BIBLE REVIEW: ESV WIDE MARGIN REFERENCE BIBLE

If you like the English Standard Version of the Bible, and are looking for a Bible you can take notes in, the ESV Wide Margin Reference Bible is one for you to consider.

The publisher, Crossway, provided a copy for review. This review will deal with this Bible's construction and configuration. (Click on the images to enlarge them.)

CONSTRUCTION

The Cover

The cover of this copy is genuine leather. However, the leather is somewhat stiff and slick, and feels to me like a bonded leather cover. Trying to hold the Bible open with one hand is tricky because it is prone to slip.

The Paper & Ink

The paper is neither the thinnest nor the thickest I've seen - a medium-weight paper. The color of the paper is a comfortable shade of white with low transparency (I can only see the shadow of my finger on the other side, rather than the outline; the opposite text can be seen but not enough to distract). The edges of the paper are gold gilded.

The ink is a good match for the paper. They have a crisp contrast that is easy on the eyes.
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The Binding

This Bible is smith-sewn (the pages are sewed together, rather than glued, for more durability). This allows the Bible to lay flat, and I'm sure with use it will lay flatter as it becomes more flexible.

The Size

This is an average size Bible (app. 7" x 9.75" x 1.25"). On the right, you can see how it compares to the big Bibles beside it.

CONFIGURATION

​The Page

​After being accustomed to using a single-column wide-margin Bible, I am not fond of double-column Bibles, especially those that only have one wide-margin, essentially leaving out a column of text for taking notes. Therefore, I appreciate this Bible having a wide margin for each column of text.

However, I would have preferred the inside margin being in the middle of the page, rather than bordering the gutter of the Bible. With this layout, one must write either up over or down over the curve of the page, up against the opposite page, as opposed to writing on the flat plain of the page. For a visual contrast of these opposing layouts, look at the side-by-side pictures below, this Bible being on the left.

 The Text & Cross-references

The text is in a 9-point "short" font (the capital letters, as well as the bodies and tails of letters like "b" and "p" being short to save space). And the text is in a paragraph format, with little space between the lines and very small verse numbers. So this is not a Bible I would preach from. They should have made the Bible a bit bigger and used a 10-point font, with more space between the lines to keep it from being cramped.

To make room for the second wide margin, they put the cross-references at the bottom of each right-hand column. This was a good idea, but as with the text, the font is too small.

​​Additional

This Bible has a presentation page in the front, along with a "Marriages" page, a "Births/Adoptions" page, and a "Deaths" page. Also in the front, is an alphabetical listing of the books of the Bible. In the back, there is a table of weights and measures, a concordance, and 8 maps. It has one black ribbon marker.

CONCLUSION

For the one wanting a daily reader with cross-references and space for writing reflections, in an easy-to-carry size, this Bible is a good option to consider. As a preacher, though, I must say that I don't see this being a preacher's Bible.

If there is anything else you would like to know about this Bible, let me know in the comment section below.​