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Timecodes
0:00 Hello Friends!
0:12 Intro & Setup
2:30 Box & Wrap
5:17 Leather
7:09 Stamping, Yapp, Etc.
9:05 Ribbons
10:40 Art Gilding
12:37 Trim Size
14:53 Paper
20:14 Typesetting, Font, Etc.
27:55 Maps
29:08 Final Thoughts
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DISCLOSURE: Many of the Bibles in my videos have been provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review, and some of the links above are affiliate links, which means I make a small commission if you purchase something after clicking the link.

[@missinglink_eth]

So in a nutshell, you want desert camel Schuyler on the outside as well as their maps, the heirloom heritage single column text block with Holman Premier text color highlights, on Korean paper. Not a bad choice. I prefer the French paper. I’d buy that Bible!

[@timwildsmith]

Yeah!

[@VictorDiGiovanni]

I made my own custom Bible last year but I went about it a completely different way. I opted for a binder-style. I found a thin-print in my preferred ESV and then proceeded to cut it out of the binding. I then cut holes (only two holes fit in the 5x8 Bible I used) and stuck them in the binder. I then went online and found some free Bible maps and other free printable resources and punched holes in those and made a reference section. I then went through my library and scanned and printed out some of the more interesting charts and maps and genealogies and whatnot. And then I added in a hole puncher that itself fits in a three-hole binder. What was important to me was being able to stick notes in where they actually fit. I can take the sermon notes from each Sunday, punch some holes in it, and it goes right with the scripture it was about. I've never been good at writing miniscule notes in my Bible, so this is a great compromise for me. It's a Bible that will grow, and can be the home of everything I'm studying or hearing. Granted, it's getting hugely stuffed already, but I still have a couple of sizes of binders bigger than what I'm currently using to grow into. The binder I'm currently using is a nice leathery cover with flat rings, but that's the largest size the make of this type, so my next step up will be a larger traditional white three-ring binder. But I'm more concerned about practicality than aesthetics.

[@BiblicallyNoted]

I tried doing something like this, but it didn't turn out like I wanted. I may end up trying something else eventually.

[@VictorDiGiovanni]

@@BiblicallyNoted what obstacles did you encounter?

[@BiblicallyNoted]

@@VictorDiGiovanni There is a lot I love about it. But, part of the problem was the Bible I used. The paper was way too thin. I need something heavier, I think. With extra large font (I have a 16 font bible). Plus I didn't do a 3 whole punch, but a different binding and it didn't work well. (it's the disc system). Plus - I worry that at some point I won't be able to keep it all in one binder. That's a biggie for me. I want to be able to take it wherever I go - and not have to take 3 or 4 different "volumes".

[@jydymyyyr9630]

One of the videos I'd really like to see someone do, is to have a description of ALL the intricacies and components of a bible. In other words, have one source that explains what is (and benefits of) a yapp, concordance, apocrypha, references, footnotes, GSM paper, ghosting, opacity/opaqueness, spine and ribs, lining, text block, art gild, paragraph/verse style, single or double-column, typeface - font/print style and size, ribbon recommendations, reading/preaching/reference/wide-margin/note-taking style, red-letter, translations, Smyth-sewn or other, edge sewn, cover/liner material and attachment types, and so much more. There are some very informative videos out there, but I haven't found one that provides all the details and components of a bible. For the new bible enthusiast this would be very helpful, and probably draw in many viewers. If anyone knows of a single source where all this info can be found, please let me know; otherwise, I'd encourage one of the bible reviewers to put together such a useful guide. Thanks for listening.

[@hollyhescht3615]

You know how musicians get custom builds guitar makers sell to the public? I feel like a Bible company should do that for Tim.

[@matreames]

I had a similar thought about you know athletes and endorsement deals, custom branded product

[@nan.starjak]

@@matreamesI would totally go for the Tim Wildsmith ESV.

[@timwildsmith]

Maybe one day!

[@thebubblydreamz]

​@@timwildsmithand when you do please ship to Zimbabwe lol

[@littlemama4two]

That was so fun!

[@BlainsTube]

Spiral Bound Quality 36gsm paper 11 point font (old eyes) Single column Verse by verse Thumb index Gutter reference Ancient Faith / Apologetic 7.5" x 10.5" (thickness, whatever is required to house the text specifications) NASB 1995, ESV, CSB or Young's Literal

[@BiblicallyNoted]

I like this! I would want a larger font (my current is 16 and I love it!) and it to also be interleaved. NASB95 is my preference. I like single column but am kind of falling back to the double. It's easier for me to organize my notes that I take in my Bible - so if I did double, my reference column would be in the middle. But I'd be happy with single also. LOL

[@benhuremmanuel]

what about the color of the text?

