Is the ESV Pocket Bible the right choice for you? Let’s take a closer look and find out!
The ESV Pocket Bible might be tiny, but it is definitely a great Bible choice! The nice people over at Crossway sent me this tiny little Bible to review. It is tiny! It is 3.5″ wide and 5.5″ tall and an inch thick! Tiny! I have the deep brown buffalo leather cover (more about that later), but it also comes in several TruTone covers (chestnut, black, and turquoise). This Bible is smaller than my hand! (And I have small hands!)
This is an entire Bible in your pocket! It isn’t just the New Testament, as many pocket style Bibles are. It contains the whole thing! And the font is surprisingly readable! Six-point font seems so small, but I have had no problem reading the text. It is double column with no notes at all. The simplicity of the Bible lends to the readability at such a small size.
The paper is thin, but not so thin you see too much of the opposite side while reading. (There is a small amount of ghosting, but I find that true of all Bible paper.) This pocket Bible has zero extras. Zero frills. Just the entire Bible in a small, readable size.
The buffalo leather cover is really something to write home about! In fact, it is probably my favorite feature of this tiny Bible. So while you could go with a cheaper TruTone cover, the buffalo leather is truly impressive. The edges are raw and the leather does have a slightly embossed pattern. It isn’t floppy like real leather Bibles typically are because of the small size. This buffalo leather is going to weather so beautifully! With a Bible you can slip into your blue jeans pocket, it’ll definitely get some wear and tear and this leather is only going to look better and better as that happens!
It has one single ribbon marker to mark your place. While I’m usually a fan of tons of ribbon markers in a Bible, the single marker is really all you could reasonably put into a Bible this small. I mean, I would have tried to get at least 3 more in– but I understand their restraint in that area.
It does have a “presentation” page, so it would be great for a gift. And it comes (at least the buffalo leather version) in a small box. It is perfect for gifting!
This is a great Bible for pastors. It is small enough to tuck into a pocket for ministering on the go. Easy to take to the hospital, the jail, or just to someone’s home on visitation. I’m not sure they’d like preaching from this one, but it is great to have on hand for those “on the go” pastoral needs. It would also be a great Bible for counselors, lay ministers, chaplains– basically anyone ministering on the go.
Do I recommend the ESV Pocket Bible?
Yes! I highly recommend it! It isn’t flashy. There are no extras. It is just such a well made Bible at such a convenient size! And it is super affordable!
Other Posts from Notes From the Parsonage You May Enjoy
- Heirloom Bible, Heritage Edition Review
- ESV Personal Study Bible Review
- Choosing A Bible Translation
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