The Complete Jewish Study Bible (Hardcover): Illuminating the Jewishness of God's Word

by David H. Stern, Barry Rubin (Translation), Anonymous

Christians and Messianic Jews who are interested in the rich spiritual traditions of their faith will be thrilled with this brand new study Bible. The Complete Jewish Study Bible pairs the updated text of the Complete Jewish Bible translation with extra study material, to help readers understand and connect with the Jewish roots of the Christian faith.

The Complete Jewish Bible shows that the word of God, from Genesis to Revelation, is a unified Jewish book meant for everyone Jew and non-Jew alike. Translated by David H. Stern with new, updated introductions by Rabbi Barry Rubin, it has been a best-seller for over twenty years. This translation, combined with beautiful, modern design and helpful features, makes this an exquisite, one-of-a-kind Bible.

Unique to The Complete Jewish Study Bible are a number of helpful articles and notes to aid the reader in understanding the Jewish context for the Scriptures, both in the Tanakh (the Old Testament) and the Berit Hadashah (the New Testament).

Features include:
-Twenty-five contributors (both Jewish and Christian), including John Fischer, Patrice Fischer, Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum, Walter C. Kaiser, Jr., Rabbi Russell Resnik, and more
-Thirty-four topical articles ranging from topics such as the menorah (or candelabra of God) and repentance (t shuvah) in the Bible, to Yeshua’s Sermon on the Mount and the Noachide Laws (the laws given by God to Noah and subsequent generations) and their applicability to Gentiles
-In addition to these topical articles and detailed study notes, there are twelve tracks or themes running throughout the Bible with 117 articles, covering topics such as Jewish Customs, the Names of God, Shabbat, and the Torah
-New Bible book introductions, written from a Jewish perspective
-Bottom-of-page notes to help readers understand the deeper meanings behind the Jewish text
-Sabbath and Holy Day Scripture readings
-Offers the original Hebrew names for people, places, and concepts

Genres: Christian, Theology, Judaism, Reference, Nonfiction, Religion, Spirituality

1968 pages, Hardcover

Published August 1, 2016

About the author

David H. Stern born in Los Angeles in 1935, is the great-grandson of two of the city's first twenty Jews. He earned a Ph.D. in economics at Princeton University and was a professor at UCLA. He then received a Master of Divinity degree at Fuller Theological Seminary, did graduate work at the University of Judaism, and was active in the Messianic Jewish movement. Dr. Stern authored the highly acclaimed English translations, the Jewish New Testament, the Jewish New Testament Commentary, and the Complete Jewish Bible.

Reviews

[Nathan Albright · Rating 5 out of 5]

[Note:  This book was provided free of charge by Hendrickson Bibles.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.]

As someone who reads and reviews Bibles on a regular basis [1], there are often a few approaches I have when it comes to examining a Bible for its usefulness.  How does the text read?  What sort of extra features and commentary does it contain about the material?  How does the Bible approach the essential unity of the scriptures concerning the high place of God's law and the importance of faith and obedience among believers?  Does the book address and deal with the essentially Hebraic nature of the writers of both testaments [2]?  How does the book address textual issues and a long history of faulty translation of material, especially in such matters as the Johanine Pericope of 1 John 5:7-8 and the problematic interpretation of the Pauline epistles so common within the Protestant world?  To be sure, not every reader will share these concerns, and some readers will have many other concerns that do not reach my own consciousness, but in reviewing this Bible in particular, I feel it necessary to state at the outset what sort of questions and concerns I have going into it, because a book that promises to provide insights to Jews and Christians and an explanation of the Jewishness of the whole Bible is setting a high bar for itself.  This book manages to deliver on its promises, providing excellent commentary and a text that is both rigorously translated and also challenging to readers who may be used to translations that simply seek to provide a few varying words within a text that operates from a consistently Hellenistic approach.  That sort of Hellenistic approach will not be found here, and those readers who are looking for it are likely to be disappointed.

The contents of this book are varied and somewhat complex.  Given the tension within the notes between an evident desire to point out the Jewishness of the Bible to the extent of making references to the Mishnah, Talmud, and various rabbinic interpreters like Rashi and the use of a capitalization of Adonai (Lord in most English language translations) to point to the use of the YHVH divine covenantal name as well as references to God in the New Testament and an equally evident desire to point out the Messianic nature of various Hebrew prophecies, this Bible's committee meetings must have been fascinating to participate in.  A few notes about the contents of the book are necessary.  For one, the order of the books in the Hebrew scriptures are done according to the order of the Tanakh, not the order of most English Bibles, and on the tops of the pages the Hebrew name of the book (if there is one) is on the left-hand side of the open Bible and the English name is on the right-hand side, so one will have to get used to turning to Tehillim (Psalms) or Messianic Jews (Hebrews).  Additionally, many Hebrew idioms make their way onto the main text in sometimes surprising ways.  Witness, for example, the quotation of Psalm 110:4 in Hebrews 5:6:  "You are a cohen forever, to be compared with Malki-Tzedek."  Or, for another example, look at the pointed translation of 1 Timothy 1:8-11a:  "We know that the Torah is good, provided one uses it in the way the Torah itself intends.  We are aware that the Torah is not for a person who is righteous, but for those who are heedless of Torah and rebellious, ungodly and sinful, wicked and worldly, for people who kill their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral--both heterosexual and homosexual--slave dealers, liars, perjurers, and anyone who acts contrary to the sound teaching that accords with the Good News of the glorious and blessed God."  This is a translation that packs a lot of punch, including a focus on transliterating rather than translating important Hebrew words like Shalom for peace where they appear in the New Testament.  In addition to thorough cross-references as well as frequent commentaries on the Jewishness of what biblical authors say, the editors of this Bible also manages to include a variety of helpful and thoughtful larger discussions that seek to overcome a lengthy and misguided legacy of anti-Semitism among those who saw in the biblical debates between Jesus and Pharisees warrant for their own hatred of the Jews, rather than the record of an internecine struggle among those who were fighting over a shared legacy of religious belief and practice.  The result is a Bible that has a rigorous textual basis and also manages to confront many of its readers with their own assumptions and lack of knowledge about what the Bible actually means.

Ultimately, this Bible does precisely what the Bible should do, and that is throw down the gauntlet and confront contemporary believers with the high ethical demands of God's ways and the essential unity of the Scriptures, even if frequently the Old and New Testaments have been pitted against each other in both Jewish and Hellenistic Christian circles.  This Bible will be of most obvious appeal to messianic Jews, Jews looking at a fair-minded New Testament to better understand Christianity, and those Christians who are looking to overcome a legacy of misguided and mistaken interpretations of Pauline epistles in a way contrary to their intent and meaning.  The book gives far more credit to rabbinic sources that many Christians will be fully comfortable with, and far more credit to Christian interpretations of messianic scriptures than Jews will be comfortable with, but the ethnically demanding and intellectual rigorous nature of this translation, and the way that it prompts the reader to have a more intimate understanding of the essentially Jewish nature of the New Testament makes this a translation I plan on using for Bible Study as well as following along in Sabbath services for quite some time.

[1] See, for example:

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https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...

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https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...

[2] See, for example:

https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...

[Cigno · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Complete Jewish Study Bible sheds marvelous light on all of the Jewish references found in the B’rit Hadashah (New Testament). As a follower of Yeshua (Jesus), it has become abundantly clear that an understanding of the Jewishness of the B’rit Hadashah (New Testament) is as vitally important as the Jewishness of the Tanakh (Old Testament).
Yeshua was a Jew, all of the disciples were Jews, the apostle Sha’ul (Paul) was not only a Jew but self-admittedly “a Pharisee of Pharisees” and studied under Gamaliel.
Yeshua taught in the style of first century rabbis, Peter and Paul both constantly referenced the teachings of the Tanakh. Furthermore, Yeshua and the authors of the writings of the New Testament consistently refer to the Old Testament, Jewish imagery, feasts, ceremonies, etc. Without an understanding of the Jewishness of the authors and their Jewish audience (albeit Messianic Jewish as they had accepted Yeshua as their Messiah), it is impossible to understand what the writings of the New Testament mean.
The Complete Jewish Study Bible provides deep insights into the Jewish understanding of all the aforementioned references.
I can’t recommend this study Bible enough.

[Donna EJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

We began reading this book out of necessity. At first studying the New King James lead to questions, so via certain ministries the need to understand the context of the roots written in the New Testament.
David Stern’s translation and this study Bible have led to my understanding the Bible as one book for all people.
The richness in the topical articles, notes, cited works, and festivals, feasts and fast reading build a solid foundation on the word.
For instance, The Ten Commands or Commandments and the Beatitudes join together into a picture resounding in The Song of Moses and The Song of The Lamb in Revelations. The Great I AM is honored and made known throughout cover to cover.
Love my copy!

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I am writing this review from the perspective of a non-Jewish believer.

I picked up this version as part of what began as a year-long journey (I have since decided to extend it because I have been enjoying the process so much) of reading through several different versions of the Bible which I had not yet completely read. I was excited to read through it, especially the New Testament, and to learn more about the Jewish perspective of the Word through the translation, study notes, and included commentary. It was such a rich experience! Seeing the Scripture through the eyes of the Jewish people and learning more about the cultural relevance of different elements of the stories and truths within was eye-opening and inspiring. It really rounded out my perspective on several things and the imagery conveyed in the language used is so vivid and vibrant and lovely.

The Old Testament books are in a different order than you will be accustomed to if you normally read Christian translations. I found this interesting and refreshing - there was always something new and unexpected around the corner if I didn't look ahead to see what was coming next!

If this version had concluded at the end of the book of Acts, I would have rated it 5 stars. Up until that point, it had been my favorite version that I had read to date.

To back up a little, there is a note in the introduction to the translation about how the translator chose to translate the word "law" or the phrase "the law" as a longer phrase that basically implies that legalism is what is being referred to in the text rather than the law itself. I was skeptical but open-minded about such a decision before I began reading the actual text. I actually forgot all about it until later in the New Testament, where this interpretation first appears. (In the Old Testament, the word Torah is used instead of law/the law, which I have no issue with.)

Beginning around Romans, the translator starts to stray from translating and selectively move into interpretation rather than translation, seemingly only where it suits his chosen narrative. The translation had been strong before that, so suddenly finding passages where interpretations were used instead of translation really weakened the translation as a whole. The translator's decision to go this route, in my opinion, undermined the complete work and in some ways, discredited it. This is unfortunate, because the translation would have been strong and beautifully done without going this route but instead sticking to the method used in the previous pages. There were several places in the New Testament (post-Acts) where I would look up the original texts and find that the translator had inserted words and phrases that were not there in the original text - almost always to make the text fit within a particular narrative that represents his (and others') beliefs but not what the text itself says - and that sometimes changed the meaning of the original text entirely. Prior to this straying, the translation was solid, thought-provoking, insightful, and quite beautifully done. There was no need to veer off into interpretation under the guise of translation; the translation was speaking for itself before that. This was, at times, a significant issue, particularly in the epistles.

There is also a commentary note in 2 Thessalonians which would be considered blasphemous if what the author of it is saying is incorrect and what Christians believe about the passage is true. (It ascribes what Christians believe is the Holy Spirit to Satan.)

Whilst I would give Genesis through Acts 5 stars, I would give Romans through the end only 1 star based on the insertion of words and phrases that did not exist in the original texts and that changed the meaning of the original texts into something that suited a particular narrative (which I was open to accepting, but the decision to do this really discredited the idea, at least for me). It is for this reason that my review has a final rating of 3 stars.

I would definitely recommend that Christians read this translation, at least through the end of Acts. It deepened my understanding of many things, opened my eyes to some things I had missed or not known before, and was thoroughly beautiful and enjoyable to read up through the point where the inaccuracies started surfacing in the New Testament.

The cover is a bit rougher than other Bibles with a genuine leather cover. I suspect that it could be boiled leather, which can have this texture sometimes. The signatures are sewn and the layout is fantastic. The quality of the materials is very good.

[Kevin de Ataíde · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't give this more than a three star because, although I generally appreciate the approach, there are several repeat annoyances, particularly with the use of the B'rit Khadasha.

First, although the front cover of this edition says the *Complete* Jewish Bible - and I know that this represents a particular translation - it is *incomplete* as long as it completely ignores the books that the rabbis removed before establishing the early canons of Scripture, and especially ben-Sirach (or Ecclesiasticus, as the Catholics call it): an important bridge between the Tanakh and the B'rit Khadasha.

Second, the NT has been retranslated to remove all marks of the Church, apparently because of the perceived aggression of Christians against the Jewish people, which has created a prejudice against the institutional Church in the minds of the largest potential audience for this book. An interesting idea, but that means replacing the very words 'cross' and 'apostle' respectively with 'execution-stake' and 'emissary.' The oddest thing about this attempt to reclaim the B'rit Khadashah for the Jewish community is that, although it was originally written by Jews primarily for Jews (as the translator declares), there are anomalies. Such as when the translation says that the Church in Antioch was first called 'Messianic' by the Greeks and Romans there. The Greek is obviously 'Christian,' because the Church in this Greek city kept speaking in Greek about 'Khristos.' Translating the 'Christian' into Hebrew 'Messianic' for this translation creates a decidedly artificial effect.

And then, there is (another example) the translation of 'ben-Adam' as 'human being' in Ezekiel and Daniel, although 'Son of Man' is retained in the Gospels; this destroys an important link. These small annoyances begin to take new meaning as you get through some of the study notes in the Tanakh, which dismiss the Church as 'the Gentiles' to be saved alongside Israel proper (the Jewish people), not perhaps taking account of the myriads of baptised Christians of Jewish origin within the Church (including the 'emissaries' of Christ, are they not of the Church in this reading?). So, while I appreciate very much the Messianic communities, and their interpretation of the epistle to the Romans is my own, the side-lining of the Apostolic Church - even if it is presently a majority-gentile communion - is a big problem for this translation. Related to this is the almost complete absence of any mention of the Apostolic Churches which have strong claims to descent from the Apostles of Christ, even given the anti-institutional-Church prejudice mentioned earlier. The author/translator's understanding of the Church seems to be a protestant one, and when he speaks of the 'messianic communities' as not establishing halakhah, it's rather odd that that there is not a single mention of the Apostolic Churches, which actually have and continue to actively establish halakhah with the authority of Christ.

The final problem, as I see it, is in the desperate desire to retain the significance of the Eretz Yisrael, the Land, even after the reception of Christ. The salvation of the Nation in the future rule of Messiach for this translation is always *here on earth* - this involves the establishment of a Messianic kingdom on earth, in places (in the study notes) associated with the modern nation-state of Israel. This resurrects the false hope of the Jewish people for the first coming of Messiach as a false hope for His second coming to establish a kingdom on earth, based on a literal reading of the book of Apocalypse/Revelation. If it does come true, it would be nice to see a Messianic realm in modern Israel. But this is not what has come down to us through the Tradition of the Apostolic Churches, which tells us to reject this present world.

But enough of all the negatives. The overwhelming positive is that here we find Jewish hands stitching together the Tanakh (less those 'deutero-canonical' books, such as ben-Sirach) and the B'rit Khadasha, and I delight in that. I like the transliterated Hebrew names and the attempts to establish the Judaism of the B'rit Khadashah. The study essays of Jewish life and culture throughout the book are excellent, and the translation itself is easy to read, well-printed and presented. The book itself is marvellously bound and is a lasting treasure on and tribute to any bookshelf. Here's hoping that future editions will go beyond Yavneh and provide translations of the books of the Maccabees, Judith, the Wisdom of Shlomo... and ben-Sirach.

