Features include:
- Cross-references to major translations
- More than 7,000 up-to-date entries
- More than 500 full-color photographs and maps
- Enlarged type size for easier reading
- Visual Survey of the Bible from The Open Bible
It was startling to unpack this hardbound book of 1,232 pages, for I was not expecting something so giant and exquisite. All of the pages are slick, full-color inundations of information with infinite varieties of photographs, charts, outlines and backgrounds on key figures, locations, eras, timelines and issues, plus a wide range of general terminology. The transliteration of every word, as well as its occasional translation where necessary, are provided throughout the book.
The dictionary actually seems to be more like one massive encyclopedia. It opens with a publisher's preface, table of contents, contributors, and helpful advice in studying the Bible. Following is an amazing 23 page layout entitled the “Visual Survey of the Bible”. It is a concise, yet extensive overview of the Scriptures in its entirety with a quick chronology, chart and map references. Concluding this introduction is a prismatic two page timeline stretching from the Creation to John's Revelation on the Island of Patmos. Wrapping up this rather large exegesis is an index to the following nine full-color maps beginning with “The Nations of Genesis 10” to “The Holy Land in Modern Times.”
Topographical grid maps of 'Gideon's Night Raid' and “Asleep in the Storm” recounting the third chapter of Mark are among just a few of the intriguing highlights. It is pleasant to see the inclusion, however brief, of apocryphal works like Baruch and Judith, and pseudepigrapha books such as Enoch and Jubilees. Some antiquated KJV terminology exclusive to its era of composition are defined, such as the word "cruse" translated for "jar". Each book of the Old and New Testaments are alphabetically inserted with a table of contents to outline each one along with an in-depth look at the particular book's synopsis, structure, authorship, era, history, theology and special features. As an artist I was surprised, yet delighted to see a study on the colors of the bible, and that they are even split into two categories of natural and artificial. It is stated that shade seems to be deemed most important by the scribes. For example, the natural color of green typically denotes vegetation and the artificial color of dyes and paints are each elaborated upon (e.g., purple, blue, red). Another note of intrigue mentions how the Tribe of Benjamin contained a large number of left-handed people.
I am compelled to point out that my personal point of view on such issues as the Nephilim and Genesis chapter 6 are from a Sethite perspective contrary to my own. Some references utilize the NIV, another aversion of mine, but the majority of this dictionary reflects the NKJV with some NASB and RSV sources. Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Canaan, Greek and Roman pagan gods that are biblically mentioned are defined. A chart lists key entities and where they can be located in Scripture, their description and parallel names as they are known in other translations. One setback is under the titled column “Name of God in NKJV”. Not only is this deceiving to the reader with this capitalized, yet unintentional reference to the Judeo-Christian God, but it is consequently blasphemous when you see the listings of Ashtoreth, Baal, Beelzebub, and Molech among others! The Almighty Creator of the Universe DOES have other names by which He is known such as YHWH, El Elyon and the Father of Lights. This simple typo is hopefully just that, but in the long run is very repelling and insulting. This would be a perfect place for "untaught and unstable people (to) twist to their own destruction" (2 Peter 3:16) utilizing Thomas Nelson as the authoritative source.
Since eschatology is a major part of my studies and favorite interests, it is disheartening to see the root perspective regarding the aforementioned Sethite stance. This is a major drawback for me personally, but everything else thus far is fantastic and otherwise an excellent addition to my theological library providing ample hours of perusal.
The dictionary actually seems to be more like one massive encyclopedia. It opens with a publisher's preface, table of contents, contributors, and helpful advice in studying the Bible. Following is an amazing 23 page layout entitled the “Visual Survey of the Bible”. It is a concise, yet extensive overview of the Scriptures in its entirety with a quick chronology, chart and map references. Concluding this introduction is a prismatic two page timeline stretching from the Creation to John's Revelation on the Island of Patmos. Wrapping up this rather large exegesis is an index to the following nine full-color maps beginning with “The Nations of Genesis 10” to “The Holy Land in Modern Times.”
Topographical grid maps of 'Gideon's Night Raid' and “Asleep in the Storm” recounting the third chapter of Mark are among just a few of the intriguing highlights. It is pleasant to see the inclusion, however brief, of apocryphal works like Baruch and Judith, and pseudepigrapha books such as Enoch and Jubilees. Some antiquated KJV terminology exclusive to its era of composition are defined, such as the word "cruse" translated for "jar". Each book of the Old and New Testaments are alphabetically inserted with a table of contents to outline each one along with an in-depth look at the particular book's synopsis, structure, authorship, era, history, theology and special features. As an artist I was surprised, yet delighted to see a study on the colors of the bible, and that they are even split into two categories of natural and artificial. It is stated that shade seems to be deemed most important by the scribes. For example, the natural color of green typically denotes vegetation and the artificial color of dyes and paints are each elaborated upon (e.g., purple, blue, red). Another note of intrigue mentions how the Tribe of Benjamin contained a large number of left-handed people.
I am compelled to point out that my personal point of view on such issues as the Nephilim and Genesis chapter 6 are from a Sethite perspective contrary to my own. Some references utilize the NIV, another aversion of mine, but the majority of this dictionary reflects the NKJV with some NASB and RSV sources. Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Canaan, Greek and Roman pagan gods that are biblically mentioned are defined. A chart lists key entities and where they can be located in Scripture, their description and parallel names as they are known in other translations. One setback is under the titled column “Name of God in NKJV”. Not only is this deceiving to the reader with this capitalized, yet unintentional reference to the Judeo-Christian God, but it is consequently blasphemous when you see the listings of Ashtoreth, Baal, Beelzebub, and Molech among others! The Almighty Creator of the Universe DOES have other names by which He is known such as YHWH, El Elyon and the Father of Lights. This simple typo is hopefully just that, but in the long run is very repelling and insulting. This would be a perfect place for "untaught and unstable people (to) twist to their own destruction" (2 Peter 3:16) utilizing Thomas Nelson as the authoritative source.
Since eschatology is a major part of my studies and favorite interests, it is disheartening to see the root perspective regarding the aforementioned Sethite stance. This is a major drawback for me personally, but everything else thus far is fantastic and otherwise an excellent addition to my theological library providing ample hours of perusal.
Ronald F. Youngblood (1931-2014)
was Professor of Old Testament and Hebrew Emeritus,
was Professor of Old Testament and Hebrew Emeritus,
Bethel Seminary San Diego.
F.F. Bruce (1910-1990)
was Rylands Professor of Biblical Criticism and Exegesis,
University of Manchester in England.
University of Manchester in England.
R.K. Harrison (1920-1993)
was Professor of Old Testament at Wycliffe College, University of Toronto.
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