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Dictionary of the Old Testament: Wisdom, Poetry & Writings: A Compendium of Contemporary Biblical Scholarship
2009 Christianity Today Merit Award winner!
2009 ECPA Gold Medallion (Bible Reference & Study)
The Old Testament books of wisdom and poetry carry themselves differently from those of the Pentateuch, the histories or the prophets. The divine voice does not peal from Sinai, there are no narratives carried along by prophetic interpretation nor are oracles declaimed by a prophet. Here Scripture often speaks in the words of human response to God and God's world. The hymns, laments and thanksgivings of Israel, the dirge of Lamentations, the questionings of Qohelet, the love poetry of the Song of Songs, the bold drama of Job and the proverbial wisdom of Israel all offer their textures to this great body of biblical literature. Then too there are the finely crafted stories of Ruth and Esther that narrate the silent providence of God in the course of Israelite and Jewish lives.
This third Old Testament volume in InterVarsity Press's celebrated "Black Dictionary" series offers nearly 150 articles covering all the important aspects of Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Psalms, Song of Songs, Lamentations, Ruth and Esther. Over ninety contributors, many of them experts in this literature, have contributed to the Dictionary of the Old Testament: Wisdom, Poetry & Writings. This volume maintains the quality of scholarship that students, scholars and pastors have come to expect from this series.
Coverage of each biblical book includes an introduction to the book itself as well as separate articles on its ancient Near Eastern background and its history of interpretation. Additional articles amply explore the literary dimensions of Hebrew poetry and prose, including acrostic, ellipsis, inclusio, intertextuality, parallelism and rhyme. And there are well-rounded treatments of Israelite wisdom and wisdom literature, including wisdom poems, sources and theology. In addition, a wide range of interpretive approaches is canvassed in articles on hermeneutics, feminist interpretation, form criticism, historical criticism, rhetorical criticism and social-scientific approaches.
The Dictionary of the Old Testament: Wisdom, Poetry & Writings is sure to command shelf space within arm's reach of any student, teacher or preacher working in this portion of biblical literature.
Tremper Longman III and Peter E. Enns edit this collection of 148 articles by 90 contributors on Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Lamentations, Ruth and Esther.
2009 ECPA Gold Medallion (Bible Reference & Study)
The Old Testament books of wisdom and poetry carry themselves differently from those of the Pentateuch, the histories or the prophets. The divine voice does not peal from Sinai, there are no narratives carried along by prophetic interpretation nor are oracles declaimed by a prophet. Here Scripture often speaks in the words of human response to God and God's world. The hymns, laments and thanksgivings of Israel, the dirge of Lamentations, the questionings of Qohelet, the love poetry of the Song of Songs, the bold drama of Job and the proverbial wisdom of Israel all offer their textures to this great body of biblical literature. Then too there are the finely crafted stories of Ruth and Esther that narrate the silent providence of God in the course of Israelite and Jewish lives.
This third Old Testament volume in InterVarsity Press's celebrated "Black Dictionary" series offers nearly 150 articles covering all the important aspects of Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Psalms, Song of Songs, Lamentations, Ruth and Esther. Over ninety contributors, many of them experts in this literature, have contributed to the Dictionary of the Old Testament: Wisdom, Poetry & Writings. This volume maintains the quality of scholarship that students, scholars and pastors have come to expect from this series.
Coverage of each biblical book includes an introduction to the book itself as well as separate articles on its ancient Near Eastern background and its history of interpretation. Additional articles amply explore the literary dimensions of Hebrew poetry and prose, including acrostic, ellipsis, inclusio, intertextuality, parallelism and rhyme. And there are well-rounded treatments of Israelite wisdom and wisdom literature, including wisdom poems, sources and theology. In addition, a wide range of interpretive approaches is canvassed in articles on hermeneutics, feminist interpretation, form criticism, historical criticism, rhetorical criticism and social-scientific approaches.
The Dictionary of the Old Testament: Wisdom, Poetry & Writings is sure to command shelf space within arm's reach of any student, teacher or preacher working in this portion of biblical literature.
Tremper Longman III and Peter E. Enns edit this collection of 148 articles by 90 contributors on Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Lamentations, Ruth and Esther.
