Bible Dictionaries

Encyclopedias and Dictionaries:

JBCL is rich in this area from 19th Century to contemporary resources. Students can use multiple volumes to define basic terminology, issues, movements and fields of study at a level appropriate to their information need. Works range from very scholarly to quite rudimentary. One may also sample information across confessional/denominational lines and from dogmatic to critical approaches through the past 150 years of scholarship to gain a broad appreciation for the development of thought and changes in explanation of or emphasis on any Bible-related item. Be aware of publication dates and authorship to gain critical perspective.

"You can use Bible dictionaries to get historical, cultural, and archaeological information for your exegesis paper. Many Bible dictionaries are in one volume and have short articles, but some are in several volumes that contain long articles. The Anchor Bible Dictionary

and the Interpreter's Bible Dictionary are examples of works that include, among many others, substantial articles on each book of the Bible. Reading an article on Isaiah, for example, will help you to place your scripture passage into the wider context of Isaiah's background and his writings. Then, if you need more information, check to see if the article has a bibliography at the end." [GTU, adapted]

To narrow any exegetical study properly, commentaries should be used as the next step beyond this basic survey level of encyclopedias and dictionaries.

Categories and titles (below) may overlap. Works are loosely ordered and annotated in each category below in terms of value for

(1) academic studies,

(2) advanced lay education,

(3) general readership or more dated material.

Exegetical Word Books help research word origins (etymologies) and contextual use.

Expository Dictionaries trace broad topics and ideas relevant to biblical studies.

Encyclopedic Works give background information on all things biblical.

Basic Guides provide lists, quick answers, easy to digest info.

Specialty Guides lists who's who or what's what in the Bible in special categories.

Non-English Resources provides Word Books and Dictionaries in other languages.

Online materials may be tracked directly or through reference texts, such as:

High places in cyberspace / by Patrick Durusau. Atlanta, Ga. : Scholars Press, c1996 + c1998.

REF CC82.9 .D87 1996/1998

"A guide to biblical and religious studies, classics, and archaeological resources on the Internet"--Cover.

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"EXPOSITORY DICTIONARIES"-- of Biblical Terminology

"Expository" denotes an exegetical illumination of key terminology out of some known or surmised historical, cultural and social context. The list is loosely arranged in order of scholarly usefulness--from the most current and objective to earlier, less detailed, or more doctrinal in exposition.

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Anchor Bible Dictionary. (Ed. David Noel Freedman, New York, N.Y.: Doubleday, c1992)
REF BS440 A54 1992
"Every generation needs its own Dictionary of the Bible" (Introd.) and this work fills that need admirably. 1,000 contributors, mostly North American, have provided 6,200 entries, some as long as 40 pages; most have bibliographies. Entries cover every proper name, major words, each book of the Bible, Apocryphal texts, Dead Sea scrolls, and Nag Hamadi codices. Gives much attention to cultural history, social institutions, and method. In the area of word studies, this work does not attempt to supplant important previous publications such as The Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible. Uses cross-references, but an index would improve access." (Balay)

Dictionary of biblical interpretation / John H. Hayes, general editor. Nashville : Abingdon, c1999.
REF BS500 .D53 1999
excellent resource by top-ranked scholars on topics of/about interpreting the Bible

The Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible. (George Arthur Buttrick, dictionary editor with others, New York, Abingdon Press, 1962)

REF BS440 I63
"Generally considered the best Bible encyclopedia available today . . . Moderate to extreme liberal viewpoint in most articles. A basic place to begin research on a biblical topic." (Kepple/Muether) "A scholarly encyclopedic dictionary designed for the preacher, scholar, student, teacher, and general reader, referring to both the King James Version and the Revised Standard Version, to the Apocrypha, the Pseudepigrapha, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and other ancient manuscripts. Articles have been contributed by scholars from many countries, are signed, and usually include bibliographies. The illustrations, both color and black-and-white, are good and pertinent, and there is a section of colored maps, as well as outline maps inserted in the text. Important for modern biblical study." (Balay)

The Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible: Supplementary Volume. (Keith Crim, general editor ... [et al.]. Nashville: Abingdon, c1976.)
REF BS440 I63 Suppl.
"updates articles in the 1962 publication and adds new articles on topics not previously treated. Provides cross-references to earlier articles where appropriate." (Balay)


New international dictionary of Old Testament theology & exegesis / Willem A. VanGemeren, general editor. Grand Rapids, Mich. : Zondervan Pub. House, c1997.
REF BS440 .N438 1997 5VOL
v. 1. Lexical dictionary 1-2458 -- v. 2. Lexical dictionary 2459-5525 -- v. 3. Lexical dictionary 5526-8609 -- v. 4. Lexical dictionary 8610-9597, topical dictionary -- v. 5. Indexes.

