Bible.is a free app for electronic devices. It’s ongoing development is by the non-profit organization Faith Comes by Hearing. Originally founded in 1972 as a Christian cassette tape lending library, Faith Comes by Hearing’s stated mission is “To record and provide the Word of God in every translated language.” Their goal is to partner with other organizations to record and freely provide the Bible in every language that needs it by the year 2033.

Bible.is available for download on both iOS (Apple) and Android devices. Or you can read and/or listen on your computer. Bible.is designed to effectively engage the Bible through hearing it read in your own language and sharing it with others —even publicly on social media. As of this writing, Bible.is has nearly 1,500 languages available for listening to the Bible.

Using Bob’s Five Bark Bible App Review System we evaluate Bible.is….

1. Easy Access

Bible.is has over a dozen versions of the English Bible available. The app has several of the best-selling translations including the New International Version (NIV); King James Version (KJV); and English Standard Version (ESV).  Noticeably absent are Top 10 best-sellers New Living Translation (NLT); New King James Version (NKJV); and Christian Standard Bible (CSB). Also missing is one of Bob and I’s favorites, the Common English Bible (CEB).

Yet, what Bible.is lacks in breadth of English Bible versions, it more than makes up for with the sheer number of other languages available for reading, listening, or watching.  Small icons for text, audio, and video help the user know what is accessible to them for a particular Bible. For example, Martin Luther’s 1545 German translation is easily accessible for reading.  The leading Spanish translation, Reina Valera, is available in several of its revisions with video or audio options.

What I like best about Bible.is is that it is truly a Bible app for the world, not just America.  English isn’t given prominence as the major language. Rather, all languages have equal attention. The good news here is that the good news can be good news because a lot of folks around the world with access to a smartphone can read, hear, or watch the good news in their native tongue.

Bob the bloodhound says that even people with their inferior noses can hunt this one down. Bob gives a loud “bark” for Bible.is easy access.

2. Easy Navigation

A Bible app is only as good as its ease of getting around to what you want to read, listen, or watch.  Bob and I’s rule of thumb is that if you consistently need to spend more than 30 seconds finding what you want, then you need a different app.

Bible.is has a simple menu without a lot of complicated icons.  The first time I entered the app, I had no problem immediately finding the Bibles, languages, and information I wanted.  I moved quickly and effortlessly to the Bible version and passage I was looking for.

Bob knows a good Bible app’s scent shouldn’t throw you off.  He gives a “bark” to the easy navigation of the Bible.is app.

3. Easy Reading

Bible.is has one of the easiest and most effective ways of changing the text font to suit your reading needs. You can also change the page color, add background music, and hide the verse numbers, if you wish.

One of the features I utilize regularly is the sleep timer.  Back in the days before apps, I typically read a physical Bible in bed at night until I fell asleep.  Now, I pull up Bible.is, set the timer, and have the Bible read to me as I doze off.  You can even set the pace of the reading.

This is an easy, convenient, and helpful app for reading, listening, or watching.  Bob would give a “bark,” but he’s already fallen asleep in front of the fireplace listening to Bible.is.

4. Easy Information

Some folks like lots of information in the form of study references, reading plans, and the ability to easily write your own notes in the text of the Bible. Others just want a straightforward reading. I personally am not interested in loads of information in the form of reference works or study guides.  I find that all the information creates more complicated ways of finding things.  What’s more, I want physical commentary and reference books.  That’s just me.  So, I really like how Bible.is sets everything up without all the extra stuff.

Bible.is contains several Bible reading plans to choose from. You may also highlight a text and/or make a note. There are options to arrange and collate the notes.  Although taking notes is easily done, it took me a bit to discover how to do it.  Not all Bible apps are the same in how to do certain functions.

One tip for any Bible app is that if you are having difficulty finding out how to do what you want, you can always go to the search icon and say or type what you want.  A good app will take you where you want to go without much hassle.

Bob gives a “bark” for ease of gaining and creating information.

5. Easy Sharing & Connection

The ability to share information and connect with others who are reading the Bible is a strength of Bible.is.  Reaching out is of high value to Faith Comes by Hearing, so creating Scripture playlists and sharing them is not complicated.  And if you’ve never done it before, Bible.is is a good app to begin connecting with others.

A lot of people who use Bible.is have it as their go-to app.  Frankly, it’s a lot more fun and interesting to share video and audio than straight-up text.  And when you consider this is a free Bible app, well then, you’ve truly got a winner.

Bob sits up and gives a “bark” to Bible.is for ease of sharing and connecting with others.

 

There you have it.  Using Bob’s Five Bark Bible App Review System we give Bible.is 5 out of 5 barks.

Great job, Bible.is!  Thanks to Faith Comes by Hearing for sticking to your mission.  And we look forward to all the languages and Bibles you will add in the years to come.

See you on the trail!