It is the complete Bible with notes and other helpful materials added. These aids include maps, introductions to each book of the Bible, and cross-references to other Scriptures. Some Study Bibles are available in only one Bible version. An example is the NIV Study Bible . Others, such as the Life Application Study Bible , are available in several translations.
Study Bibles can have different emphases and purposes.
For example, the Life Application Study Bible focuses more on answering practical questions, whereas the NIV Study Bible focuses on understanding the text. Look up a few passages in both and compare the notes. You may even want to consider buying both, since the two complement each other. Buying one in a different Bible translation will give you the added benefit of having two translations to work with. Because you'll use your Study Bible more than the other books in your reference library, it's worth taking time to compare the various ones that are available.