[@RachelRamey]

I have a couple newer Bibles that use a BLUE in the interior as accents instead of red, and I really like it. It provides nice contrast while being easy on the eyes. (And it would go nicely with your hypothetical navy ribbons.)

[@joshuapearson9950]

So much fun watching this! Love this concept for a video

[@timwildsmith]

Yay! Thank you!

[@WoodlandPoetry]

One thing I would love to have in the Bible is for the maps to be bound at the appropriate place in the text - the journeys of Paul bound at the beginning of his writings, the wandering of the Israelites at the beginning of Exodus, etc. Just loved this video!

[@mirmalv4886]

Hear me out, its big but its perfect Cover- Galaxy from Inspire Prayer ( leather though) Paper- white , 40gsm Text bloc- NKJV Cultural Background Study Bible Format- Journaling study bible ( basically add journaling margins, no lines) Font- 9 or 9.5 Bookmarks - 4 double satin ribbons , all different colors Decor- add occassional art or art verse pages throughout Spine-no ridges

[@joshuagarza0623]

- Box - clamshell - Wrap - velvet cloth - Leather - navy natural grain goatskin - Liner - calfskin - Ribbons - (4) 3/8” double sided satin in multi shades of blue, extra long - Art Gilt - blue under gold - Stamping - Holy Bible in Gold with deep stamping - Size - 6” x 9” - Paper - 36 gsm French paper - Typesetting - double column verse by verse - Typeface - 11 pt lexicon - Margins - normal - Red Letter - yes, dark red - Red Accents - yes - Cross-References - yes inside column - Translation notes - complete set - Concordance - not essential - Maps - yes, Cambridge maps - What Else? - Full yapp

[@chrismendezva]

Here we go! I’m so into this!! 🎉

[@RealJamieWorley]

My dream Bible...double-column, verse-by-verse, words of Christ in red, parallel passages next to or under section headings in the NT, concordance, brown genuine leather/highland goatskin/calfskin, some room in the margins (BOTH SIDES), center-column cross references, and preferably ESV/NASB-95, or NKJV. If you know of such a Bible, reply. I like the CSB, but their use of letters (not verse numbers) in the cross references might be the worst idea implemented in a Bible, ever, with the exception of perhaps a "wide margin" Bible with a wide margin only on one side.

[@souldier2425]

Zondervan's Premier Collection NIV Side Column Reference Personal Size is close to my perfect text block. Mid size - 8.5" x 5.4", Premium 36 GSM paper, Single Column without too many words per line, bold easy to read font, beautiful type setting, blue accents, easy to find side references/translator notes, wide margins for notes, perfect length ribbons. Throw on a highland goatskin cover and it would be 👌

[@sharynmccormick8172]

Tim, I was so looking forward to this video and as usual you did not disappoint! I impressed with your choices, especially the little black shroud wrap. You are by far my favorite youtuber, even over my decorating guy, and that's quite a leap, lol. You have such a "sparkling" personality and I could listen to you all day. I love when you have Becca on too, you guys were made for each other!

[@timwildsmith]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@nixternal]

My dream bible is a Cambridge Wide-Margin Hardcover, ESV....Bring it back, & add the deuterocanonical books to it. I told ya, all your hardcover are belong to me!

[@fist406]

Hey, it's not exactly what you're looking for but the ACNA's publishing arm released a hardcover leather clad ESV with the deuterocanonical books included. Might be worth checking out. Be warned though, it's not wide margin 😂.

[@nixternal]

@@fist406 that bible could very well end up in my hands soon. It's a good looking bible, with the only thing I am not a fan of in the pics is just how transparent the paper is. The Cambridge Wide Margin & Diadem hardcovers have spoiled me :)

[@APercussionLife]

Such an awesome video! I own my dream bible 🙌🏽 ESV Schuyler Quentel in Marbeled Mahogany Calfskin… that Bible always draws me in!

[@timwildsmith]

Love that!

[@JosephQuinton]

For the last 13 years I have daily and vigorously used an R.L. Allan, ESV, British Tan, with a Chant-binding. Since this initial purchase of a premium Bible, I have attempted to move into a Cambridge Wide-Margin, Schuyler Quentel, and a Schuyler Wide-Margin all of whom reside peacefully and quietly on my bookshelf gathering dust.

[@gunmedic3517]

I love your ideas. Great video.

