In a previous post, I maligned the publishers of the Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) for not having produced a properly sized reference Bible edition. By that, I meant full size pages, e.g. 6″x9″ or larger, a non-thinline sewn binding, wide margins for notes, approximately 1-3 references per verse that point to other scriptural uses of a word or phrase, topical ties, alternate translations, etc. And, to the best of my knowledge, such an edition still does not exist — the primary shortcoming of the available HCSB Reference Bible being the “ultrathin” binding thickness and lack of wide margins for notetaking.
However, in the interest of moving forward on my decision to regularly use the HCSB, I have purchased an Ultrathin Reference Bible in the Large Print setting. As advertised, the cover is 6½” x 9½” x 1″, so it’s about half as wide as my similarly sized NASB Side-Column Reference (1¾”) from Foundation and still noticeably thinner than the new TNIV Reference Bible (1¼”) from Zondervan.
The binding appears to be a combination sewn and glued, so it remains to be seen how it will hold up over time; however, the Bible does come with a lifetime guarantee from Holman. I chose to get the burgundy bonded leather cover – primarily because it was inexpensive ($17!) and I typically use a Bible cover despite Rick Mansfield’s admonitions to the contrary; premium leather covers are overkill for my purposes. Rather, I would liked to have seen this edition available in a sturdy hardback binding. The pages are sturdily attached to the cover with a durable leather-style paper (in contrast to the TNIV Reference Bible, which uses what appears to be heavy paper stock).
There are several sheets of heavier stock paper in the front and at the back of the binding: the front pages are used for the presentation page and recording special family events (ed. does anyone actually use these?), while the back pages feature a series of colorful maps. An 80-page Concordance is a generous and welcome tool. As with most HCSB editions, the words of Christ are printed in red ink (the pew Bibles, Minister’s Bible and the Apologetics Study Bible are the notable exceptions). At least it is a tolerable darker color, unlike the pinkish ink used by Tyndale on the NLT Bibles. Spot checking a few passages, the vertical alignment between red- and black-ink text blocks is not perfect, but not overly distracting.
As expected, the Large Print setting appears to be the normal layout enlarged by a few percentage points, from 8pt text to 10.5pt text; the publishers have compensated for this by using a larger page size (6½”x9½” vs. 5½”x8½”). Surprising for the ultrathin format, the paper is mostly opaque, with little text bleed-through from the underlying pages.
The HCSB RB uses a traditional center-column for its cross-references. I’m not a huge fan of this setup, preferring the single-column text of the TNIV RB and the NASB SCR. However, the larger page size and font size are well balanced – actually more so than the TNIV RB, with its smaller primary text size. Holman has wisely chosen to set the primary text and cross-references/footnotes in contrasting font styles, with a serif font used for the former and a readable sans-serif font for the latter. I would liked to have seen a less noticeable dotted line divider between the text and notes instead of a solid line, but that is a quibble easily put aside as there is enough padding space between the divider line and text block.
I actually like this Bible a lot. The paper quality is excellent and it’s generally very readable; I’m glad I got the Large Print edition instead of the normal/smaller size. The binding seems secure and opens flat in my hand; the bonded leather is more flexible than that on the thicker TNIV Reference Bible. Overall, the production of this Bible is quite similar to my NASB Open Bible from Thomas Nelson, which has been remarkably durable and has held up well after 20+ years.
Future Recommendations. As noted elsewhere, a “Second Edition” update to the HCSB is reportedly planned in 2009. For a Reference Bible associated with that release, I would recommend a few changes to the present edition:
- Single column text. Take this edition’s paper size and flow in a single-column text setting with the cross references set in the inside margin. This will probably push the overall width to 1¼”, maybe 1½”, but that’s okay! I would like a little more heft to my Bible.
- Tweak the primary text font. I like the use of a true serif font style, but whatever this font is, the curves seem just a bit too round and the characters look tall on the page. I really like the Swift font used on the Revised English Bible produced by Cambridge, but I’m sure there are lots of options to look at. [Ed. I have a request into B&H to get font details and will update this article if they provide any information.]
- Add another ribbon marker and make them twice as wide.
- Provide the edition in a hardback binding.
- Black letter text throughout. It’s more consistent, easier to read and you don’t have to worry about page alignment between printing runs. If you can do black-letter for the Minister’s Bible, you ought to be to do that for this edition.
- Consider narrowing the text column a little more and providing at least a 1″ outside margin for handwritten notes. The paper weight may need to be increased to provide an optimal experience.
15 Comments
Hey ElShaddai, thanks for the great work on reviewing the HCSB RB. I haven’t really paid much attention to this translation in the past. I guess I’m riding the tail-end of a new wave but I’m not a wagon jumper from the TNIV and NLT (still my favorites). Recent posts, including ones by others that led me to read the interview by HCSB’s General Editor, Ed Blum, really impressed me about the good things they have done in the HCSB.
…and I can’t say that I will go out and buy an edition of the HCSB yet (as I don’t have one in my collection of bibles). I’d likely hold off until the update in 2009. So there, I’m not a wagon jumper.
