Book Review-The CEB Women’s Bible

While I did not need another Bible, I was delighted to have the opportunity to experience this Bible. I have been enjoying this translation for a few years. The Common English Bible (CEB) is available on the Bible app I use, so I often read it with my hospice patients. I find this translation to be easy to read and understand.

This Women’s Bible contains study helps and other information about the women of the Bible. And all of the extra information was written and edited by women. Each book of the Bible is introduced in a succinct summary. Each chapter begins with a brief reflection. The best parts are the portraits of women throughout the Bible. Each portrait introduces us to a woman (named or unnamed). The portraits share what we know about each woman and remind us how much is still unknown. This Bible includes an index of every woman-including those whose names we do not know. While reading through the text, you’ll enjoy and learn from the articles. These are short pieces on a variety of topics like pregnancy, divorce, sin, shame, and in-laws. Some extra goodies at the end include questions to be used each Sunday with the lectionary, one-month Bible overview reading plan, New Testament in 90 days reading plan, Bible in one year reading plan, and maps too.

Many of my clergy friends have a verse or story they look up in new translations to see how it measures up for them. When I get a new Bible, I turned to Luke 8 and read about the faithful followers of Jesus. I love seeing the name Susanna in the Bible and knowing that there were women following Jesus from the beginning. This Bible includes a portrait of Susanna.

I recommend this Bible for anyone hoping to learn more about the women in our sacred text. I recommend this Bible for anyone who wants to try the CEB. If you, like me, always wondered what the women were doing and thinking in Biblical times, this is the Bible for you.