[@jrhatcher1]

I love everything you said. Only addition I would add is that if it is paragraph format, it would have to have the bold verse numbers that Crossway has. There’s is the only paragraph format that is easy to preach from because you can easily find the verse numbers.

[@blockyartist]

My dream Bible is a note taking, thick paged, comfort or small print, red letter, bendable covers, KJV, with a concordance, maps, and some cross references.

[@AtchHed78]

Such a fun watch!!! I’m loving the desert camel Schuyler also!!

[@blazers1177]

Awesome video Tim, any thoughts or preferences on red letter for the words of Jesus or perhaps blue letter?

[@timwildsmith]

I prefer black letter throughout.

[@jaine2164]

🎉😆😆I knew this video would 1 day come! Party ON!

[@timwildsmith]

🎉🎉🎉

[@HeartInLight]

Ok, I havent seen alot of bibles so im gonna wing this one. Black goatskin, full yapp, spine ribs, either nelson 36gsm, or a nice 32gsm with comfort print, no concordance, with obscure definitions "for KJV" at the bottom or middle, 2 column red letter, Personal size thinline for 1 handed use. No ribbons...i hate ribbons. I use post it notes folded in half cause they arent fiddly like ribbons are. Would be 5.75 inches wide when closed, and 8.75 height. And anywhere from 1-1.3 inches thick would be in my wheel box. And it has to be a 10 point, no smaller than 10 point. I too, would take the Allen red under gold. As long as its red, and not some pinkish stuff. Ribbons would be immensely better. If they were aligned like the pages are, so mounted sideways. With a small 90 degree bend sewn in. Kind of like the corners of the yapp on the inside. It would make them no fiddle ribbons. And it would be an amazing thing. I have just really started trying to find what I like. And so far literally no bible has had anything close to what I want. Thinline+Personal size, with 10 point font. Seems to not exist. So my current favorite is my Nelson premium thinline text only. Nice 10 point, 1 inch thick. If they had made it personal size also. It would be pretty much perfect for me. And its so close its painful.

[@kirbysmith4135]

No Concordance. THANK YOU!! Just makes the Bible unnecessarily thick.

[@susyhebner2456]

We like similar things regarding the perfect Bible. That was a fantastic share today. Thanks!

[@timwildsmith]

Thanks for watching!

[@timothydietz]

Perfect bible: start with a Clarion, move the cross references inside, 2 color red printing like Schuyler, but with verse numbers small like the new Cambridge paragraph bible, Schuyler maps, keep the concordance, green highland goatskin with YELLOW leather liner like the IVP 1662 Book of common Prayer international edition, 3 red ribbons, and a clamshell box. Also, it comes with a companion pocket new testament that hase words only and scales the text to be able to slip into a back pocket of your jeans, red goatskin.

[@evelynmyree5153]

You know, it seems you really enjoyed this video, thank you by the way, good information, I'm a little geeky about knowing things

[@timwildsmith]

I sure did!

[@sluggo562]

For me: No opinion on packaging, full yapp dark grean goat with pockets on the inside of both covers to store additional materials. Agree on spine text and ribbons and page size, 5.5x8.25 but I like them thick, 1.5 to 1.75 inches. Speckled edges for me. I like the French paper, but I think I'd prefer traditional, natural materials to the titanium infused space paper we use. Agree on single column, I like verse numbers in the left margin. 2K's MCM sounds right up my alley or a vintage newspaper font of some kind. Large one inch margins and red accents including illustrated drop caps but speech of God not in red. No cross references, no concordance, I agree. The translator notes and maps, no strong opinion. The Treveris is the closest fit to that for me and I love mine.

[@GloryQuest]

What no font size preference? LOL You know a lot of this will play in to how thick the Bible is-font, font size, paper quality, margins. Fun video!

[@timwildsmith]

Katharos 9pt !

[@Presby1646]

Great spec picks. 👍🏼

[@timwildsmith]

Thanks!

[@deanbrandon3615]

Hard to say. Two, one personal size, one larger. For a smaller bible, the Schuyler Red Brick goatskin with blue guilt over silver on the edges, with blue ribbons. For a larger one, Schuyler Quintel size, but in Marbled Brown Calfskin (normal yapp). Yes, put aside the crossreferences and the concordance in these and keep the maps. Put thicker paper in the larger Quintel. Go for 36 gsm! 28 gsm is fine for the smaller PSQ. Use Red (or blue) contrasting chapter and verse numbers. The key thing is readability, so less clutter without the cross-references, more opaque paper, and larger fonts (11-12 point font). A double-column bible is fine, but a single-column would be great as well. I don't know about the font style, but the Milo or the Comfort Print are both good. The translation is a bit more difficult because I use more than one.

