Bible Editions Worth Reading: ESV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible

Thinline Bibles have become some of my favorites. Even though the pages are thinner in a thinline bible, they are the most versatile for me because they fit easily in a backpack. They tend to have just the right amount of margin and readability; you can usually find ones with Reference notes, and they’re generally a standard size, give or take, which makes them easy to carry and surprisingly easy to stack on a shelf with other thinline Bibles.

So when Crossway offered me the opportunity to look at their ESV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible, I jumped at it. This edition was released in 2022. It remains a popular edition for many. Since I received it, and the more I have spent time with it, the ESV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible has become a popular choice for me too, and I have admittedly reached for it more often than I expected. I am grateful Crossway sent me the ESV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible, and this review covers my experience with it.

In this series, Bible Editions Worth Reading, I take a closer look at Bible editions I have come to appreciate and recommend. In this blog series, I explore their translation, design, construction, and the features that make this edition worth reading and using. These are personal reviews informed by my experience as a pastor, student of Scripture, and lifelong Bible reader, with the goal of helping others find editions that serve them well.

How It Works for Me as a Pastor

For me, reviewing a Bible’s usability means looking at its faithfulness in translation, its readability, and the features that make it accessible. I appreciate larger, diverse, and respected translation teams. I want good margins, a readable font size, and resources that add to our reading of the Scriptures. The ESV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible is a faithful translation, with some oddities we will explore later. It has some diversity represented on its team. The ESV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible has good margins, a readable font size, and resources that add to our understanding as we read the Scriptures.

As a pastor, I regularly read a passage in various translations. I want to hear how different translations handle the Hebrew and Greek, especially when I’m preparing to preach. The ESV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible has fashionably joined my consulting library. Over the years, I have increasingly leaned toward more literal or formal translations rather than dynamic ones. That said, I am not sure literal or formal translations always solve everything, and in both contexts I serve, I actually preach from dynamic versions, both the New International Version and the God’s Word Translation. In many ways, though, the ESV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible pushes for more word-for-word accuracy than most dynamic translations, which aim to capture the in-text meaning, and it sits at the intersection of Formal and Dynamic. As a result, the ESV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible gives us a close look at the words and syntax in our Greek and Hebrew manuscripts.

The English Standard Version (ESV) has not only earned its place in pulpits; it has quickly joined the best-selling Bible lists. In my particular spheres, I find the English Standard Version (ESV) being read more than many other translations. Though I wouldn’t say it is my favorite English translation in every individual verse, the ESV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible is an edition I have come to see as worth reading and recommending to others.

Who Is This Bible For?

I wouldn’t recommend the ESV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible to everyone. If you want hundreds of pages of commentary, theological articles, character studies, devotionals, and other study resources, you should probably buy a study Bible. If you have limited literacy, I wouldn’t start with the ESV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible. I think dynamic translations offer a starting place for people who struggle with reading, as they grow and move toward more literal or formal translations. However, if you want an everyday Bible built to be carried, that is faithfully and rightly translated, with a strong reference system, translator notes, readable large-print text, useful maps, and a manageable physical size, this ESV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible is an important resource for you. This is a Bible for someone who wants to read Scripture seriously without carrying a massive study Bible everywhere.

I also think that the ESV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible would work well for a pastor. It would work well for someone who regularly studies Scripture. I think it works especially well for someone who wants a Bible that fits in a backpack but still looks at home on a church lectern. If you’re like me and have a soft spot for Thinline Bibles, you’ll find it especially easy to appreciate.

Large Print That Is Actually Large Enough

The ESV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible has 10.5-point text. As weird as it sounds, that is a selling point for me. I’ve always liked large-print Bibles, and I appreciate them even more now that I need them. A Bible’s readability determines how much it will be read. If I struggle to read it, I won’t.

The text of the ESV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible is presented in a clean double-column format. Section headings are easy to distinguish, and a single brown ribbon marker matches the overall aesthetic. The margins are fair for a Bible of this size. You will have comfortable margins for your eyes, but also enough to write small reflections and column notes.

Most importantly, the superscripts of the ESV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible does not get in the way of reading. That’s something I look for in a reference Bible. You can have an incredible reference system, but if the page becomes so cluttered that you can’t simply read Scripture, you’ve defeated the purpose. If the print is so small in the reference system that you cannot read it without straining, you will end up avoiding it. The ESV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible is laid out well and readable. The ESV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible’s pages feel clean and relatively uncluttered.

