The ESV Study Bible is not a new Bible. It has been out on the market since 2008, and it was the winner of the ECPA Book of the Year Award. I have had my eye on it for a while now, so I was very happy to finally get my hands on a copy! I have heard that this Bible is an invaluable resource for studying the Word, and I was pleasantly surprised by the volume of information contained in this amazing book!

First of all, the ESV Study Bible is no thinline Bible. Weighing in at a little over four pounds, it is 2,752 pages of in-depth study of the Word of God in a literal translation that you can trust. I typically read the NLT, but Crossway has introduced me to the ESV, and I have to say that I now love both translations equally. The text is printed in a size 9 font, with the study notes in a size 7 font. I find it easy to read for long periods of time. There are side column cross references, and many study notes as the bottom of each page. The wealth of study notes is something that I know will keep me in this Bible for years to come. I feel that the study notes are easy to understand, yet I still gain new insight every time I spend time in this Bible. It is offered in a variety of different covers, from softcover to goatskin leather. I currently own the hardcover copy.

In many Bibles, each book begins with an induction of a page or two, but the ESV Study Bible begins each book with a 5-6 page introduction, including an outline of the book. I find this very helpful because it gives context to the book that I am about to dig into. There are also a variety of resources in the back to the Bible including: God's Plan of Salvation, Biblical Doctrine: An Overview, Biblical Ethics: An Overview, Interpreting the Bible, Reading the Bible, The Canon of Scripture, Reliability of Bible Manuscripts, Archaeology and the Bible, Original Languages, The Septuagint, How the New Testament Quotes and Interprets the Old Testament, The Bible in Christianity, The Bible and World Religions, The Bible and Religious Cults, History of Salvation in the Old Testament: Preparing the Way for Christ, and The History of Salvation in the Old Testament. There is also a concordance, a daily Bible reading plan, and fifteen maps. I have never seen so much additional information included in the back of any Bible, and I have owned quite a few Bibles!

The ESV Study Bible is a Bible that would be useful for someone in ministry, attending seminary, or a woman of God who just loves to spend her spare time studying the Bible on her couch, such as myself. It is a Bible with a wealth of information that one could learn from daily, and I would highly recommend adding it to your bookshelf (but not just keep it there collecting dust)!

I received a copy of this Bible from Crossway, in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

More than I expected. Great footnotes, book and chapter introductions, and maps.

This study Bible is truly awesome! It features the ESV translation which provides accuracy and the text flows well. The commentary is fantastic. I loved the color charts and maps.

I have only had this wonderful Study Bible for a few days and it is already my favorite! It was on sale and well worth the price I paid for the hardcover edition. This Bible offers the best explanations of what the scriptures say of any Study Bible I've ever had. I teach an adult Sunday School class and I know that this is going to be my go-to source when I'm preparing my lessons.

We bought these Bibles as graduation presents for graduates of different levels at our church. Everyone was happy.