[@Dylan-wn7dm]

I agree with maps, I enjoy the maps

[@undignified98]

This was a very fun video! Love seeing all the different Bibles and your thoughts on your personal favs. I was glad to hear you say no cross references. I always feel like a heretic when I don't want a Bible with them! lol.

[@timwildsmith]

Hahaha... totally!

[@getmatthew]

Black goat Heirloom Heritage Silver stamped Blue under silver No family history, maps, etc. ONLY the text block and presentation page That’s pretty darn perfect.

[@Jwyatt132002]

This is awesome.

[@timwildsmith]

🎉

[@rebeccaly]

What a fun video!! Love the thumbnail too haha 😂❤

[@timwildsmith]

Thank you!! 😁 Becca helped me with that!

[@BiblicallyNoted]

I've often thought about how I would build my own perfect Bible. The size would be huge, like the OLD style family Bibles. It would be like 10x10 (or something large like that). I'd have the NASB 95 in 16pt font, with a small note taking column between the 2 columns of font. The paper would be heavier, so there was less bleed when I write notes, and it would be interleaved. Likely it wuold be extraordinarily thick. I don't care. LOL As far as covering and binding - I wouldn't care as long as it's a nice lay-flat.

[@JosephQuinton]

This is a wonderful video!!!!!

[@timwildsmith]

Thank you so much!

[@timochka009]

We should get around 40k of them printed (one for every subscriber); a couple thousand in the most popular translations.

[@jenrich111]

With the full yap - very nice. I use loose ribbon also (in diff colour) and it does help/protect/open the fine pages. i see ladies making their own Bible wraps on the weekend 😂

[@richardvoogd705]

My preference for text size might loosely be described in terms of readability. Back in the day, before I needed reading glasses (oh the joys of getting older) I was comfortable with what I'm guessing was about 9 point or 10 point. One or two of my smaller "compact" Bibles have a print size where I nearly need a magnifying glass to boost the readability!

[@sandersdca]

The Allan NASB R1 in silverline checks more of my boxes than anything else.

[@sillyrabbi64]

As for my favorites, first, you are a much younger man than I...I need a bigger font which means I will carry a larger bible. My minimum is 9-point, and 9.5- or 10-point is better. I love the Heirloom Legacy block...putting the pericope headings in the margin gives many of the advantages of a reader without losing the versification for use in church, etc. I'm a big fan of 2KD typefaces but any of the new ones will work. I'll take any translation that is not TR based, but lean slightly more toward the ESV. I need good maps, but I prefer to have a couple good Holy Land maps as my endpapers...easier to quickly flip to when reading. I also think the satellite photography that NET uses is a phenomenal tool, but it does take up a lot of space. I love notepaper at the back like some premium publishers use, and a 1" margin is ideal, give or take a few millimeters. As for the cover, I want floppy, butter-soft leather, so goatskin is my preference. Color is mostly incidental. I love the raised hubs, and one feature there that I find incredibly visually appealing is color overlays between a couple of the hubs (bright red or black really stand out).

[@E9819_]

If there’s one thing your channel has taught me it’s that Protestants really know how to make a really fine bible. This Catholic says kudos!

[@RE-ue6oz]

Mine would be NASB 1995 Schuyler, 10.5 font 36 GSM paper, wide margin, verse by verse with full references and notes next to the verse they pertain to, red letter (I know, I just prefer it!). Double column or single would be OK, and don’t care about cover color, but good leather would be nice. And obviously proper binding and Smythe sewn.

[@fftministriesmovingwithpurpose]

Enjoyed this great fun video ❤

[@timwildsmith]

Thank you 🤗

[@ginamiller6754]

It was a lot of fun! We have very similar taste! 😅

[@mendyhand3895]

Love maps throughout the Bible! I’m a Study Bible Nerd! Lol! ❤

[@bjsackett]

A fun video, for sure. I’d only add a minor tweak to your margin requirement. I want the margin nearest the binding to be big enough that I could take a picture of the open pages, and see all the words in the passages clearly: no line-bendy fade-into-sunset effects.

[@markwardonwords]

Adam wins the typeface competition! Well deserved! It's super close to Lexicon, of course, but it has a little bit of the flair of Lexicon's sister, Trinité.

[@Meteor_pending]

I feel like the Angelico typeface used in the Word on Fire Bible is the most beautiful.

