The NIV Study Bible, Fully Revised Edition is an update of one of the most popular study Bibles on the market. Every note, article, and chart has been updated or expanded. It also has new notes and hundreds of full-color graphics and photos throughout. This revised edition also has the exclusive NIV Comfort Print typeface designed by 2K/Denmark. It’s available with several covers. I’m reviewing the hardcover edition, ISBN: 9780310448945, made 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
- Materials
- Typography
- References and Footnotes
- Book Introductions
- Study Material
- Concordance
- Maps
- Conclusion
Video Review
Materials
This is a hardcover edition. It includes a dust jacket. It’s sewn and does not include a ribbon marker. It does seem to be made well. The overall size is 6 1/2 x 9 1/2 x 2 1/4″ and it weighs 4lbs, 3.5oz.
The paper is the same that Zondervan uses in all their study Bibles. It seems to be in the mid 30’s in gsm. It’s white in color and it’s highly opaque. The rough texture makes it easy to grab the pages to turn them. It has no glare under direct light. This is good paper for reading and highlighting.
Typography
The text is presented in double-column, paragraph format with poetry set to stanzas, lists set as lists, and letters indented. Each of the major sections has different highlight colors for the heading text, section headings, the line separating the text from the commentary, book introductions, etc. The header shows the name of the section in the inner margin and the page number, book name, chapter, and verse in the outer margin. References are placed in the center column, translation footnotes are under the last verse, and commentary is at the bottom of the page. Photos, maps, and charts appear within the text.
The font is 9 point Comfort Print designed for the NIV by 2K/Denmark. This is a red-letter text. Both the red and black are dark and consistent throughout. The red is a dark shade (rust, maybe?) that’s easy to read. It’s dark without being overly bold. This is some of the best red I’ve seen in a Bible.
It has around 7 words per line. This does cause some of the poetic settings to have one word on a line and multiple breaks for a poetic line. It’s printed with line-matching for both the text and the commentary. The text is easy to read, even with photos on the other side of the page.
References and Footnotes
Footnotes are placed under the last verse on the page. They’re keyed to the text with numbers and include the verse number in bold to help you find them easily. They include insights on renderings, parallel passages, where quotes are from, explanations of words, locations, people, names, information about the original languages, manuscript variations, etc.
It has a lot of cross-references. These are the same references found in the Premier Collection editions. It has enough for serious study and sermon prep. Here are some example references to help you compare:
- Genesis 1:1 – Ps 102:25; Pro 8:23; Isa 40:21; 41:4, 26; Jn 1:1-2, 21, 27; Ge 2:3, 6; Ne 9:6; Job 9:8; 37:18; Ps 96:5; 104:2; 115:15; 121:2; 136:5; Isa 40:22; 42:5; 51:13; Jer 10:12; 51:15; Ge 14:19; 2 Ki 19:15; Ne 9:6; Job 38:4; Ps 90:2; 136:6; 146:6; Isa 37:16; 40:28; 42:5; 44:24; 45:12, 18; Jer 27:5; 32:17; Ac 14:15; 17:24; Eph 3:9; Col 1:16; Heb 3:4; 11:3; Rev 4:11; 10:6
- Deuteronomy 6:4 – Dt 4:35, 39; Ne 9:6; Ps 86:10; Is 44:6; Zec 14:9; Mk 12:29; Jn 10:30; 1 Cor 8:4; Eph 4:6; Jas 2:19
- Isaiah 9:6 – Gen 1:15; Ias 53:2; Lk 2:11; Jn 3:16; Mt 28:18; Isa 22:22; Job 15:8; Isa 28:29; Dt 7:21; Ps 24:8; Isa 10:21; 11:2; 42:13; Psa 90:2; Ex 4:22; Isa 64:8; Jn 14:9-10; Isa 26:3, 12; 53:5; 66:12; Jer 33:6; Mic 5:5; Lk 2:14
- Matthew 28:19 – Isa 49:6; Mk 16:15, 16; Lk 24:47; Ac 1:8, 14:21; 1:8; 2:38; 8:16; Ro 6:3, 4; Gal 3:27; Col 2:12
- Mark 12:29 – x
- John 1:1 – Isa 55:11; Rev 19:13; Jn 17:5; 1 Jn 1:2; Php 2:6
- John 3:16 – Ro 5:8; Eph 2:4; 1 Jn 4:9, 10; Isa 9:6; Ro 8:32; Ge 22:12; Jn 1:18; ver 15; ver 36; Jn 6:29, 40; 11:25, 26
- Acts 2:38 – ver 41; 8:12, 16, 36, 38; 9:18; 10:48; 16:15, 33; 19:5; 22:16; Col 2:12; Jer 36:3; Mk 1:4; Lk 24:47; Ac 3:19Jn 20:22
- Rom 8:30 – Eph 1:5, 11; ver 28; Rom 4:25; 9:23
- 1 John 1:1 – Jn 1:2; Lk 24:48; Jn 1:14; 19:35; Ac 4:20; 2 Pe 1:16; 1 Jn 4:14; Jn 20:27
Book Introductions
It includes introductions for the 6 major sections and for each of the books. Each provides background information.