[Lisa Marie Gabriel · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent resource for Jews and Christians alike that will hopefully clarify our similarities rather than our differences. I love to read it side by side with the Bible and compare and contrast and the footnotes are also enlightening.

[Michael Harshman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The "Complete Jewish Study Bible: Insights for Jews & Christians" fills a very unique spot as it very clearly presents the Word of God from a Jewish perspective.  We do often think of Jesus from a very western perspective, but Jesus was Jewish and lived in a very Jewish culture.  This Study Bible has some features that I absolutely love.  This is a different translation than most people may be used to.  I won't go into the specifics about how it was translated, but at a high level the Complete Jewish New Testament was originally translated in 1989 by Dr. David H. Stern with the Old Testament portion completed in 1998.  He did this translation in the attempt to "restore God's Word to its original Jewish context and culture as well as be in easily read modern English."  This translation was initially geared toward Messianic Jewish congregations, but Christians can get a lot out of this Study Bible to help understand Scripture from the Jewish perspective that Jesus (Yeshua) would have had.  The study notes and articles are written by both Messianic Jews as well as Christian theologians as well.  This is a very interesting Bible to have and use as it helps to put the Jewish context back into the Scriptures.  It will help to understand more of the culture that existed in the Ancient Near East (A.N.E.) when Scriptures were written.  We covered this concept of the need for understanding this culture in our church in our Inductive Bible Study training classes that we did.  One note about this translation is that it may take you some time to get used to the fact that they used the names from the traditional Hebrew rather than the Greek names.  With that said, after a while, you actually start picking up some (although very limited) Hebrew.  Also, you will need to get used to a different sequence of the books of the Old Testament (Tanakh) as well as a different number of books as the Jewish Old Testament combines some books into one.  For example 1st and 2nd Samuel are grouped as one book, as are some others such as the Twelve Minor Prophets grouped into one.  Outside of some of these things to get used to, I would highly recommend this as an additional translation to have for your Bible studies.  I received a copy of this Study Bible in exchange for this review from Hendrickson Publishers and all opinions are my own.

[Cindy Navarro · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Complete Jewish Study Bible by Hendrickson
strives to help both Christian and Jewish followers connect with the Jewish roots of our faith.
The previous edition was translated by David H. Stern with this updated version containing new introductions by Rabbi Barry Rubin. With these introductions, additional material about Jewish customs and feasts, and a translation of some names from English to Hebrew, this helps the reader to connect deeper.

I can only speak from the Christian point of view, so I do want to say upfront that this Bible is better for those who are familiar with the Bible and have at least a rudimentary knowledge of the history of our heritage. A beginner or new believer may get a little lost despite the excellent English to Hebrew translations provided both with the names and in footnotes throughout the Bible. A serious scholar will love it! This Bible provides a greater depth of understanding about traditions that may be unknown, therefore, a new richness is uncovered as new insights are discovered. I love that I can expand my knowledge as I pursue my study of God's Word. I want to apply His word to my life today, and it helps to understand what was going on during the time these words were first written or revealed to mankind. There are also additional color-coded articles and maps provided.

Not only is the book "heavy" with the depth of knowledge, it weighs more than the Bible I normally use. The one I have is a hard cover and I love the outward appearance of it. It is a beautiful addition to your library---but do not just leave it sitting. This is a book that needs used frequently. The print is very easily read, but my one issue is that there is no room to write notes on all of the pages. For both Christians and Jews (especially Messianic) who want to learn more of our shared heritage, while studying God's Word, I do recommend The Complete Jewish Study Bible.

Learn more at:
Product Page: hendrickson.com/content/complete-jewi...
Website: hendrickson.com
Twitter: twitter.com/hendricksonpub
Facebook: facebook.com/thecompletejewishstudybible

Disclaimer: I'm a part of the CWA Review Crew and I received a copy of this book at no cost to myself in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Ronnie Nichols · Rating 3 out of 5]

I used the CJSB for a year through the Bible reading. I found the Hebrew proper names (phonetic English spelling) to be bothersome and caused the reading to be strained and difficult. The study notes are steeped in Jewish cultural and religious facts often relative and informative and is probably the highlight of the book. The translators use of Hebrew terms (phonetic English spelling) and phrases to replace English and Greek verbiage was used by the author to emphasize the "Jewishness" of the Scriptures. This is a noble endeavor on his part but often stretches the context to suit his objective. This makes for difficult reading and comprehension. Finally, though it is his goal to make sure that the "Jewishness" of the Bible is highlighted and magnified, this translation may have a tendency to keep the reader in the shadows falling short of helping them see beyond the temporal to the eternal reality of all things pointing to Christ and His glory.

A good read for those clinging to dispensationalism.

[Brad Dell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve not had more delight reading a translation of the scriptures. The Complete Jewish has restored poetic richness to passages grown weary over the years. It has also connected me with my spiritual family through keeping intact much Hebrew terminology, providing Jewish cultural study notes not found in any of my other eight study Bibles, and detailing Jewish customs that developed in the years stretching between Malachi and John the Baptist. I’ve recommended this translation widely throughout the last year, often preach from it, and have even purchased copies for friends. It’s worth the plunge.

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Luke, Acts, and Romans in the Complete Jewish Study Bible as a follow up to reading Sailing Through Acts, and going on a footsteps of Paul tour through Greece and Turkey.
Reading the Jewish Study Bible really makes you realize how much we have turned Yeshua into a 21st century American, when he and his followers were actually thoroughly Jewish. Paul's roots as a Pharisee come through very strongly, and greatly illuminate his description of how Yeshua fulfills the Hebrew scriptures.
Highly recommend this translation to help recover the true roots of Christianity.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I haven’t read all of this version of the Bible yet, I have read all the introductory material and many of the footnotes. This is an excellent introduction to the Jewish perspective of God’s Word for a follower of Christ. For as the author points out, the Bible IS a Jewish book written mostly by Jews. It helps the reader seeking to understand more about the Christian faith enjoy with greater richness the meaning and purpose of the Bible narrative.

[Autumn Kearney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book! Very few people ever read any bible cover to cover. What I have read of it was fantastic. It made me question what I learned growing up Catholic. I will need to do more research.

[John Funnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent study Bible with insightful commentary.

[LJ Fountain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading Scripture from this version. For me, it provides more context and helps me connect dots which adds greater clarity.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent translation. Awesome read. First time I “enjoyed” reading through the OT.

[Mathilda Björkdahl · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite book 👍🏻

[John Kight · Rating 4 out of 5]

The number of Study Bibles available on the market today is breathtaking. There seems to be a Study Bible themed for almost any occasion or reason one could imagine. In recent years, several major Study Bible projects surfaced and released with mixed reception. One of the latest additions to this Study Bible market, and one that promises a wealth of useful insight into the Scriptures is the newly published The Complete Jewish Study Bible (CJSB).

The CJSB is a unique Study Bible experience that seeks to submerge the reader into the Jewishness of both Testaments through fresh and relevant study notes and articles selected to accomplish this mission. The CJSB is based on the widely used Complete Jewish Bible (CJB) by David A. Stern. Those familiar with the CJB will know what to expect. Stern has translated the Bible with a particular sensitivity to the Jewish tradition and thus has retained Jewish names and words with theological significance. For example, the reader will discover thousands of occurrences in both the Old and New Testament of Adonai where the Hebrew and Greek would not warrant such translation, but the Hebraic tradition would (xlii-xliii). Readers will surely have a personal preference and opinion towards this decision and others like it, and further comment is beyond the scope of this review.

