The Zondervan NASB 1995 Classic Reference Bible in brown genuine leather is a mid-size reference Bible with a few features not normally found in the typical reference edition. It includes an expanded set of cross-references, 17,000 translation footnotes, in-text maps and charts, and a dictionary/concordance combo. One or two minor tweaks would make it the ideal all-arounder for any NASB fan. This is ISBN: 9780310456490, printed in China.
Zondervan 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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This Bible is available at (includes some affiliate links)
and many local Bible bookstores
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Table of Contents
- Video Review
- Binding
- Paper
- Typography and Layout
- References
- Book Introductions
- Charts and Maps
- Dictionary Concordance Thesaurus
- Bible Atlas
- Comparisons
- Conclusion
Video Review
Binding
The cover of the NASB 1995 Classic Reference Bible is brown water buffalo genuine leather. The grain is streaked with a medium depth. It looks and feels good. It has perimeter stitching with small stitches and brown thread. On the spine are 5 raised hubs with Holy Bible, NASB, and Zondervan printed in gold. The text is the right size for the spine. The cover is edge-lined with heavy-duty vinyl. It has a gold line around the inside perimeter. It’s sewn, but the edge-lined tab is stiff, making the Bible close in Genesis. Also, the spine stays flat, making the text bend into the gutter.
It has two long 3/8″ ribbons: one brown and one gold. The overall size is 5 3/4 x 8 7/8 x 1 1/4″. This is the size I consider to be perfect for all-around use. It weighs 1 lb, 12.6 oz. My review copy does have some cockling, but it’s minor.
Paper
The paper is 30gsm. This is the same paper they use in their lower-priced thinline editions. It’s off-white in color and does have some show-through. It’s mostly noticeable in the poetic settings. I didn’t find the show-through too distracting. There is no glare under direct light. The paper has a rough texture that helps make it easier to turn. The page edges are art-gilt with red under gold. The red looks more like a rose.
Typography and Layout
The NASB 1995 Classic Reference Bible’s text is in a double-column, verse-by-verse layout with poetry set in stanzas. References are placed in the center column and they’re spaced evenly. When there are too many cross-references and footnotes to fit in the center column, the rest are placed under the last verse on the page. The top of the page shows the book name, chapter and verse number, and page number in the outer margin. Verses are indented. This is a great layout for preaching, teaching, and following along with someone.
The font is a 9.5-point, red-letter, Comfort Print designed by 2K/Denmark for the Zondervan NASB. Both the black and red are dark and consistent. Most lines have around 7-8 words. It has a comfortable amount of space between the lines and words. It’s printed with line-matching, meaning the lines are printed in the same location on both sides of the page to improve readability. This does help with reducing show-through. Old Testament quotes are in all caps. Section headings are bold in all caps.
I only have two complaints about the layout. The first is the inner margin space. It bends too far into the gutter. The text from one page sometimes touches the text of the other. Because of this, I find it difficult to read and preach from. The second is poetry. It has many poetic lines with a single word. I realize they are dividing the lines based on thoughts, but that really only works well in a single column and this highlights the problems of poetry in double-column.
References
The NASB 1995 Classic Reference Bible has plenty of cross-references for study. They’re placed in the center column and include the translation footnotes. They’re excellent for study and sermon prep. This is one of the strengths of this Bible. These are the cross-references from the NASB MacArthur Study Bible.