The IVP Bible background commentary : New Testament / Craig S. Keener. Downers Grove, Ill. : InterVarsity Press, 1993.
REF BS2341.2 .K445 1993
Cultural and historical background information for NT.

Eerdmans dictionary of the Bible/ David Noel Freedman, editor-in-chief; Allen C. Myers, associate editor; Astrid B. Beck, managing editor. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2000.

REF BS440 .E44 2000

    Fine for scholarship, concise and thorough in one volume


Dictionary of the Old Testament : Pentateuch / editors, T. Desmond Alexander, David W. Baker. Alexander, T. Desmond. Downers Grove, Ill. : InterVarsity Press, c2003.
REF BS1225.2 .D53 2003
". . . a kind of scholarship which is not a further development of [modernist] critical positions accepted as premises but is rather an ab initio investigation . . . concentrating a fresh [evangelical] eye on the Hebrew Bible." preface

Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Dictionary (completely revised and updated edition), Thomas Nelson publishers, Nashville, 1995.
BS440 .N347 1995
up-to-date sourcebook of 7,000+ entries on people, places, things and doctines of the Bible written in plain English. (preface

The Eerdmans Bible dictionary/ revision editor, Allen C. Myers; associate editors, John W. Simpson, Jr. ... [et al.]. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1987.

REF BS440 .G7613 1987

Rev., augm. translation of: Bijbelse encyclopedie. Rev. ed. 1975.

One volume with insights from critical scholarship.


Harper's Bible dictionary/ general editor, Paul J. Achtemeier; associate editors, Roger S. Boraas ... [et al.]; with the Society of Biblical Literature. San Francisco: Harper & Row, c1985.

REF BS440 .H237 1985


The HarperCollins Bible dictionary/ general editor, Paul J. Achtemeier; associate editors, Roger S. Boraas ... [et al.] with the Society of Biblical Literature. San Francisco, CA: HarperSanFrancisco, 1996.
REF BS440 .H238 1996

Rev. and updated ed. of: Harper's Bible dictionary. 1st ed. c1985.


Baker theological dictionary of the Bible / Walter A. Elwell, editor. Grand Rapids, Mich. : Baker Books, 2000.
REF BS440 .E78 2000
Progressive in method, though conservative in theology. Previously published as: Evangelical dictionary of biblical theology (Baker, 1996), in series: Baker reference library.

Holman concise Bible dictionary / Trent C. Butler, editor. Nashville, Tenn. : Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001.
REF BS440 .H693 2001

A Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels/ edited by James Hastings, with the assistance of John A. Selbie and John C. Lambert. New York: C. Scribner's sons, c1906-08.   2 VOLUMES

REF BS440 .H3

Older but not to be ignored for thoroughness, depth and issues of the early 20th century.


A Dictionary of the Bible: dealing with its language, literature, and contents, including the Biblical theology/ edited by James Hastings with the assistance of John A. Selbie...[et al.] New York: C. Scribner's sons, 1898-1904.   5 VOLUMES

REF BS440 .H5 1898

Older but not to be ignored for thoroughness, depth and issues of the late 19th/early 20th centuries.


Dictionary of the Bible/ edited by James Hastings, with the co-operation of John A. Selbie and with the assistance of John C. Lambert and of Shailer Mathews. New York: C. Scribner's sons, 1909.

REF BS440 .H5 1909


Dictionary of the Bible/ edited by James Hastings. New York: Scribner, c1963.

REF BS440 .H5 1963

One volume, brief. Revised 1909 edition.

Illustrated dictionary & concordance of the Bible/ general editor, Geoffrey Wigoder; editors, Shalom M. Paul, Old Testament, Benedict T. Viviano, New Testament, Ephraim Stern, biblical archeology. New York: Macmillan, c1986.