985 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 6, 2008
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124 people want to read
About the author
Peter Enns
76 books736 followersPeter Enns is Abram S. Clemens Professor of Biblical Studies at Eastern University, St. Davids, Pennsylvania. He has taught courses at several other institutions including Harvard University, Fuller Theological Seminary, and Princeton Theological Seminary. Enns is a frequent contributor to journals and encyclopedias and is the author of several books, including Inspiration and Incarnation, The Evolution of Adam, and The Bible Tells Me So.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 16, 2020
Finished the final volume of this four volume set with this one during an extended and often interrupted OT read through. This volume focuses on poetry, wisdom and related issues. The entries vary from excellent to difficult to obscure. There are probably less than 10 entries that I starred as potential re reads, but it is a good resource for future studies.
I have to wonder if I am the only one who is crazy enough to read all four.
I have to wonder if I am the only one who is crazy enough to read all four.
May 4, 2022
Given the editors of this dictionary, I worried that the articles would deviate into errant views of wisdom literature (my favorite section of the OT), but the articles were pretty solid overall. I disagree with most contemporary scholarship about Ecclesiastes, but this dictionary did clearly represent those contemporary arguments, poor as they may be. I’m just glad to be done with these dictionaries.
August 3, 2018
In a pastor or a Scholars Library, usually the first Works purchased or commentaries, followed by practical works with only a second thought towards biblical dictionaries and encyclopedias. This could not be a worse process of thinking, for dictionaries specifically those produced in the series titled, the IVP Bible Dictionary series, for this is a top-notch and needed addition to a basic pastor set of works as well as a scholars library.
I was first introduced to this series in seminary, and have found them deeply insightful and for the most part theologically sound and great aides in understanding complex parts of scripture. In this work, the dictionary of the Old Testament Wisdom, Poetry, and Writings, edited by Tremper Longman III & Peter Enns, the books of poetry, wisdom, and writings, are explored with specific focus on various imagery and interpretation.
This work has a truly wide scope in explaining views that are out in the world, both Orthodox an unorthodox as well as types of criticism, tradition and interpretation, and various hermeneutical issues which need to be addressed. I specifically found those dealing with textual criticism and motifs to be quite enjoyable and insightful in my teaching of the book of Psalms. It is highly scholarly, this work will be of use to a pastor who has some foundations in studying that of views that differ with his or with views that would broaden his horizons.
Well I have said that I give her with a few views in this work specifically that of the feminist interpretation of scripture, editor's Longman III and Enns do a phenomenal job of eating the reader in their understanding of the work of wisdom, poetry, and writings. I therefore recommend this as a purchase to both pastors and Scholars if they have the money to purchase this what can be expensive volume in the phenomenal, IVP Bible dictionary series. You will not be disappointed.
I received this work from IVP Academic, for the purpose of an unbiased review.
I was first introduced to this series in seminary, and have found them deeply insightful and for the most part theologically sound and great aides in understanding complex parts of scripture. In this work, the dictionary of the Old Testament Wisdom, Poetry, and Writings, edited by Tremper Longman III & Peter Enns, the books of poetry, wisdom, and writings, are explored with specific focus on various imagery and interpretation.
This work has a truly wide scope in explaining views that are out in the world, both Orthodox an unorthodox as well as types of criticism, tradition and interpretation, and various hermeneutical issues which need to be addressed. I specifically found those dealing with textual criticism and motifs to be quite enjoyable and insightful in my teaching of the book of Psalms. It is highly scholarly, this work will be of use to a pastor who has some foundations in studying that of views that differ with his or with views that would broaden his horizons.
Well I have said that I give her with a few views in this work specifically that of the feminist interpretation of scripture, editor's Longman III and Enns do a phenomenal job of eating the reader in their understanding of the work of wisdom, poetry, and writings. I therefore recommend this as a purchase to both pastors and Scholars if they have the money to purchase this what can be expensive volume in the phenomenal, IVP Bible dictionary series. You will not be disappointed.
I received this work from IVP Academic, for the purpose of an unbiased review.
