ESV Expository Commentary

ESV Expository Commentary is Crossway’s attempt to put a complete, church facing commentary set into the hands of ordinary preachers and serious Bible readers. It is built for the study desk rather than the seminar room, and it keeps the biblical text in view throughout, often printing the ESV passage alongside the exposition so the reader is never far from Scripture itself.

The series is shaped by its team of general editors, Iain M. Duguid, James M. Hamilton Jr., and Jay Sklar, and that leadership shows. There is a consistent desire to read each book in its own context, to keep the argument moving, and to make the connection between exegesis and proclamation without turning the commentary into a sermon manuscript.

The theological posture is broadly evangelical with a noticeable Reformed warmth in places, especially in its instincts about biblical theology, covenant continuity, and Christ centred reading. You will not find the tone combative. It tends to be confident about the Bible’s authority, cautious about novelty, and eager to serve the church.

As a set, it is most useful when a pastor wants a clear, faithful companion that keeps him moving through the text with steady understanding. It is not usually the last word on difficult technical questions, but it is often a wise first word that gets you oriented, helps you see structure, and gives you a sound platform for preaching.

Publisher: Crossway

Series Editors: Iain M. Duguid / James M. Hamilton / Jay Sklar

Series: ESV Expository Commentary

A clear, text close series that serves weekly preaching well, especially when paired with one deeper technical resource. It is not the final court of appeal, but it is a wise and reliable companion.

Level: Mid-level Perspective: Broadly Evangelical Best for: Busy pastors, Pastors-in-training, General readers Priority: Top choice Overall score: 8.7

Strengths

The chief strength is clarity. Most volumes keep the flow of the passage visible, explain what is there without fuss, and make interpretive choices without drowning the reader in endless options. For sermon preparation, that is a mercy.

There is a consistent instinct for biblical theology. The writers often help you see how a passage fits into the book’s purpose and into the broader storyline of redemption, without forcing artificial connections. That is especially helpful in narrative, prophecy, and the letters, where preachers can otherwise lose the main line.

The series also tends to be pastorally alert. Application is not tacked on as moral advice. It usually arises from the text’s own burden, which helps preachers aim for conviction, comfort, and obedience rather than mere information.

Limitations & Cautions

Because it is a multi author series, the texture is not identical from volume to volume. Some contributors are brisk and direct, others are more expansive, and a few sections can feel more like annotated notes than a shaped exposition. The overall direction is steady, but the experience is not uniform.

Its level is deliberately accessible, which means it will not satisfy when you need sustained engagement with scholarly debate, detailed grammatical discussion, or heavier interaction with commentaries at the technical end. When you are preaching a contested passage, you will sometimes want a second commentary open beside it.

The series also prints a great deal of Bible text, which is useful, but it means the physical volumes are large and the proportion of pure commentary per page can feel lighter than a comparable set without the printed text.

How to Use This Series

Use this series early in your preparation, once you have done your own passage work. It is especially good for confirming the flow of thought, checking that you have not missed an obvious structural marker, and seeing how a skilled reader moves from meaning to message.

When you are preaching consecutively through a book, it works well as a steady companion across weeks. It helps you keep continuity, trace repeated themes, and maintain proportion, so that minor details do not eclipse the author’s main point.

Supplement it when you hit a disputed text, a dense theological argument, or a passage where original language detail will materially affect your preaching. Pair it with one more technical commentary if you have time, and with one more sermon shaped volume if you want a stronger homiletical push.

Standout Volumes

The set is often at its best where the writers can combine clear structure with biblical theological traction. The Pentateuch volume, Genesis to Deuteronomy, is a strong example of the series at its intended pitch, accessible but serious, and consistently concerned to read Torah within the covenant storyline.

The New Testament epistles section is also a highlight for many preachers, especially Romans to Galatians, where doctrinal clarity and pastoral application tend to come through well. These volumes often help a busy pastor keep the argument straight and the gospel central.

Weaker or Less Helpful Volumes

The series is broadly consistent, but the Wisdom and Psalms material can feel less direct for sermon building in some hands, largely because the genres demand a different kind of interpretive patience. That is not a failure, but some readers will want additional help for preaching form, tone, and application in those books.

If you are looking for especially tight treatment of complex prophetic imagery across the longer prophets, you may sometimes wish for more depth and more sustained argument than the series is trying to provide.

Series in Context

Compared with The Bible Speaks Today, this series is generally fuller and more detailed in exposition, and it keeps closer contact with the text across smaller units. It is less homiletically driven than some pastor preacher series, but often more substantial in explanation.

Compared with NICOT and NICNT, it is less technical and less engaged with academic debate, but usually more immediately usable for sermon preparation in a normal week. If you have time and training to work with NICOT and NICNT, those will often take you further, but ESV Expository can get you moving with confidence and clarity.

