Zondervan’s KJV Giant Print Personal Size Reference Bible is an inexpensive Bible (the one I’m reviewing is $14.99) that provides a highly readable text in a sewn binding. It’s available in imitation and bonded leather. The edition I’m reviewing is black imitation leather (Leather Look), ISBN: 9780310931911.
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Binding
The cover is called Leather Look imitation leather. I think it’s actually plastic. It’s a single sheet of plastic with the end-page glued directly to it, there’s nothing folding over the end pages. The edges of the cover are the edges of the plastic. The liner is the presentation page. The text-block is section sewn. The cover is on the stiff side and will take some breaking in to stay open in Genesis. Around Exodus it stays open with no issues.
The edition I’m reviewing does not include a ribbon marker. It does have black and gold head/tail bands. The overall size is 8.75 x 5.75 x 1.3”
Paper
The paper is around 30+ gsm. It’s decently opaque and has no glare. It does have some show-through but it’s not terrible. The paper has a slight off-white color. I like its rough(ish) texture. It seems like it would be good paper for marking. I had no trouble turning the pages. The gilting is sprayed on, so it doesn’t win any marks for beauty, but for the price it’s understandable.
Typography
The text is presented in double column verse-by-verse format. The header shows the book name, chapter, and verse numbers in the outer column, page numbers in the center, and page summaries in the inner column.
The 11.5 font is darker than most Bibles but not overly bold. Even the red is darker than most. Red letter goes all the way through Revelation. The print quality of black and red is consistent throughout. There are no markings in the text – so no self-pronunciations or reference keys to get in the way. The columns are 2.25” wide and has around 30 characters across with 5 or 6 words per line and 50 lines per page. The text never feels cramped. It’s more likely to have more space between words than less.
Books start on a new page. Verse numbers are indented which makes finding the verses easier but it also makes each verse a stand-alone unit that’s more difficult to see in context. There are no paragraph markers from Acts 21 onward. The translator’s footnotes are not included, which is typical of personal size giant print reference editions. In Bibles like this they could easily be placed at the end of verses. At the very least they should be placed in an appendix in the back.
References
References are placed at the end of verses. They’re kept to a minimum but those that are here are helpful. Here’s a short list of examples to help you compare:
- Genesis 1:1 – Jn 1:1, 2; Heb 1:10; Ps 8:3
- Deuteronomy 6:4 – Jn 17:3
- Isaiah 9:6 – ch 17:4; Lk 2:11; Jn 3:16
- Matthew 17:20 – x
- Mark 11:23 – Mt 17:20; 21:21
- Mark 12:29 – x
- John 1:1 – Pr 8:22; 1 Jn 1:1; Pr 8:30
- 1 John 1:1 – Jn 1:1, 14
Book Introductions
Book introductions typically take a couple of paragraphs and discuss the author, settings, purpose of the book, highlights, key people, and key verses. They also have a short outline which shows the major points. They’re concise and provide some good information about the book.
Concordance
The concordance is 67 pages with 2 columns per page. Entries include alternate forms of a word in parenthesis. For a short concordance it has a decent number of references. Here’s a sampling of the keywords with their number of entries to help you compare:
- Christ – 17
- Christian (Christians) – 2
- Faith – 50
- Faithless – 1
- Faithful – 15
- Faithfulness – 4
- God – 12
- Godhead – 2
- Godly – 2
- Godliness – 4
- Praise (Praised) – 9
- Praises (Praising) – 3
- Pray – 13
- Praying (Prayed) – 3
- Prayer – 12
- Prayers – 2
Maps
There are 3 full-color maps on thick paper. The third map is the back liner. They include annotations, distance, borders, roads, cities, water, topography, and Scripture references.
Here’s the list of maps:
- World of the Patriarchs
- Jesus’ Ministry
- Jerusalem in Jesus’ Time
Conclusion
I’m surprised at the readability of the text in a sewn binding. It’s worth the low price for the text alone. I’m not a fan of the cover for a daily-use Bible, but for this price it’s worth getting this sewn binding to have it rebound. It’s also a good choice if you need to take a Bible with you that you don’t want to worry about what happens to it. The bold and clear font is great for preaching, teaching, or reading.
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Photography by hannah C brown
Zondervan provided this Bible free for review. I was not required to give a positive review – only an honest review. My opinions are my own.