I’ve been using the online Bible study tools at blueletterbible.org for years now. Speaking as a web designer, it’s not a very well designed site; but speaking as a student of the Bible, it’s a very useful site. I primarily use the concordance and dictionary features when I want help understanding a word or phrase in the English translation I happen to be reading. Sometimes, we all need a little help. After all, when was the last time you used the word “propitiation”, or “covenant”, in a sentence? – Like, “I saw on Sports Center that the MLB owners are drawing up a covenant offering propitiation to players caught up in the PED scandal.”
Right – that’s just meaningless on a lot of levels.
But, you get the point. Bible study tools are helpful; “free” and “online” just raises the value into bonus territory.
So, when I found out that BLB launched a free iPhone application, I was eager to try it out. Currently, I use YouVersion for iPhone, which has an easy-to-use interface, but it’s wonky search function and absent study tools make it just “good enough until something better comes along.” Blue Letter Bible’s new app just might be it. Here’s a short summary of what I found…
Not So Good News…
- Just like BLB’s web version, the app’s overall design isn’t very appealing and appears a bit dated.
- Just like the web version, there are lots of non-obvious looking icons you have to learn in order to navigate and use the tools. This lengthens the learning curve and makes getting around the app a little slow at first.
- Some of the included Commentaries just aren’t very good, insightful, or helpful.
- They created an auto-scrolling function. Cute, but what’s the point of that on an iPhone? Scrolling is the main way to use an iPhone.
- I didn’t see any way to look up a simple introduction to a Bible book, for example an introduction to the Gospel of John.
Good News…
- You can totally personalize the interface (font size and types, background colors, line spacing, etc) to make it more readable and appealing to your aesthetic senses. See the screen shot at the bottom of this post.
- The app comes with three English translations installed on your iPhone, with lots more available (but not down-loadable) for free via the web.
- It has all of BLB’s web tools so it’s EXTREMELY useful. You have easy access to:
- Multiple commentaries including good ones like Matthew Henry and Jamieson, Fausset & Brown;
- Bible Dictionaries and lexicons including Vine’s;
- Greek and Hebrew texts;
- Strong’s Concordance with a great interlinear view of transliterated Greek with English;
- Split screen comparison view of two versions.
- Create notes, create your own color-coded highlights, bookmark, organize folders of passages, view history.
The Best News…
The best news is that unlike the web version, the BLB for iPhone was created to be useful for daily Bible reading. So, you can use this app to read through Romans 3 before work, look up “propitiation” in Strong’s on your lunch break, and read Matthew Henry’s commentary on it before bed. Pretty handy.
Summary
The new BLB for iPhone App has lots of value as a daily Bible reader and study assistant once you learn the navigation and icon system. It falls a little short as a “Study Bible” since it lacks the useful book introductions typically contained in one. It’s not perfect, but for now it’s the most useful FREE Bible app I’ve found. If you want to try it yourself, you can find it at blueletterbible.org/iphone.
Blue Letter Bible for iPhone Screenshots
Average Us 
This Bible study tool has me looking into getting an I-Phone. I was wondering if it is independant of the internet once downloaded, or if you still must be connected to the web to use it.
Sorry for the belated reply Les. The answer to your question is “both”. Some translations and features are included in the App software. But most of the study tools (Commentaries, Dictionaries, Concordance) are served via the web.
I appreciate your reply Lon. I did manage to buy a used I-Phone over a week or so ago, and downloaded the app. It works very well for me. Fast and smooth. Nothing like having a backlit Bible in your hand. Like you said, some features are tethered to the web, but my Bible and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge are downloaded to the phone. With the Word and around 500 thousand verse references at the ready, there is always something new to search out! Thanks for your review.
Hi, Lon. I just ran across your site while doing a search for something. Thanks for the review! It’s always great to read reviews and feedback; it helps us understand how we can better serve BLB users.
Good news on the horizon: we have been working away on our website re-design (I know it’s overdue). The new version will roll out mid-2011 (hopefully sooner). All functions of the current site will remain and a few new ones will be added. Also, the website is getting a facelift, and it will be optimized for usability.
Look out for the BLB blog in February too.
I hope you’ll find the BLB website version 3.0 (what we call it around the office) a lot easier to use.
May God bless you and your study of His word, Lon!
Chris Poblete
Editor for Social Media
http://www.blueletterbible.org
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