Compared with the Word Biblical Commentary, it is not playing the same game. WBC is built for advanced technical work. ESV Expository is built for pastors who need faithful exposition that serves proclamation.

Reset

Daniel, ESV Expository Commentary

Mid-levelBusy pastors, Pastors-in-trainingStrong recommendation

8.2

Author: Daniel L. Akin

Bible Book: Daniel

Series: ESV Expository Commentary

Type: Expository (Mid-Level)

Publisher: Crossway

Theological Perspective: Broadly Evangelical

Resource Type: Commentary

Summary

In Daniel, ESV Expository Commentary, Daniel L. Akin helps us teach Daniel with balance, holding together narrative faithfulness and apocalyptic hope, and keeping our preaching steady.

We are guided to read each unit in context, so we can proclaim the Lord’s sovereignty with confidence and clarity.

Why Should I Own This Commentary?

We should own this volume when we want an expository guide that resists speculation. It supports careful reading and helps us keep sermons anchored in what the text actually says.

It also aids sermon planning, because it keeps the flow of the book in view and helps us handle repeated themes without repetition fatigue.

For training, it models a clear approach to preaching both narrative and visions faithfully.

Closing Recommendation

We recommend Daniel, ESV Expository Commentary for pastors and teachers who want a steady, church facing companion for expository preaching in Daniel.

As pastoral next steps, we can visit the Bible Book Overview, browse Top Recommendations, and use the Reformed Commentary Index to build a wiser working library.

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Ezekiel, ESV Expository Commentary

Mid-levelBusy pastors, Pastors-in-trainingStrong recommendation

8.2

Author: Daniel I. Block

Bible Book: Ezekiel

Series: ESV Expository Commentary

Type: Expository (Mid-Level)

Publisher: Crossway

Theological Perspective: Broadly Evangelical

Resource Type: Commentary

Summary

In Ezekiel, ESV Expository Commentary, Daniel I. Block helps us preach Ezekiel’s visions and oracles with clarity, keeping the Lord’s holiness and the hope of restoration in view.

We are guided through difficult imagery so we can teach it with confidence and without sensationalism.

Why Should I Own This Commentary?

We should own this volume when we need expository help with challenging sections. It supports responsible reading, and it helps us keep our sermons tethered to the text rather than speculation.

For preaching, it helps us maintain proportion, handle repetition, and show how judgment and hope are bound together in the book.

It also serves as a training tool for those learning to preach prophets carefully.

Closing Recommendation

We recommend Ezekiel, ESV Expository Commentary for church facing exposition that is serious, steady, and focused on faithful proclamation.

As pastoral next steps, we can visit the Bible Book Overview, browse Top Recommendations, and use the Reformed Commentary Index to build a wiser working library.

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Lamentations, ESV Expository Commentary

Mid-levelBusy pastors, Pastors-in-trainingStrong recommendation

8.2

Author: David W. Baker

Bible Book: Lamentations

Series: ESV Expository Commentary

Type: Expository (Mid-Level)

Publisher: Crossway

Theological Perspective: Broadly Evangelical

Resource Type: Commentary

Summary

In Lamentations, ESV Expository Commentary, David W. Baker helps us teach lament as faithful worship, giving the church words for grief that remain anchored in the Lord.

We are helped to see the structure and movement of the poems, so our teaching respects the form and serves real pastoral needs.

Why Should I Own This Commentary?

We should own this volume when we want to help the church learn to suffer biblically. It supports careful exposition, and it helps us apply the text without rushing past the pain.

It also assists sermon planning, because it shows how the poems progress and how key refrains shape the theology of the book.

For pastoral ministry, it offers a steady companion for preaching in seasons of loss and hardship.

Closing Recommendation

We recommend Lamentations, ESV Expository Commentary for pastors and teachers who want to handle grief with biblical realism and durable hope.

As pastoral next steps, we can visit the Bible Book Overview, browse Top Recommendations, and use the Reformed Commentary Index to build a wiser working library.

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Jeremiah, ESV Expository Commentary

Mid-levelBusy pastors, Pastors-in-trainingStrong recommendation

8.1

Author: David W. Baker

Bible Book: Jeremiah

Series: ESV Expository Commentary

Type: Expository (Mid-Level)

Publisher: Crossway

Theological Perspective: Broadly Evangelical

Resource Type: Commentary

Summary

In Jeremiah, ESV Expository Commentary, David W. Baker helps us preach a long and weighty book with steadiness, holding together warnings, tears, and the hope of God’s covenant mercy.

We are helped to track movements across large sections, so our teaching does not become fragmented or merely topical.

