How Do You Say "Help" in Spanish?

Abraham Armenta got in touch with a question I couldn't answer. There are so many interesting editions of the Bible in English, he pointed out, but where are the fine bindings for Spanish language editions? He'd searched the internet without much luck. I gave it a go, too, with similar results. Lots of paperbacks, lots of cheap-looking bonded leather, but that was about it.

So Abraham and I are both asking for your help. Surely there are well-made editions of the Bible in Spanish -- but where? If anyone has undertaken the search, let me hear from you in the comments. Thanks!

Comments

[MIchael Smith]

I called Christian Book Distributors 1800 247 4784 they said maybe if you call on monday - fri and talk to the Spanish rep thay may be able to help.
Nelson Bibles has a nice genuine leather Biblia Plentude (Spirit Filled life Bible ) for 95.99 It might be good to contact them to see if they know more options.

[Jesus Saenz]

I picked up a RVR 1960 for my Madré, the spine was glued but it was bound in leather. Let me give it a try and see if I can remember where I picked it up.

[Jesus Saenz]

this is the one... i think?

http://store.pandevida.com/browse.cfm/4,15279.htm

[threegirldad]

I've searched for months to no avail, and was hoping that you had some readers in Latin America or Spain who could provide a source. Perhaps rebinding is the only option.

[Gil Garcia]

For what I know and have experience there are NO quality spanish Bibles compare to english Bibles. I use to work at a Christian Bookstore and that was the biggest complain of spanish Bibles. For example, it is very difficult to fine a good quality Spanish Reference Bible. Personally, I think Korean Bibles are the best Bibles being made. Even the Lockman Foundation maker of the NASB and the spanish LBLA, which I happen to know the spanish translators, do not have a quality spanish Bible. The Biblia Plenitude which is a Pentacostal/Dispensational Study Bible, made by Nelson, is of 80's quality. No surprise coming from Nelson's Pub. Not even of the best selling spanish version Bible, the 1960 Reina-Valera version is there a quality made Bible. In Spain, there is the 1977 RV Spanish Bible but surprisingly the world inventors of Cordovan Leather and a country well know for having the worlds best leathers without a doubt has no top notch quality well made Bible. There is hope! TBS (Trinitarian Bible Society) is soon to come out probably in 2009 with an updated modern translation of the 1909 RV Bible. Which calls to mind why cannot they do the same for the KJV if they can do it for other languages?

[Gil Garcia]

That Legacy Spanish Bible my be the best out there.

[KJVcollector]

You might consider the Spanish Bibles offered by Local Church Bible Publishers at http://lcbplansing.org/Bibles/Spanish.htm - these are "Bearing Precious Seed" 1865 "Received Text" Spanish editions, so the age of the translation might be an issue, but I own two English KJV Bearing Precious Seed Bibles and I'm quite impressed with the quality for the price. My KJVs have very good, if not excellent, leather, good printing and sewn bindings.

[Emilio Garofalo]

I run into the same problem with Bibles in Portuguese. There simply isn't anything available better then bonded leather in Brazil. What I'm considering is sending one to Mechling for rebinding.

[Abraham]

:( So I guess all us Spanish speakers are out of luck...

Here's the e-mail response that I recieved from the TBA on their revision project:
Thank you for your interest in the Spanish Bible revision project being carried out by the Trinitarian Bible Society.

At present, a good portion of the New Testament has undergone a ‘first-phase’ revision, and our hope is that at least the New Testament revision will be ready for printing in 2009, as a centenary edition, of sorts, of the RV 1909.

We will be meeting with a team of our collaborators in Spain in a few weeks to discuss specific projected dates (among many other things). Hopefully after that meeting in mid-March we will have a better idea regarding when the entire revision will be completed, Lord willing.

The revision process is being treated much the same way as a new translation, in that each verse is being compared directly with the original Masoretic Hebrew texts for the Old Testament and with the Textus Receptus for the New Testament. We may feel the Lord’s help on our daily labors, and we covet your prayers for the same.

Please let us know if there are any other questions you may have concerning the revision, and thank you once again for your prayerful interest in the work of the Society.

