New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology and Exegesis / September 08, 1997

Consisting of 5 volumes edited by Willem VanGemeren, NIDOTTE is indispensable for helping pastors, students, scholars, and serious lay persons grasp the full riches of the Bible. Thousands of entries deepen your understanding of the context and meanings of words and concepts in the Old Testament, and their relationship to words in the New Testament.

Only one hermeneutical text published prior to the New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology & Exegesis can be held up reasonably to its measure of quality and the exhaustive nature of the research that produced this immense work. That singular collection worthy of comparison is its counterpart, the New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology, edited by Colin Brown. This 5-volume addition to that acclaimed work, though intimidating in the achievement it embodies, is intended for serious Old Testament and exegetical study by men and women of all walks of life — both academics and pastors, students and laypersons.

Volume one contains a Guide to Old Testament Theology and Exegesis in which ten essays have been compiled to thoroughly explain proper hermeneutics and interpretation, as well as guidelines for using this source material. Volumes one through four contain the Lexicon of the Old Testament, all words found in the text ordered by Hebrew alphabetization for easy reference, and coupled with a Goodrick / Kohlenberger cross-referencing number to be used in conjunction with Strong’s numbering system. The relationship of each word in different contexts and languages is also explained, including alternative words, and the particulars of their semantic domain. All this information is, of course, complete with bibliography. Volume four also begins the Topical Dictionary. Therein can be found articles on the theology of each Old Testament book individually, as well as discussion of biblical concepts, people, places, events, and literary pieces, all information that is cross-referenced to the preceding Hebraic Lexicon. Taken as a whole, the New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology & Exegesis is an unparalleled accomplishment in the field of biblical hermeneutics.