ESV Study Bible (TruTone, Forest/Tan, Trail Design) Imitation Leather – Illustrated, September 25, 2009

First, id like to say that this is one beautiful bible. The quality is top notch. The book is truly worth twice as much as you will pay.At first, it may even be a little intimidating. It certainly was for me and i even considered returning it. There is soo very much information packed into this book. It is truly an amazing reference for any person serious about learning God's word in a much deeper way.The best way i can describe it, to help any person considering buying it is, this book is more for the serious scholar looking to increase their knowledge of the bible and the word of God. Of course it is based on the ESV translation which is in line with all the King James translations which are more word for word and considered more accurate to the original word. This does make the reading well, not harder to understand, but lets say less easy with less story like flow of the thought for thought translations.Like I said, at first it seemed a little daunting to me, as anyone who would read this through would be qualified to teach at the college level. But after a few days of reading little sections at a time, i come to realize that its very possible to learn many many things from this book and the beauty and quality of the book alone warrants keeping it. Just dont think that you will ever fully comprehend all the information that it possesses and you will be fine.For people not sure which route to take...I am going to purchase a study bible in the NLT translation as well. It is based more on a thought for thought translation that makes it easier to read and follow. Some feel it is not as true to the original word but i disagree as i have read both side by side and its clear they are presenting the same info, simply using different wording.This would be the route to take for any person who does not want a college style religious fact book and wants a more down to earth study bible in hopes of applying the info to their daily living.Unfortunately, the publishers of the NLT bibles not only are more down to earth in the translations they present, they are also more down to earth when it comes to the quality of the bibles they offer. They are far from bad, they simply are not as elegant and well made. For example, the covers are thinner, the bindings are not smyte sewn as these are, and are only glued. This simply means they probably wouldnt last as long, though there are beautiful as well.I will keep both as i know that they are both excellent resources and both have their benefits. One is more scholarly and the other more down to earth. I do know this, after reading both throughout, any persons knowledge of the word of God will have increased exponentially.I hope this helps clear things up for anyone in the decision phase. God bless.I have not benefited in anyway in placing this review. It's simply a great product, well worth a purchase.This is an honest review.If this was helpful in considering a purchase please let me know.

As a graduate student I've found that I'm always working on some sort of research project or paper. This study bible is an amazing tool for researching the most important things in life and I've loved using it so far. Here are what I see as some of the highlights of this study bible:1) Size: Some people complain about it being too big, but I disagree. You're silly to worry about the size considering the fact that a study bible isn't meant to be hauled around on a daily basis. It's meant to be kept at home on your desk or on your night stand. Having this on my desk is an encouragement to me and a constant reminder that there is always something to learn from God's Word. This study bible will provide me with a lifetime of new material to read and learn from. Like it says in the description, it has the same amount of materials as a 20-volume resource library and that is definitely true.2) Quality: This Bible is very sturdy, well put together, and has an amazing cover. The trail design is perfect for guys to use because it simply looks manly. The pages are thin (like most bibles) but not too thin. I've used a highlighter and my Pilot G2 pen for underlining and it doesn't bleed through. The creators of this bible got it right on all levels down to the last detail with a high quality ribbon page marker.3) Material: The notes in this bible are very solid, readable, and challenging. The color maps bring locations to life and do a great job of helping establish the context for particular passages (always an important thing). The ethics essays int he back are an amazing bonus and they have given me incredible insight on some of the issues facing society today and what the bible has to say about them.4) Layout: All of my previous bibles have been the two column format and this bible is the single-column format (like reading a book). I am never going back to the two column format. This is definitely an easier way to read the word and it makes it so much easier to capture passages as a whole instead of reading the scriptures like you're reading the side column of a newspaper. Also, to get really detailed, the font they chose in this bible is very readable and easy on the eyes. They clearly consulted many different professionals when designing this bible.I could go on and on. I'll just end with this: This bible is incredible on all levels and you will not be disappointed. When I get married and start having kids, this is going to be one of the first big gifts I give them. The ESV is an amazing translation and this is an amazing, rich tool for drawing near to God and trying to be more like Jesus. I agree with one of the other reviewers when they say that it's worth twice the $50 price tag. Just buy it!!

This ESV Study Bible is outstanding! The durable, stylish cover feels premium and looks stunning. The study notes and commentary are thorough and insightful, making complex passages accessible. The maps, illustrations, and timelines are beautifully done, enhancing my study experience. The articles and word studies provide deep, meaningful context. This Bible is a perfect blend of aesthetics and scholarship—highly recommend for anyone seeking a reliable, enriching study tool!

This is a great all-around study bible. It has very nice illustrations and maps, but my favorite parts are the introductions to each book.Every book has a thorough introduction about the author, the original audience, the context of the book, how it’s related to salvation, and a timeline of events in the book.There are also several articles at the back of the Bible.There are plenty of well renowned contributors. The commentary is very good, but it does have a Calvinistic bias, just something to be aware of especially if you’re not a Calvinist.Otherwise it’s also well made. The synthetic leather cover is sturdy and should hold up well for many years.

Has a lot of Info. Make reading the Bible and I derstanding it easier! Nice study Bible and has a nice cover too.