My Review: ESV Personal Size Reference Bible

So here it is at last: my take on Crossway’s new ESV personal size reference edition. (For my background with the ESV and this edition, read my past entries Why I Like the ESV and The Bible on My List.)

Why is this really that important? Well, it’s not. The Bible is the Bible, and many Christians around the world would be thankful for any edition they could get. I am very thankful to have access to such a huge selection. This is a popular new edition that’s been getting quite a bit of attention from blogs, and since it’s in my favorite version and I waited for it to come out for so long, I’m sharing my thoughts on it. But in the end, what matters is that I’m reading and living Scripture, not just reveling in my favorite edition of it.

So, that said, I’ll be including some pictures, but I’m not the best photographer, nor was I using the best lighting, since I was trying to be quick. So I apologize for the poor quality of the pictures. I just want to use them to illustrate some specific features. I’ll be discussing this edition’s size, cover, format, text, binding, and references.

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Size.

The Personal Size Reference measures 5 x 7.25 inches. The size is what first attracted me. I had been using a thinline, which measures 5.5 x 8.5″. The difference is noticeable. The Personal Size Reference fits well in the hand and is easy to carry around in a backpack or even a large purse. It is better for constant use than a compact, which measures 3.75 x 5.75″. For me, it is the perfect medium between a classic size Bible and a compact Bible. In this picture, you can see how it compares to a standard size pencil.

Cover.

Initially, I ordered the TruTone version, but after reading this amazing review (HT: Jacob), I decided to order a genuine leather instead. The genuine leather is quite stiff, especially initially. I’ve had to bend it back into position quite a few times.

It’s getting more malleable over time, though. I also received a copy of the TruTone I originally ordered. My friend ended up keeping it instead. The cover is very nice and soft and flexible, but I don’t think it will wear as well with time. I plan on using the Personal Size Reference for the foreseeable future, so I’m glad that I chose the genuine leather.

Format.

One of the most special and unique things about this edition is that it’s in a single column format, which is very rare, as I’ve learned. In this picture, you can see the Psalms in a single column on each page.

It makes reading the Bible seem more like reading a book. The interesting thing about this is that there are so many poetry books in the Old Testament (Ecclesiastes, Psalms, the prophets, etc.) that the OT takes up significantly more “room” than the NT does. This has taken some getting used to, because I’m familiar with the locations of most books, and now that’s all been adjusted. Here’s a picture showing where the NT starts in relation to the Bible as a whole:

Even though it has taken some getting used to, I like the single column format a lot. It seems more natural, especially in the poetry books. You can actually see how the Psalms were meant to flow, instead of putting up with the choppy formatting made necessary by two columns.

Text.

From the reviews I’ve read, there’s been some complaint about the text size of this edition. The type is 7.4 point, compared to the thinline’s 9.5 and the compact’s 6.2. It is also not as bold as it could be. This picture isn’t a very good representation of the text’s readability, since the picture is a little blurry, but it might give you an idea of the text size:

I would agree that the text is a little small and could be a little bolder. Where I have most difficulty is in long, unbroken paragraphs. It’s more difficult to keep track of where I am because the text is small and the lines are close together. But this really isn’t enough of an issue for me not to like the edition. It’s usually very readable for me. It’s definitely more readable than a compact edition! Also, this is not a red-letter edition, which I’m glad of. I like having the text all the same color.

Binding.

Most of what I know about the binding, I learned from the review I referenced earlier. Apparently, the genuine leather edition has a sewn binding, which is much more durable and flexible, while the TruTone edition has a glued binding, which is less flexible and not very long-lasting. That was also a deciding factor when I decided not to get the TruTone. The binding of the genuine leather definitely feels very flexible.

Also thanks to the above review, I went through and separated all of the pages of the Bible after I got it. It was a little tedious, but I just did it while watching TV, and it has made things so much easier. Now I don’t have to continually separate pages while I’m looking passages up, which is what I usually have to do after getting a new Bible. I definitely recommend doing that.

References.

This is the first reference Bible I’ve used on a regular basis. I have mixed feelings about references. Sometimes I get a little distracted by all the markers in the text while I’m reading. But I absolutely love finding other verses that relate to the original verse – it’s like going on a treasure hunt or something. Plus, as you can see in the pictures, this edition has the references on the inside of the page, instead of the outside, which means that the references, not the Bible text, curve into the spine. Several reviewers have noted how smart this is. I am enjoying having the references available, and I appreciate that the text is made more readable because of the location of the references.

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In conclusion, I am really enjoying this new edition. It has its pros and cons, as any edition does. My favorite features are definitely the convenient size and the single column format. If you’re looking to purchase a new Bible, I definitely encourage you to check this one out. Amazon has the genuine leather for only $29.69, with free shipping (as opposed to the retail price of $44.99).

Feel free to share your thoughts with me and other readers!