eBible vs. YouVersion: Web Bible 2.0 Smackdown

YouVersion (project from LifeChurch.tv) just announced that its Beta is public. So I decided to do a quick review of it and compare it to eBible which launched early 2006.

Getting started

The sign up and registration process was pretty standard, no real problems. Except that when I clicked on the Privacy and Terms of Service links my registration for was wiped out and I had to start over. Most people do not click on those, but address that I will might help conversions.

Searching the Bible

I know its kinda unfair to compare YouVersion with eBible, but the biggest problem with it is that only offers the King James Version. But its a will be a big deal if you want me to use it (missed this in the interface).

My first observation is why start with Genesis 1? I do not think I've ever opened my Bible to the first page, unless that is what I wanted to read. I like eBible's approach of the initial view being a search box. Plus, I think this begs the question of all Bible search, all of them seem to assume some knowledge of the Scriptures to start. This is probably a mistaken assumption unless your search is intended for current Bible readers.

One bug I noticed is that I typed Timothy into the search box. The results gave me text results, that's fine (except you'd think it should mention that there is an entire book named Timothy and eBible performs the same).

The results are fine -- except that the result shown above for 1 Timothy 6:2 is not right. I point it out not to make fun (I'm a developer I know how it goes).

Verse View

I clicked on 1 Timothy 6:2. And saw this. It is the correct version (although the search blurb showed me something different). I'm still confused. Where am I? It just tells me that I'm on the King James Version, no Book, no verse. Opps.



This is where YouVersion is different than all other Bible search. It allows you to do more than tag or share a verse. You can add content and connect it with a specific verse: text, photos or video. I was a bit disappointed here -- because the photos and videos are basically just links to YouTube or Picasa.

So my question is, why would I spend my time adding  content to YouVersion rather than just creating a blog and doing it there.

I do not see non-Bible readers doing this at all. How would they start? First they'd need to know a verse (unlikely) and then add content. If you don't know a verse, you don't add content. Then its just a search tool like all the others.

For active Bible readers or users, what does YouVersion give back to me in exchange for my time and wisdom? I can see other people links, photos or video. But really is that worth my time? It searches. No does eBible and Bible Gateway. There are no Bible tools that help prep for a sermon or help real Bible study.

My Conclusion

I know its just a beta. So I'm not concerned about the bugs. However, my assuption is that there are 2 audiences for Bible search: current Bible users who are looking for more information about something and non-Bible users wanting to find something interesting.

• I do not see YouVersion appealing to pastors or students because it really does not do anything that isn't already done better by online and desktop software.
• I do not see it appealing to non Bible users because there is no path of sucking me into the Bible or the user generated content.

Admittedly, this is a chicken and the egg problem. You need Bible users to user-generated content (because the have knowledge), but I don't see who they benefit from creating this content. And you can not feature user generated content until it is created (which it won't).

Please correct me in the comments if I'm wrong...

by Tim Bednar
founder of Plaid: ministry communication and tracking software

Comments

[Cynthia]

Tim, wow - thanks for getting some YouVersion thoughts out here for discussion. It seems worthwhile to look at both the application and the concept from many angs.

You ask why would someone spend time creating content and uploading it to YouVersion when they could just do that within a blog. I'm wondering if there is an additional element related to the dynamics of group participation?

Meaning, yeah, you can sit and draw on your own wall (blog) at home (and someone might interact with you) but it seems much more rewarding/ challenging /fun/ creative/ interactive/ etc. to do it on a public wall that others are also writing on.

I keep thinking of a wall in San Luis Obispo (a college town) where everyone sticks their gum up called Gum Alley. It's appealing only because everyone builds upon each others gum - the appeal is knowing you aren't the first and you won't be the last - it's an ongoing, dynamic group thing.

And once enough user-generated material gets added by Christians, which obviously might take a long time, I wonder if non-Christians will visit. I'm thinking more for searching concepts/ topics rather than specific scripture references.

I did take notice of the Journaling section and thought, well, google's got enough on me - I'm not putting my persona prayer journal up online - mercifully.

I feel I have so much to learn in this area, I'm glad you put some discussion points out on the table.

[Chris S.]

I can totally deal with the developing search aspect and the slightly different way of searching for a scripture but I think that the ability to contribute photos, video, audio, text, and even link to other sites like where I have blogged on a verse is just great! Being able to read, jot down some thoughts, ideas, and then come back to them 6 months later will be invaluable in message creation. I give you version a thumbs up for the direction that it is headed.

[Tim Bednar]

I agree with both Cynthia and Chris about how YouVersion is valuable or has good ideas. I did not mention that in my review.

My question is are those points (journaling, adding content) enough to #1 convert traffic into users and #2 users into regular users. I'm just doubtful...

[djchuang]

Tim, you beat me to the mouse click and posted a YouVersion review before I did! How dare you!? :) I know your impressions were quick and brief, and didn't unpack the value that YouVersion does bring online that nothing else does. I see an incredible amount of development power and functionality with YouVersion that nothing else has touched, and am much more optimistic about how this social network + Bible combo at YouVersion + the innovative genius of Terry Storch and Bobby Gruenewald and the other LifeChurch.tv team will really put this forth to leapfrog this whole web Bible genre. Hmmm, on 2nd thought, you left the door wide open for me to chime in. I'll get that post out the door early next week here...

[Jayce]

After all the "press" YouVersion got this week, I tried it to... and didn't like it. It's not in full release, yet, so I understand they have some more programming to do. I couldn't figure out how to retrieve verses I had starred.

I'll put my plug in for my favorite online Bible site: Blue Letter Bible (http://www.blueletterbible.org). I like the search engine, and the easy access to commentaries and other versions.

[Anne Jackson]

I am going to be really simplistic in my comment. But...if God impressed this tool to be created by the YV team, they were obedient to that call and built it, God will bless it and use it to His glory. :)