REF BS440 .I36 1986

One volume, but good illustrations and commentary


Dictionary of the Bible/ [by] John L. McKenzie. Milwaukee: Bruce Publishing Co., c1965.

REF BS440 .M36 1965

Synthesis of common consensus of modern scholarship--a one noted author production 10 years in the making, from a Jesuit perspective.


Evangelical dictionary of biblical theology/ edited by Walter A. Elwell. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Books; Carlisle, Cumbria: Paternoster Press, c1996.

REF BS440 .E78 1996

Lengthy theological discussions leaning towards conservative doctrine


The Illustrated Bible dictionary/ organizing editor of The new Bible dictionary, J.D. Douglas; revision editor, N. Hillyer. Leicester, England: Inter-Varsity Press; Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House, 1980.

REF BS440 .I44 1980
Basic coverage, but extensive illustrations.


Harper's Bible dictionary/ by Madeleine S. Miller and J. Lane Miller; drawings by Claire Valentine. New York: Harper & Row, c1973.
REF BS440 .M52 1973
Definitions, with some black/white graphics. "An old stand-by"--Cully.

Black's Bible Dictionary/ by Madeleine S. Miller and J. Lane Miller; drawings by Claire Valentine. London: A. and C. Black Limited, c1973.
REF BS440 .M52 1973B
Definitions, with a few black/white graphics.

A Dictionary of the Bible: comprising its antiquities, biography, geography, and natural history .../ edited by William Smith. Hartford, Conn.: S. S. Scranton, 1877.

REF BS440 .S54 1905

Old but thorough, with instances of good lithographs and hand-drawn illustrations.


An Expository dictionary of Biblical words/ by W.E. Vine, Merrill F. Unger, William White, Jr. Nashville: T. Nelson, c1984.

REF BS537 .E96 1984

"Combines in one volume ...Vine's Expository dictionary of New Testament words and Nelson's expository dictionary of the Old Testament ... "--Foreword.

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"WORD BOOKS--EXEGETICAL AND LINGUISTIC"
The pursuit of etymologies can prove a fool's errand. Words can gain fresh meaning in new contexts including the intentional ironic re-use of a term to utterly confound a later audience (and confuse the modern congregation and post-modern exegete)! Use histories and commentaries and one's own close re-reading of a text in its fullest context to go beyond "dictionary meaning" and popular assumptions. Malachi 2.16 on "divorce" is one example.

Theological dictionary of the Old Testament [Theologisches Wörterbuch zum Alten Testament]/ edited by G. Johannes Botterweck and Helmer Ringgren; translated by John T. Willis. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1974- 13 VOLUMES TO DATE

REF BS440 .B5713

Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. (Gerhard Kittel, Trans. and ed. Geoffrey W. Bromiley. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1964-1976.)
REF PA 881 K5713
Search by English NT Theological term. Older 'conservative' scholarship quoting the RSV. "A scholarly work of great importance, with signed contributions by many German biblical scholars, treating every word of religious or theological significance in the New Testament. Covers the secular Greek background for each word listed, and its role in the Old and New Testaments and in related texts. Vol. 10 contains indexes of English keywords, Greek keywords, and biblical references, as well as a list of contributors with their contributions and an essay on biblical scholarship, Pre-history of the Theological Dictionary of the New Testament." (Balay)

The new international dictionary of New Testament theology / Colin Brown, general editor. Grand Rapids, Mich. : Zondervan, 1986.
REF BS2397 .N48 1986 4vol.
"Translated, with additions and revisions, from the German Theologisches Begriffslexikon zum Neuen Testament, edited by Lothar Coenen, Erich Beyreuther, and Hans Bietenhard." "Companion volume: The new international dictionary of the Christian Church." Originally published in 3 v.: Grand Rapids, Mich. : Zondervan Pub. House, c1975-c1978 and reissued in 4 volumes; v. 4, the index volume, includes Scripture index to The new international dictionary of New Testament theology and index to selected extrabiblical literature / David Townsley and Russel Bjork.

Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament. (R. Laird Harris, editor, Gleason L. Archer, Jr., associate editor, Bruce K. Waltke, associate editor. Chicago: Moody Press, c1980.)