Section introductions – these are short and include a couple of paragraphs about the types of books the section contains and provides the book names with their page numbers.
Book introductions – these take a couple of pages and include information about the title, author, date of writing, theological theme and message, timeline, literary features, and a detailed outline.
Study Material
Commentary – there are 21,000 study notes at the bottom of the pages. They include icons so specific information is easy to find. It includes insights into the text, people, culture, theology, word studies, false teachings in history, etc. They include a lot of Scripture references.
Articles – it has over 130 topical articles placed throughout the text. Most take a quarter to a half page. They include cultural information, theology, archaeology, and lots more. The table of contents in the front has the book name, article title, and page number for each article.
Maps, charts, diagrams, and illustrations – it has 90 maps and almost 70 charts placed on the pages with the text to help clarify the content on the page. They include full-color graphics and photos. The table of contents provides the book name, title, and page number for each one, placed under their content-type.
Table of Weights and Measures – this is a one-page table with weights, length, dry measures, and liquid measures. They show the biblical unit, American equivalent, and metric equivalent.
Index to Notes – this is a 36-page index with words of concepts from the commentary, charts, articles, and book introductions. It works as a topical index and includes names, places, theology, etc., and provides a list of Scripture references where the topic is discussed. Some include sub-topics.
Concordance
This is one of the best concordances in any study Bible. The concordance is 147 pages with 3 columns per page. It has 4795 entries with around 36,000 references. It includes proper names with 339 biographical entries. 1312 entries include every appearance of a word. These are marked with an asterisk. It includes background information and references to prominent texts and variations of words in parenthesis. This an excellent concordance for sermon prep and personal study.
- Christ (Christ’s, Christian, Christians) – 169
- Christ’s (Christ) – 7
- Christian (Christ) – 2
- Christians (Christ) – 1
- Faith (Faithful, Faithfully, Faithfulness, Faithless) – 3 columns
- Faithful (Faith) – 92
- Faithfully (Faith) – 15
- Faithfulness (Faith) – 68
- Faithless (Faith) – 12
- God (God’s, Godliness, Godly, Gods) – 9 columns
- God-breathed (Breathed) – 1
- God-Fearing (Fear) – 7
- God-Haters (Hate) – 1
- God’s (God) – 30
- Godless – 2
- Godliness (God) – 8
- Godly (God) – 4
- Gods (God) – 8
- Jesus – 2 columns, 5 major topics with multiple sub-topics, with many Scripture passages and references
- Life
- Miracles
- Major Teaching
- Parables
- Disciples
- Praise (Praised, Praises, Praising) – 112
- Praised (Praise) – 13
- Praises (Praise) – 7
- Praiseworthy (Praise) – 2
- Praising (Praise) – 5
- Pray (Prayed, Prayer, Prayers, Praying, Prays) – 35
- Prayed (Pray) – 19
- Prayer (Pray) – 32
- Prayers (Pray) – 9
- Praying (Pray) – 12
- Prays (Pray) – 1
Maps
It includes 14 full-color maps Zondervan maps printed on 16 pages of regular Bible paper. It also includes an index to maps. The maps include topography, elevation, distance, routes, borders, possible locations of lost places, battles, cities, cities of refuge, empires with dates, locations of events of prophets, locations for the events of Jesus’ ministry, and locations for the events of the apostles and missionaries.
