sell a lot!
Vy Tran says
I'm getting a Palm Pre within the next few weeks, and I just plan on hopping on BibleGateway or Youversion for my quick verse lookups unless a free app pops up for webOS. I've heard a lot of good stuff about Olive Tree's software, though, so you never know.
human3rror says
pre? really? let me know how that goes.
Jim says
i use youversion(web) until bbstorm app comes out…*cough*…*sputter* …But Sharon and the kids just got me a new leatherbound large print (NASB) I also use Greek NT Reader on Sundays.
kmorgan_rktect says
Right now I am using You Version and yes, I have gone digital and use my iphone as my Bible. I have purchased Olive Tree's products in the past on the Palm platform and they are usually very good.
JakeSchwein says
I like YouVersion!! I remember when the NIV was $20+ for the palm pilot…now it is free! Even though I am so digital there is still something great about grabbing my Bible and journal and just being with the Lord.
Eric Jones says
I have to admit i'll be all over this app once i get my 3GS. Yes i'm one of those peeps who's pre ordered. I have the Hard Cover ESV Study Bible and Online access and I love it. Great Great Great Bible…
Stephen says
I use ESVSB on my iPhone all the time. I love it! It is so nice to always have with me and not have to pull out the full book. In full disclosure I work for Olive Tree 🙂
tlamarca says
I too have gone digital and use youversion as well. it's a great app and I have even downloaded a couple versions through there in case i am in a dead zone (which tends to happen at those retreat centers in the middle of nowhere). Free is always better for me, so I never even put any thought towards spending that kind of cash on an app (especially since I have what I need in "analog" form).
ChurchETHOS says
I'm more excited that they have the Holman Christian Standard Bible and the Greek and Hebrew text…I don't think youversion has all of that. I don't have an iphone, but if I did, this would probably be an app that's worth the price. You can even overlay the hebrew or greek with your modern translation so that they are in a split screen mode. Very cool and nerdy all at the same time!
human3rror says
wow, send me a link. haven't heard about that.
Jools says
I bought the ESV Study Bible from Olive Tree. Actually John, it was worth every single last cent. The entire study bible is there – all the maps, character profiles, book introductions, tables, charts, diagrams, illustrations, and a bewilderingly large number of stunning articles.
This version is much more useful than the printed edition. The biblereader software supports split-screen viewing, so the study bible notes synchronize with the ESV bible text. Or, I can have a second version of the bible synchronised with the ESV. Put a finger on a verse cross-reference in the study bible notes, and it is instantly looked up in a popup window, which can be dismissed again just as quickly. I can create and edit my own notes for each and every verse in the bible, and I can save them online as a backup, or to print.
There are another hundred other reasons (if not more) why this particular ESV bible is worth every cent, but I’ll leave it at that.
Not least, it seems to me that someone has put an enormous amount of love and skill into producing it and are worthy of being paid for their extensive efforts. My understanding is that much of the money goes to paying the publisher, and a lot of work goes into formatting the resources for use on the mobile devices, whether or not the item is free. The ESV Study Bible is an ENORMOUS volume of work. People do that work, and they are people who presumably have mouths to feed @ home.
Incidentally, I find it interesting that Olive Tree also give away a vast (and I mean vast) quantity of free resources and bibles which often compete directly with paid items. They don’t hide them. They don’t make them difficult to get hold of.
And yes, I have switched completely to the digital version of the bible. It wasn’t something that I intended to do. It just happened. I’ve accumulated a library of my own notes and bookmarks which reside inside the biblereader software. Using a printed bible now makes no sense.
If there is anything I dislike about Olive Tree’s biblereader software, it’s bugs. They release new versions way too quickly and the bugs are beginning to become disruptive and very irritating. They always fix them, but the same thing happens again.
Jools says
PS – Crossway have now released a free OFFLINE iPhone app for the ESV.
iTunes
http://www.itunes.com/app/esvbible
ESV Blog
http://www.esv.org/blog/2010/03/now-available-the-esv-on-your-iphoneipod-touch/
joanna says
You could also also get the ESV study bible on your iPhone by downloading to the Kindle app from the Kindle store. That will cost you between $10-12 depending on where in the world you are accessing it rom