REF BS440 T49
"A work for the "busy pastor or earnest Christian worker who has neither the time nor background for detailed technical study," but who needs, "a tool for the study of the significant words of the Hebrew Bible."--Introd. Essays on the words selected for extensive treatment were contributed by 46 evangelical scholars of various denominations and are signed with the contributors' initials. Words not chosen for essay treatment are given one-line definitions. Arrangement is according to the consonants of the Hebrew alphabet; related words are presented with the root from which they derive. Bibliographies accompany many of the articles. An index employing the numbers from James Strong's Exhaustive concordance of the Bible facilitates access." (Balay)

Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament. (Eds. Horst Balz and Gerhard Schneider. Grand Rapids, Mich.: W.B. Eerdmans, c1990-1993.)

REF BS2312 E913 1990
"Gives definition and English translation for every Greek word in the New Testament and discusses significant words in greater depth. Signed entries were contributed by Catholic and Lutheran scholars from the German-speaking world. Cannot replace Gerhard Kittel's Theological Dictionary of the New Testament but provides more recent material than that detailed work. English word index." (Balay)

Exegetisches Wörterbuch zum Neuen Testament / hrsg. von Horst Balz und Gerhard Schneider. Stuttgart ; Berlin ; Köln ; Mainz : Kohlhammer, 1980-<1981 >

REF BS2312 .E9

A Theological word book of the Bible/ edited by Alan Richardson. London: SCM Press, 1950, c1957

REF BS440 .R53

"Seeks to elucidate key 'theological' words of the Bible, omitting historical, geographical, archeological, and philosophical details."--Cully.

A Theological word book of the Bible/ edited by Alan Richardson. New York: Macmillan, 1960, c1950.

REF BS440 .R53 1960

"Seeks to elucidate key 'theological' words of the Bible, omitting historical, geographical, archeological, and philosophical details."--Cully.

Unger's Bible dictionary/ by Merrill F. Unger; drawings by Robert F. Ramey. Chicago: Moody Press, c1957.

REF BS440 .U5

Unger's Bible dictionary/ by Merrill F. Unger; drawings by Robert F. Ramey. Chicago: Moody Press, c1966.

REF BS440 .U5 1966

For "teachers and Christian workers" emphasizing relevant and concise discussions on archeology, historical-geographical, biographical and doctrinal issues on a broad non-confessional level.



The New Westminster dictionary of the Bible/ edited by Henry Snyder Gehman. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, c1970.

REF BS440 .G4

A Companion to the Bible/ general editor, J.-J. von Allmen; introduction by H. H. Rowley; translated from the 2d French ed. by P. J. Allcock...[et al.] New York: Oxford University Press, 1958

REF BS440 .A473

Two volumes, word studies; basic but scholarly.

A New Standard Bible dictionary: designed as a comprehensive help to the study of the Scriptures, their languages, literary problems, history, biography, manners and customs, and their religious teachings/ edited by Melancthon W. Jacobus, Edward E. Nourse, and Andrew C. Zenos. New York: Funk & Wagnalls company, 1926.

REF BS440 .J3 1926

Older--transliterates and reproduces Hebrew/Greek terms, and gives meanings for names.

Funk and Wagnalls new Standard Bible dictionary: designed as a comprehensive help to the study of the Scriptures, their languages, literary problems, history, biography, manners and customs, and their religious teachings/ edited by Melancthon W. Jacobus, Elbert C. Lane, and Andrew C. Zenos. Garden City, N.Y.: Garden City Books, c1936.

REF BS440 .J3 1936

Older--transliterates and reproduces Hebrew/Greek terms, and gives meanings for names.

Peloubet's Bible dictionary: based upon the foundation laid by William Smith/ edited by F. N. Peloubet; assisted by Alice D. Adams . Grand Rapids: Zondervan Pub. House, c1971.

REF BS440 .P45 1971

Revision of 1947 ed.; for "Sunday School teachers and intelligent Christian households"; a true dictionary of word meanings, some hand drawn illustrations.

The Zondervan pictorial Bible dictionary/ general editor: Merrill C. Tenney; associate editor: Steven Barabas; picture and layout editor: Peter de Visser. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, c1967.

REF BS440 .Z6 1967

Compact one volume, fairly discursive and evangelical.

