CSB Holy Land Illustrated Bible
Immerse yourself in the people, places, and things of the Bible with this new edition from Holman.
My wife and I had a big trip to Israel planned for the summer of 2020… and then COVID-19 happened. Not only were the cultural and religious sites throughout the Holy Land closed to visitors, but most foreigners from around the globe were unable to even enter the country. What was set to be a once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage in celebration of my graduation from Fuller Theological Seminary quickly turned into yet another disappointment in this long and unprecedented year.
Despite the sense of loss I feel when it comes to that trip, I found myself smiling at God’s kindness when I learned that Holman was set to release the brand new CSB Holy Land Illustrated Bible. I may not be able to physically immerse myself in the world of Jesus this year, but this Bible feels like the next best thing.
CSB Holy Land Illustrated Bible – Overview
The Christian Standard Bible (CSB) has gained quite a following since the translation debuted in 2017 (a complete overhaul of the HCSB, which was first released back in 2004). Published by Holman Bibles, an imprint of B&H Publishing and LifeWay, the CSB is extremely popular in evangelical circles as a translation that is faithful to the original texts while also being highly readable.
The Holy Land Illustrated Bible is an edition of the CSB that infuses the experience of reading the Bible with hundreds and hundreds of images, maps, and illustrations aimed at helping readers visually explore the people, places, and things found in Scripture. It also includes an impressive array of articles and other study tools that offer quite a bit of insight into the cultural and historical context in which the narratives found in the Bible took place. All of this comes in a large, but well-organized text block that features full-color images and a comfortable 9.5pt font for the main text.
Holman’s initial release of the Bible includes a hardcover edition, two imitation leather editions (“Leathertouch”), and one genuine leather edition that has an edge-lined goatskin cover (quite similar to that of the CSB Verse-by-Verse Bible that debuted earlier this year).
FEATURES
• 9.5pt type size
• 6.75” x 9.0” trim size
• 2.1” thick
• 1,200 images, maps, and illustrations with descriptive captions
• 275 full-length articles to provide greater insight and understanding
• 40 “Digging Deeper” call-outs strategically placed throughout the Bible
• Book Introductions
• Two-column text with line matching
• Two ribbon markers
• Concordance
• Maps
Holy Land at Home
I mentioned my planned trip to Israel because the Holy Land Illustrated Bible definitely feels like an attempt by the folks at Holman to create an edition of the Bible that gives readers the ability to experience a trip of this magnitude without ever having to leave home. Of course a Bible – even one as visually immersive as this one – can never replace an actual trip to the Holy Land, but let’s face it… not everyone can take trip to Israel. And in a year where many of us have become well acquainted with learning how to do things from home, this Bible actually feels like it was meant to be released right now.
Bottom line:
If you’ve ever wanted to visit the Holy Land, or you’re interested in learning more about the historical and cultural context of the Bible, the CSB Holy Land Illustrated Bible is a great edition to add to your Bible library.
The “Black Genuine Leather” edition of the CSB Holy Land Illustrated Bible features a lovely edge-lined goatskin cover.
BUYING THIS BIBLE*
• The CSB Holy Land Illustrated Bible can be purchased directly from Holman starting at $29.99.
• Also available from ChristianBook.com and Amazon.
*Pricing and Availability subject to change.
About Tim Wildsmith: “I’m a pastor, writer, and musician from Nashville, where I live with my wife, Becca. I have always loved a Bible that is beautifully designed, well-crafted, and practical, and I’m convinced that finding a Bible you love and enjoy reading will make you want to spend more time with it.” Click here to read the full bio.