[@ladyameliecharlotte]

I'd just love the Crossway ESV Heirloom Bible, Heritage Edition in Prussian blue that you featured a few months back 😢

[@theanswerchaos]

Hopefully one of the publishers sees this video & decides to make this a possibility for customers. Id love to build one or two for myself & do some for gifts.

[@Qbone15]

Mine is almost identical to yours. Mid-size, single column with no references. MORE OF THESE!

[@Priscilla_Bettis]

Paile pink or beige or dove gray leather cover. ESV or NLT or NASB (only because those are three I haven't read). Two ribbons would be fine, but they need to look nice with the cover color. I don't need a concordance. I don't need wide margins. I'm ambivalent about references. I don't need a reading plan. I'd like introductions to each book. Red letter (or blue). Blue under silver art gilding. Partial nap.

[@lkreinmiller-author]

I use a digital Bible but I did add to my collection of map e-books. Thanks.

[@WilliamWatsonBirch]

This was so much fun! Yay! So, the other night I had a dream I was in a Christian bookstore and I found a Bible I had never seen before. Opening it up, the pages were sort of burnt tan, like an old manuscript, like from the Archeological Study Bible, and it was awesome. The notes were from history, Church history, and archeology. I was fascinated. But it only came in the NIV (lol) and I'm not a user of the NIV (though I certainly do reference the NIV when I study). I was bummed that I could only get it in the NIV (NASB or ESV or CSB or NKJV or even NRSV would have been great). I woke up, laughed, and shook my head. Dreaming about Bibles.

[@timwildsmith]

Fun dream!

[@revdavidpeters]

Great video Tim! Cool idea and you should challenge other creators to make this video!

[@timwildsmith]

That would be cool!

[@jonathanspilger]

Very fun video!

[@timwildsmith]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@JosePerez-me7kt]

Fun video thanks. But I think the Humble Lamb NASB2020 is it with out art pictures to get bigger font .just make 8.5x5.5 thiner at least 1.75 and a 9.5 or 10.font and ref. on the inner margin, please . In the NLT, ESV or LSB since they have a relationship with the LOCKMAN publisher

[@67MercuryXR7]

Perfect! I love the chunky style of the Humble Lamb, ditch the pictures, add larger print, make it in LSB. Pretty sure that would be “it”. Maybe add a cool distressed cover.

[@SaneNoMore]

As for text blocks, the only one I have seen that made me say ‘wow” is the Humble Lamb HiStory Bible. Would love to see a larger 10 point font in a ESV

[@jesuschristbiblebiblestudy]

Bereans Standard Bible (BSB) is also good option. One of very few that are public domain. Blessings. Pastor John

[@quietedbyHISlove_Zeph3.17]

What you said, but I would have to have the fore-edge gilt from Humble Lamb! Great video!

[@timwildsmith]

Nice!

[@lllthink]

Wonderful video. Not fussed about the box a bible would come in, but would love to have it wrapped in fine white tissue paper as you open it up. Bottle green full yapp leather with 2 dark forest green ribbons. No writing on the bind, just the company logo stamped with no colour added. No art guild on the pages. The front just a stamp logo of the version of translation. Inside, two columns with just the translation notes at the bottom. Maps at the back mat, not shiny. Go for the simple look, no bling 😊

[@RachelRamey]

I like that the blue box looks like something that could be easily repurposed, so it's not wasteful. I never gave much thought to the packaging, but I don't like a lot of excess paper (or, worse, plastic) packaging that's not reusable -- that seems like poor stewardship to me. I don't have strong preferences on exteriors/binding, although I do like a flexible-but-sturdy leather. I like art gilding, and if I were making my own perfect Bible I'd probably go for a rich teal. Bibles never have enough ribbons; I'd love at least three. That gives enough to mark your personal reading, family-worship reading, and whatever the church is currently working through. For interiors, I prefer a black-letter edition. I like blue accents. (I might lean those toward teal if we were going with teal art gilding.) Single-column, if the Bible is mid-size or smaller, but two columns if it's a very large Bible, and paragraph format. I've not examined fonts enough to have a strong preference, although I do like the Thomas Nelson Comfort Print. 1-1/2" outer margins because I'm a note-taker. Cross-references optional, but translation notes essential. No commentary (although I do want basic book intros so I don't have to remember things like when a book was written). Concordance would be optional, although I like having a handful of alphabetically-labeled note pages at the back so I can create my own concordance of often-used verses. And I don't love most Bible maps because they usually get the route of the Exodus wrong, but I'd love a set of GOOD maps. (Can't say I've ever seen Schuyler's, so that's not a dis on Schuyler.)

