Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #759727 in Books
• Published on: 2004-10-13
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 1106 pages

Customer Reviews

Fantastic new translation of the best selling book ever!
How to choose from the many Bible translations available? A tough question, but it boils down to the trade off between "read-ability" and how literal it is. On the one hand, versions which are very literal to the original language (Hebrew and Greek) tend to be cumbersome to read, and therefore understand. On the other, translations made easy to read often take great liberties with the text.

Up to now, the most popular translation has been the New International Version - and it is a good one. But to my mind, it strays too much away from the "literal" camp, with its "thought for thought" translation, rather than "word for word". Well, now the ESV has come along, and it is a lot better - just as readable (almost!) but truer as a translation. The translation team reads like a who's who of evangelical scholars -Grudem, Packer and Wenham. ...

At last, literal & readable
The ESV manages to be literal and very readable. The NASB is the most literal but readability occasionally suffers as a result.
The refusal by all involved to be swayed by political correctness regarding the use of masculine words is refreshing in the current climate. If it is in the original texts it stays, if it is not supported by the original texts it goes.
As has been noted in another review, the list of those involved either in translation or editorial oversite is very impressive.
The stature of those involved only adds to the excellence of this translation for personal study, public reading and preaching.
My only regret is that the Study Bible version is not slated to appear untill 2008.

The Word of God in a practical portable format.
Not only was I curious about the ESV translation, I was looking for small format as a companion for my daily activities. I do have to admit that the size of the print is small, but to pack God's Word into such a small package there is no other alternative. Eventhough small, it is readable and to my surprise the quality of print and binding is outstanding. I have a copy of the NIV (from another publisher) and am also quite pleased eventhough the Bible was printed in of all places - China. The ESV from Crossway is printed in the EU. Another super "add on" is the possibility to receive, either via free CD or download, a copy a Bible Resource program. This program is fantastic and will greatly aid your study and understanding of the Book of Books. Would I do it again? Yes, but my next copy will be a full sized version of this wonderful translation.