Hendrickson’s KJV Thinline Reference Bible is a low-end thinline with some no-nonsense features that many will appreciate. I like thinlines because they’re easy to carry, but unfortunately most low-end editions skimp on paper and print quality. They’re also usually glued. That’s not the case with this Hendrickson. To get this price it does make a few sacrifices. Are they worth it? Absolutely. In this review I’m taking a look at the imitation edition (ISBN: 9781619709591 provided for free by Hendrickson).
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BINDING
The cover is black imitation leather. It’s a single sheet is plastic that’s cut at the edges rather than having folded edges and corners like most covers. The paper liner has an interesting pattern. It’s sewn and lies flat nicely, although Genesis 1 will take some breaking in.
The cover is functional and helps keep the price low. It’s a good choice for carry when you’re concerned with getting a Bible damaged. It weighs 1 pound 3.5 ounces. The overall size is 8 3/4″ x 5 1/2″ x 7/8″. It has a single black ribbon and black and white head/tail bands.
PAPER
The paper feels like mid 30’s in gsm and has very little show-through. It looks better in person than in the photos. It has a slight cream color and a rough texture. I had no issues turning pages. It’s good paper for marking. It seems like they were able to include better paper by using a lower-quality cover. This is a trade that I appreciate. The cover can be replaced and this paper, the fact that it’s sewn, and the print quality make it worth rebinding. The paper has white edges.
TYPOGRAPHY
The text is presented in double-column, verse-by-verse format. Chapter and verse numbers are in bold. The header includes the book name, chapter, and verse numbers in the outer margin, and page numbers in the center. A line separates the header from the text.
This Thinline Reference Bible has a dark, almost 9-point, font with the words of Christ in red. The red isn’t as dark as I’d like, but it is consistent throughout. It has no reference keys in the text. References are placed at the end of verses. It has italics for supplied words. The text seems mostly line-matched. Where it doesn’t match is still easy to read.
It has around 48 characters per line with around 10 words per line. The words never feel cramped. It has a good amount of leading (space between the lines) to help with readability.
The paper and print quality make this a good Bible to read for long periods of time.
REFERENCES
The references are not very extensive. Many verses have a reference but none have more than one. If having a reference edition is your goal then you’ll be disappointed with these references. It’s a good choice if you just want a few. Here are some examples to help you compare:
- Genesis 1:1
- Heb 11:3
- Deuteronomy 6:4
- Jn 17:3
- Isaiah 9:6
- Is 7:14
- Matthew 17:20
- Lk 17:6
- Mark 11:23
- Mt 17:20
- Mark 12:29
- Dt 6:4
- John 1:1
- Jn 17:5
- Acts 2:38
- Lk 24:47
- 1 John 1:1
- Jn 20:27
CONCORDANCE
The concordance is much larger than I expected. It’s 52 pages with 3 columns per page. It includes quite a bit of entries and is decent for study and sermon prep.
Here are a few example entries with the number of references given:
- Christ – 38
- Christian (Christians) – 2
- Faith – 89
- Faithless – 2
- Faithful – 30
- Faithfulness – 8
- God – 18
- Godhead – 3
- Godly – 4
- Godliness – 7
- Praise (Praised) – 19
- Praises – 5
- Pray – 17
- Praying (Prayed) – 6
- Prayer – 18
- Prayers – 3
MAPS
There are 8 colorful maps on thick glossy paper. They’re labeled with dark red ink, which is unique and interesting. They include distance, topography, borders, routes, water, alternate names for locations, etc. There isn’t an index but they are labeled well.
Here’s the list of maps:
- Geography of the Land of Israel/Palestine
- Exodus and Conquest of Canaan
- Kingdoms of Israel and Judah During the Divided Monarchy
- The Land of Israel/Palestine in the First Century of the Common Era
- The Roman Empire (Paul’s Journeys)
- Jerusalem and the Temple in Old Testament Times
- Jerusalem and the Temple in New Testament Times
- Jewish and Christian Communities in Late Antiquity
ENDING THOUGHTS ABOUT THE KJV THINLINE REFERENCE BIBLE
Hendrickson’s KJV Thinline Reference Bible is a nice inexpensive edition. It’s rare to find one at this price-point that’s sewn. It has nice paper and a good quality print. The cover is the cheapest feature, but the paper and print make up for it. It’s an especially good choice for when you need an inexpensive Bible to use or carry.
_________________________________
Buy from (includes some affiliate links)
and many local Bible bookstores
_________________________________
Photography by hannah C brown
Hendrickson provided this Bible free for review. I was not required to give a positive review – only an honest review. My opinions are my own.