[@jydymyyyr9630]

Really enjoyed this video, it gave me some great things to look for in a nice bible. So, I've been looking at purchasing an Allan ESV NC2, the New Classic Readers Edition Meriva Calfskin Bible. I was hoping to find that you've done a review of this version but can't seem to find one. Do you plan on doing a review of this R.L. Allan Bible? If not, what are your recommendations on this bible? Thanks!

[@timwildsmith]

Glad it was helpful... I have a review of the NC1 (same Bible, different cover).

[@sounddoctrine54]

Okay, Brother Tim! You don't know me very well -- yet! Don't ask, if you don't want to know. I shall attempt to be succinct. I'm really not that self-important. However, I shall tell you at least as much as you have asked. My ideal Bible? First of all, I am presently collecting my favorite translations in super giant print (16 and 16.5). So far, I have NASB 95, CSB, NIV, NLT, and HCSB (off eBay). The best box is Tyndale's actual box for the Super Giant Print NLT. (No slip cover or clam shell! Please!!) Thereby, you see that the size of the Bible Itself isn't a big deal to me, since I want 16 or 16.5 print. You like the dark blue box? Oxford used to do that all the time, particularly for their Scofields. I mention that because of my nicest Scofield. The 1967 New Scofield is not in publication any longer. Mine is navy, and is bound in hand-grained Moroccan leather, with navy bonded leather lining. I just might choose that binding for my ideal Bible, except with a FULL yap. A couple of nice boxes are the boxes for the original Ryrie Study Bibles from Moody Press and the most premium Bible which I ever purchased. In 1980, I purchased a Cambridge Cameo with water buffalo calfskin binding, wide margin, in saddle-brown color. I purchased it for my dad, who hardly ever used it. But, I should have considered that the print was too small to be practical for him. Cambridge was known in those days for their literal gold, black, and white box. In my Moroccan leather navy Bible, I would want red under gold gilding; three ribbons: red, yellow, and brown; NO index tabs; BLACK LETTER ONLY; single-column (not-double-column); and, VERSE-BY-VERSE -- for easier teaching and preaching. Paragraph Bibles make it soooo difficult for an expositor to find his place in a hurry! I'm so sorry to bore you, brother! But, I'd never thought through this process so fully until you mentioned it! I value your ministry!

[@timwildsmith]

Love it!

[@PastorBenMeyer]

Just make the Clarion taller and thinner and it’d be exactly what I’d like.

[@timwildsmith]

YESSSSSS!!!!

[@charlesleibyjr1951]

Another Great Video Tim! I love the ESV Bible more every day. Also, the KJV Bible and MEV if they ever do the Update! 🦬🌲❤

[@matreames]

I think I have the underrated gem already. Which is the crossway ESV single column thin line Bible It’s a hair smaller than I would like because I actually would prefer a little wider margin. It currently only has like three-quarter inch I’d prefer maybe inch to inch and a quarter But it’s easy to carry everywhere and have a good text block. So if I could get that basic textblock with a slightly wider margin in a premium soft, lay flat leather that would be delightful. I’ve always been partial to on the brown spectrum so that desert camel or something maybe just a little more coffee colored would be perfect. I would want three ribbons, but I would want them in different colors. I would want one ribbon, that was a dark brown one ribbon that was a beige and one ribbon that was a dark olive green. I personally like having different colors because it allows me without thinking to know which is where in the Bible. I’m not a yap person so a light yap, perhaps a little more than what you get with your basic thin line budget Bibles would be good. But I don’t need a full app. I definitely agree with you about the font choices. I don’t own a Bibliotheca, but would gladly love to have one someday. At the same time, I kind of hope they eventually branch out and make few variants of Bibliotheca. You know, ones that aren’t just the readers edition, but using their same design elements to create a more traditional Bible, like a preachers Bible type thing. As for the gilding, a dark gold is cool, if you could get the dark gold, and instead of having the red under gold look have like a Olive or a mocha under gold I think that might be cool. But since I’ve never seen it, I can’t say that it would actually look as good as it does in my head. The crossway velvet wrap, solid choice if you’re going to do a wrap for me personally, I actually prefer sleeve style box like what crossway gave with the Creedence and confessions Bible. I like to be able to have a sturdy box to protect it, but where I can still just pull it right off the shelf, rather than pulling it off the shelf opening the Bible and unwrapping it.if you could do that same kind of slide in box, but have the interior of the box lined with that velvet wrap where I can still just slide it in and out but it has that soft velvet to protect from any scratching a plus right there

[@scotteramsey]

I would be interested in seeing what a reverse spine hub Bible would look like. The thin hubs could be recessed into the wider protruding hubs.