With Christian greetings,

William Greendyk

William Greendyk

General Secretary

Trinitarian Bible Society USA

927 Alpine Commerce Park NW

Suite 100

Grand Rapids, Michigan 49544

+1 (616) 735-3695 Phone

+1 (616) 785-7237 Fax

www.trinitarianbiblesocietyusa.org

[sandy]

I have an 1875 diamente divino y semana santa, divinos officios, devocionario y ordinario de la misa.
It is bound in ivory with silver wire and gold thread needlework It also has a finely made box and the original gift card. I would like to sell ...........

[michelle]

I stumbled across this one on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Spanish-Large-Print-Bible-Biblia-Letra-Grande-Leather-/370440690262?pt=US_Nonfiction_Book&hash=item563ffc5a56

Not sure what kind of leather, but it's a 2006 Thomas Nelson for $1.25.

[Francisco Caraballo]

Reading some of these comments I can definetly agree that there is a lack of quality when it comes to looking for a good Spanish Geniune Leather Bible. I look throughout all of the English Translation bibles and see very different styles with excellent quality bindings but when I look to find a Spanish bible it is almost impossible to find one. I have been looking for a 1960's edition of the Reina Valera version of the Bible and have not found one yet. I don't seem to understand why these Bible manufacturing companies seem to think that Spanish speaking people don't mind the quality of a good geniune leather bible, especially when most are willing to spend top quality dollar for a good bible.

[Jose Egüen]

Completetely agree. Trying to find a quality binding spanish bible is a mess.
I got in contact with Mark two years ago with the same question and still looking without success.
Finally in August 2010, taking the opportunity of a trip to Seattle, I bought a Cambridge Pitt Minion Reference Bible in Brown Goatskin, of course in English!

Frankly speaking, I prefer to read the Bible into English and to improve it than suffering them into spanish!

I also got in contact with Cambridge office at Madrid without any reply.
This was my email then:

Buenos días,

He tenido el gusto de adquirir recientemente una de sus publicaciones, concretamente la English Standar Version Bible, brown goatskin pitt minion size.

Les felicito por la calidad de su encuadernación cosida, tipografía, materiales en piel para las cubiertas, papel India, etc... de hecho, la he comprado en EEUU ya que no es posible encontrar ninguna publicación similar en ninguna librería cristiana especializada en España. No obstante estoy contentísimo con ella gracias a los consejos y blogs de varios autores recomendándola. De nuevo les felicito y les doy las gracias.

Eso si, permítanme sólo una pregunta:

¿Para cuándo una Biblia con calidad similar en Español?

Según los comentarios de varios dueños de librerías y alguna que otra editorial que espero que entiendan, no mencionaré, aún no se publican Biblias en Español (me refiero a Biblias cristianas evangélicas - Reina Valera, Biblia de Las Américas, NIV...) con la calidad que Uds. ofrecen en las versiones inglesas, simplemente porque aún no hay un público suficientemente amplio como para invertir en su producción... ¿es eso cierto?

Efectivamente, el colectivo de evangélicos y otras denominaciones no católicas en España aún es muy bajo, pero el idioma puede compartirse (véase la Biblia de Las Américas, p.e.) con los millones y millones de personas de habla hispana que están deseosas de poder adquirir una Biblia en Español, no sólo en Iberia, sino también en América del Sur, con la excelencia de calidad que es imposible encontrar por parte de ninguna editorial por el momento; créanme que he buscado y rebuscado por infinidad de páginas web, librerías tanto en España como EEUU y para vergüenza nuestra, la tendencia del mercado parece estar dirigida a la producción cada vez más pobre de Biblias en Español impresas en China o, en el mejor de los casos, en Corea del Sur. No hace falta que mencione la enoooorme diferencia de calidad en comparación con las que Uds. producen...

Sin más, y con la esperanza de que puedan darme una respuesta esperanzadora y comercialmente fructífera para Uds. también, me despido enviándoles un cordial saludo.

[Adan Jr]

any luck out there yet ??

[bill]

Adan, I bought my wife a "La Biblia del Siglo de Oro". I got the hint from the thread with Jongbloed's Thomas Silkjær commenting. Unfortunately they look sold out now on Amazon, but the Bible Societies tend to re-commission popular works every few years so they should come back again. It is incredibly beautifully typeset, and printed on nice cream-colored paper. All the elements of good design is there.

Unfortunately the only binding I found is paperback (though a very nice paperback) so it might not be quite what you expected, and the classic Spanish translation may not be appropriate for beginning speakers. Still, I just couldn't keep quiet about it on a blog like this!