The CJSB prepares the reader for “extensive bottom-of-page study notes to help readers understand the deeper meanings behind the Jewish text” (xix). However, for most readers (and especially those familiar with other Study Bibles on the market) this statement will over promise and under deliver. Many pages lack any presence of study notes. The notes are certainly helpful and useful for understanding the deeper meaning of the text, but they are not “extensive” by any meaningful definition of the word. I do not say this to discourage the reader away from the benefit of the CJSB, but rather to prepare them for the content therein. Still, the benefit of the CJSB is found in the numerous, and I mean numerous topical and themed articles. The topical articles cover a wide range of topics in both the Old Testament and the New, including the nature of covenant, millennialism and the future Israel, Satan in Jewish thought, a Jewish understanding of Hell, and much, much more. The themed articles are abundant and sorted under twelve major themes: (1) anti-Jewish scriptural interpretation, (2) covenants, (3) Jewish customs, (4) Jewish-Gentile relations, (5) messianic prophecy, (6) the names of God, (7) Sabbath, (8) salvation and atonement, (9) the holy days of Israel, (10) the land of Israel, (11) Torah, and (12) the tabernacle. The CJSB opens with a lengthy introduction the CJB and closes with a number of appendix material (e.g. glossary of Hebrew words, topical and theme article index, biographies of rabbis and sages, etc.) and eight full-color maps.

The CJSB is a unique Study Bible and a valuable investment for anyone interested in better understanding the Jewishness of the Old and New Testament. The articles are useful and many, and the CJB is an excellent supplemental translation to your Bible of choice. However, while I was honestly pleased by content that the CJSB offered, for some reason, I continued to feel as though something was missing. It could be the lack of “extensive” notes that I was anticipating or that they were paired with the CJB—a supplemental translation choice, in my honest opinion. Despite this, I was surprised at how often I was reaching for the CJSB to see what the contributors had to say about a passage or topic and I was pleased by the content and number of articles.
The Complete Jewish Study Bible is a welcomed addition to the Study Bible market. The CJSB offers an unparalleled experience that will truly enrich the reader’s understanding of the Scriptures. If anything, I think that it is safe to assume that the CJSB will provide another perspective for the reader to weigh as they seek to resemble and serve Jesus in the twenty-first century. I said it before, and I will say it again, the CJSB is a unique Study Bible and a valuable investment for anyone interested in better understanding the Jewishness of the Old and New Testament. It deserves a place on the shelf of every Christian!

I received a review copy of this book in exchange for and honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

[Francesca Darien-Hyde · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Messianic Believer studying religions influenced and infused by Judaism - this edition of the Bible - of which I have 8 different translated editions, is superlative and is an absolute god-send. It will become invaluable as I continue to share my faith with my husband and embark on learning Hebrew shortly. My favourite scripture in this Bible is Acts 26.17 where the angel spoke to Hebrew as Saul was being converted from Judaism to a follower of Christ.

Thank you to the translators.

[Shirley Scurlock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome! Amazing! Wonderful! I love this Bible. There is a wealth of knowledge between the covers of this book. For me, this Bible opens a new and greater understanding of topics I have read about all my life. The Feasts of the Lord, Jewish customs which sheds new light on Jesus’ Parables! Before this Bible came out, my Jewish study resources were limited. I used online searches for most subjects! The articles are informative and the unique charts before each book help even the novice Bible student understand it! Honestly, there is so much to this Bible I must confess I can’t do it justice! As a Gentile Believer, I have found a treasure trove of information about the origin of my faith! I know you will find it a great blessing too. For more information on the Bible and how to order it, read below.

[Ross Heinricy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot say enough about this Bible and its notes! Best commentary on the Scriptures in one Bible that I have ever read bar none! if you invest in your Bible library buy this one and the Apologetics Bible; you won't be disappointed.

[Wendy Stackable · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a helpful resource!