[@JefferyHunt]

My perfect would use the CSB and have the OT in the Hebrew order, single column paragraph, no chapter or verse numbers in text, but have the chapter and verse range in the corner of the headers opposite the page number. 3 different colored ribbons. Currently, you can buy a CSB OT in the Hebrew order of books, but I’d like one bound with the NT. I’d also like to use “Yahweh” for the tetragrammaton. The HCSB did this on occasion, but without consistency, so they went the traditional route with the CSB.

[@mikedroth]

I would want an RL Allan SPC but with a Crossway typesetting, and then the real kicker is I would want the Robert Alter OT and the David Bentley Hart NT for the translation.

[@poewitx]

I’ve watched a few vids (new subscriber) and I this may be a wild guess but, pretty sure BLUE, is Mr. Wildsmith fav color 🤔🙃

[@Mrsadams1]

I think my perfect Bible would be an ESV heirloom heritage with cross references and a good concordance.

[@AndreFavron]

This was an incredibly useful video and thank you for teaching us how many factors go into producing a physical Bible. When I think of the perfect Bible I have never even considered the vast amount of specific details that go into the basics of how it looks and feels for the manufacturing process... I just knew I wanted something beautiful yet rugged enough to be a legacy item. This brings me to one question though: what is the "purpose" of the ribs? I remember another video you touched on why some have five ribs but why do premium Bibles have ribs at all? Anyway... my perfect Bible is not a Bible but a perfect "set" of Bibles. Not a set like Bibliotheca or similar but two complete Bibles. They would have identical external design features (size, binding, design, etc.) so that they could sit beautifully beside each other on your desk and look identical (except for their thickness) but one would be a thick STUDY Bible with almost no negative space to write in, and its twin would be a "carry size" JOURNALLING Bible with (possibly both?) extra-wide margins and/or interleaved design. The study edition would be replete with tools that would provide accurate knowledge: full-colour, (current) charts, maps, articles, photos, etc. so that I could take this Bible on a private spiritual retreat and not need to have the internet, nor carry many ancillary works like reference books and commentaries. I also love to read my Bible and learn things about the context of the passage without having to put the Bible down to go to other sources. In fact, I want to learn things that I did not know I did not know, (and therefore I did not know to research). The twin Bible would be "basically" Scriptural Text Only and would be used in concert with the study edition to take my notes. These handwritten entries would be both what my heart is experiencing and what my mind is learning. This is the Bible I would carry to church, conferences, and Bible study groups. This would be my "reading" Bible. I would also want the text to be in a version between Word-for-word and thought-for-though, though the CSB uses a term I appreciate... "Optimal Equivalence". The only thing that I would really want insistently though (if I was making this) would be that the binding/cover would be more of a "design" than of a bunch of words. I absolutely ADORE what Tyndale did with their NLT Chronological Life Application Study Bible in the LeatherLike, Heritage Oak Brown cover. I bought that Bible SPECIFICALLY for how beautiful it is on my desk, and how it makes me feel to hold it and read it. Even the script on the spine is almost invisible. I have other Chronological and Life Application Bibles - I did not need this one, but I wanted it and use it every day, reading each page thoroughly and in order. I don't care about "branding" and such. I am not advertising the product manufacturer, I am delighting in MY Bible. The other thing I would design if I could would be that the text of the reading Bible would be a (minimum) 10-point font, single-column, extra comfort format whereas the study Bible would be around a 9-point font with the study material maybe even smaller. That, for me, would be the beginning of the Ultimate Bible and I would pay without hesitation for something that would be a pearl of great value.

[@hcltami]

I would start with Tim's perfect Bible, but have: •Black box •Black calfskin •Red ribbons •Wider margins •Larger, less ornate typeface (also called Old Lady Typeface) •Limited cross-references (for direct quotes from other portions of scripture) •And let the size and thickness fall where it may Perfect!

[@timwildsmith]

Nice!

[@myvids3115]

Nice take. Inspiring though I do not dig that much into variations. Does single column go along with themedium size? So that the reading experience is not too impaired by too small font?

[@Pastor.Mike.Napier]

This was a lot of fun 😂

[@timwildsmith]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Gafortiby]

Tim! Have you considered the Bible font Trinite in Crossway’s six volume reader’s Bible? That’s my all time favorite Bible font. I’m sad it’s not used in other Crossway Bibles, maybe it doesn’t shrink well below 9 point size. My all time favorite thin paper is the LEGO Bible paper Crossway used in the early 2010s. I think it’s 36gsm.

[@timwildsmith]

That's a great typeface.

[@jscottnewland]

Tim maybe I missed it in this long video, but in your "perfect bible" you covered everything very welll but I missed your choice of Translation . For me it would either be the ESV, NASB 95 or the LSB, still wavering on that and the layout would be an inside column reference single column and I would love to see 32 pages of blank or dot lined pages for notes if I were building it it

[@bonnie5972]

Enjoyed this. When you showed the blue box, thought for sure it would be blue Bible. Love maps. What color is your liner? Matching the ribbons or the cover or something else? 🤔

[@pbagse]

I have a lot of fun with this video, this is your all purpose bible. Does a similiar video for your cross ref bible

[@DreamcastFarm]

10/10 Thumbnail

[@timwildsmith]

Hahaha... thanks! Becca helped!

[@raywilliams6715]

Hey Tim, thanks for the video. You forgot to mention if the single column would be verse by verse or paragraph! I would go with paragraph with bold verses so that you can find your verses easier. agree with most of your choices. I would add that Allan binding bound in Great Britain is most flexible and the Bible open flatly. I also would add the blue words in Christ like Humble Lamb does.

[@timwildsmith]

Paragraph for me!

[@AndreFavron]

werll, considering that I just eamailed Zondervan about my suggestion for the ultimate bible a few days ago, I am really looking forward to what you have to offer :-)

[@user-es1ym6hi5t]

Love this! Which bible company is going to be the first to jump on board and Make this) Schuyler!!! 😉

[@jonburnett4950]

I think it would have to be a 9-point, single-column ESV Thinline in vintage brown goatskin with full yapp, and two thick golden ribbons. So somewhere between the Heritage and my Omega. 🙏✌️🤓

[@timwildsmith]

Nice!

[@Dani_S0329]

I want a single Column ESV INTERLEAVED 5.5 x 8.5 is the perfect size I agree. I like the note space of an interleaved bible but hate that it’s double columned.

[@Mb2IseeU]

Cat Woods also said that about the ribbons in your ribbon video, they need to be long enough to extend to the corner and still hold on to so you can turn the pages.

[@nnemoyer]

Recommend me a Bible - ESV, Wellington Brown leather, lightweight (due to advancing muscle disease), large print for the best readability (these eyes are getting older), and single column (as influenced by you), or double is fine. Thanks! This video was fun!

[@timwildsmith]

Hmmm… the only ESV single-columns in Wellington are the Legacy and Heritage.

[@nnemoyer]

@@timwildsmith thank you! I'll sort out to my priorities and make a good Bible choice for me. Your videos have been both enjoyable and instructive! Thanks so much!

[@fnjesusfreak]

I want to say 2K's MCM is a variant of Bookman. Don't quote me. But Cambridge's Petit Medieval Clarendon (the Cameo font) is also a Bookman variant...no surprise MCM looks so good!

[@timwildsmith]

Yeah, it has the Clarendon feel!

[@silverdecree885]

Aww man haha, that would be awesome to make a bible, the only thing id add in terms of the inside would be the theme finder from the Fire Bible, with jesus speaking in red

[@jenrich111]

ooooo a bible about Bibles by Tim coming out later hey

[@donriedel5047]

Would love to have you do a bit on large print bibles. I no longer can read the smaller print in many bibles. Have went to the large print Zondervan NIV Life Application bible now but I am always looking for the next best thing. And I’m not sure if my vision will deteriorate more but who knows what I might have to transition to. The NIV Life Application bible is so heavy that it makes it hard to carry to church so I have a smaller bible for that. The pages of the NIV Life Application stand up well to highlighting with a wax marker. I mark up my bibles because I love going back to see what I thought was important last year or the year before. I enjoy you videos. Thank you. Don A. Riedel😊

[@jenrich111]

do you need more than font 16? What font is the one you are using?

[@donriedel5047]

Not sure all my bible says is “Large Print”

[@GINZO4849]

Fun idea. That is how Humble Lamb happened.

[@quix66hiya22]

I’d be happy with a flexible real leather NASB or CSB interleaved Bible in one volume with a 12 point font. Like the ESV interleaved Bible which does exist in hardback but with slightly larger font. I want to be able to take copious notes but in one volume to carry around instead of the multiple scripture notebooks.

[@quix66hiya22]

Forgot to add I want a single column Bible.

[@Dylan-wn7dm]

Tim, what if there was a website where you could actually build your own Bible from the ground up 🤔

[@toddheidenreich3866]

I’m pretty sure I know the answer, but; Paragraph or Verse-by-Verse?

[@timwildsmith]

Paragraph!