Premium Bible Terminology - Over 40 Terms Explained!

[@josiahcooper]

I thought I had a premium bible until I saw this video. I now realize I have been driving a Civic thinking it was a Bentley

[@jacobivy2854]

Oh, you can easily spend hundreds (or even thousands) on custom premium Bible rebindings.

[@artvandelay6329]

Ignorance is bliss

[@michaelmurphy2234]

"Yapp" was named for the 19th Century British bookbinder William Yapp who introduced the technique for pocket-sized Bibles, this form of binding is still quite common for contemporary Bibles.

[@jaykarhunen6568]

thanks for this, always wondered what a yapp even was. sounded so made up

[@WilliamWatsonBirch]

So much fun! True Bible Nerds just love this stuff!

[@JeffMankin]

Since I started watching you, my leather editions have increased significantly. Thanks Tim!

[@deserthighlander1969]

Thanks to yourself and the other two Tims, I'm well versed on most of these terms. Nonetheless, that was extremely fun! I'd love to see you do a video on your favorite bible commentaries, singular and/or a series. ✝️

[@timwildsmith]

Thanks for watching!

[@windpeoples]

Enjoyed the video very much. Thank you!

[@ianmichaelsmith]

A few nitpicks: Namely about head & tail bands, spine hubs, yapp, smythe-sewing, glue & 'perfect binding.' Head and tail bands used to serve a structural purpose in book binding. the hinges at the top and bottom of the book were structurally some of the weakest in the overall product, head bands were literally sewn into the binding of the book adding additional strength. This is still done in some fine book-binding, and can be quite elegant, but is overall time consuming. The effect, and added protection from dust and mold could be achieved much more cheaply by glueing in a false head-band and tail-band. This is now the standard. The same is true with spine hubs. Before the modern Smythe-sewing machine, book bindings were hand sewn. They would actually be sewn around a jig that had several pieces of twin, leather, or rope as the hubs for the binding. These would later be covered over with the outer leather cover material, but underneath they were largely structural. To keep the aesthetic they have gone to gluing in pieces of rubber or leather. The yapp or circuit on a leather bible was an innovation (much like page gilting) meant to protect the page edges. In the 20th Century most people take cars to church, but in the past people would walk with bible in hand to church, and have to face the elements; this was a nice added touch that kept bibles meant to be carried safe from the elements. Bibles meant for study or home use tended to be hard backed, and often features metal clasps to help the book keep shape. Soft leather bibles with yapps are a later development (largely of the 19th century). Smythe-sewing is actually a brand name; it is the name of a book binding machine that sews together signatures with great rapidity, and at a high quality. This innovation revolutionized book publishing, and today, almost any mass produced book bound with signatures is smythe-sewn. This is in opposition to its main competitor, 'perfect binding,' that is, individual leaves of paper glued together without any signatures or sewing. This is actually the standard in paper back publishing and in much of the modern print world. 'Perfect binding,' is a bit of a misnomer, because 'glued,' or 'perfect bindings,' are less structurally durable than a sewn binding by their very nature. Individual pages can come loose, destroying the book's integrity. However, both smythe-sewn books and perfect bound books use copious amounts of glue in their binding. In fact, in the case of a smythe-sewn book, after a generous amount of glue is applied to the signatures, it isn't uncommon for them to be sanded down to create a more consistent spine, removing some of the stitching (but since the glue is there, it remains structurally sound) before book tape and other spine materials are applied. I would encourage you to go watch some book restoration videos on youtube (or custom book binding), to get a better idea of how books were traditionally bound, and how many aesthetic choices in premium bibles today are more or less vestigial tails left over from these previous methods being eclipsed by modern technology and mass production.

[@FloreshBibles]

This is an excellent and extremely informative video for anyone wanting to learn more about Premium Bibles. Thank you for putting this video together…it was quite the list! And thank you for the shout out! Appreciate you, Tim!

[@markwardonwords]

Excellent. I myself needed help on some of these terms, despite years in the biz!

[@snaify]

This was very cool to watch! These are book binding terms as well!

[@ScottJ175]

This video will make a great resource. In my circles I'm known as a car enthusiast and since 2023 a premium Bible enthusiast. This will be useful send people when they ask me questions about terms I use when geeking out about Bibles.

[@timwildsmith]

Nice.

[@missinglink_eth]

What. A Tim video released at such a different time of day. Blessing!❤

[@asliceofpai]

When I get some more money I’m definitely hoping to get a nice premium bible! Thanks for the video, I’m learning so much 🙏🙏

[@ladyrnt1]

I love that you did this! It answered so many questions! I'm saving it to refer back to! Thank you, Tim!

[@timwildsmith]

You are so welcome!

