Cam Hyde

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Well, hallelujah, and welcome to the Not Another Book or Bible Review Channel. My name is Cam Hyde, bringing you your unconventional, unorthodox book and Bible reviews—and sometimes a little more. But today, it is a Bible, and we’re going to talk about a new old Bible.

Let me go ahead and answer the question many have been asking: Is this the 2025 update of the ESV? No, it is still the 2016 text. But it remains a great Bible. This is the ESV Personal Reference Bible in genuine leather.

I’m excited about this Bible because it’s a bit of a glow-up. I’ve loved the ESV Personal Reference Bible from Crossway for a long time. I may even like it better than the Alpha or the Schuyler PSQ. It has a wonderful layout, and I love where Crossway places the references.

Most of the time, Crossway puts references in the bottom right-hand corner of the page, which I find difficult to read—they’re too small and too jumbled together. As I get older, I need bigger cross-references, and I like cross-references. Some people don’t care for them, but I do. I appreciate where the cross-references are placed in this Bible, and we’ll discuss that more.

Crossway has previously produced this Bible in TruTone. I’ve had several TruTone editions, two of which I had rebound. Now, I’m excited for this genuine leather version.

Features of the ESV Personal Reference Bible

Let’s start with the box details to highlight what makes this edition special. This Bible features:

• Line matching, which enhances readability.
• 8-point type in a single-column format—one of my favorite aspects.
• 80,000 cross-references—a fantastic number.
• A concordance for additional study.
• A lifetime guarantee, which is always a plus.

If you’re wondering about the difference between the 2016 and 2025 ESV texts, I have a separate video where I explain that you don’t need to worry about it. While the 2025 edition has some improvements, it won’t drastically change your Bible-reading experience.

Size and Design

This Bible, technically the Personal Reference (PR), is sometimes called the PSR because “Personal Size Reference” flows better. To give a size comparison, I placed it next to the ESV Psalms Scripture Notebook. The PR is thinner than the notebook but about the same height. So, you’re getting a full Bible in a very portable size.

This genuine leather edition has a tooled line around the cover—a nice touch. The gold stamping on the spine looks sharp, and I always love the black and gold design that Crossway does so well. The gold page edges are beautiful, and it comes with one ribbon bookmark—though if I were to modify this Bible, I might replace the bookmark with something higher quality.

The head and tail bands are black and yellow, another small but appreciated detail from Crossway. Inside, the Bible has a vinyl paste-down liner with vinyl end sheets, which feel durable and well-made.

Layout and Paper Quality

Someone asked me if this Bible has better paper than the TruTone edition. From my comparison, it appears to be the same paper, but the layout is what makes this Bible fantastic.

This is a single-column Bible with cross-references placed in the gutter (the inner margin). I love this feature because it pushes the text outward, making it easier to read. The text notes remain at the bottom of the page, but the references being in the gutter means they stay out of the way. You can choose to use them or ignore them without disrupting readability.

Looking at the Psalms, the poetry layout is beautiful on the page. If your eyes can handle the type size, this is an excellent portable Bible. I would love to see Crossway release this as an heirloom edition with premium materials like goatskin or calfskin. Hopefully, that happens in the future.

Other Features

This Bible includes a three-column concordance in the back, which is well-done. One of my favorite aspects is that it does not include maps. I appreciate when publishers leave maps out of Bibles. If I need a map, I’ll use a study Bible or check one digitally. Leaving maps out helps reduce thickness and improves flexibility.

Final Thoughts

I’m a big fan of this Bible. The genuine leather feels nice in hand, and though it’s a bit stiff, it will hold up better than a TruTone edition. This Bible is built to last longer, and I love that.

Last I checked, you could pick one up for around $30, which is an unbeatable price for the value. I was thrilled when Crossway announced this release, and I’m happy to share it with you.