Frequently Asked Questions about the ESV

Is there a study edition?

The ESV Study Bible is coming Fall 2008.

The Reformation Study Bible using the ESV text is available.

The Scofield Study Bible, published by Oxford University Press and using the ESV text, is also available.

Is a large- or giant-print Bible available?

Yes, a large-print Bible is currently available. A Giant Print edition is not currently scheduled, but likely to come in the future.

Is the ESV available for the Pocket PC, Palm, or other computers?

Yes. More about electronic editions.

Is the ESV available for the Macintosh?

Yes, the ESV is available from Accordance Bible Software. The company that we worked with to develop the free ESV CD-ROM included with most editions has software for Windows computers only. This program works on a Mac if you have the Virtual PC program, which is available at most places that sell Mac software. The Accordance Bible Software comes with a fee, and is not available for free with our ESV Bibles. QuickVerse also has a Mac edition.

What reference books based on the ESV are available?

What editions are available?

Please visit this page for an answer to this question.

Are audio editions available?

There are two separate audio editions of the ESV New Testament.

  • A New Testament and whole Bible featuring Max McLean are available. Buy it from Crossway as as set of MP3s. Or order downloads and CDs directly from Fellowship for the Performing Arts via their website, phone (888-876-5661), or fax (973-898-1690). You can contact them with questions by email (info@listenersbible.com), phone (973-984-3400), or mail:
    Fellowship for the Performing Arts
    One High Street Court
    Morristown, NJ 07960
  • A New Testament featuring Marquis Laughlin is available from Amazon.com. You can listen to it online at the ESV Online Edition.

Are there updates available to the free CD-ROM?

How do I know what version of the CD-ROM I have?

The version is listed at the top of the CD-ROM. For example, “CD-ROM Version ESV-6.0.” If you received your CD-ROM before June 2004, you are probably using version 5, produced by WordSearchBible (formerly iExalt). If you received your CD-ROM after June 2004, you are probably using Version 6, produced by Logos Research Systems.

Are review copies available?

Review copies are not generally available except to media representatives. Visit Crossway’s Press Room section for more.

Are there discounts for large purchases?

You may buy a case of Pew Bibles, containing 24 Bibles, for $165.60 ($6.90 per Bible). You may also buy a case of Outreach Bibles (24 Bibles) for $71.88 ($2.99 per Bible).

Is the ESV text available on the Internet?

Yes, the text is available at the ESV Online Edition, Bible Gateway, and Crosswalk.com, among other places.

Is there an electronic edition?

Certain editions come with the option of receiving a download with the complete text of the Bible. (A postcard included with the Bible explains how to order the free CD.) The CD includes the ESV and King James text, the New Nave’s Topical Bible, The Abridged Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew-English Lexicon of the Old Testament, Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary, the Galatians volume of the Crossway Classic Commentaries series, Exploring the Old Testament, Exploring the New Testament, the Romans volume of the Preaching the Word series, and more. The CD is produced by Logos Research Systems and is for Windows 98 and later.

How do I get a copy if I live outside North America?

If you live anywhere besides the European Union, you may order a copy from us. In the EU, please order a copy published by HarperCollins UK (except the ESV Children’s Bible and the ESV English-Greek Reverse Interlinear New Testament; you may order those two editions from us if you live anywhere in the world).

Are there cross-references?

Yes, some editions include a center-column cross-reference system, similar to many other Bibles.

Which texts were consulted for the translation of the ESV?

See the Translation Philosophy page for a detailed answer to this question.

How does the ESV differ from the NASB?

The ESV seeks to translate each word as literally as possible. However, when an exactly literal translation interferes with the natural flow of the English language, the word or phrase has been rendered with an eye for proper syntax and grammar. This is an “essentially literal” translation. The NASB is a “strictly literal” translation, attempting to render each word in English for the corresponding Greek or Hebrew. The NASB does not give as much weight as other “standard” translations to the flow of the English language.

Our goal with the ESV is to publish one Bible for all of life. Combining an essentially literal translation with readability makes the ESV suitable for any situation—word studies and exegesis, reading out loud from the pulpit or in college and seminary classrooms, home Bible studies, and personal study.

What reading level is the ESV?

The ESV is at an 8th grade reading level.

Will there be an edition that includes the Apocrypha?

Crossway will not be publishing the ESV in editions with the Apocrypha. An edition of the ESV with Apocrypha is being developed by another publisher, which we expect will be announced in mid to late 2008.

Is there an anglicized edition?

Anglicized editions, with British spellings for some words, are available from HarperCollins UK. Learn more at the HarperCollins website. The anglicized editions do not include the free CD-ROM and are black-letter only.

If you have any further questions regarding this publication, please contact them at:
Harper Collins Religious
Division of Harper Collins Publishers
77-85 Fulham Palace Rd.
Hammersmith, London W6 8JB
P: 0181 741 7070
F: 0181 307 4064

Is the ESV included in any parallel Bibles?

Yes. The ESV is included in The Evangelical Parallel New Testament and The Essential Evangelical Parallel Bible.

A parallel ESV-Chinese edition is available from Worldwide Bible Society (site is in Chinese).

Does Crossway pay royalties to anyone for use of the ESV text?

No. Crossway owns the rights to the text.

I have a question that isn’t answered here. Whom can I ask?

Last updated April 18, 2008.