Did you know that you can view multiple translations of a Bible verse or passage side-by-side on Bible Gateway? This is useful anytime you want to compare how different Bible versions (including Bibles in different languages) translate the same verse or passage. This is sometimes called reading Bibles “in parallel.” Here’s how to do this on Bible Gateway:

While Reading a Bible Passage

To bring up a parallel translation while reading a passage (for example, Genesis 1), click the Add Parallel button, located to the right of the chapter and book navigation arrows:

A new column will appear with a drop-down menu where you can select the Bible you want to add:

Select a version from the list. Bible Gateway will automatically display the passage in that translation alongside the version you were reading.

If you want to compare a third, fourth or fifth translation, click Add Parallel again. To remove a Bible from the parallel view, click the X in the top right of any column:

While Performing a Bible Search

You can also choose to search in multiple versions from the Passage Lookup and Keyword Search pages. Click Lookup passage(s) in multiple versions on the Passage Lookup or Search in multiple versions on the Keyword Search:

This will expand the version selector to five drop-downs. Select the versions you want to view:

Compare Multiple Passages in Multiple Versions

You can also compare more than one Bible passage in more than one translation by using the Passage Lookup. Use the directions above for searching multiple passages from the Passage Lookup page, but instead of just filling in one passage, click “Lookup Multiple Versions”:

Type in each passage you’d like to compare and then click on “Lookup Passage.” The passages will appear in rows on top of each other in each translation column.

Here’s an example comparing Genesis 1:1-3 and John 1:1-10 in five different versions.