Unexpectedly, I am starting to acquire a nice collection of Bibles: study, children’s, different versions, picture, etc. I was really excited when this Bible became available for reviewing. I stayed up late so that I could ensure a hard copy (and NOT an electronic version!) for myself. And wow, am I so glad I did! This rugged hardcover book is a gem. At first look, the typeset is bold and large, making for a very easy and comfortable read. Also, at first look, it may seem confusing to read, because of the [expanded] word features, but reading some reviews prior to choosing this for myself, I had a good idea of what to expect. It is an absolute must to read the [directions], or the Introduction, at the very front of the Bible. This explains how this Bible is laid out: Literal meanings, references, expanded translations, traditional wordings, and comments all within the [expanded] typeset. This is such a great resource to actually see what God is saying, discover the significance and comprehend full meanings. The Bible was originally written in Hebrew (for the Old Testament) and Greek (for the New Testament), with some parts in Aramaic. Over time, our beloved Bible has been translated into hundreds of other languages – which all fall short in one way or another. The [Expanded] Bible is not perfect, either, but it certainly does help and shed a great light on translation problems. How it does this is by: 1) showing multiple possibilities for words, phrases, and interpretations. 2) It can show both an original metaphor and a more prosaic understanding of that metaphor. 3) It provides comments that give the historical, cultural, linguistic, or theological background that we may lack. 4) It also provides the most literal renderings to show what a translator has to work with.
So how does The [Expanded] Bible work exactly? At first read, it might be cumbersome and confusing. But I encourage you to press on, it is definitely worth it, and your eyes will become adjusted to it. The [Expanded] Bible incorporates within each line the information you would find in a variety of Bible reference works, making it possible to read and study the Bible at the same time. The base text appears in bold-faced type. Alternate interpretations of words, phrases or other information are placed [in brackets in lighter type].
There is one other feature that The [Expanded] Bible boasts – and that is wide margins on each page. I am one to write quite extensively in my Bible: my notes or something that has spoken to me, or maybe a sermon or talk has turned a light on a passage for me. So the wide margins are indeed a nice feature.
I am excited to incorporate The [Expanded] Bible into my Bible study. I know that translations have lost pertinent information over the years, and this Bible certainly will have its flaws, too. But just from diving into it for a short amount of time, I can already see [and learn] what the original translation meant, and that is an amazing discovery!