The Reference System Is the Real Strength

If you’re going to buy an ESV, I think there’s a strong case for buying the ESV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible. The reference system is extensive without becoming as complicated as something like a Thompson Chain-Reference Bible.

The ESV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible explains its reference system clearly near the beginning. Lettered superscripts direct you to cross-references, while numbered superscripts identify textual notes. The references include related themes, quoted passages, parallel passages, collections of references, and other connections throughout Scripture. All of these resources in the ESV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible help us to understand what we are reading and then connect it within the bigger story. We can also make accurate contrasts with similar teachings and revelations.

The ESV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible also includes translator notes where the Hebrew or Greek requires explanation. I am a nerd for these notes, and I deeply appreciate them because I am not a strong student of Hebrew or Greek. These notes can provide alternative translations, explanations of Hebrew and Greek terms, word meanings, specialized uses of words, grammatical points, pronoun references, and other clarifications. Weights and measurements are also addressed. For someone like me who clarifies and compares translations while preparing sermons, this is a valuable asset of the ESV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible. I don’t want to open a commentary every time I have a question about a word or a textual decision. Sometimes I simply want to know what the translators were wrestling with. The ESV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible gives me a glimpse into some of that information without turning the Bible into a study Bible or commentary. Even the maps at the back of the Bible are more extensive than I expected for a Thinline Bible, giving me a glimpse into the Bible’s regions and mapped world.

As I mentioned above, the reference and footnote material in the ESV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible is obviously smaller than the main body text. The notes in the ESV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible are probably around 8-point type. That being said, the typography is good. It’s really good. The typeface and spacing keep the notes surprisingly readable despite their size. I have not struggled to read it, even without my glasses and bifocals. More importantly, the reference material doesn’t visually overwhelm the Scripture.

A Cover That Feels Built to Last

When I pulled the ESV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible from the sleeve, the first thing that struck me was how the cover felt. This isn’t the big ESV Study Bible (but I will be reviewing that!) that feels like a brick in your backpack. That is part of the appeal of a Thinline. In the ESV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible, you get a substantial Bible without feeling like you’re packing a small, weighty library every time you leave the house.

The TruTone cover of the ESV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible feels substantial and elegant. The cover’s feel and texture make you think this Bible is meant to last years, not be replaced after a few months. This Bible is meant to be carried.

On the box that envelopes the bible, Crossway says its Bibles are guaranteed to last a lifetime, and if a manufacturing defect is discovered during normal use, customers are encouraged to contact Crossway for a comparable replacement. I appreciate that promise. A good Bible should be a good investment, and quality matters when you’re buying something you hope to use for years. This ESV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible certainly feels built with that lasting goal in mind.

The ESV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible features a sewn binding, and the perimeter stitching runs parallel to the finished edge, reinforcing the cover and securing the lining. The Bible measures approximately 6.125 by 9.125 by 1.1875 inches and weighs about 30 ounces. That’s a very reasonable size for a Thinline. The ESV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible is substantial enough to feel like a serious Bible without becoming something you hesitate to put in a backpack. I often ride an electric bike or scooter to work, and I want something that won’t weigh me down but still provides context to my reading.

Inside the cover of the ESV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible, a heavyweight end sheet is glued to the cover and attached to the front of the text block. There isn’t a pronounced yapp, but a minimal square overhang provides a little protection around the page edges. Then comes the goldish, reflective gilding that gives the Bible a subtle shine. The top, bottom, and fore edge of the text block are finished with reflective metallic gold. The application is clean and even, giving the Bible another traditional touch.

A Classic Design in a World of Colors

Bibles these days come in just about every color imaginable. To me, I’m still pretty plain. I want a classy and classic-looking Bible. My favorite Bibles tend to come in black, dark brown, or some mixture of the two. I like a Bible that looks like a Bible (I have a “look” in mind). I don’t necessarily need bright colors or elaborate patterns (and sometimes I find them tacky). For this review, when Crossway gave me a choice of ESV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible editions, I knew exactly what I wanted. I chose the TruTone Brown/Walnut edition, which Crossway says is part of their timeless design. They aren’t wrong. The ESV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible cover is two-tone, with a darker brown spine and a slightly warmer brown body. To my eye, the darker portion looks almost espresso-like.

The back is completely clean, with only the ISBN, while the spine carries Holy Bible, the ESV logo, English Standard Version, and the Crossway logo in reflective gold foil. Parallel gold lines, or spine rules, separate these elements and divide the spine into classic segments. The foil stamping is slightly debossed, and the overall effect is traditional without feeling dated. I love this Bible’s classic, clean, simple, professional look. If you are like me, you won’t be unsatisfied. Its simplicity speaks of beauty.