[@donhagner4845]

Thank you for this. Also helpful would be an explanation of the types of Bible cover materials, i.e. Bonded leather, full grain leather, genuine leather, Berkshire leather, French Morocco leather, Tru-tone, imitation leather, etc.

[@airangel2992]

Boom, there ya have it. Thanks for another great video. We appreciate ya bro. Tim.

[@andrehcdavis3323]

Tim this was excellent!!!! different time for posting as well❤

[@timwildsmith]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@thomashansen9150]

Really great job Tim. Love watching your videos. God bless you.

[@Agben35]

I like this idea. I’m still fairly new to the Bible Nerditry world and there are many terms and “known facts” I do not yet understand and am hesitant to ask. (Example months before I figured out LPUT) How to read a front page of a Bible’s printers page, distributor, year, how to find paper thickness, year of printing, etc, etc , etc. I pick things along the ways, but …. The more info/teaching the better!!!

[@flowerlass]

What is LPUT? That is a term I have never heard before.

[@kapirk2244]

Loads of great information for everyone trying to find just the right Bible.

[@jerryg5807]

Very informative. Thank you.

[@timwildsmith]

You are welcome!

[@helenaholcomb3004]

awesome thanks Tim!!

[@timwildsmith]

You bet!

[@timsaco4793]

Wow! Very cool video. Have you ever thought about making a printed glossary? I’d sure love to have this in printed form. As always thank you for your hard work and devotion.

[@timwildsmith]

That's a great idea!

[@charlesleibyjr1951]

GREAT VIDEO TIM! 🦬🌳🌳🌳🦬

[@kimgoodson1969]

I love this. What an effort to get all this together! Thank you! I think I’m exhausted too! 😅

[@timwildsmith]

You're so welcome!

[@curtis2600]

Great job Tim

[@ChrisSheridan-k9z]

That was AWESOME!! Thank you so much.

[@timwildsmith]

You bet!

[@jacobivy2854]

Those “raised hubs” are actually called “nerves.” They originated from a time when we used to bind book spines onto ropes/cords. Now days they’re usually made of a firm cardboard under the leather.

[@rosecato7755]

That was really informative! Thank you.

[@timwildsmith]

You are so welcome!

[@BarbaraHaropolous1only]

Terrific video!! The stationary nerd within me is very happy 😅

[@derrickpurdy7011]

This is a great primer for those who are concerned with premium Bible terminology. Many of these can be used for non premium Bibles so everyone will benefit from this video.

[@2woofs784]

Hey Tim, Thanks, this was extremely helpful for me. Prayers Flying for ya!

[@timwildsmith]

Thank you!

[@johnwyatt2846]

Great content. Very useful for all of us. Learned a new term too. THANKS!

[@timwildsmith]

Great to hear!

[@doubleaaize]

I’ve been waiting for a video like this 🎉

[@peterbagler]

Good compilation. When I started watching your videos I was wondering about everything you explained in this excellent compilation, I really needed it two years ago. Now I have gradually understood anyway, congratulations to all the premium Bible geeks who find this video at the beginning of their search for the right one. Many thanks!

[@TheFridayForge]

wonderful information!

[@missinglink_eth]

Raised hubs protect the work (words) from rubbing against other things too. Protection!

[@armandocastro4548]

Excellent brother! Very helpful video.

[@sillyrabbi64]

The Oxford Hollow is triple-width, not double. 👍

[@capnsalty0200]

Thank you for this video. It helps a lot.

[@timwildsmith]

You're very welcome!

[@_g_r_u_m_p]

Fantastic video Tim! We really needed this, very informative. Thanks.

[@timwildsmith]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@_g_r_u_m_p]

@@timwildsmith I had my new Chestnut PSQ ESV out examining it along with your video lol

[@timwildsmith]

I love that!

[@flowerlass]

I loved this! Thank you!!!

[@JesusLovesYouPerfectly]

i learned something from this video. i learned about Kerning ( spacing between the letters ), that was interesting.

[@timwildsmith]

Glad it was helpful!

[@81JeremyHughes]

overcast stitching Tim

[@TheRocketman916]

I love watching your videos! I also like your bookshelves. Where did you find them?

[@CliffR]

awesome tutorial. thanks

[@dustyladyv]

You missed the leathers! Pull-ups, sokoto goatskin, your favorite - badalassi carlo - a leather brand? How do the different leathers compare as far as stiff/supple? I'm wanting to do a custom rebind, and I'm stuck at what leather to pick. Soo many choices! Thank you for this video! I've wondered a few times about the different binding types. Edge lined vs paste down vs oxford.

[@IF1X-]

This video needs to stay on your channel page. Helpful for watching your channel. I've had to look up a few things before.