Maps include:
- World of the Patriarchs
- Holy Land and Sinai
- Exodus and Conquest of Canaan
- Land of the Twelve Tribes
- Kingdom of David and Solomon
- Kingdoms of Israel and Judah
- Prophets in Israel and Judah
- Assyrian and Babylonian Empires
- Holy Land in the Time of Jesus
- Jerusalem in the Time of Jesus
- Jesus’ Ministry
- Apostle’s Early Travels
- Paul’s Missionary Journeys
- Roman Empire
Conclusion
The NIV Study Bible, Fully Revised Edition is a nice update. The paper and print quality are exceptional and the red-letter is some of the best I’ve seen. The full-color photos and illustrations stand out from front to back. The commentary has a lot of theology, cultural information, and personal application. I especially like the focus on archaeological artifacts and cultural backgrounds. The updated material makes this the best version of the NIV Study Bible that I’ve seen. Any fan of the NIV Study Bible will love this edition.
_________________________________________________________
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.
Randy,
An excellent review, for which many thanks!
Not too long ago, I had to replace my NIV Study Bible, and I thought that I might be able to keep it safe!
But now, I have to buy yet another edition, as (tutoring students) I need to have what is, or will shortly be, THE NIV Study Bible!
So, I’ve ordered the large print edition of your recommendation!
Being in my seventy-fourth year, I do hope that I shall not be called upon to expend funds for yet another revision!
By the way, do you have a link to Amazon UK, so that we Brits can buy through you?
And also by the way, do you know what is the best/latest ESV Study Bible? I might as well check that mine is not outdated!
Many thanks, and every blessing!
Thanks! I’ll have to check on a link for Amazon UK. I appreciate you asking.
Randy, The Bible has arrived, and it positively demanded that I spend the last hour with it! The NIV is not my favourite translation, but this Bible really is very attractive – and probably indispensable! This generation arguably has the best Bibles ever produced! Thanks again for your review!
That’s excellent! I’m glad you like it. I agree, it’s an attractive Bible. We have some amazing Bibles available today.
Randy,
I wonder whether you and/or other readers may be able to Hell me in the following matter, in real action to comparing the 2020 NIVSB with the 2011SB?
2011 has two indexes at the back; one to Topics, and the other to Notes, 2020 has only one index at the back, that to Notes. On the other hand, 2020 has, at the front, a list of Article; but 2011 has no such list (or Articles?).
Biblical Unitarian though I am, I try always to be fair in discussing the doctrine of the Trinity., An acquaintance and I were discussing it, by telephone; and I suggested that we each look up the texts, appearing under “The Trinity”, entries in 2020.
Imagine our surprise to discover that, while the 2020 has 13 text sets, appearing (at page 2311) in the Index to Notes; there is no Index to Topics in 2020.! Fortunately, as I have (but he has not) retained 2011, I was able to confirm that 2011 has (at page 2359) the same 13 text sets in the Index to Notes; and to supply him with the 58 text sets (at page 2313) in 2011 Index to Notes.
On the other hand, 2011 does not have (it seems) the Articles or the list of Articles that appear in 2020. My perusal of the 2020 Articles suggested only 4 brief articles (pages 11, 106, 284, and 292) which might be relevant : I have supplied him with copies; but they do not appear to be too much help in the matter.
Have we missed something here? Is there some loss of information in 2020, a loss not covered by the Articles introduced? I can’t understand why 2020 has got rid of the Index to Topics!
I thought, in relation to 2012, and I think it even more strongly in relation to 2020, and indeed in relation to all Study Bibles, that a Master Index of all Articles, Notes Topics, etc. is required. In fact, I wonder even whether such a list might be merged with the Concordance: if I wish to examine something, one overall starting point seem to me to be best.
May Jesus blesses you and your very clear and useful work, it is a delight to watch. Please, beg Jesus for those who can not even afford to buy a hardback so that we can buy one.
Is there much room for note taking in this bible? I’m in the search for a good commentary bible that also has wide margins and can’t seem to find one anywhere. NIV or (N)KJV preferred.
Hi Angela. Unfortunately, It doesn’t have much space for notes.
I have the 2011 version, which has quite a few photos of idols scattered throughout. It’s a bit distracting, so I’m wondering if these have been removed/reduced in the 2020 edition?