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Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary: New and Enhanced Edition
The most comprehensive and up-to-date Bible dictionary available.
With a fresh new look and updated photographs, this new and enhanced edition is a wealth of bible study information for any level of study. It includes more than 7,000 entries, plus more than 500 full-color photographs, maps, and pronunciation guides.
Features
Cross-references to all major translationsMore than 7,000 up-to-date entriesMore than 500 full-color photographs and mapsEnlarged type size for easier readingVisual Survey of the Bible from The Open Bible
With a fresh new look and updated photographs, this new and enhanced edition is a wealth of bible study information for any level of study. It includes more than 7,000 entries, plus more than 500 full-color photographs, maps, and pronunciation guides.
Features
Cross-references to all major translationsMore than 7,000 up-to-date entriesMore than 500 full-color photographs and mapsEnlarged type size for easier readingVisual Survey of the Bible from The Open Bible
1275 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 28, 2014
603 people are currently reading
121 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 10, 2014
"Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary" is a Bible reference book intended to help you study your Bible. They suggest that you read a passage in the Bible and then read the entries in the dictionary for the names, places, and things mentioned in the passage. The entry briefly explained that word and pointed out where it's mentioned in the Bible. While the entries did give enough information to help you better understand a passage, it usually just gave information that you could pick up from reading the whole Bible on a regular basis.
Some entries did have more detail, especially those that contained controversial topics. They'd give their take on the issue but didn't usually explain the other positions. For example, under "Chronology, New Testament," they gave a couple popular dates for Jesus birth and death but only give some brief supporting reasons for their own choices.
Under Genesis, they tried to side-step controversy by saying that Genesis 1 is mainly theological and is highly poetical rather than giving scientific details. Under the Flood entry, they acknowledge that the Flood was "not simply a downpour of ordinary rain," yet under "Chronology, Old Testament" they suggest the Flood happened at a time where it couldn't have been a world-wide flood. They suggest that Genesis was heavily influenced by Sumer rather than Sumer being influenced by the earlier, real history that is recorded in the Bible. They suggest that the years given in the genealogies in Genesis can't be taken at face value. Basically, they have their biases but it shows up more in implied assumptions than by taking a hardline stance on an issue.
There were full-color pictures on about every other page--a picture of some coins near the entry for money, for example, or someone playing a flute for "flute." There were charts and maps for certain events. If you don't have a study Bible and want help understanding who various people are and what is going on (what is a tent maker? a shekel?), then you will probably find this Bible dictionary fairly useful.
I received this book as a review copy from the publisher through BookLook.
Some entries did have more detail, especially those that contained controversial topics. They'd give their take on the issue but didn't usually explain the other positions. For example, under "Chronology, New Testament," they gave a couple popular dates for Jesus birth and death but only give some brief supporting reasons for their own choices.
Under Genesis, they tried to side-step controversy by saying that Genesis 1 is mainly theological and is highly poetical rather than giving scientific details. Under the Flood entry, they acknowledge that the Flood was "not simply a downpour of ordinary rain," yet under "Chronology, Old Testament" they suggest the Flood happened at a time where it couldn't have been a world-wide flood. They suggest that Genesis was heavily influenced by Sumer rather than Sumer being influenced by the earlier, real history that is recorded in the Bible. They suggest that the years given in the genealogies in Genesis can't be taken at face value. Basically, they have their biases but it shows up more in implied assumptions than by taking a hardline stance on an issue.
There were full-color pictures on about every other page--a picture of some coins near the entry for money, for example, or someone playing a flute for "flute." There were charts and maps for certain events. If you don't have a study Bible and want help understanding who various people are and what is going on (what is a tent maker? a shekel?), then you will probably find this Bible dictionary fairly useful.
I received this book as a review copy from the publisher through BookLook.
January 3, 2015
Woah Nelly! Now this is an amazing study help. New and enhanced, this Bible dictionary has over seven thousand updated entries, over five hundred photos and maps, and is easy to use. Covering teaching outlines for every book of the Bible, as well as a biblical history and visual survey, this compendium has contributions by well-known theologians, including F.F. Bruce, Woodrow Kroll, and Ronald B. Allen.
Clocking in at over 1,200 pages thick, this Bible dictionary is meant for the avid theologian and Bible enthusiast, as well as Masters-level studies for thesis papers. Set with an MSRP of $49.99 (yet spotted in the wild as low as $30), this thick biblical reference delivers its value and assists everyone, from new believer to theology wiz, in learning more about the Bible.
I see myself using this reference book for my studies in years to come, and am impressed by its quality and effort into such an academic work. With a larger typeface that allows one to read without squinting, this dictionary is sure to be worn out easily – not from a lack of quality, for it certainly feels durable, but due to its excessive use. I recommend this book for those interesting in learning more about the Bible, and look forward to breaking in its spine as I research.
Disclosure: I was contracted to write an honest review in exchange for a reviewer copy of the product. The opinions stated in this review are solely my own.
Clocking in at over 1,200 pages thick, this Bible dictionary is meant for the avid theologian and Bible enthusiast, as well as Masters-level studies for thesis papers. Set with an MSRP of $49.99 (yet spotted in the wild as low as $30), this thick biblical reference delivers its value and assists everyone, from new believer to theology wiz, in learning more about the Bible.
I see myself using this reference book for my studies in years to come, and am impressed by its quality and effort into such an academic work. With a larger typeface that allows one to read without squinting, this dictionary is sure to be worn out easily – not from a lack of quality, for it certainly feels durable, but due to its excessive use. I recommend this book for those interesting in learning more about the Bible, and look forward to breaking in its spine as I research.
Disclosure: I was contracted to write an honest review in exchange for a reviewer copy of the product. The opinions stated in this review are solely my own.
October 26, 2014
What can I say about Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary? It is awesome!!!! It is a huge book filled full of great information and beautifully illustrated. It starts out by giving you a 5 step way to start studying your bible more thoroughly. Then it gives you charts, diagrams and history of the bible.
There is such a comprehensive list of definitions and descriptions of words and phrases from the bible that you would be hard pressed to not find information that you need. I also love that it gives outlines of each book of the bible as a study guide or lesson guide. I can’t say enough good things about this dictionary/reference book.
The only con I could think of is it is heavy but with the information it contains it is well worth it. I wouldn’t think it would be a book that would travel well because of its size and weight.
If you are looking for a good study tool to go along with your bible I would highly recommend this one! I love flipping through the pages and seeing the beautiful photography and illustrations if nothing else. But the amount of information is so helpful and really helps study verse by verse through the bible.
I received this book at no charge from www.booklookbloggers.com in exchange for an honest review.
There is such a comprehensive list of definitions and descriptions of words and phrases from the bible that you would be hard pressed to not find information that you need. I also love that it gives outlines of each book of the bible as a study guide or lesson guide. I can’t say enough good things about this dictionary/reference book.
The only con I could think of is it is heavy but with the information it contains it is well worth it. I wouldn’t think it would be a book that would travel well because of its size and weight.
If you are looking for a good study tool to go along with your bible I would highly recommend this one! I love flipping through the pages and seeing the beautiful photography and illustrations if nothing else. But the amount of information is so helpful and really helps study verse by verse through the bible.
I received this book at no charge from www.booklookbloggers.com in exchange for an honest review.
December 11, 2025
Did it serve it’s purpose? Yes
October 21, 2014
Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary (New and Enhanced Edition), edited by Ronald F. Youngblood, is Thomas Nelson’s thoroughly revised and updated edition to the original 1986 publication. This is a hefty tome (5 lbs.!) with all full-color pages and a font size that is typical of any normal reading material, which is larger than most other dictionary and encyclopedic texts. It is thorough, containing entries for virtually every person, place, thing, idea, and action explicitly stated in the Bible (the list of plants and animals alone are quite lengthy) regardless of the brevity of mention in Scripture. (Do you remember Arphaxad? No? Well, he’s in there.) It also includes important topics that are necessary to Bible study (e.g., literary genre, historical entries, etc.), a great number of charts and graphs, and the like. A brief “Study and Teaching Outline” and important theological themes is provided for each book of the Bible.
What I appreciate:
1) The sheer number of entries, references, and its 2) readability are quite wonderful, but it’s also 3) a beautiful, well put together volume.
4) There is a brief, charted history of Bible events and themes that comprises roughly twenty-five pages of the introduction.
5) For those new to more in depth Bible study, the text begins with a step-by-step approach to using this resource, one I believe many will find quite helpful so as to discourage simply finding an entry, reading it, and assuming that’s the end of the matter.
What I don’t appreciate as much:
1) When much interpretation is necessary, this dictionary leans heavily on a dispensational, premillennial perspective (if that means anything to the reader of this review), not to the utter exclusion of other perspectives (there is sometimes a sentence or phrase nodding to others, or the mere mention of there being other “more complex understandings” without noting them), but also not very helpful for those who are interested in serious inquiry. However, though they are often of considerable importance to those looking for a study reference, considering the number of these related entries to those not so related, they are miniscule in number and may not sway one in whether or not to pick up this resource. (I should include a positive note here, in that if particular words are not explicitly found in the Bible, they are likely not to have an entry in the text. Relevant to my complaint about the given perspectival leaning, there is surprisingly and encouragingly no entry for the dispensationalists’ definition of “Rapture”—there is simply no such entry.)
2) Though this is an “illustrated” dictionary, one may not be so impressed by the way in which it is so. Many (certainly not all) of the pictures found within seem to be haphazardly placed without consideration of context. It’s as if those in charge of design layout thought, “What if people read a dictionary like they would a book, from page to page, and we wanted them to serendipitously discover something new or just see a pretty picture about a place or thing that really has nothing to do with its origin? We have all these pictures available to us, so let’s use them!” A thorough revision of the use and placement of such “illustrations” would be helpful. A number of maps and charts fall into this category, as well.
3) Due to the aforementioned, a separate index of illustrations (pictures, maps, charts, etc.) would prove to be helpful so one may find them.
When considering acquisition of a study resource, one must consider the need and depth to which one wants to go. This is a single volume meant (I believe) for “just give me some answers and references” kind of study. This is not an exhaustive, nor exhausting, set that can get the non-scholar bogged down in weighty detail. For those looking for the former, the text at hand may suffice. For those looking for the latter, this is not that resource. (For the latter, I recommend looking into a larger set like the Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary.)
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
What I appreciate:
1) The sheer number of entries, references, and its 2) readability are quite wonderful, but it’s also 3) a beautiful, well put together volume.
4) There is a brief, charted history of Bible events and themes that comprises roughly twenty-five pages of the introduction.
5) For those new to more in depth Bible study, the text begins with a step-by-step approach to using this resource, one I believe many will find quite helpful so as to discourage simply finding an entry, reading it, and assuming that’s the end of the matter.
What I don’t appreciate as much:
1) When much interpretation is necessary, this dictionary leans heavily on a dispensational, premillennial perspective (if that means anything to the reader of this review), not to the utter exclusion of other perspectives (there is sometimes a sentence or phrase nodding to others, or the mere mention of there being other “more complex understandings” without noting them), but also not very helpful for those who are interested in serious inquiry. However, though they are often of considerable importance to those looking for a study reference, considering the number of these related entries to those not so related, they are miniscule in number and may not sway one in whether or not to pick up this resource. (I should include a positive note here, in that if particular words are not explicitly found in the Bible, they are likely not to have an entry in the text. Relevant to my complaint about the given perspectival leaning, there is surprisingly and encouragingly no entry for the dispensationalists’ definition of “Rapture”—there is simply no such entry.)
2) Though this is an “illustrated” dictionary, one may not be so impressed by the way in which it is so. Many (certainly not all) of the pictures found within seem to be haphazardly placed without consideration of context. It’s as if those in charge of design layout thought, “What if people read a dictionary like they would a book, from page to page, and we wanted them to serendipitously discover something new or just see a pretty picture about a place or thing that really has nothing to do with its origin? We have all these pictures available to us, so let’s use them!” A thorough revision of the use and placement of such “illustrations” would be helpful. A number of maps and charts fall into this category, as well.
3) Due to the aforementioned, a separate index of illustrations (pictures, maps, charts, etc.) would prove to be helpful so one may find them.
When considering acquisition of a study resource, one must consider the need and depth to which one wants to go. This is a single volume meant (I believe) for “just give me some answers and references” kind of study. This is not an exhaustive, nor exhausting, set that can get the non-scholar bogged down in weighty detail. For those looking for the former, the text at hand may suffice. For those looking for the latter, this is not that resource. (For the latter, I recommend looking into a larger set like the Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary.)
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
November 2, 2014
I am truly thrilled to be the owner of such a lovely volume. Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary which was released in October 2014, is one of the best biblical reference books that a person can own.
Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary is much more than just a dictionary of biblical terms. It is a sturdy book that will be able to handle lots of use! It is beautifully illustrated. I cannot emphasize this point enough. It is a pleasure just to leaf through and look at the illustrations including photos, maps and graphs.
It begins with Five Easy Steps to Better Bible Study Using Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary. This is very helpful. Then, the Introduction to the Visual Survey of the Bible which contains timelines, illustrations, maps and charts. There is a History of Israel, The Life of Christ and History of the Early Church. The Writings of the Early Church and The Themes of the New Testament Letters are covered. At the end of the book there is a series of helpful maps.
An example of what a fine book this is would be the coverage of Jesus Christ. It fills the book from pages 590 to 604. Besides covering every aspect of the life of Jesus, the section includes two diagrams: Asleep in the Storm and the Last 24 Hours which do an excellent job of explaining spatially how these events occurred. The entry also delves into areas such as The Person of Christ, Son of Man, Messiah, Son of God, The Lord, and the Work of Christ.
The entry for Mary gives the six Mary's that are named in the New Testament:
Mary the Mother of Jesus
Mary Magdalen
Mary of Bethany
Mary the mother of the disciple James and Joses
Mary the mother of John Mark
Mary of Rome
The Marys can be very confusing at times.
I highly recommend Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary (2014 edition).
Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary is much more than just a dictionary of biblical terms. It is a sturdy book that will be able to handle lots of use! It is beautifully illustrated. I cannot emphasize this point enough. It is a pleasure just to leaf through and look at the illustrations including photos, maps and graphs.
It begins with Five Easy Steps to Better Bible Study Using Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary. This is very helpful. Then, the Introduction to the Visual Survey of the Bible which contains timelines, illustrations, maps and charts. There is a History of Israel, The Life of Christ and History of the Early Church. The Writings of the Early Church and The Themes of the New Testament Letters are covered. At the end of the book there is a series of helpful maps.
An example of what a fine book this is would be the coverage of Jesus Christ. It fills the book from pages 590 to 604. Besides covering every aspect of the life of Jesus, the section includes two diagrams: Asleep in the Storm and the Last 24 Hours which do an excellent job of explaining spatially how these events occurred. The entry also delves into areas such as The Person of Christ, Son of Man, Messiah, Son of God, The Lord, and the Work of Christ.
The entry for Mary gives the six Mary's that are named in the New Testament:
Mary the Mother of Jesus
Mary Magdalen
Mary of Bethany
Mary the mother of the disciple James and Joses
Mary the mother of John Mark
Mary of Rome
The Marys can be very confusing at times.
I highly recommend Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary (2014 edition).
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews