Cambridge ESV Topaz Reference Edition
The newest Bible from Cambridge is a sign of great things to come.
A lot of people were excited when Cambridge unveiled the ESV Topaz Reference Edition in late 2019, and for good reason. Not only was this a brand new typesetting from 2K/Denmark that is printed and bound by Royal Jongbloed (two of the premier names in modern Bible publishing), but it was also the first in a new line of Topaz editions that will be available in several translations.
Up until now, the selection of reference editions offered by Cambridge in non-KJV translations has featured two small Bibles (the Pitt Minion and the Clarion), as well as the Wide-Margin (an enlarged version of the Pitt Minion).* This left a bit of a gap in their lineup in terms of a large, double-column reference Bible that could compete with Schuyler’s Quentels or Allan’s Readers.
The Topaz fills that gap… and then some.
Let’s take a look.
*One notable exception is the NRSV Reference Edition, which is unique to itself and fantastic.
ESV Topaz Reference Edition – Overview
The ESV Topaz currently comes in four editions (all with the same interior page layout and design): black goatskin, blue goatskin (seen here), red calfskin, and black calfskin. The edge-lined goatskin editions feature a 6.25” x 9.25” trim size and are just a hair under 1.5’’ thick. The goatskin cover is soft without being too floppy, and despite my preference for clean and simple designs, the words “Holy Bible” across the front are quite appealing.
This Bible is full of all the great features you would expect from a premium reference edition: line-matched text on opaque paper, a full concordance, cross-references, and the famous Cambridge Bible Maps. It also has a few features that make it quite unique, and I’ll share more about those in a moment.
FEATURES
• Edge-lined goatskin cover with leather liner
• Smyth-sewn binding
• Two ribbon markers
• Art gilding
• Raised spine hubs
• 28 GSM Indopaque paper
• Double-column format
• Verse by Verse
• Line-matched text
• Red letter text for the words of Christ
• Cross-references in outer margins
• Concordance
• Cambridge Bible Maps
• 6.25” x 9.25” trim size
• 1.45” thick
• 10pt type size
What Makes the Topaz Unique?
I can’t say definitively that Cambridge created the ESV Topaz in an attempt to compete with Schuyler, but that would not surprise me. The ESV Quentel (which I reviewed last week) is a massively popular Bible, and it would make sense that Cambridge would want to offer their own high-quality ESV reference edition in a similar format. The Bibles are similar in their pedigree (2K/Denmark and Royal Jongbloed), and they share many of the same features, but the Topaz is decidedly different than the Quentel in three ways that make it very unique.
1. Verse by Verse
As far as I can tell, the Topaz is the only truly premium ESV reference edition in print today that features a verse-by-verse format. If you’re not familiar with that phrase, is simply means that each verse is indented on a new line. This is an extremely popular feature for pastors and teachers, but it’s also a really great option for individual Bible study.
2. Red Letter
The Topaz also features red letter text for the words of Christ, which is different than all of the other premium ESV Bibles I am reviewing for this series. This is a matter of personal preference. Some people love red letter text, and some don’t. I prefer a Bible with black text throughout, but it’s not a deal breaker for me, particularly with a Bible as impressive as the Topaz.
3. Outer margin cross-references
The cross-references in the Topaz appear in the outer margins of each pages, justified to the top of the page. Again… this comes down to personal preference. In one sense, this format compresses the Biblical text into a thinner space on the page, but I find the overall page design of the Topaz to be very pleasing to the eye, and I think the cross-references are very comfortable to use in this Bible.
Answering the Call
Cambridge notes in its marketing materials that the Topaz “answers the call for a larger format reference Bible of the highest quality.” This is certainly a beautiful Bible that is of the utmost quality, and it has several unique features that make it unlike many of the other Bibles in its class. I am very impressed with Topaz, and I’m very pleased that it will be appearing in other translations in the near future.
If you’re an ESV fan who loves cross-references, verse-by-verse formatting, and red letter text… the Topaz needs to be at the top of your list.
NEXT WEEK: the ESV New Classic Readers Edition from R.L. Allan
Keep scrolling to watch a video review of this ESV Topaz.
BUYING THIS BIBLE*
• The ESV Topaz is available in various formats for around $200.00
• Available directly from Cambridge
• Also available from Amazon and EvangelicalBible.com.
*Pricing and Availability subject to change.
