The Best ESV Journaling Bible: Ranked and Reviewed

Editor’s Choice

562013: ESV Journaling Bible (TruTone, Brown, Mosaic Cross Design)
  • Attractive cover
  • Includes a one-year Bible reading plan
  • Extended margins for journaling

Best Overall

552762: ESV Journaling Bible, Interleaved Edition (Brown, Flap with Strap), Natural Leather, Brown
  • Gorgeous interleaved design
  • Clear, accurate translation
  • Made with genuine leather for long-lasting durability

Budget-Friendly

555381: ESV Single Column Journaling Bible, Large Print, Mocha Bonded Leather
  • Softcover
  • Single-column format
  • Spacious margins for journaling

If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best ESV Journaling Bible is, then I’d recommend the ESV Interleaved Edition Journaling Bible as the best one.

The ESV Bible runs up to 757,439 words. This high word count can overwhelm some readers. But do not worry. ESV represents a literal English Bible translation but still follows the tradition of the King James and Tyndale Bible. Its accurate Bible translations are easy to read and made for contemporary studies and public reading.

In learning how to read the Bible consistently, journaling is an essential habit. You can reflect upon the scripture intimately. Like a diary, you write what God tells you. It has a big space for writing observations, praises, and journal entries.

The ESV Journaling Bible is a popular tool for intense Bible reading. Written in comprehensible Bible translations, it is also designed to appeal to creative, insightful introspection. 

Here are the best ESV Journaling Bibles we will be reviewing:

What is an ESV Journaling Bible?

The ESV Journaling Bible is usually the Crossway English Standard Version Journal Bible. Crossway created this type for Bible readers to record their spiritual development as they read the Holy Bible regularly. This unique Bible makes the finest journals for you to record your personal devotional life in this study Bible and could be your lasting keepsake.

Having this Bible gives you a perfect way to keep praises and journal entries of your spiritual life right inside the pages of the Bible itself.

Simply put, this Bible makes a great gift for everyone who seeks and values God’s word.

Importance of Journaling for Bible Reading

Journaling is necessary for Bible reading. This is significant in personal devotional life for someone who values God’s Word. This is where you will listen and record your thoughts.

Make your daily praises and journal entries a personal diary to God. Desiring God this way will lead to a lifelong passion for the Holy Bible.

Journaling is also great for cognitive development. Some scholars to billionaires credit their success to this activity which offers the following benefits:

  • Helps organize your thoughts more clearly.
  • It aids you to sort out and understand your emotions better.
  • It helps you learn and practice self-discipline.
  • Makes you learn and understand concepts easier through finer retention of memory.
  • It helps to live more mindfully.

John Piper, a chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary, promised that writing isn’t just about recording what we see but also increasing what we see and what we perceive. Additionally, Ligonier Ministries counted that journaling is important to preserve those kinds of priceless discoveries.

Why Use an ESV Bible for Bible Journaling?

The ESV Bible is an outstanding unique Bible for contemporary believers. First published in 2001, the English Standard Version offers accurate Bible translations. It satisfies the preferred translation for preachers and students in teaching and writing ministry.

It is perfect for Bible journaling because it is beautiful and simply the best translation combining accuracy. The ESV achieves to be understood by everyone, from adults to kids, and even from this multicultural world to all our future ministry.

R. Albert Mohler, Jr. of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary recommends ESV as it represents a new level of eR. Albert Mohler, Jr. of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary recommends it as it represents a new level of excellence in Bible translations. Kevin DeYoung from Christ Covenant Church says it is simply the best translation for combining accuracy, readability, and fidelity to the rich history of English Bible translations.

Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, a radio host of Revive Our Hearts radio, declares that the ESV is her choice and it has a wonderful translation.

Types of ESV Journaling Bibles

Here are the different ESV Journaling Bibles, according to Crossway. Crossway is the leading publisher of ESV Bibles.

Original ESV Journaling Bible

The original ESV Journaling Bible features 2-inch margins and double-column pages. It is a fine journal for one’s personal devotional life. Crossway made this with fine, cream-colored paper and Smyth-sewn binding. The book includes contextual introductions and a free ribbon marker. They usually come in a clamshell box or an o-wrap packaging.

