The NASB 2020 Large Print Ultrathin Reference Bible
It's finally here! We've heard a lot about the NASB 2020 and we finally have physical copies in our hands that we can read and check out. Not only that, you can pick the 2020 edition up on the Kindle as well (affiliate). I've been so excited about this update to the NASB that I'm currently trying to read through it. I'm also excited to get to review the Large Print Ultrathin Reference Bible from The Lockman Foundation today.
This won't be a total review of the translation, but a review of this print edition of the NASB 2020. I'm reviewing the brown Leathertex version of the Large Print Ultrathin Reference Bible. You can get this edition in multiple colors of the Leathertex or a black genuine leather.
The Bible comes in a very colorful slipcover. I always prefer a box or a slipcase, but this Bible is priced well so if a slipcover helps keep the cost down, I'm for it.
The first thing I noticed as I removed the slipcover was how nice the Leathertex feels and how good it looks. Imitation leather has come a long way and Lockman's Leathertex is no exception. It has a genuine looking grain pattern and feels great in the hand. The brown honestly looks like real leather—so much so that I had someone comment on the beauty of the leather on an Instagram picture I posted.
The spine is stamped with no foil. Running down the spine are the words "Holy Bible, "NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE 2020", "LARGE PRINT ULTRATHIN", and "NASB Lockman Foundation". There are also five sets of barred lines imitating hubs. The spine is busy, but being stamped without foil, it actually looks good.
The page edges have a nice gold gilt. There are two single-side satin ribbons that are 3/8" wide. I really like the ribbons that Lockman decided to use in this Bible. They have a nice width and are cut straight at the bottom.
Inside the brown edition has a dark brown paste-down vinyl liner. I love the vinyl liner on this Bible. It gives the Bible more flex and also feels like much better quality than a paper liner. The block is sewn and can open flat in Genesis and Revelation. For the price of this Bible, these are really nice features.
The Bible has a simple and straight forward presentation page and an abundance of family records pages. It has a foreword that explains the principles of translation and an explanation of the format.
The paper in this Bible is a nice white except in the gutter. In the gutter you'll notice a blue tint. People don't seems to like this generally, but it doesn't bother me and the blue is only noticeable in the gutter. Ghosting is very minimal and the paper is a 30 gsm.
The font is designed by 2K/Denmark and it looks great. It's a 10 point font and black letter throughout. It's a highly readable setting. The layout of the Bible is double-column with center column references. References for the left column appear at the top and references for the right column appear at the bottom. Footnotes are at the bottom of the page separated by a line.
Interestingly, this Bible has a right ragged edge on the paragraphs rather than being justified. I'm not sure the purpose of this, but it certainly gives it a unique look. Many NASB's are verse-by-verse, but this edition is a paragraph setting which is beneficial for reading large chunks at a time.
The new translation reads well. As I've been reading it, I've found it to be really smooth. I've also seen evidence from those doing deeper study than I am that many of the changes actually have made the Bible more literal. One feature that I love that the NASB employs is italicizing words that aren't in the original languages, but help it read smoother in English. This is great for study as well as transparency regarding how they translate things.
The back of the Bible has a Topical Index of the Old and New Testament. I actually really like this and I find it really helpful. Also interesting is that Intoductions to the Books of the Bible are also in the back instead of where each book starts. I also like this. It makes for a clean layout. There's a list of The Parable of Jesus, The Miracles of Jesus, and Important Events in Christ's Life According to the Gospels. These are some nice helps. Finally, there are eight maps. I'm not a maps person and I could do without these.
In conclusion, I think this is a really nice edition from Lockman at a great price. I like it so much that I considered ordering it in different colors. The blue and grey are also really appealing. If you're interested in checking out the NASB 2020 then this is a great edition to introduce you.
You can order your copy of the NASB 2020 Large Print Ultrathin Reference Bible here (affiliate).
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this Bible from The Lockman Foundation in exchange for a fair and honest review.
