The Amplified Bible (AMP) is an English translation of the Holy Bible produced by The Lockman Foundation . The first edition was published in 1965. It is largely a revision of the American Standard Version of 1901, with reference made to various texts in the original languages. It is designed to "amplify" the text by using a system of punctuation and other typographical features to bring out all shades of meaning present in the original texts.

Explanation of Arbitrary Punctuation

from the March 1985 printing

PARENTHESES () and DASHES — —: signify additional phases of meaning included in the original word, phrase or clause of the original language.

TITLES OF DEITY: are set off, however, only with commas.

BRACKETS: contain justified clarifying words or comments not actually expressed in the immediate original text.

ITALICS: point out certain familiar passages now recognized as not adequately supported by the original manuscripts. Also, "and," "or" and other connectives in italics indicate that the word itself is not in the original text, but it is used to connect additional English words indicated in the same original word.

CAPITALS: are used in names and personal pronouns referring to Deity, but sparingly elsewhere.

REFERENCES: are intended to cover any part of the preceding verse to which they apply.

SYNONYMS: are limited to what the text seems to warrant, both as to number and wording.

Comparison Example

Acts 16:31 is the example used in the Publisher's Foreword, and it illustrates some of the features of the Amplified Bible quite nicely:

Acts 16:31, King James Version: And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Acts 16:31, American Standard Version: And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved, thou and thy house.

Acts 16:31, Amplified Bible: And they answered, Believe in and on the Lord Jesus Christ—that is, ^lgive yourself up to Him, ^mtake yourself out of your own keeping and entrust yourself into His keeping, and you will be saved; [and this applies both to] you and your household as well.

l) Thayer. m) Wuest's "Golden Nuggets from the Greek New Testament."