How Bibles have improved in the past decade
By Randy A. Brown
I’ve been reviewing Bibles on Bible Buying Guide in all price ranges for over 10 years. In those 10 years, I’ve seen lots of changes in the quality and design of the printed Word. I’ve also interacted with lots of Bible publishers and readers, and I have some ideas of what works, what doesn’t, what we need, and how to choose a Bible based on those needs. In this article, I’ll discuss many of the changes I’ve seen in Bible publishing over the past 10 years. Stick around until the end for a short guide to choosing a Bible.
Typefaces Designed with Bibles in Mind
A lot more thought and effort has gone into typefaces over the past 10 years.
In the past, many typefaces were chosen that looked good in print, but they were not always printed well, and they weren’t ideal for a book with over 700,000 words printed on thin paper.
Now, typefaces are chosen to improve readability and make the Bibles smaller without sacrificing font size. Black and color fonts have become darker without sacrificing readability.
Some publishers are now using typefaces that were designed specifically for Bibles. Certain publishers have gone so far as to commission typefaces that are designed for specific translations.
This focus on typefaces has resulted in Bibles that are easier to read for longer periods and easier to carry and use.
Improved Print and Paper Quality for Lower-priced Bibles
In the past, if you wanted a dark font, you’d have to purchase a premium Bible. Most of the lower-priced Bibles had a light- to medium-print darkness, and many of them were not consistent in their print quality. It was common for red-letter to range from pink to light-pink from one page to another. Now, print quality is darker and more consistent in both black and red text in all price ranges.
Paper in lower-priced Bibles is also much better. It was common for paper to be shiny or have excessive show-through. Both problems made it difficult to read. Now, many lower-priced Bibles use paper made with improved processes, making the Bibles more enjoyable to read.
Canterbury KJV, published by Schuyler Bibles
Layouts Focus on the Text
Layouts are designed with readability in mind and have a strong focus on the biblical text. Commentary is often set in a different layout with a different number of columns, a different font, and a smaller font size to look different from the text. I see commentary, references, footnotes, and other tools being less disruptive to the reading experience.
More space is given to the text. Footnotes and references are moved to other locations, such as the footer, or moved to the outer margins to keep the biblical text together. This keeps the reader’s eyes from having to cross over non-biblical text to continue reading.
The text has become cleaner. Self-pronouncing marks have been removed from the text and keys for the footnotes and cross-references are made smaller or use a different font. Sometimes they’re placed in a different color so your eyes can easily differentiate them from the text.
Two-color layouts use a different color for section headings, chapter and verse numbers, etc., to make the text more readable and visually interesting. This provides a visual difference between biblical and non-biblical text and makes the text stand out.
It is now common for the text to be printed with line matching. This means that the line of text on one side of the page is printed in the same location as the line on the other side of the page. This reduces show-through and results in a page that’s easier to read because there’s whitespace around each line.
It was common for single-column settings to have small fonts and too many words per line. Now, most single-column settings either have fewer words or use designs that improve readability.
Higher-priced Bibles are not the only Bibles with great designs. Even lower-priced Bibles now have high-end layouts, including specially designed typefaces, line-matching, and two-color printing.
More Categories of Bibles
We’ve always had reference, text, study, and wide margin editions, but we now have even more types of Bibles to use and interact with.
Reader’s editions that remove chapter and verse numbers have been produced in multiple translations in both single and multi-volume sets. These Bibles are ideal for reading without distractions and help improve retention.
“Higher-priced Bibles are not the only Bibles with great designs. Even lower-priced Bibles now have high-end layouts, including specially designed typefaces, line-matching, and two-color printing.”
More journal editions are being produced in almost every translation. Most are in a single column. Many have lines for notes while others have drawings to color. These Bibles are made for writing and highlighting and are usually sold at lower price ranges, making them great for everyone.
Multi-column journal sets that place the Bible text on one side and lines for notes on the other have become popular. We can purchase books individually, specific sections of the Bible, or the entire Bible. These are great for personal and group study.
More companies are producing premium Bibles at a wide range of prices. This ensures there are premium quality Bibles that are more affordable and of higher quality.
ESV Topaz Bible, published by Cambridge University Press
Better Bindings
Ten years ago, lower-cost Bibles had glued bindings. Now, almost all bindings are sewn. I don’t even remember to mention it most of the time.
More Bibles stay open than before. Although I still see Bibles that have trouble staying completely open, it’s the exception rather than the rule.
Genuine leather covers are now made with materials other than pigskin. It’s common to see cowhide and water buffalo leather marked as genuine leather.
Imitation leather now looks more like real leather. Imitation leather has become more durable and lasts longer than previous imitation leathers.
Covers are available in more colors than before. It’s common to leather Bibles in brown, blue, green, purple, red, orange, and more, making it easier to find a Bible in a color that matches our tastes.