Why Should I Own This Commentary?

We should own this volume when we need a clear expository companion for Jeremiah. It helps us keep the argument in view and apply the text without flattening its sharp edges.

It is also useful for planning sermon series, because it encourages proportion, repetition of key themes, and patience with difficult sections.

For those learning to preach prophets, it models a sensible path from text to sermon.

Closing Recommendation

We recommend Jeremiah, ESV Expository Commentary for pastors and teachers who want an expository, mid level guide that supports faithful proclamation through Jeremiah’s length and intensity.

As pastoral next steps, we can visit the Bible Book Overview, browse Top Recommendations, and use the Reformed Commentary Index to build a wiser working library.

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Song Of Solomon, ESV Expository Commentary

Mid-levelBusy pastors, Pastors-in-trainingStrong recommendation

8.2

Author: Iain M. Duguid

Bible Book: Song Of Songs

Series: ESV Expository Commentary

Type: Expository (Mid-Level)

Publisher: Crossway

Theological Perspective: Broadly Evangelical

Resource Type: Commentary

Summary

In Song Of Solomon, ESV Expository Commentary, Iain M. Duguid helps us handle a sensitive book with reverence, moral clarity, and pastoral care.

We are guided through the flow of the poetry so we can teach it without embarrassment, and without forcing the text to say what it does not say.

Why Should I Own This Commentary?

We should own this volume when we want help reading the imagery with discipline and kindness. It supports careful exposition, and it helps us speak to real people with biblical wisdom.

We are also helped to keep the big themes in view, including covenant love, purity, and the goodness of God’s design, while guarding against crude or reductionist preaching.

For training and small group preparation, it models a steady way of opening poetry for the church.

Closing Recommendation

We recommend Song Of Solomon, ESV Expository Commentary for those who want a church facing, expository guide that keeps us faithful, clear, and appropriately tender.

As pastoral next steps, we can visit the Bible Book Overview, browse Top Recommendations, and use the Reformed Commentary Index to build a wiser working library.

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Ecclesiastes, ESV Expository Commentary

Mid-levelBusy pastors, Pastors-in-trainingStrong recommendation

8.3

Author: Iain M. Duguid

Bible Book: Ecclesiastes

Series: ESV Expository Commentary

Type: Expository (Mid-Level)

Publisher: Crossway

Theological Perspective: Broadly Evangelical

Resource Type: Commentary

Summary

In Ecclesiastes, ESV Expository Commentary, Iain M. Duguid helps us read this book as honest wisdom for life under the sun, and then preach it with clarity and hope.

We are given steady guidance on structure and flow, so we can keep the argument moving and keep our applications tethered to what the text is doing.

Why Should I Own This Commentary?

We should own this volume when we want a workable companion for weekly preparation. It helps us trace the preacher’s repeated themes, keeps us alert to context, and supports clear sermon shape.

It also helps us speak to tired saints. Ecclesiastes can be misread as despair, but we are guided to preach its realism as a summons to fear God and to receive his gifts with gratitude.

Used alongside our own careful study, it can strengthen both confidence and humility in the pulpit.

Closing Recommendation

We recommend Ecclesiastes, ESV Expository Commentary for pastors and teachers who want an expository, mid level guide that serves proclamation and clear application.

As pastoral next steps, we can visit the Bible Book Overview, browse Top Recommendations, and use the Reformed Commentary Index to build a wiser working library.

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Proverbs, ESV Expository Commentary

Mid-levelBusy pastors, Pastors-in-trainingTop choice

8.5

Author: Ryan Patrick O’Dowd

Bible Book: Proverbs

Series: ESV Expository Commentary

Type: Expository (Mid-Level)

Publisher: Crossway

Theological Perspective: Broadly Evangelical

Resource Type: Commentary

Summary

We find Ryan Patrick O’Dowd a steady guide for reading Proverbs in the life of the church. As part of ESV Expository Commentary, this volume aims to keep us close to the passage while still helping us preach with clarity. Volume 5.

We are helped by the way the commentary keeps the passage in front of us. It does not try to impress, it tries to serve, and that makes it easier to use with confidence.

Why Should I Own This Commentary?

We should own this commentary when we want a reliable mid level companion that follows the text, respects context, and still speaks to ordinary believers. It gives us help with structure and emphasis, then nudges us toward faithful application.

It is especially useful when we are planning a series. The outlines and section summaries help us decide where to linger, where to move more quickly, and what the congregation most needs to hear.

When we need deeper detail, we can add a more technical work alongside it. Even then, this volume often gives the clearest path from study to sermon shape.

Closing Recommendation

We recommend this volume for pastors and teachers who want an accessible guide to Proverbs that keeps theology and application tied to the passage.

