Bible Dictionary

First of all, I am delighted with Factbook 2. I was looking some topics of interest, the accents in the Masorah, the Masorah, and the Masoretic texts. I was quite surprised by the little information that appeared in my two favorite dictionaries, the ISBE. So here is my question:

What is the very best, most extensive and most complete Biblical dictionary, especially in regards to the Hebrew Bible? And I would prefer one that includes the words in the original languages rather than the transliteration. I thank you for your suggestions ahead of time.

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Comments

Bruce Dunning

Gregorio, I too continue to be impressed with the new Factbook.

When it comes to Hebrew I suppose it depends on what you are looking for. I'm sure others have their own opinions but here are my 4 top-rated Hebrew Dictionaries/Lexicons:

The Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament (HAL)
The Dictionary of Classical Hebrew (DCH)
Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament (TDOT)
New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology and Exegesis (NIDOTTE)

Gregorio Billikopf

Sorry, Bruce, that I did not make myself very clear. Yes, I love those dictionaries and lexicons you mentioned. I am looking for a general Biblical dictionary that is more complete than what I have. I am not sure that exists.

Joseph Sollenberger

The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary is very exhaustive but often transliterates.

[View:https://www.logos.com/product/1660/anchor-yale-bible-dictionary-aybd:550:0]

Gregorio Billikopf

Hi Joseph. Many thanks for this recommendation. Would you mind sharing with me a sample of what it has on the Hebrew accents? Best wishes, Gregorio

DMB

What is the very best

I agree Anchor Yale, though I wouldn't characterize it relative to the hebrew Bible per se.

This morning, I finally determined to understand 'stumbling block'. It seemed semantically suspicious. Surprisingly, it's an NT theological favorite, but theologically traces back to the hebrew Bible.

The meaning is easy ... but Paul felt it necessary to explain it (to presumably gentile readers). The question is why there were 'stumbling blocks' at all. Did people routinely try to trip each other up? And why? Did semitic gods join in the fun (as YHWH did)?

The answer(s) lays in the choice of dictionaries (subject) and lexicons (words). Surprisingly, the older Hastings explained the english gloss (think 1611 ... were people still happily tripping each other up, that they even had common words for it?).

And TDOT supplied the next clue ... the surrounding semitic languages had no such word ... presumably tripping people to make them fall down wasn't a common cultural feature. But aramaic had a match, with the author surmising old hebrew as the origin.

Then, the trail petered out.

But picking 'one source' dictionary and which one, is very hard to predict.

Gregorio Billikopf

Thanks, Denise. I know what you mean about it being very hard to pick one of something. I have an extensive collection of I believe every possible Lexicon in my collection. Dictionaries, I only have about 5 or so. But with this wonderful new tool Factbook 2, it quickly showed me that what I wanted was not in my present dictionaries. Be well.