ESV Single Column Journaling Bible

Crossway redesigned an ESV Single-Column Journaling Bible. These new releases made the biblical verses easier to follow. It features 2-inch ruled margins for writing. You can easily jot down notes next to the particular Bible verse. 

ESV Journaling Bible Large Print

This ESV Bible Journal still comes with the single-column format but is made more readable with paragraph format. Crossway published this with a large, 9.5 font size. So this is a perfect way if you need a lot of space for writing observations, reflections, prayers, praises, and God-inspired art.

ESV Illuminated Bible

Up for something exquisite? The Illuminated Bible type of ESV satisfies the functionality of the single-column format and over 400 elegant hand-lettering illustrations. Having this ESV Journaling Bible encourages you to engage in a close sense of the wondrous Word of God.

ESV Journaling Bible, Inductive Edition

This is another redesign of the ESV Single Column Journaling Bible. The Inductive ESV Journaling Bible features only the New Testament. It provides three-eighths of an inch of space between each biblical line. This extra space is more than enough to encourage deeper with the Scriptures.

ESV Journaling Bible, Interleaved Edition

This final type of the ESV Journaling Bible is the most sophisticated. The Interleaved Journaling Bible ESV represents a design in a similar pattern to Jonathan Edward’s Bible.

Crossway offers full, blank pages after every Bible page. This offers maximum space for extensive notes or whatever personal reflections the reader has on the primary text. It also comes with a thorough one-year Bible reading plan and a sleek slipcase.

How to Choose the Best ESV Journaling Bible

ESV Journaling Bibles have a wonderful translation. They also offer a simple yet elegant style.

Here are the factors you need to consider when looking for an ESV Journaling Bible.

What is your journaling style?

Examine your prayers, praises, and journal writing habits. Do you take notes or doodle around the edges of your notes? Which works well for you – blank pages or margins for writing observations adjacent to Biblical passages? They usually come with small prints, so if you’re unhappy with that, look for large-print Bibles.

Budget

Think how much you have to spare for a Journaling Bible. The rule of thumb with any purchase is to only get the retail price you can afford in the market today.

Product Reviews

Check out the public reception. Ask around your church for what they bought. Browse review forums, Facebook groups, and countless online retailers.

To guide you in your Bible journaling, here are the best ESV Journaling Bibles for you to choose from.

ESV Interleaved Edition Journaling Bible

552762: ESV Journaling Bible, Interleaved Edition (Brown, Flap with Strap), Natural Leather, Brown

If you need a beautiful journaling Bible as an heirloom, the English Standard Version Interleaved Edition Journaling Bible might be great for you. This double-column Bible allows you to read the Bible with introspective note-taking.

I love this ESV Journaling Bible’s fine, unruled pages. They feel sturdier than typical Bibles and don’t wrinkle as easily because of their Smyth-sewn binding. The smooth, cream-colored paper offers me a beautiful outlet for creatively expressing my prayers, praises, and journal entries. My uncle, a senior pastor and a teaching director, also likes this Bible Journal because it is easy to use for sermon prep, Bible studies, and retreats. I also love its soft, gorgeous leather cover. It also comes with a pen strap for easy journaling.

Pros:

  • Gorgeous interleaved design
  • Clear, unquestionable accuracy of ESV translation
  • Made with genuine leather cover for long-lasting durability
  • Fine pages for creative journaling
  • Includes unruled pages
  • Protective slipcase/clamshell box

Cons:

  • Hefty
  • Small print
  • Poor strap

ESV New Testament Set Illuminated Scripture Journal

564994: ESV Illuminated Scripture Journal: 19-Volume New Testament Boxed Set

This paperback version of the Crossway Illuminated Bible has an elegant style and offers only New Testament books. This is great for travelers, students, artists, and people on the go because it is portable and travel-friendly.