Cruden's dictionary of Bible terms/ Alexander Cruden. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1958.

REF BS440 .C78 1958

"An exact and unaltered reproduction...of the original edition of Cruden's Explanations of Scripture terms published in London in ...1840."

Definitions linked to scripture citation.

A dictionary of the Bible/ by William Smith; revised and edited by F.N. and M.A. Peloubet. Nashville: T. Nelson, [1986?]

REF BS440 .S6 1986

Duplicates 1905 edition in smaller format and with more and different illustrations. Focuses on "word meanings" without exposition.

An expository dictionary of Old Testament words/ W. E. Vine; edited by F. F. Bruce. Old Tappan, N.J.: Revell, c1978.

REF BS440 .V75 1978

Not extensive, but gives studied glimpses of key words

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"Basic Guides"--shorter, less academic, fewer details.

Short dictionary of Bible themes [by] H. H. Rowley. New York: Basic Books, c1968.

REF BS440 .R74

thematic, but scholarly

A dictionary of the Bible/ W.R.F. Browning; consultant editors, Richard Coggins, Graham N. Stanton. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 1996.

REF BS440 .B73 1996

Definitions of main ideas, people and places in the Bible, also with cursory information on critical scholarship.

A Guide to biblical resources/ by Iris V. Cully and Kendig Brubaker Cully. Wilton, Conn.: Morehouse-Barlow Co., c1981.

REF BS600.2 .C796

Bibliographic with suggestions for Bible studies

The Concordia Bible dictionary/ by Erwin L. Lueker. St. Louis: Concordia Pub. House, 1963.

REF BS440 .L8

Mercer dictionary of the Bible/ general editor, Watson E. Mills; associate editor, Roger Bullard ... [et al.]. Macon, Ga.: Mercer University Press, c1990.

REF BS440 .M429 1990

University-level, good illustrations and discussions

The Westminster dictionary of the Bible/ by John D. Davis. Philadelphia, PA: Westminster Press, c1944.

REF BS440 .D3 1944

University-level, older one volume

The Oxford companion to the Bible/ edited by Bruce M. Metzger and Michael D. Coogan. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 1993.

REF BS440 .M434 1993

For the lay scholar

Key words of the Bible: a new guide to better understanding of the Scriptures/ edited and arranged by Albert N. Williams. New York :, Duell, Sloan and Pearce; Boston: Little, Brown, c1956.

REF BS440 .W43

Quick reference word book, with brief historical context

Companion dictionary of the Bible. St. Louis, MO: Concordia Pub. House, c1985.

REF BS440 .C595 1985

Convenient, easy-to-read, for home study

The New Bible dictionary/ organizing editor: J. D. Douglas; consulting editors: F. F. Bruce [et al.] Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1962.

REF BS440 .D6

Extensive scripture references with evangelical slant

New Bible dictionary/ organizing editor, J.D. Douglas; revision editor, N. Hillyer; consulting editors for the second edition, F.F. Bruce ... [et al.] Leicester, England: Inter-Varsity Press; Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Pub., c1982.: REF BS440 .D6 1982; Extensive scripture references with evangelical slant
The New World dictionary-concordance to the New American Bible. New York: World Publishing, c1970.: REF BS440 .N45 1970; Handy size, not-exhaustive, some explanation along with scripture references
NIV compact dictionary of the Bible/ J.D. Douglas & Merrill C. Tenney. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Regency Reference Library, c1989.: REF BS440 .D62 1989; Handy; basic meanings from NIV translation
Young people's Bible dictionary The Westminster concise Bible dictionary/ by Barbara Smith. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, [1981] c1965.: REF BS440 .S59 1981; First published under title: Young people's Bible dictionary.
"Westminster historical maps of Bible lands, edited by G. Ernest Wright and Floyd V. Filson": easy to read, not extensive.

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"EXPOSITORY DICTIONARIES"-- of Biblical Terminology

"WORD BOOKS--EXEGETICAL AND LINGUISTIC"

"Specialty Guides" Pronunciation, who's who, what's what.

"Encyclopedia"--more extensive and topical than a Dictionary.

"FOREIGN LANGUAGE SOURCES"

Encyclopedias and Dictionaries:

"Basic Guides"--shorter, less academic, fewer details.