Bible App Update: Compare Versions, New Plan Discovery, More…

Our mission at YouVersion has always been to help you engage with the Bible. Last year, we completely redesigned the Bible App to make it even easier to get more of God’s Word into your daily life. Today, we’re thrilled to announce our most significant update since that launch. These brand-new features — along with exciting upgrades to some old favorites — now help you do more of the things you want, even faster, and more simply than ever before.

Compare Versions

Now, for the first time ever in the Bible App, you can quickly see how different Bible versions translate the same passage. Perhaps you’re having difficulty understanding the meaning of a passage, and you want to to see it phrased another way. Or maybe you come across a verse that feels like you’ve heard it before, but it’s just not quite the way you remember it. Tap on the verse, then tap Compare Versions, and see the same verse repeated in all of your recently used Bible translations. And as you’re comparing, you can easily add or remove which versions you’re seeing. You can even Compare Versions when you’re offline, showing your verse in any versions you’ve previously downloaded.

Get Version Compare

New Bible Plan Discovery

We never stop exploring new ways that we can equip you with tools to bring biblical wisdom to every aspect of your everyday life. For this release, we created several new Plan categories, then expanded the ways we categorize Plans, then completely redesigned our Plan “Discover” page to be more visual and intuitive. Struggling with stress? Looking for wisdom for your relationships? Need a dose of hope of inspiration? Now, not only is it easier to find just the right Bible Plan(s) for the season of life you’re in — it’s fun!

Get Plans’ New Look

New Verse Action Design

We also completely redesigned how Verse Actions work, with a handy new menu that makes it simple to Share, Bookmark, Highlight, create Verse Images, and more. When you feel inspired as you’re reading or listening, one tap slides your options into view at the bottom of the screen… without blocking your view of Scripture. One more tap starts any available action. Adding or removing a Highlight — or changing the color of an existing one — is now as easy as touching a dot on the all-new color bar. Slide the Verse Actions bar from left to right to see even more options, such as custom Highlight colors and our all-new Compare Versions feature.

Get One-Tap Simplicity

About the Bible App

We want your Bible App experience to be as amazing as possible. So before you update or install this latest version, please check your device Settings to ensure that it’s up-to-date with the most recent release of iOS or Android available for your device. Some Bible App features may not be available on older devices, or on older versions of iOS or Android.

The Bible App has been installed on more than 231 million unique devices, all over the world. Developed by YouVersion, the Bible App offers more than 1,300 Bible versions, in more than 1,000 languages. And it’s always completely free.

Get it now

2016-08-112016-08-31

The Bible App for Kids is Now Available in Thai and Urdu!

Around the world, more than 28 million people speak Thai, and more than 113 million speak Urdu. Now for the first time ever, your children can experience the Bible App for Kids in either of these languages! Together with our partner OneHope, we want as many kids as possible to have the opportunity to fall in love with God’s Word in their own heart language. The Bible App for Kids is also available in Afrikaans, Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese, Chinese (Mandarin audio with either Simplified or Traditional Characters), Dutch, English, Farsi, French, German, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, and Turkish.

BAFK Update Language-01

And, did you know that the Bible App for Kids lets you switch between languages directly inside the app? To get this great feature, just update your Bible App for Kids to the most current version. After you’ve run the update, look under Settings for “Language,” then select from any of nineteen languages. The audio will play in that language, and any text will appear in that language, too!

Please share this great news with your friends!

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About the Bible App for Kids

The Bible App for Kids is the newest app from YouVersion, makers of the Bible App, designed to give children a delight-filled Bible experience all their own. Developed in partnership with OneHope, the Bible App for Kids has already been installed on more than 11 million Apple, Android, and Kindle devices, and it’s always completely free. Kids from all over the world are now enjoying the Bible App for Kids—in Afrikaans, Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese, Chinese (Mandarin audio with either Simplified or Traditional characters), Dutch, English, Farsi, French, German, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Turkish, and now… in Thai and Urdu!

Get it now

ehamupi.co.uk

2016-08-092016-08-16

The Bible App is the first app in history to offer text content in 1,000 languages!

The Bible App: First to 1,000 Languages

Our mission is to help people engage with God’s Word. And today, thanks to the generosity of our partners, we’re pleased to announce that language number 1,000 comes to us in a Bible. Bibilia Ilagano Lya Kale 2015 is written in Sukuma, the primary language of 7.6 million people in Tanzania, Africa. As incredible as it is to be announcing this milestone, Sukuma is just one of the 81 new languages and 83 new Bible versions that our partners introduced to the Bible App during the last three months alone. (The full list appears below.)

If you came here from an email we sent to you, welcome!
(If you’re not receiving our emails, you can subscribe here.)