June 30, 2025
Excellent fourth part in a 4-part technical and general-reader friendly Reference Work; this 2008 volume titled "Dictionary of the Old Testament" is a kind of catch-all but still very helpful for serious readers YA and Adult (18 -99 yrs.) of the Hebrew Bible. You do not have to already read the Pentateuch, Historical Writings, Prophets version of this same Reference published by IV Press, Downers Grove, IL to want to browse and sample from the moderately-sized entries. Here in Wisdom, Poetry, Writings you do have the Bible's longest book : The Psalms as well as some of the
moderate to shortest books : Festal Scrolls, additions to Esther, Daniel, Proverbs. The widely-read Book of Job is covered here and unusual books from Apocrypha called "Wisdom of Solomon" and "Sirach / Ben Sira". I was for 5 or so weeks very interested in what this reference work had to say about ECCLESIASTES / "Qohelet" / Koheleth. The book helped quite a bit with the literary and theological/philosophical that this Writing poses for thoughtful people -- Jews, Christians, Muslims and other religious adherents. I rate this book edited by Tremper Longman and Peter Enns a 5* out of 5. A good addition to anyone with a study Bible or Interpreter's Dictionary.
moderate to shortest books : Festal Scrolls, additions to Esther, Daniel, Proverbs. The widely-read Book of Job is covered here and unusual books from Apocrypha called "Wisdom of Solomon" and "Sirach / Ben Sira". I was for 5 or so weeks very interested in what this reference work had to say about ECCLESIASTES / "Qohelet" / Koheleth. The book helped quite a bit with the literary and theological/philosophical that this Writing poses for thoughtful people -- Jews, Christians, Muslims and other religious adherents. I rate this book edited by Tremper Longman and Peter Enns a 5* out of 5. A good addition to anyone with a study Bible or Interpreter's Dictionary.
May 31, 2016
This volume is another of the massive volumes in IVP’s “Black Dictionary” series. It upholds the quality this series is known for. Edited by Tremper Longman and Peter Enns, with Longman particularly known for his work in Wisdom Literature, and hosting a long list of competent authors, this dictionary is one of the most important works on the Wisdom books available today.
Beyond the usual suspects of Job through Song of Solomon, this dictionary covers the Megillot, which adds Ruth, Lamentations, and Esther to the information covered. The audience written to is clearly a scholarly one, but pastors and teachers can glean much even if they feel the need to skip a few paragraphs in some articles.
Each of the books are covered in as in-depth fashion as a major commentary. Actually, more information than is covered in many of them will be found. The one on Psalms covered most every issue on the Book of Psalms that could be imagined. Some of the history of interpretation including the wave of form criticism that Psalms has faced is covered even if it beyond what many of us thinks is important. On the other hand, the ways certain psalms are categorized was very enlightening.
I read other articles on a variety of subjects and found them helpful. For example, I read the article on Ahasuerus from the Book of Esther and found it fascinating. There are many other such articles.
This is a fine reference volume to have on hand and I recommend it.
I received this book free from the publisher. 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.
Beyond the usual suspects of Job through Song of Solomon, this dictionary covers the Megillot, which adds Ruth, Lamentations, and Esther to the information covered. The audience written to is clearly a scholarly one, but pastors and teachers can glean much even if they feel the need to skip a few paragraphs in some articles.
Each of the books are covered in as in-depth fashion as a major commentary. Actually, more information than is covered in many of them will be found. The one on Psalms covered most every issue on the Book of Psalms that could be imagined. Some of the history of interpretation including the wave of form criticism that Psalms has faced is covered even if it beyond what many of us thinks is important. On the other hand, the ways certain psalms are categorized was very enlightening.
I read other articles on a variety of subjects and found them helpful. For example, I read the article on Ahasuerus from the Book of Esther and found it fascinating. There are many other such articles.
This is a fine reference volume to have on hand and I recommend it.
I received this book free from the publisher. 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.
September 11, 2021
This one in particular was helpful for me as my OT study classes were not nearly as good as my NT ones. This helps provide some background and underlying knowledge to build a background understanding of the stage for Scripture. IVP Dictionaries are one of the most beneficial tools for background research I have found. Their thorough research into the key terms/ideas/words/places/people is formatted so well making it is easy to use. Their bibliography at the end of each section helps you find more resources if you want to go deeper. Essential for any Bible nerd library.
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February 19, 2009To-Read
July 28, 2011
Read articles in this book for class. Thought it was great. It can get a little dry if you have to read one article after another. If you have some in depth questions this is a good book.
April 19, 2016
This whole series of books are worth your time and shelf space.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews