The Zondervan NASB 2020 Thinline Bible
The NASB 2020 is still very new and Zondervan finally has introduced their first offerings of this highly anticipated translation. They have released both a thinline and large print thinline of the NASB 2020. Today, I’m reviewing the thinline. Is it worth picking up a copy?
This 2020 Thinline comes in a clam shell box with a small picture of the Bible itself on the front. It uses Zondervan’s Leathersoft cover and this Bible should probably be looked at as a workhorse. The materials are pretty cheap as far as Bibles go and this one is really meant to be used.
This Bible has a black Leathersoft cover with white perimeter stitching. There is also a diamond stitched design on the front cover using white and orange stitching. If I’m honest, I like the look and feel of this cover, but I don’t like the performance. This is one of those covers that don’t close back all the way after you open it several times and covers that do that really irritate me. I’ve not seen anything indicating this Bible is Smyth-sewn, which is surprising because it seems the trend is going toward even cheap Bibles being Smyth-sewn.
Imprinted in the spine are the words, “NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE”, “HOLY BIBLE”, “NASB”, and the Zondervan logo. It has silver page edges, which I really like. I wish more publishers would use silver. It also has two double-sided satin bookmarks with one being black and the other being grey.
Inside there’s a paper paste down liner with an adjacent presentation page. They both feature a dark grey with light grey stripe design.
The paper seems cheap and makes that very wrinkly noise when you turn the pages. Ghosting is actually not too bad though. The layout is a double-column verse-by-verse setting. Words of Christ are in red, which isn’t my preference, but Zondervan does use a nice, dark, consistent red. Textual notes appear at the bottom right of each page, but they are scarce. This is definitely not the full set of notes.
The font is Zondervan’s NASB Comfort Print typeface. I like Comfort Print, but my problem is with the size. Zondervan claims this is a 9-point print size, but it’s definitely on the smaller side of what one would consider a 9 point. I’ve seen other Bibles claiming a 7 or 7.5 point that look as big as this. I like a larger font so I find this claim disappointing.
The Zondervan NASB 2020 Thinline 9 point font compared with the ESV Single Column Journaling Bible 7.5 font.
The back includes all of the charts that I’ve come to expect from Zondervan. You’ll find “Miracles of Jesus”, “Parables of Jesus”, “Perspectives from the Bible”, “Prayers of the Bible”, and “Promises from the Bible”. To my surprise, there are no maps (I consider this a positive).
All in all, this Bible is meant to be used. You won’t feel bad throwing it in a backpack or tossing it on your car seat. It is definitely an entry offering of the NASB 2020 from Zondervan. Based on what I see, I’d go ahead and recommend getting the Large Print version if you’re set on having one from Zondervan. With the limited offerings of the NASB 2020 right now, my advice would be to either hold out for a Premier Collection edition from Zondervan or spend just a few extra dollars and get the Lockman Thinline, which is quite a bit a nicer.
You can pick up your copy of the Zondervan NASB 2020 Thinline Bible on Amazon (affiliate) or from Zondervan.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this Bible from Zondervan in exchange for a fair and honest review.