We hope that you enjoy the freedom of experiencing God’s Word in your favorite language. If the Bible has impacted your life as profoundly as it has ours, it’s important that you know:

More than a billion people still don’t have a Bible in their language.¹

Bible societies, Bible publishers, and copyright holders have worked together to generate a detailed list of which languages do not have their own Bible. Of almost 7,000 languages in the world,² nearly 2,000 still need translation projects started.³ That sounds like a lot — and it is. But by leveraging today’s technology and communication, it’s within our reach to see the Bible translated into every language…within this generation. And even if you don’t know how to translate, there’s a place for you within this vision:

What if you could help a family like this one get a Bible… just by clicking a button?

You Can

It was for families just like this one that the Bible Society of Tanzania developed the Bibilia Ilagano Lya Kale 2015, the Bible that brought Sukuma to the Bible App.⁵ Tanzania is home to Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa⁶ — and to almost 55 million people.⁷ The Bible is living and active⁸ among Tanzania’s largest people group,⁹ the 7.6 million Sukuma: 3.2 million of them are professing Christians.¹⁰ And now that they can use Bibilia Ilagano Lya Kale 2015 in the Bible App, they can engage with God’s Word wherever they go, and even more easily share it with others.

Why now?

In 2011, more than half of all Tanzanians (32 million) had a mobile device, with mobile services there rapidly on the rise.¹¹ Just as in other parts of the world, affordable smartphones have introduced many Tanzanians to their first computing devices — and to their first internet access.¹² In developing countries, smartphones not only connect people with more news and information, but even with education, healthcare, and financial services.¹³ And with more than half of Tanzania’s population (64%) under age 25,¹⁴ it’s more important than ever that we equip this generation with God’s Word right wherever they are — through their mobile devices.

Don’t miss this chance to join in what God is doing in the world.

Bibilia Ilagano Lya Kale 2015 is just one of over 1,300 Bibles — and Sukuma just one of 1,000 languages — that now help people engage with God’s Word in their own language in the Bible App. We do what we do because the Bible changed our lives. We hope it’s changed your life, too.

Our partners are working to ensure that every person on Earth will have that same opportunity: to experience God’s Word in their own language. What will happen when that vision is fulfilled? Let’s find out! Get involved. Just tap on any of these Bible partners to see how you can become a part of this incredible mission:

	American Bible Society
	Wycliffe
	United Bible Societies
	Biblica
	Bible Society of India
	Bible Society of the Democratic Republic of Congo
	Institute for Bible Translation
	Bible Society of Uganda
	Bible Society of Tanzania
	Bible Society of Cameroon
	Paraguayan Bible Society
	Canadian Bible Society
	Bible Society in Liberia
	Pioneer Bible Translators
	Aramaic Bible Translation
	Bangladesh Bible Society
	Bible Society of Burkina Faso
	Bible Society in the Central African Republic
	Bible Society of Côte d’Ivoire
	Bible Society of Malawi
	eBible.org
	Vietnam Partnership

Newest Versions and Languages

‘Abi’uai Apa’uana Mahamahana
Waima

1962 Ndandi New Testament and Psalms
Nande

Adi Bible (Re-edited)
Adi

Aimol New Testament (Re-edited)
Aimol

Alladian New Testament 2003
Alladian

Amri Karbi New Testament
Amri Karbi

Ang Bag-o Nga Kasugtanan
Kinaray-A

Anut san Bilaluŋ Foun
Takia

Apatani New Testament
Apatani

Baibuli Erikwera 1964
Nyankole

Biete Bible
Biete

Lusoga Bible with Deuterocanon
Soga

Biblia Enxet (Lengua Sur)
Enxet

Chakhesang Chokri New Testament
Chokri Naga

Chechen Bible
Chechen

Chiyawo Bible
Yao

Chothe New Testament
Chothe Naga

Crimean Tatar Bible
Crimean Tatar

Datoga New Testament
Datooga

Dii New Testament
Dii

Ekajuk New Testament
Ekajuk

Enhlit Bible
Lengua

Galo New Testament
Galo

God Ye Weng Karadmo
Yongkom

God’s Holy Book
Baga Sitemu

God’s Holy Book in Sankaran
Sankaran Maninka – Sankaran

Jola-Kasa New Testament
Jola-Kasa

Kagulu New Testament
Kagulu

Kaninuwa Scripture Portions
Kaninuwa

Kapsiki Bible with Deuterocanon
Psikye

Kele (Lokele) New Testament 1958
Kele (Democratic Republic of Congo)

Khakas New Testament
Khakas

Kikwango New Testament 1950
Kituba (Democratic Republic of Congo)

Kilega New Testament 1957
Lega-Mwenga

Kogi New Testament
Cogui

Kok Borok Bible (Re-edited)
Kok Borok

Komrem Bible Revised
Kom (India)