Thanks for the comments, Kevin. It came down to a two horse race between the HCSB and TNIV for my preferences and in the end, the HCSB proved to be a better study foil to the REB (my clear choice for a reading Bible) than the TNIV did. I too am looking forward to the ‘09 update!
If they came out with a perfect HCSB tomorrow, I’d be hesitant to buy it because of the upcoming revision. However, I was offered a review copy of the Apologetics Study Bible, so I’ll take that.
When the 2009 revision is released, I”m hoping that they will have some good editions right at the start. The main HCSB I use is still the Minister’s Bible, but there’s a lot that could be improved there.
Rick wrote: If they came out with a perfect HCSB tomorrow, I’d be hesitant to buy it because of the upcoming revision.
Well… I had been using the HCSB Red-Letter Text Edition hardback until Christmas Eve when I put it on top of the car after church service to buckle my two-year old in and promptly forgot about it. It somehow stayed up there for the drive to the house, where we dropped off some stuff (I never left the car) and continued on to my mother-in-law’s house for dinner. About a half-mile down the road I saw something slide down the back of the window in a pile of snow and suddenly remembered my Bible on the roof. We turned around and spotted my black Bible cover in the middle of the county road… The cover has a hole in in and the zipper is busted. The Bible itself is in pretty good shape, but the binding is a little loose. Ironically, I’d ordered this Reference Bible just a few days earlier…
All that to say that normally I too would be hesitant to buy a new HCSB with the pending update, but it all worked out in the end…
Thanks for the review of this particular Bible, ElShaddai. I had been considering it myself, but I think I like my hand-size large print one better; and as long as they’re doing an update, I’ll just hang on to what I have until then. I’m still undecided about the hand-size’s “end of paragraph” references. They seem to break up the text too much. I think I prefer them in a separate column.
@Gary: yes, I remember we talked about your edition before and that I’d eventually seen a copy in a local bookstore. If I recall correctly, it’s actually about the same size as this one, maybe a little shorter and a bit thicker. But I agree that the end-of-paragraph references are quirky, though ironically that’s the type of system that my NASB Open Bible uses, end-of-verse in that case. I do prefer the column approach instead.
I could buy into an argument that a single-column text setting with a reference column, preferably on the inside margin, would fit very nicely in the hand-size HCSB. I’d strongly consider purchasing that as well.
It really stinks that the endpages are cardboard and not leather on the TNIV RB. If they’re like the cardboard endpapers used in their thinline Bibles, they will tear pretty quickly, especially with the TNIV RB’s larger and heavier text block….
The endpages on the TNIV RB feel a little heavier than those on the thinline TNIV I have. Maybe a little higher grade paper, but the HCSB is definitely a cut above both.
I hope you get your wishes this year, for I’m in 100% agreement. These days a Bible is not complete without two-ribbons for me. I guess my NASB95 Charles Stanley edition has spoile me.
I hope the CSB would go back to translation agapetoi as “Beloved” instead of “dear friends.” And translate adelphoi as “Brethren” instread of “brothers.” Those are my wishes. If met, the CSB will be the perfect Bible for me.
ElShaddai…I just now found your blog and this HCSB post. Thanks! I have been flip-flopping on Bible translations in the past couple years as well. I was raised on the KJV from a kid and am now mid-fifties, but got the bug for a new translation a couple years ago.
I too have tried the ESV, but I just keep going back to the HCSB. I’m no Bible scholar, but there’s just something about it that I enjoy reading. I never liked the NIV.
I read through the ESV last year and enjoyed it. But this year I am reading through the HCSB…I am using the ESV Scofield Genuine Leather by Oxford. Somewhat stiff cover, but very good quality. I’m not wild about the Scofield notes, but I love the high quality of the Bible.
I would like to see B&H or even some individual start a HCSB blog or possibly even a forum for some good discussion of this translation.
I look forward to reading your blog.
Ron
Ron, thanks for stopping by, I appreciate the comments. I agree that a HCSB blog would be a good idea – hopefully this will become a standard communication tool for modern Bible publishers.
In spite of knowing all that has been said I still went ahead and purchased the Holman Legacy Ultrathin Reference Bible Large Print
It was my birthday and I was able to chose what I wanted
I was not happy with my current Ultrathin leather bible
leather has this high gloss finish, I just don’t like that it is too flashy for me.
I ordered it online and did not know it was
I prefer a matt finish
I thought the price was not to bad for $63.00 ???
If you want the long story you can read it at my blog
Can someone please tell me the logic of having the red letter edition of all Bibles that come out of the States? Can someone tell me why I cannot buy a copy of a bible without red letter print? What makes the words of Jesus more important than the words of God the Father? Where is the logic? PLEASE can a publisher buck the fashion of the moment and provide a bible that does not have red letters? I would dearly love one of these Bibles, but will not buy a red letter edition.
I just found your blog post; I, too, have been wishing for a good reference edition of the HCSB. I really like the translation, but have been disappointed with what Holman is making available. I even emailed them specifically telling them what I wanted, but I never got a response. I have been using an old NASB while waiting for the 2009 CSB. I am afraid the CSB is going to fall irreparably behind the ESV, though. The ESV has some really great editions out and is quickly replacing the NASB in many congregations.