[@AnamLiath]

Thank you! I'm planning two rebinds next year, both Bibles I use constantly. One almost 50 yo, the other currently in print (but with my notes). There are so many rebinders, so many options. And it's a substantial investment. Finding a rebinder is difficult because there are so many out there, using different materials, and different experience. I crave as much info as possible.

[@timwildsmith]

Wonderful!

[@douglasboyd8475]

May the Yap be upon thee. KJV Yo, the yap is on you bro. The Message.

[@matsuda150]

Hey Tim, can you add content markers to this video where you cover each terminology? Great video btw!

[@aidanjackson5223]

Hey Tim, love your Bible reviews, i’m not sure if you’ve done any children’s bible reviews, but i think that would be a fun twist and offer some recommendations for children’s bible’s as in “first bible’s” and picture bibles

[@shawnglass108]

He did mention that Humble Lamb is out of Kentucky but they have their Bibles printed and bound in China. That is important to some of us.

[@barbaralithgow]

thanks ,just a thought,the black warranty card that comes with crossways bibles is also good for putting behind a page if you get distracted by the opacity of some papers

[@timwildsmith]

Nice tip!

[@thomasshannon7793]

This was another good one, Tim. Didn't realize the premium Bible vocab list was so long! Berisfords, not Berisford's, eh? Does that make the plural possessive form Berisfordses' ? In American English, it actually does, haha. With all due respect, I do have one minor correction to bring to your attention: At around 15:30, you say, " . . . a Smythe-sewn [long i] - often called Smyth-sewn [short i], but pronounced Smythe-sewn [long i] . . ." You have this backwards, Sir, along with practically everyone else in the world. Something about that Y in the middle, I think. Irish immigrant (my people!) David McConnel Smyth (1833-1907), designed, patented and and then mass-produced his thread book-sewing machine back in 1837, which revolutionized bookbinding and publishing, making serial publishing possible. His process was dubbed "Smyth sewing" and was pronounced with the short i, just like the inventor and still is, today. The Smythes - long i and always with an e on the end - were and are an entirely different Irish clan. An honest, common mistake; names are notoious mispronouncibles. Tim, if it's not too late, Mr Smyth would appreciate it if you'd correct it in your audiobook, too. By the way, I'm looking forward to you reading your book to me as I read along in my copy, even if you do say, "Smythe-sewn". Curious anout NASB, too. Nazzby, anyone? On a personal note, my youngest of two sons, Sam, welcomed his daughter, Luna Lee Shannon, into our world on 8/11/24, 6 days after brother Sol Thomas Shannon's second birthday on 8/5/24. Luna was also 21 days early, being due 9/1/24. Jim, the eldest of my two sons and father of Andi Helen Joy Shannon, my eldest grandchild, being born 7/3/22, 4 weeks before Cousin Sol. Well, Jim just told me wife Ali is pregnant and due around the end of next April. My sons are 4 years apart in age (not by choice) and their kids are 4 weeks apart, their sibs will be around 8 months apart. In my 40+ years as God's Kid, I have come to believe that, ultimateliy, the Kingdom of God will simply be Paradise with Lord Jesus as our King, with all the riff-raff burned up in Gehenna; eternal life with Christ, eternal death (NOT damnation/hell/suffering) without Christ. Grandparenting is that, in a glass, darkly.

[@kaltech04]

I think you covered all the major points. I’m a little surprised you didn’t mention the difference between the cover and the liner (maybe hammered corners), although you briefly touched on it when mentioning rebinds.

[@kigensama]

Great vid :)

[@timwildsmith]

Thanks!

[@Locomedic1]

An explanation of Allan's bible "coding" would be very helpful. i.e. NC1, Longprimer etc.

[@michealboudreaux]

Great stuff! Do you happen to know the origin of the names Longprimer and Pitt Minion?

[@timwildsmith]

Longprimer is the name of the typeface in that Bible. Pitt Minion is a nod to former prime minister William Pitt.

[@jacquisturgiss7611]

Royal Jongbloed from Netherlands is not pronounced as "Royal Youngblood", I wish I could pronounce it for you, 😀I am from South Africa so Afrikaans is my 2nd language and it is pronounced very differently to the way you pronounce it 😄, but great job, thank you for sharing.

[@barbaralithgow]

yong bloot

[@timwildsmith]

I’ve actually met with them and asked them if my pronunciation was okay, and they said it was.

[@barbaralithgow]

@@timwildsmith just being kind

[@humblelamb]

Another great video, this is so helpful!

[@pawsnclawsOG]

I was today years old when I learned there are premium Bibles…huh

[@carmennooner2027]

Yes, you forgot to compare money terms for these very expensive Bibles. You know, like USD, Euro, Yen, Francs, Ringets, etc. I'm kidding, sort of, because for the average person, the cost for a Premium Bible is usually out of reach, or something that must be saved up for. Thank God for faux leather and even good old paperback! :)

[@claireusilton4066]

Thank you for doing this. Does Humble Lamb put the kind of Bible, ie. NASB,etc if you want that on the outside?

