The Berean Study Bible

A review of The Berean Study Bible (ISBN 9781944757779). This blue cloth-over-board hardback edition includes the sixty-six books of the Protestant canon only. Although it is called a study Bible, it does not include explanatory notes.

The Berean Study Bible does not use modern, gender inclusive language. While I have not scored it for 'literalness,' my impression is that it is less literal than the English Standard Version (ESV) and more literal than the New International Version (NIV). If scored, it would probably land close to the Christian Standard Bible (CSB).

This volume is 9 1/4 x 7 3/8 x 1.76 inches in dimensions.

The Biblical text is presented in two columns in a 10.5 point font. It is generally divided into paragraphs, but poetic sections of Scripture are arranged accordingly. Extra space is inserted between paragraphs. The text is not line-matched. Text and translation notes, along with some references, appear at page bottom in a 8.5 point font. Those notes often reference readings in the Greek Old Testament and the Dead Sea Scrolls, and they generally indicate when an Old Testament passage is quoted in the New Testament.

The print is not as dark as I would like, nor as bold. Page-to-page variations in print darkness are not uncommon.

The words of Christ are in black ink. Pronouns for deity are capitalized. No special font is used to identify translator-supplied explanatory wording. The text is not self-pronouncing.

Headings in the text are in a bold, 10.5 point font. Occasionally, related passages are listed below the headings.

The paper weight is 45 grams per square meter (gsm). The paper surface is somewhat glossy. It is nearly white, and it is relatively opaque. The text block is sewn.

The volume does not include book introductions, maps, or a concordance. One 7 mm (~1/4") golden ribbon marker is present. This Bible lies open and reasonably flat in Genesis.

Numerical values are often written in numerals in the translation (e.g., 12,000 rather than twelve thousand). Ancient measures are sometimes retained, and sometimes they are translated into modern terms (e.g., metretae into gallons).

Contents

00:00 Introduction
01:09 Page layout
07:10 The font in the text
09:38 Paper qualities
10:31 The sewn binding,the ribbon, and the cover
12:20 The copyright page, etc.
14:12 Comparisons to source texts
16:50 Literalness and gender
24:30 Is it similar to other translations?
26:25 Miscellaneous observations
30:28 Summary