Kpelle Bible
Liberia Kpelle

ksp Bible in Kaba
Kaba

Kuku-Yalanji Bible
Kuku-Yalanji

Kumam Bible with Deuterocanon
Kumam

Kumyk New Testament
Kumyk

Le Nouveau Testament en Gbaya
Southwest Gbaya

Loma New Testament
Loma (Liberia)

Luganda Revised Bible
Ganda

Maring C.L. Bible
Maring Naga

Masanbo Bible (Re-edited)
Liangmai Naga

Moore Bible with Deuterocanon
Mossi

Ngombe New Testament 1961
Ngombe (Democratic Republic of Congo)

Nivaclé Bible
Nivaclé

Nogai New Testament
Nogai

Nouveau Testament en Langue Kroumen Plapo (Plaawin) de Côte d’Ivoire
Plapo Krumen

Nouveau Testament en Luba-Kalebwe 1952
Songe

Nyishi Bible
Nyishi

Ojibwe Shorter Bible (Roman Script)
Ojibwe: Saulteaux (Western) – Nakawēmowin

Ojibwe Shorter Bible (Syllabic Script)
Ojibwe: Saulteaux (Western) – Nakawēmowin

Oniyan New Testament and Old Testament portions
Bassari

Pere New Testament
Peere

Pochury Naga Bible
Pochuri Naga

Rade Revised Bible
Rade

Rote Tii New Testament and Genesis
Tii

Santali Common Language New Testament
Santali

Scriptures in Misima-Paneati
Misima-Panaeati

Selections from Genesis in the Hanga language
Hanga

Sukuma Bible 2015
Sukuma

Takuu New Testament
Takuu

Tangkhul Naga C.L. Bible (Re-edited)
Tangkhul Naga (India)

Tangsa Holy Bible
Tase Naga

Tatar Bible
Tatar

The Bible in the Tuvan Language
Tuvan

The Gospel of Luke
Even

The Holy Book of God in the Balochi Language
Southern Balochi – Southern Balochi (Roman)

The Holy Book of God in the Balochi Language
Southern Balochi

The New Testament in Longando
Ngando (Democratic Republic of Congo)

The New Testament in Mongo-Nkundu 1958
Mongo

The New Testament in the Akeu Language
Akeu

The New Testament of Our Lord Jesus Christ and the Psalms in Assyrian
Assyrian Neo-Aramaic

Urat New Testament
Urat

Urim-Kalpm New Testament
Urim

Usan New Testament
Usan

Wantoat New Testament
Wantoat

Waris Bible
Waris

Yupik Bible
Central Yupik

Sources:

“Mission,” Every Tribe Every Nation.
“How many languages are there?” BBC.
“Mission,” Every Tribe Every Nation.
“Sukuma People,” photo by paulshaffner, used under Creative Commons license 2.0. (Mr. Shaffner is not affiliated with YouVersion or with the Bible Society of Tanzania.)
Bibilia Ilagano Lya Kale 2015, Bible.com.
“Tanzania: Geography,” Wikipedia.
“Country: Tanzania,” Joshua Project.
Hebrews 4:12.
“Sukuma (People),” Encyclopædia Brittanica.
“Sukuma in Tanzania,” Joshua Project.
“Communications: Telephone system” and “Telephones – mobile cellular,” CIA Factbook: Tanzania.
“2.2 Mobile driving innovation across the world,” GSMA Global Mobile Economy Report 2016, p. 25.
“Mobile plays key role in socio-economic development,” GSMA Global Mobile Economy Report 2016, p. 4.
“People and Society: Age structure,” CIA Factbook: Tanzania.

2016-06-112016-06-09

Bible App Android Update: Audio, Tablet, and Offline Features

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Bible App for Android update:

Listen more, see more, and do more offline.

At YouVersion, we never stop working to bring you the best Bible experience we can. And while we don’t usually announce every update we make to the Bible App, the features in our latest Android release are worth celebrating. (Many of these same features are also available in the most recent release of the Bible App for iOS.) Tap below to update now, or keep reading to see why we’re so excited!

Update Now

Listen how you want, however long you want.

All-new audio Bible controls let you adjust your playback speed.¹ Make God’s Word the soundtrack to your life: start the Bible App reading to you, and use the new Timer to tell it how long to play.

Breathe new life into your tablet.

Enjoy the same features you already love on your Android phone, now optimized to take full advantage of your tablet.² Study versions side by side with the all-new Split Screen parallel Bible feature for Android. This is the best Bible experience we’ve ever offered for Android tablets, with better performance and smoother transitions between screens.

Your Plans for today, made clear.

We’ve made the ‘Day’ view for Bible Plans simpler than ever. Now when you tap on one of your subscribed Plans, the Bible App shows you everything you need to flow smoothly through today’s selection: devotional content, Bible passages, calendar, and more.

Connect with Scripture… even offline.