[@JesusLovesYouPerfectly]

something even better than a full yapp bible is a waterproof bible. Waterproof bibles are made entirely out of plastic. i Highly recommend that every believer should have at least one Waterproof Bible in their collection, especially for those rainy days because then, you can take your bible to church and not worry about it whatsoever. that's just my recommendation, that's all.

[@iamericjbell]

Hi Tim. Is there a book, or a few books, you would recommend for this topic of terms and Bible construction?

[@timwildsmith]

I'm not familiar with any books other than an old one that 2K/Denmark made awhile ago. Not available anymore, though.

[@j.woodbury412]

I just thought of a term you didn't cover- "Footprint". I've heard you and other Bible reviewers talking about a Bible's "footprint", but I'm not sure exactly what that is. I also have a question about Bible publishers. Like, you say R.L. Allan Bibles use a text from Crossway and add their own touch to it. So, is it an Allan Bible, or a Crossway Bible? Or both? I know this is probably a dumb question, but I was curious about that. It seems there is so much that goes into making a Bible, like it can have a type setting from 2K Denmark, on paper from India, be printed in China and published in the United Kingdom or the United States.

[@dbatt820]

Asking sincerely: Is it "longprimer" with a long I like "dime" or short I like "skim"? Primer with a long I is paint; primer with a short I is a book. I suspect the latter, but I'm not sure.

[@timwildsmith]

I say it with a long I, but short is probably the original

[@Digable.]

Tim, did you pick up an R.L. Allen 1863 Longprimer Sovereign Desk Edition? Would love to see a review of it, but they're only making 100, so I understand if you don't. God Bless

[@timwildsmith]

I reviewed the original one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n6q9p3aXi9Rog7c

[@-johnny-deep-]

Drop caps? Difference between fore-edge "art gilt" and "edge gilt": very confusing! That is, the edge of the paper have either a solid color (art gilt) or an actual picture (edge gilt) - I think. Also, the color or design can be different when the Bible pages are fanned in different directions! Different leather hides (cow, calf, sheep, snake, etc), and "leathersoft". India paper versus bible paper, etc. Something I've never seen: raised lettering on the spine, instead of embossed. Also high GSM paper that has been specially compressed so as to be denser, but having the same weight, and so more opaque.

[@littlemama4two]

Ever hear of Tamoe River paper? Check it out I believe it's Japanese Great video some terms I've never hear of!

[@timwildsmith]

I'll check it out!

[@FraterSpiritus]

What do the flex-leather rebinders use for their liners? I’m assuming like a flexible vinyl or something like that?

[@timwildsmith]

It can be synthetic or real. Depends on who it is.

[@FraterSpiritus]

@@timwildsmith so do you mean some just use leather inside as well as outside? Or what organic material is generally used?

[@timwildsmith]

Yes, many use real leather for both.

[@FraterSpiritus]

@@timwildsmith interesting, so that’s how they get the more “floppy” cover and that flexes and bends without breaking. I’ve done a few rebinds, but stuck to using boards under the leather, I’m gonna try a flex one next time I do one.

[@anitabudd4961]

Tim what does interleaved mean?

[@timwildsmith]

Every other page is blank (or lined).

[@stephenseaford9146]

What is overcast stitching?

[@spaceman001e7]

My dream Bible is: KJV with Aporchya Raised hub Primermeter stitch Foil stamp Black leather, red interior letter Semi yapp Gild line Paste down Oxford hallow Head and tail band Red under gold art guild Berisfords ribbons Royal joungbloed 2k Denmark typeset and typeface Symth sewn French mill paper that thin but very opaque, minimum of 1 inch thick, max of 1.5 inch Line match Serif typeface, semibold or more Decorated drop cap, as traditional as possible Easy to read typeset No gutter text, gutter reference Double column References for the aporchpya Concordance and index Table of weights and units Various Book of Common prayer daily office lectionaries Paragraph layout Page explaining which books Anglican’s, Catholics, eastern Orthodox, oriental orthodox, and Assyrians use. The extra books the east use that are not in the Kjv but in Kjv language Footnotes explaining where the Critical text differs. Footnotes explaining arachic words Dark red letters for Jesus Picture pages in a traditional way (woodcut) Pages for baptisms, confirmations, weddings, ordinations, deaths, etc. A nice box to protect it in. No theological notes, on translation and aiding notes

[@kapirk2244]

How about Catholic bibles?

[@itspitza]

Is Tim a sneaker head?! 😲