The Super Giant Print Reference Bible is an extra-large KJV from Thomas Nelson. It’s ideal for anyone that needs extra-large fonts. It’s available in several covers. I’m reviewing the black genuine leather, ISBN 9781400329618. It was printed in China.
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This Bible is available at (includes some affiliate links)
Amazon
(Leathersoft)
and many local Bible bookstores
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Thomas Nelson provided this Bible in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to give a positive review, only an honest one. All opinions are my own.
Table of Contents
- Video Review
- Binding
- Paper
- Typography and Layout
- Cross References
- Translation Footnotes and Glossary
- Book Introductions
- Extras
- Concordance
- Bible Atlas
- Comparisons
- Conclusion
Video Review
Binding
This black genuine leather has some of the softest leather I’ve seen. It looks like a natural grain and it’s pronounced and looks like a lot of the goatskin that I’ve seen. The leather itself has a matte finish. It has perimeter stitching. Holy Bible is printed in gold on the front in a large fancy font. The spine includes double lines to separate the sections, HOLY BIBLE in the same fancy font as the front, KJV, and Thomas Nelson printed in gold.
The liner is paste-down black vinyl and it looks to be reinforced with binder tape. A decorative gold design traces the inside perimeter. The cover is extra flexible for paste-down. It’s Smyth sewn and has no trouble staying completely open on any page. It has two 3/8″ ribbons: gold for the OT and red for the NT. The overall size is 7 1/2″ x 10 5/8″ x 1 1/2″, and it weighs 3 lbs, 6.8 oz. This is large for carrying, but it’s great for preaching and desk usage.
Paper
The paper seems to be the same 30gsm that’s used in most imitation and genuine leather editions from Thomas Nelson. It’s slightly rough to the touch. I find it easy to separate between my fingers to turn. It’s off-white and decently opaque for how thin it is. The show-through is minimal and easy to ignore. It’s mostly noticeable in the book introductions and the end of books where there’s empty space.
Typography and Layout
The KJV text is presented in a double-column, verse-by-verse format with no special formatting for various genres of text. Cross-references and footnotes are placed under the last verse on the page. The header shows the book name, chapter, and verse in the outer margin and a page summary in the inner margin. Page numbers are centered in the footer. There are no section headings in the text.
The font is a 14-point, red-letter Comfort Print typeface designed by 2K/Denmark for the Thomas Nelson KJV. The black and red print is dark and consistent. It doesn’t seem to have been printed with line-matching. However, there are a lot of lines that do match.
It has between 6-8 words per line on average. Some lines do have extra space between the words to make them fit the lines. This is normal for this low of a word count. The text does go into the gutter a little further than I’d like, but it isn’t too far. I find this text to be excellent for preaching and teaching. I had no trouble reading from the pulpit with my glasses at any distance.
Cross References
The references match the Sovereign, which is fewer than most Thomas Nelson reference KJVs, but it is enough for basic study. There’s extra space between the pilot references, making them easier to locate quickly. Here are a few examples to help you compare:
- Genesis 1:1 – Jn 1:1-3, Ac 17:24
- Deuteronomy 6:4 – 1 Cor 8:4, 6
- Isaiah 9:6 – Lk 2:11, Jn 3:16, Mt 28:18, Jd 13:18, Titus 2:13, Eph 2:14
- Matthew 28:19 – Mk 16:15; Lk 24:47
- Mark 12:29 – Dt 6:4, 5
- John 1:1 – 1 Jn 1:1, Rev 19:13, Jn 17:5, 1 Jn 5:20
- John 3:16 – Rom 5:8; Is 9:6
- Acts 2:38 – Lk 24:47
- Romans 10:9 – Lk 12:8
- 1 John 1:1 – Jn 1:1, 14, 2 Pet 1:16, Lk 24:39, Jn 1:1, 4, 14
Translation Footnotes and Glossary
The KJV translation footnotes include a glossary supplied by Thomas Nelson. It shows the modern equivalents of archaic words, making the KJV easier to use. Some include literal renderings, alternate renderings, and variations from the Majority Text and a few others. They’re placed on the page where you need them. This is my preference because it makes them easier to read and understand. They are printed along with the cross-references, but they’re printed in italics so they stand out.
Book Introductions
Book introductions are the same as those used in other Thomas Nelson KJV reference editions. They have 2-3 paragraphs and include an overview of the book, discuss the main characters, provide insights into the book’s name, etc. Some include a simple outline with references to the major portions of the book. Others include a sentence about the author. Some discuss other features of the book. They’re simple, but I find them to be helpful.
Extras
In the back are several tools to help in reading and studying. They include:
Miracles of Jesus – A one-page table with 37 miracles and references for each of the Gospels.
Parables of Jesus – A table with 39 parables with the verses where they appear in the Gospels.
One-Year Reading Plan – A 2-page reading plan that shows the month, date, and reading for each day. It includes 2 readings per day to take you through the Old and New Testaments every day. February includes the 29th, so you’ll need to read extra for three out of four years. I did find a few mistakes in the verse numbering.
Concordance
The concordance is 88 pages with 3 columns per page. This is the same concordance used in the Sovereign. It’s about a medium-sized concordance, which has a decent amount of references for study and sermon prep. Here are a few example entries with their number of cross-references to help you compare:
- Christ – 18
- Christian – 3
- Faith – 96
- Faithful – 41
- Faithfully – 1
- Faithfulness – 6
- Faithless – 3
- God – 58
- Godhead – 3
- Godliness – 11
- Godly – 11
- Praise(n) – 32
- Praise(v) – 15
- Pray – 38
- Prayer – 36
Bible Atlas
In the back are 7 full-color Zondervan maps printed on 8 pages of thick non-glossy paper. They’re printed with bright colors that look great. It does not include an index but they are annotated well. I find them easy to use and read. They show topography, distance, routes, borders, possible locations of lost places, battles, elevation, cities, and locations for the events of Jesus’ ministry.
Maps include:
- World of the Patriarchs
- Exodus and Conquest of Canaan
- Land of the Twelve Tribes
- Kingdom of David and Solomon
- Jesus’ Ministry
- Paul’s Missionary Journeys
- Jerusalem in the Time of Jesus
Comparisons
Here’s how the KJV Super Giant Print Reference Bible compares to Thomas Nelson’s giant print and large print reference Bibles.
KJV Giant Print Reference
The KJV Giant Print Reference is a 12-point edition. The one that I’m using is a Premier Collection edition, so it has better paper and build quality. It also has red highlights. This edition is available in a cheaper version with the same paper as the Super Giant Print and black highlights. They have the same book introductions.
KJV Maclaren
The KJV Maclaren has a 10-point font, so it’s considered a large print. The paper is thicker, the text is larger, and it has more cross-references. It doesn’t include a concordance, introductions, or other tools, but it does have the same maps. It also adds section headings and highlights in blue.
Conclusion
The Thomas Nelson KJV Super Giant Print Reference Bible is an excellent choice for those who need larger fonts. The leather looks and feels elegant. The print quality is dark and consistent. I especially find it to be good for teaching and preaching. Any issues I’ve pointed out I’d consider to be minor. If you need a reference Bible with a larger-than-average typeface, this one is easily worth considering.
_________________________________________________________
This Bible is available at (includes some affiliate links)
Amazon
and many local Bible bookstores
_________________________________________________________
Thomas Nelson provided this Bible in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to give a positive review, only an honest one. All opinions are my own.
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