The ESV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible is a bible you can look at and want to pick up, and it invites you to read it. As you read, the ESV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible’s typography and margins create an accessible Bible, and its durability creates a lasting Thinline Bible resource.

What’s Inside the Cover of the ESV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible

Five white blank pages appear at the front, followed by a presentation page. It also includes pages for recording marriages, births, adoptions, and deaths. Then comes the classic ESV title page: The Holy Bible, with the ESV logo. The copyright page identifies this as the 2016 edition of the ESV text. It also contains the standard copyright information and permissions for quotations. Crossway prints the Bible in China and publishes it in Wheaton, Illinois.

In the copyright, Crossway identifies itself as a not-for-profit publishing ministry whose purpose is to publish the Good News of the Gospel and the truth of God’s Word, the Bible. That mission matters for understanding the ESV. Most of Crossway’s publishing comes from the Reformed tradition, and the ESV has consequently become particularly popular among Reformed churches and other conservative evangelical traditions. That theological association doesn’t tell you everything about the translation, but it is part of the ESV’s story.

The table of contents is clean and useful in the ESV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible. It begins with the preface and feature explanations, then the Old and New Testaments, followed by several feature explanations, including tables of weights and measures, a concordance, illustrations, appendices, and maps.

The ESV: Where does this translation come from?

The translation deliberately builds on a long tradition of English Bible translation, reaching back through William Tyndale, the King James Version, the English Revised Version of 1885, and the American Standard Version of 1901. They trace this history and commitment in the Bible’s opening chapters.

The American Standard Version of 1901 (ASV) was an important influence, though the Revised Standard Version ultimately provided the starting point for the ESV’s work. That history matters. This means the ESV isn’t simply a completely new translation that appeared out of nowhere. It is part of a long English translation tradition, updating and revising earlier work while attempting to preserve its strengths.

That doesn’t mean that the ESV avoided the manuscripts. They consulted Greek and Hebrew throughout. The translators describe their goal as being essentially transparent to the original text—to let readers see, as much as possible, the structure and syntax of the Greek and Hebrew in literary English. However, the ESV is not a brand new translation, and I think that is why I have not made it my main bible, but it is earning its spot on my shelf.

This history puts the ESV in an interesting position. It is more formally oriented than a translation such as the NIV, but generally less rigidly literal than the NASB. I’ve increasingly leaned toward more formal translations, and the ESV fits that preference well.

How Literal Is the ESV?

The ESV is often described as a literal translation, and I think that’s fair, with some qualifications. The NASB is generally more formal and literal. The NIV gives translators considerably more freedom to communicate the thought in natural English. The ESV tries to walk a line between those approaches.

Most of the time, I find that it works very well. However, occasionally the ESV’s commitment to preserving the original language’s structure produces English that feels unusual.

A few times, I actually like how the NASB handles the sentence a little better. Some people joke that the ESV occasionally sounds like Yoda. Those moments exist, but they aren’t common enough to keep me from appreciating the translation as a whole. That being said, you will encounter it from time to time.

Overall, the ESV is readable. It is clear. It also does a good job of retaining a more formal connection to the underlying languages without becoming as wooden as some readers find in other highly formal translations.

The Theology You Can See in the Translation

Every translation makes theological and linguistic decisions. These choices influence why one word is used over another in all translations. The ESV retains several traditional theological terms: grace, faith, justification, sanctification, redemption, regeneration, reconciliation, and propitiation. I appreciate this, to some degree. Those words certainly have deep theological meaning. Most audiences that I work with have no idea what those words mean, cannot pronounce them, and would struggle to grasp their richness. I think sometimes simplifying them can make a passage easier to read but also harder to see connections between ideas; at the same time, the words can reflect a leaning in the translation that others may not see the same way. These words can make it harder for some of the audiences I work with, and that is what keeps it favored in Reformed camps. Those words can also be difficult for someone unfamiliar with Christian vocabulary.

The ESV also makes some decisions that have generated discussion. For example, the Greek word adelphoi can refer to brothers and, depending on context, can more broadly mean a community. The ESV generally retains the masculine form of the word “brother” to avoid expanding it to the more inclusive “brothers and sisters.” I won’t get into that here. Personally, I don’t favor that choice. I understand the ESV’s desire to stay close to the original language, but I appreciate how the NASB 2020 handles these passages. This is one of those places where translation philosophy becomes very practical for the reader.