Here are a few example references to help you compare:
- Genesis 1:1 – Ps 102:25; Isa 40:21; Jn 1:1, 2; Heb 1:10; Ps 89:11; 90:2; Acts 17:24; Rom 1:20; Heb 11:3; Job 38:4; Is 42:5; 45:18; Rev 4:11
- Deuteronomy 6:4 – Matt 22:37; Mk 12:29, 30; Luke 10:27; Deut 4:35, 39; John 10:30; 1 Cor 8:4; Eph 4:6
- Isaiah 9:6 – Is 7:14; 11:1, 2; 53:2; Luke 2:11; Jn 3:16; Matt 28:18; 1 Cor 15:25; Is 22:22; Is 28:29; Deut 10:17; Neh 9:32; Is 10:21; Is 63:16; 64:8; Is 26:3, 12; 54:10; 66:12
- Matthew 28:19 – Mk 16:15; Mt 13:52; Ac 1:8; 14:21; Mt 25:32; Lk 24:47; Ac 2:38; 8:16; Rom 6:3; 1 Cor 1:13, 15; Gal 3:27
- Mark 12:29 – Deut 6:4
- John 1:1 – Gen 1:1; Col 1:17; 1 John 1:1; 1 John 1:14; Rev 19:13; John 17:5; 1 John 1:2; Phil 2:6
- John 3:16 – Rom 5:8, Eph 2:4; 2 Thess 2:16; 1 Jn 4:10; Rev 1:5; Rom 8:32; 1 Jn 4:9; Jn 1:18; 3:18; 1 Jn 4:9; Jn 3:36; 6:40; 11:25
- Acts 2:38 – Mark 1:15; Luke 24:47; Acts 3:19; 5:31; 20:21; Mark 16:16; Acts 8:12, 16; 22:16
- Romans 10:9 – Matt 10:32; Luke 12:8; Rom 14:9; 1 Cor 12:3; Phil 2:11; Acts 16:31; Rom 4:24; Acts 2:24
- 1 John 1:1 – John 1:1f; I John 2:13, 14; Acts 4:20; I John 1:3; John 19:35; 2 Peter 1:16; I John 1:2; John 1:14; I John 4:14; Luke 24:39; John 20:27; John 1, 4
Book Introductions
Book introductions take around 1/2-3/4 of a page. They’re short and simple, but they do include enough information to get you familiar with the book. The information is fact-based and includes history, events, people, etc.
They include:
- Title and Background
- Author and Date of Writing
- Theme and Message
- Outline
Charts and Maps
There are 14 maps and charts placed within the text. They’re helpful for personal study, sermon prep, and getting a better understanding of the setting. Charts cover types of people in a specific area, types of sacrifices, names of rulers, timelines, etc. Maps cover the locations the text is discussing with routes, dates, sites, etc. They’re not included in the index. I’d like to see an index in the front or back for the charts and maps to make them easier to find.
Dictionary Concordance Thesaurus
The concordance is 99 pages and has 3 columns per page. It’s a combination of a dictionary, concordance, and thesaurus. It has many of the same entries as the NASB MacArthur Study Bible, but not all. It includes names, alternate words to look up, and parts of speech. It’s large enough for study and sermon prep. Here are some example entries with their number of references to help you compare:
- Christ (Messiah) – 17
- Christian follower of Christ – 3
- Faith believe, trust – 36
- Faithful loyal, trustworthy – 15
- Faithfulness loyalty – 7
- Faithless unbelieving – 4
- God Deity, Eternal One – 37
- God false deity, idols – 8
- Goddess female diety – 3
- Godless pagan, without God – 5
- Godliness holiness – 5
- Godly holy – 6
- Praise (n) acclamation, honor – 10
- Praise (v) extol, glorify – 12
- Pray ask, worship – 19
- Prayer – 15
Bible Atlas
It includes 7 full-color maps on 8 glossy pages. It doesn’t include an index, but they are annotated, making things easy to find. They include topography, distance, routes, borders, possible locations of lost places, battles, elevation, cities, and locations for the events of Jesus’ ministry. I find them easy to read and use.
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
Comparing the NASB 1995 Classic Reference Bible with other NASB’s
Here’s how the Zondervan NASB 1995 Classic Reference Bible in brown genuine leather compares to a few other 95 NASBs from Zondervan.
NASB Large Print Thinline Bible
The NASB Large Print Thinline Bible is thinner and has a slightly larger footprint. It has the same paper. The font is larger and it has more words per line. It does not include references or book introductions.
NASB Preacher’s Bible
The NASB Preacher’s Bible is a lot thinner and has a slightly larger footprint. This is a premium edition with better paper and leather. It doesn’t include references or book introductions. The font is the same size. It has more words per line due to not having center-column references. This one matches the Pew and Worship Bible.
NASB Pew and Worship Bible
The NASB Pew and Worship Bible is a hardcover edition and it’s about the same size. It has thicker paper, a smaller font, and no references. Its pagination matches the Preacher’s Bible.
Conclusion on the NASB 1995 Classic Reference Bible
Zondervan’s NASB 1995 Classic Reference Bible is an excellent size for all-around use. I like the dimensions, paper, print, and tools. My only complaints are the lack of inner margin space and the stiff edge-lined tabs. The tabs will most likely loosen up with more use. This should bring the gutter out a little, improving the inner margin. This might take lots of use, though. Its size and tools make it an excellent choice for carrying, study, teaching, and preaching.
_________________________________________________________
This Bible is available at (includes some affiliate links)
and many local Bible bookstores
_________________________________________________________
Zondervan 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.