My favorite feature is its A5 Journal format. Because it’s thin and portable, I love using it during out-of-town trips, wherein I usually read and journal observations, reflections, prayers, praises, and doodles before bedtime.

I also like its gorgeous gold-foil-stamped cover and illustrations that complement the large print biblical texts. Each book comes with unique color gradients, thick, cream-hued paper, and over 1000 handmade illustrations. It has large ruled margins for writing observations and your spiritual life right inside this book.

Pros:

  • Thick, cream-colored paper
  • Large print 
  • Each book is portable
  • Exquisite illustrations
  • Perfective for inductive study
  • Stylish covers

Cons:

  • Expensive
  • Only comes with the New Testament books
  • Not lefthanded-friendly

ESV TruTone Mosaic Cross Design Journaling Bible

562013: ESV Journaling Bible (TruTone, Brown, Mosaic Cross Design)

The ESV TruTone Journaling Bible comes with a polished, faux leather cover and soft, nicely bound cream-colored paper in a pocket size. 

It gives you ample space for note-taking. It features 2-inch ruled margins for writing observations, reflections, prayers, praises, and scribbles. My friend likes this because she has big handwriting, totally perfect for recording her spiritual life right inside this Bible. She uses this as her primary Bible for taking notes of the commentaries of their senior pastor during the fellowship, Bible church studies, and prayer meetings. It comes in a permanent slipcase or an o-wrap packaging.

Pros:

  • Attractive cover
  • Includes a one-year Bible reading plan
  • 2-inch margins extended for journaling
  • Soft pages
  • Book introductions

Cons:

  • Made with faux leather
  • Extremely small print
  • Pocket-size Bible

ESV Large Print Single Column Journaling Bible

555381: ESV Single Column Journaling Bible, Large Print, Mocha Bonded Leather

The single-column format makes this type of ESV Journaling Bible very popular. It features 2-inch ruled margins for writing observations on fine, cream-colored paper and unobtrusive verses. 

Its bonded leather cover feels rich and sturdy. With this, you can jot down your insights when you are called by the Word of God. You can also use this for writing observations, reflections, prayers, and Bible study sessions. The lines of the text match that of the margins for writing, so you can match the insights with the verse itself.

Pros:

  • Softcover
  • Single-column format
  • Includes a one-year Bible reading plan
  • Affordable

Cons:

  • Made with bonded leather
  • Heavy
  • Narrow text
  • Thin, see-through pages
  • No built-in notes

ESV Cloth over Board Flowers Journaling Bible

563638: ESV Single Column Journaling Bible, Large Print, Cloth over Board, Flowers

If you love a sweet, old-fashioned study Bible, this ESV Cloth over Board Journaling Bible can be a solid choice. Offers a classic look that works well for novice journaling believers.

It features a nice synopsis at the front of every book, dual-column Scripture format, wide ruled margins for writing, and a cute cardboard slipcover. Record the journey of your spiritual life right inside this charming and unique Bible.

Pros:

  • Beautiful style, floral cover
  • Includes a one-year Bible reading plan
  • Travel-friendly
  • Affordable
  • Book introductions

Cons:

  • Extremely thin pages
  • Small print
  • Stains easily
  • Lacks an index or concordance
  • Missing Bible verses
  • Lacks a strap

Conclusion

An ESV Journaling Bible is a great Bible for you if you are serious about desiring God. Crossway designed this for an intimate spiritual routine during Bible reading. Each ESV Journal Bible comes with blank margins for writing observations and reflection. 

The best ESV Journaling Bible I recommend is the ESV Interleaved Edition Journaling Bible. This unique Bible makes the most elegant style for a Bible reader who values God’s Word. You can rest assured of this sturdy, enduring book because of its beautiful, genuine leather cover. Its finest journals are fascinating to use with their thick, cream-colored papers for praise and journal entries. All in all, this unique Bible makes a great gift that will help you or someone relish the Word of God for a lasting keepsake.

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Alex Shute
EDITOR
Alex Shute, MBA
Alex is a family man and entrepreneur based in Los Angeles. His passion is to serve the global Church and bring people of diverse backgrounds together to learn & grow.


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