Better Ribbons
Lower-priced Bibles use much better ribbons than they did 10 years ago. Most were cheap and frayed easily, and including a single ribbon was common. Now, many Bibles in all price ranges include two or more ribbons. Most ribbons are double-sided satin. Even the ribbons in lower-cost Bibles are wide, long, and feel luxurious.
Community and Communication
Communities of people who enjoy the physical form of God’s Word have found each other to discuss Bibles and designs. Most are in Facebook groups, but they also revolve around blogs, YouTube channels, and more.
Publishers are now able to discuss designs with these groups. They reveal designs they’re working on for feedback. They’re able to have live events to show new Bibles.
The various publishing platforms have made it easier to create product reviews. There are more reviewers on all platforms and publishers get feedback from these reviewers. Many publishers have met with reviewers in their offices for interviews and tours, product shows, and video meetings.
The community has had wonderful opportunities to discuss Bibles before they’re printed.
The CSB Handcrafted Bible, published by Holman Bibles
A Short Guide to Choosing a Bible
There are lots of things to think about when choosing a Bible. There are lots of Bibles available in all sizes, which can make it difficult to choose. Many have simple tools, others have extensive tools, some have no tools, and some have writing room, etc. With all these options, how do you choose the right Bible for your needs?
The main thing to consider is how it will be used. Ask yourself several questions:
Do you have study tools separately, or will the study tools in the Bible be your main tools?
Will the Bible be carried outside the home?
Do you plan to read from it?
Do you need a large print?
With these questions in mind, let’s look at the way Bibles are used and get an idea of the different types of Bibles to look for. Use this information when considering a Bible:
All-Around Use
If it will be a Bible for all-around use, look for a balance between the overall size, font size, and basic tools. This is a multitool that needs to work well for reading, carry, and study. Usually, a standard reference Bible with a large enough font that’s easy to read, but an overall size that’s easy to carry is ideal.
Reading
If the main use of this Bible will be for reading, choose one that has as few distractions as possible. Get one without commentary or cross-references. You might even consider a Bible without chapter and verse numbers. I recommend getting a single-column paragraph edition for reading.
Home Use
A Bible that will mostly be used at home can be larger than the one you intend to carry around. They’re usually left on a desk, so their weight isn’t much of an issue. Look for the most comfortable font size. Unless you plan to use external tools for study, it should have the main tools you need.
Carrying
If the Bible will be carried to Church, to group Bible studies, or anywhere else outside the home, get a Bible that’s small enough to carry easily and light enough to hold while reading and following along. I recommend getting one with the smallest font you can read comfortably with only the specific tools you need while on the go. If you’re not using it for study, a text edition is a better choice because they allow for a larger font for the same-sized Bible.
General Study
For a Bible that will mostly be used for study, choose one with lots of cross-references, book introductions, concordance, maps, and other study helps. A study Bible or a Bible with lots of references is ideal for general study.
Personal Study
For personal study, look for a Bible with room to write your thoughts and insights. A Bible with wide margins or pages for notes is ideal for this. At least a few references are also helpful. Wide margin Bibles and Journaling Bibles are excellent choices.
Preaching
For a Bible to preach from, look for a Bible with a large font that’s clear of distractions and paper that’s easy to read from and turn. Some preachers prefer at least a little bit of room for small notes. Most preachers find verse-by-verse layouts easier to preach from than paragraph layouts. Section headings can be helpful because they make it easy to locate the text.
Price
Finally, consider the price-point you can afford. Bibles are available in all price ranges and the quality is different between those price ranges. In general, the more it costs the higher the quality and the longer it will last with heavy use. I recommend buying the best you can afford based on how it will be used.
If the Bible will only be used occasionally, then a lower-cost Bible will be sufficient. If the Bible will be used a lot, then it’s best to spend as much as you can so you won’t have to replace it later. Buying lots of cheap Bibles can cost more than buying one good one in the long run.
NASB Bible, published by Zondervan
Ending Thoughts
That was a lot to cover, so I’ll summarize my thoughts on how I’ve seen Bibles improved over the past 10 years.
It can be summarized with this - the overall quality has improved. Although I do see bad paper and cheap manufacturing, the overall quality is getting better. Even at the lower price points, Bibles now have better designs, print quality, covers, ribbons, and paper.
More companies are producing premium editions and many of those are aimed toward a lower price-point. Even imitation leather can look and feel like real leather, and they last longer than in previous years. Most Bibles are sewn rather than glued. Most have satin ribbons and multiple ribbons.
Along with this beauty comes better usability. We’re drawn to beauty, but we come back for usability. The mastery in Bible design is where the two meet – where beauty and usability come together to create a Bible that draws us in and encourages us to read it, use it, carry it, share it, and live it.
When choosing a Bible, I recommend selecting one that draws you to it. One where the size, shape, layout, and tools intrigue you the most. The more you’re drawn to it, the more you’ll want to use it and that’s the point in the first place.
Randy A Brown is the founder and primary writer of Bible Buying Guide. He’s reviewed hundreds of Bibles covering all price ranges and consulted on many Bible designs. You can learn more and see the reviews at biblebuyingguide.com.