Used alongside prayerful study, it helps us speak with greater clarity and conviction, and it keeps our application tied to the text.

As pastoral next steps, we can visit the Bible Book Overview, browse Top Recommendations, and use the Reformed Commentary Index to build a wiser working library.

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Psalms, ESV Expository Commentary

Mid-levelBusy pastors, Pastors-in-trainingTop choice

8.6

Author: C. John Collins

Bible Book: Psalms

Series: ESV Expository Commentary

Type: Expository (Mid-Level)

Publisher: Crossway

Theological Perspective: Broadly Evangelical

Resource Type: Commentary

Summary

Psalms, ESV Expository Commentary offers a clear, church facing exposition of Psalms. C. John Collins writes with a calm, Bible first instinct, and the format is geared toward weekly preparation. Volume 5.

We are helped by the way the commentary keeps the passage in front of us. It does not try to impress, it tries to serve, and that makes it easier to use with confidence.

Why Should I Own This Commentary?

We should own this volume for seasons when we need a trustworthy handrail. It helps us see how paragraphs hang together, it keeps key themes recurring, and it gives us language that can be carried into sermons and studies.

It serves well at the desk on a busy week. We can consult it quickly for the shape of a passage, then return to the text with better questions and sharper focus.

When we need deeper detail, we can add a more technical work alongside it. Even then, this volume often gives the clearest path from study to sermon shape.

Closing Recommendation

We recommend Psalms, ESV Expository Commentary as a strong mid level expositional resource for Psalms. It is clear, restrained, and consistently oriented toward the ministry of the Word.

Used alongside prayerful study, it helps us speak with greater clarity and conviction, and it keeps our application tied to the text.

As pastoral next steps, we can visit the Bible Book Overview, browse Top Recommendations, and use the Reformed Commentary Index to build a wiser working library.

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Esther, ESV Expository Commentary

Mid-levelBusy pastors, Pastors-in-trainingStrong recommendation

8.4

Author: Eric Ortlund

Bible Book: Esther

Series: ESV Expository Commentary

Type: Expository (Mid-Level)

Publisher: Crossway

Theological Perspective: Broadly Evangelical

Resource Type: Commentary

Summary

We find Eric Ortlund a steady guide for reading Esther in the life of the church. As part of ESV Expository Commentary, this volume aims to keep us close to the passage while still helping us preach with clarity. Volume 4.

We are helped by the way the commentary keeps the passage in front of us. It does not try to impress, it tries to serve, and that makes it easier to use with confidence.

Why Should I Own This Commentary?

It is a strong tool for training others. The method is not showy, but it models careful reading and helps newer teachers learn how to move from meaning to message.

When we need deeper detail, we can add a more technical work alongside it. Even then, this volume often gives the clearest path from study to sermon shape.

Closing Recommendation

We recommend this volume for pastors and teachers who want an accessible guide to Esther that keeps theology and application tied to the passage.

Used alongside prayerful study, it helps us speak with greater clarity and conviction, and it keeps our application tied to the text.

As pastoral next steps, we can visit the Bible Book Overview, browse Top Recommendations, and use the Reformed Commentary Index to build a wiser working library.

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Job, ESV Expository Commentary

Mid-levelBusy pastors, Pastors-in-trainingTop choice

8.5

Author: Douglas Sean O'Donnell

Bible Book: Job

Series: ESV Expository Commentary

Type: Expository (Mid-Level)

Publisher: Crossway

Theological Perspective: Broadly Evangelical

Resource Type: Commentary

Summary

In Job, ESV Expository Commentary, Douglas Sean O’Donnell helps us trace the message of Job with patience and balance. The series is designed for pastors and teachers, so it keeps explanation moving toward proclamation. Volume 4.

We are helped by the way the commentary keeps the passage in front of us. It does not try to impress, it tries to serve, and that makes it easier to use with confidence.

Why Should I Own This Commentary?

We should own it because it helps us do the basic work well. It keeps the main line of the passage in view, it highlights patterns worth preaching, and it guards us from hobby horses and clever shortcuts.

It is especially useful when we are planning a series. The outlines and section summaries help us decide where to linger, where to move more quickly, and what the congregation most needs to hear.

When we need deeper detail, we can add a more technical work alongside it. Even then, this volume often gives the clearest path from study to sermon shape.

Closing Recommendation

We commend Job, ESV Expository Commentary for regular ministry use. It will not replace slow work in the text, but it will sharpen it and steady it.

Used alongside prayerful study, it helps us speak with greater clarity and conviction, and it keeps our application tied to the text.

As pastoral next steps, we can visit the Bible Book Overview, browse Top Recommendations, and use the Reformed Commentary Index to build a wiser working library.

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Purchase here