The Holman CSB Verse-by-Verse in Black Goatskin Review
The Christian Standard Bible is one of the newest translations out there. Because of this, it doesn't have quite as many Bible options as the rest of the translations. However, Holman has been changing that at a rapid pace. They have created a lot of excellent CSB Bibles, but until now, there had been no true premium option in the CSB unless you had one rebound. That has all changed with Holman's newest release —The CSB Verse-by-Verse Bible.
For CSB fans, this is a truly exciting release. Not only is this the first Bible truly worthy of being called a premium, but it is also a verse-by-verse layout, which has really increased in popularity as of late. Verse-by-Verse Bibles are excellent for preaching and teaching because each verse is on a new line. This means you can find the verse you're looking for quickly and easily. Holman chose an excellent edition to really break into the premium market.
The Packaging
I always say presentation matters. The box for this Bible looks premium. When you get a premium Bible, you will typically notice that the packaging looks elegant. Holman decided to implement this with this new edition. This is a two-piece box that is solid blue aside from the gold writing on the box. Typically, I think premium Bibles have simple designs on their packaging, but this actually looks more elegant. As soon as I saw the box for this Bible, I knew Holman was stepping up their game.
Another difference you will notice is when you open the box, the Bible is wrapped in black card stock paper. This is also a feature typically found with premium Bibles. The paper is sealed with a sticker, which communicates you are the first person to get your hands on this Bible. Holman went all in with packaging and fans will be pleased.
The Outer Materials
When you take this Bible out of the box you will immediately notice a great leather smell. I'm reviewing the black goatskin edition. The goatskin is nice and supple. It strikes me as similar to the goatskin Zondervan and Thomas Nelson have used recently on their premium Bibles. The spine has gold writing with CSB logo on top and then the words, "HOLY BIBLE", "CHRISTIAN STANDARD BIBLE", and "HOLMAN". It has three ribs that aren't raised. This is where my first critique comes. I wish Holman had gone with raised ribs for this edition. It's a personal preference, but I think raised ribs give the Bible a more premium feel. They have done it for other editions that they say have goatskin covers, but are far less nice than this. I don't understand why they went away from that design.
The Bible also has what I would call a semi yapp. There seems to be just enough so you could train it to bend around the text block. I like this feature and am glad to see a lot of Chinese printed Bibles going this direction. Once again, it seems to be a more premium feature.
The page edges have a red under gold art gilt. The Bible has three double-sided satin bookmarks that are black, yellow, and orange. I like the bookmarks Holman chose for this Bible and that they used three instead of two. I prefer my Bible to have different color bookmarks for the aesthetic and the ability to differentiate between page marking without having to think about it too much. These also have a generous length, which is helpful and provides a nice aesthetic.
The Inner Materials and Text Block
The Bible is edge-lined with black calfskin in the interior. It has a gold perimiter gilt line that stops right before the spine for some reason. When you open the Bible, it has a presentation page, but there are no significant event pages. It is printed in China and the first CSB in print to use the 2020 updated text. From my understanding, these updates were minor and were simply the translation committee fine tuning a few things in the translation. The Bible is smyth-sewn for increased durability and longevity.
The pages themselves are a nice white and from what I have heard, are 36 gsm (although I couldn't find this information on any website). The Bible thickness would indicate that this is probably accurate. The text is line matched and there is very minimal ghosting. The page margins are generous, which provides good space for note-taking.
The text block is a double-column, verse-by-verse setting. Cross-references are at the bottom of the page on the right side much like the popular ESV Omega. Textual notes are at the bottom of the page separated by a line break. The text itself is black letter including the words of Christ. The page headings, page numbers, chapter numbers, verse numbers, and reference numbers are all a maroon color. I especially like the decision to make the verse numbers red. This is an excellent feature for preachers and teachers who will be looking for verse numbers quickly.
Last Things
In the back of the Bible is a table of weights and measures. There is also a three column CSB concordance, which is pretty extensive. I like the use of three columns and the entries seem very robust. There are eight full color maps in the back on matte paper. I never use maps and prefer they not be included, but I will note that these maps are really nice for those who like them.
Conclusion
I'm really impressed by Holman's first real entry into the premium Bible market. The CSB verse-by-verse is on par with many other Bibles in this market and will be the go-to option for those looking for a premium CSB. I love that they chose a verse-by-verse setting as their first venture because it feels like they had leaders in mind. You don't have to be a pastor or teacher to enjoy it though. If you're looking for a premium CSB, look no further.
You can pick up your copy of this Bible at Lifeway or on Amazon. (affiliate)
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this Bible from Holman in exchange for a fair and honest review.