Great opportunities to engage daily with God’s Word often happen when you don’t have a reliable Internet connection: on trains, on airplanes, or when you’re enjoying the outdoors. That’s why many Bible App features now also work offline. Sometime when you do have a connection, take just a few minutes to download a few Bible versions and subscribe to a Bible Plan (or several), and you’ll have them whenever you need them, even offline.³ And when you’re able to reconnect again later, the Bible App will sync your offline activity to your YouVersion account, making it available on all your devices.

Updating is easy.

This new release also includes several other improvements: bottom navigation that conforms to Google’s Material design specification, more refined control over your language settings, and a smoother sign in / sign up experience. Even with all of these improvements, we still managed to reduce the app’s size! How can you take advantage of all these great new features?

Update Now

¹Adjustable playback speed available on devices running Android version 6.0 (Marshmallow) and newer.

²Although optimized for Android tablets running versions 5.0 and 5.1 (Lollipop) and 6.0 (Marshmallow), all versions will see noticeable improvements.

³Audio Bibles not available offline.

2016-04-242016-05-02

Every person who wants to know what the Bible says should be able to find out.

But they can’t. At least, not yet…

If you’re reading this, it’s likely that you already have the Bible in your language. (We hope so.) You may even have several versions to choose from. But have you ever wondered what your life might be like without the Bible? Think about how God’s Word speaks to you when you read it. What if the Bible were available in your language… but you couldn’t see? Or you didn’t know how to read? It’s estimated that 285 million people worldwide are visually impaired,¹ and that 775 million adults (~17%) cannot read or write.² How will they discover all that God wants to say to them through His Word?

If you came here from an email we sent to you, welcome!
(If you’re not receiving our emails, you can subscribe here.)

Bible societies are bringing God’s
Word to everyone. You can help.

In just the last three months, generous Bible society partners have introduced 25 new audio versions to the Bible App, offering new opportunities to connect with the Bible, for people who may never have had it before. Half of the world’s population now has a mobile subscription (up from just one in five 10 years ago).³ Anywhere a mobile device can go, God’s Word can be there. This freedom changes lives:

“I am totally blind. The Bible App is invaluable! I can read the Bible anywhere, anytime. Now I can truly study the Bible. As my husband has some difficulty with reading, this app is also invaluable to him!”
—Bible App User from Australia

As liberating as audio Bibles are, they’re just a small part of all that Bible societies are doing to change the world. During that same three months, they introduced 23 new Bible texts to the Bible App. Together, these contributions represent 38 new languages! (The full list is below.)

The day is coming when every person on earth will have the opportunity to experience God’s Word, because passionate people have dedicated their lives to bringing this vision to life. Of the 7,000 languages in active use today, the complete Bible has been translated into 550, and the New Testament into 1,300.⁴ While many language groups remain to be done, Bible societies are translating for the largest groups first. In addition, easier travel and new communication technologies have exponentially increased their capacity.

Don’t miss your chance to take
part in what God is doing in the world.

Your contribution to bringing God’s Word to Myanmar could transform a child’s life:

(That’s thanaka on her face, a traditional cosmetic paste made from tree bark.⁵)

In Southeast Asia, where this girl lives, more than 32 million people speak Myanmar (Burmese), mostly within their country’s borders. Still classified as “unreached” by the Gospel, most of Myanmar’s population is Buddhist. Although some projections estimate that as much as 9% of Myanmar’s people might be Christians, it’s difficult to know for certain.⁶ People who profess any religion other than Buddhism are socially ostracized, and often violently persecuted. For these reasons, most Christ followers in Myanmar keep their faith secret.⁷

But their story is just beginning. In recent elections, the people of Myanmar united to overthrow years of government corruption and violence. Now mobile service providers are introducing technology there designed to advance health care, and even to help people conduct financial transactions.⁸ When these positive changes began sweeping across the nation, Global Bible Initiative was ready, bringing their New Testament Myanmar Standard Bible to Myanmar’s Bible App users. Now, thanks to their work, even if Christians in Myanmar can’t share their faith openly—yet—they can still remain connected to God’s Word.

Aided by new technologies, Bible societies now have the chance to bring God’s Word to every person in the world, no matter where they live, what language they speak—or even what physical challenges they face. An opportunity like this has never existed before in human history. And we get to be here. You get to be here. You were made for such a time as this.

Now that you know,
what will you do?

Join us. Click below and learn what our Bible society partners are doing. Find one whose vision inspires you—and commit to support them. All of creation is waiting in eager expectation to see what we will do.⁹

	American Bible Society
	Wycliffe
	Global Bible Initiative
	Biblica
	Viorel Silion
	Bulgarian Bible Society (BBS at UBS.org)
	Bible Society in Guinea-Conakry
	The Bible Society of Ghana (BSG at UBS.org)
	Messianic Jewish Publishers and Resources
	United Bible Societies