Likewise, the ESV, like most modern English translations, uses LORD in small capitals when representing the divine name YHWH. I’ve sometimes wondered whether that traditional practice can cause us to miss some of the impact of God’s personal name in the context of the text, although that’s a criticism some make of modern English translations in general, not just the ESV.

The ESV also continues the traditional practice of transliterating Christos as “Christ,” rather than consistently translating the word in a way that makes its connection to “anointed” or “Messiah” more explicit. Again, these are translation decisions worth understanding rather than simply labeling as right or wrong. They are also common in many English forms.

The Hebrew and Greek Text Behind the ESV

The ESV uses the Masoretic Text of the Hebrew Bible as represented in Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, now in its fifth edition. For the New Testament, the translators used the 2014 edition of the United Bible Societies’ Greek New Testament and the 28th edition of Novum Testamentum Graece by Nestle and Aland, published in 2012.

Where there are significant textual difficulties, the ESV includes notes indicating differences between manuscripts. I’m glad it does. To me, a good Bible shouldn’t pretend that textual criticism doesn’t exist. Readers benefit from knowing when meaningful questions arise about the manuscript evidence behind a particular reading.

The ESV also benefited from a large and talented team of scholars. The translation committee includes some significant names, including Wayne Grudem, among many others.

What About the Paper?

The paper in the ESV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible is fairly typical for a Thinline Bible. There will be some show-through, especially with heavier highlighting, but I wouldn’t describe it as the kind of especially thin, heavy-paged Bible you find in some inexpensive outreach or personal Bibles; it still feels fairly substantial for a Bible this thin.

The tradeoff is inevitable. If you want a Bible that is only a little over an inch thick while still containing a full Old Testament, extensive references, translator notes, including concordance material, and large print, something has to give. But for normal reading and modest highlighting, I think the ESV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible strikes a reasonable balance.

One Quality-Control Issue

One thing I noticed immediately disappointed me in the ESV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible. The particular copy Crossway sent me had an obvious manufacturing issue. When I opened Genesis, pages 3 and 4 had been folded down like a large dog-ear. It appears that the page was folded before it was cut because, even after unfolding it, the edge isn’t trimmed uniformly. It’s an obvious defect.

I don’t think it’s fair to pretend it isn’t there simply because Crossway provided the ESV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible for review. At the same time, this is a quality-control issue with my copy, not a problem with the ESV translation or the Bible’s design. Crossway’s lifetime guarantee is reassuring in that respect. I would think if this is a recurring problem, it could be problematic. Certainly, this should not steer you away from the ESV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible. However, if you pay for it and find it like that, I’d want to take advantage of Crossway’s guaranteed-for-life promise.

Final Thoughts

The ESV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible is an edition I have come to see as worth reading and recommending to others. I will be referencing it often. It offers a readable 10.5-point font, good margins, an extensive reference system, translator notes, useful maps, and a manageable physical size. This is a Bible for someone who wants to read Scripture seriously without carrying a massive study Bible everywhere. It works especially well for pastors, regular students of Scripture, and anyone who wants a Bible that fits in a backpack but still works at home and looks good on a church lectern.

For me, the ESV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible strikes a reasonable balance between readability, portability, and useful study resources. The paper has some show-through, and the reference notes are smaller than the main text, but those are reasonable trade-offs for a Bible of this size. As a pastor, I have found myself reaching for it more often than I expected, and I will be referencing it often. If you want a readable, portable ESV Bible with a strong reference system that supports serious reading without the bulk of a study Bible, I recommend giving this edition a serious look.

The ESV is readable and clear, though it has some oddities, and it is not my favorite English translation in every individual verse. Its classic, clean, simple, professional look is another strength. A Bible’s readability determines how much it will be read. If I struggle to read it, I won’t. This Bible is meant to be carried. It invites you to read it. I wouldn’t recommend it to everyone, particularly those who need a more accessible translation or want extensive commentary and study resources. But if you have a soft spot for Thinline Bibles, you’ll find the ESV Large Print Thinline Reference Bible especially easy to appreciate.

You can purchase and preview it on Crossway’s website.

If this post resonated, subscribe for future reflections, share it with a friend, or leave a comment. You can learn more about his journey to recover a rooted Christian way of life through the Lord’s Prayer, ancient habits, leading a quiet life, and simple Jesus communities online at JeffMcLain.com, the Lead a Quiet Life blog on Patheos, or the Discovering God Podcast.