If I have TDOT, do I need HALOT?

Richard J. Ward
Richard J. Ward Member Posts: 245 ✭✭
edited November 2024 in English Forum

If I have TDOT, how much more information would HALOT add?

Comments

  • DAL
    DAL Member Posts: 10,838 ✭✭✭

    One is a Theological Dictionary and the other a Lexicon. They’re 2 completely different animals. If you know a little bit of Hebrew HALOT is nice to have.  TDOT I read in the forums is dated and draws conclusions on theories that have been disproved by modern scholarship.  So may not be so helpful after all.  

    DAL

  • Richard J. Ward
    Richard J. Ward Member Posts: 245 ✭✭

    I guess that’s another question I have: What exactly is the difference between a lexicon (which seems to be a fancy word for “dictionary”) and a theological dictionary? When I use BDAG and Kittle, Brown, or NIDNTTE, there seems to be some overlap in information.

  • MJ. Smith
    MJ. Smith MVP Posts: 54,896

    which seems to be a fancy word for “dictionary”

    Lexicons are really dictionaries, though a lexicon usually covers an ancient language or the special vocabulary of a particular author or field of study. In linguistics, the lexicon is the total stock of words and word elements that carry meaning. Lexicon is from Greek lexikon (biblion)meaning "word(book)," ultimately going back to legein, "to speak."

    Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."

  • Richard J. Ward
    Richard J. Ward Member Posts: 245 ✭✭

    DAL said:

    TDOT I read in the forums is dated and draws conclusions on theories that have been disproved by modern scholarship.  So may not be so helpful after all.  

    DAL

    Interesting.

  • DAL
    DAL Member Posts: 10,838 ✭✭✭

    DAL said:

    TDOT I read in the forums is dated and draws conclusions on theories that have been disproved by modern scholarship.  So may not be so helpful after all.  

    DAL

    Interesting.

    Yep! Read the response by David Staveley in the link Manuel Maria provided.  You’ll find what I paraphrased about TDOT.

    DAL

  • Richard J. Ward
    Richard J. Ward Member Posts: 245 ✭✭

    DAL said:

    Yep! Read the response by David Staveley in the link Manuel Maria provided.  You’ll find what I paraphrased about TDOT.

    DAL

    I noticed. I’m searching online for a more thorough critique [Y]

  • BillS
    BillS Member Posts: 3,805 ✭✭✭

    If a seminary & formal language studies lie in your future, check with your school about what they require. While I have both for comparison purpose (& BDB as well) & consult all of them, my seminary required BDB. They're all pricey when you're buying other seminary books.

    Grace & Peace,
    Bill


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  • David Paul
    David Paul Member Posts: 6,073 ✭✭✭

    I find that HALOT rarely adds anything...uniquely helpful info less than 1% of the time. On the other hand, it's absolutely chock full of references to arcane German resources, if that floats anybody's boat.

    Speaking of German resources, HALOT does sorta remind of the "The Emperor's New Clothes". Oh, wait...HCA was Danish.

    My bad! [:P]

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  • Puddin’
    Puddin’ Member Posts: 473 ✭✭

    Personally, I‘m a believer in having as many reputable original language resources that I can.  HALOT is basically the BDAG of the OT corpus and is a respected resource for formal papers, articles, etc. (which is very important for me at least).

    However, I would also add that once you acquire HALOT, BDB, NIDOTTE (and perhaps a DSS critical apparatus and LXX lexicon) you will have all you need for OT lexicography short of actually taking Hebrew & Aramaic (for Daniel & parts of Ezra).  

    Of course, it takes quite a while to accumulate such a vast library.

    Just my 2 cents.