The 10 Best Amplified Bibles

video play icon

This wiki has been updated 23 times since it was first published in December of 2017. Have you ever read a passage in the Bible and then realized you didn't comprehend a word of it? That will no longer be an issue, thanks to these helpful Amplified editions. They go in-depth on the meanings, translations, and history behind each scripture, ensuring you have a full understanding of the text. The options we've selected are the traditional Zondervan versions, except where noted. When users buy our independently chosen editorial choices, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.

1. KJV Parallel Amplified Bible

2. Amplified Bible Compact Hardcover

3. Amplified Holy Bible Large Print

Editor's Notes

June 09, 2020:

Amplified Bibles represent a kind of middle ground between original translations and study bibles. They offer help with the nuance and subtle shades of meaning that get lost when you don't understand the language used without being saturated with extra notes and pedagogy. We curated this list to appeal to people of all stripes, whether you're in need of a comparative selection that places several translations side by side, like the Classic Comparative Amplified Bible, or want to go further than Greek and Hebrew to find a text that includes Aramaic words and phrases too, like the Amplified Bible Topical Reference does.

Some readers are wary of this type of Bible, as they have garnered a reputation for being clunky, random, and confusing over the years. Thankfully, publishers like Zondervan and others have tried to rectify this and streamlined the reading experience so that the amplifications help, instead of hinder, the text and your overall understanding. That being said, an amplified bible shouldn't be the only source you turn to. Think of it as a method for gaining more of a particular perspective in addition to what you've learned via discussions with friends and family and self-study.

Today we said goodbye to the Thinline Lay Flat, which is a fine choice but has nothing much to set it apart from its peers except for its compact size, which the Amplified Bible Compact Hardcover also boasts. Instead, we felt the Paragraph-Style Amplified Bible would be a welcome new addition. It does away with the usual dual-column layout and is formatted with paragraphs that flow well, so you can enjoy an unfettered reading experience. This helps facilitate better comprehension in the long run and can help offset reading fatigue during long study sessions.

Special Honors

BibleProject BibleProject is a nonprofit animation studio that produces short-form, fully animated Bible videos and other resources to make the biblical story accessible to everyone, everywhere. They create free videos, podcasts, articles, illustrations, posters, and more to help you on your learning journey. bibleproject.com

Zondervan Academic If you've picked up a Zondervan Bible and are looking for even more guidance and information, consider checking out the publisher's academic resources. They offer self-paced courses set by renowned Christian scholars, authors, and teachers. Students can choose from wide-sweeping classes on historical theology and biblical interpretation as well as focused courses on readings from the book of Romans, Galatians, Daniel, and much more. zondervanacademic.com

4. Everyday Life Bible

5. Paragraph-Style Amplified Bible

6. Battlefield of the Mind Bible

7. Hendrickson Parallel Amplified Bible

8. Classic Comparative Amplified Bible

9. Amplified Bible Cross-Reference

10. Amplified Bible Topical Reference


Gia Vescovi-Chiordi
Last updated by Gia Vescovi-Chiordi

Born in Arizona, Gia is a writer and autodidact who fled the heat of the desert for California, where she enjoys drinking beer, overanalyzing the minutiae of life, and channeling Rick Steves. After arriving in Los Angeles a decade ago, she quickly nabbed a copywriting job at a major clothing company and derived years of editing and proofreading experience from her tenure there, all while sharpening her skills further with myriad freelance projects. In her spare time, she teaches herself French and Italian, has earned an ESL teaching certificate, traveled extensively throughout Europe and the United States, and unashamedly devours television shows and books. The result of these pursuits is expertise in fashion, travel, beauty, literature, textbooks, and pop culture, in addition to whatever obsession consumes her next.


Thanks for reading the fine print. About the Wiki: We don't accept sponsorships, free goods, samples, promotional products, or other benefits from any of the product brands featured on this page, except in cases where those brands are manufactured by the retailer to which we are linking. For more information on our rankings, please read about us, linked below. The Wiki is a participant in associate programs from Amazon, Walmart, Ebay, Target, and others, and may earn advertising fees when you use our links to these websites. These fees will not increase your purchase price, which will be the same as any direct visitor to the merchant’s website. If you believe that your product should be included in this review, you may contact us, but we cannot guarantee a response, even if you send us flowers.