Interpretation of Old Testament/Hebrew Bible: Reference Tools

This is the standard Hebrew-English lexicon. This volume is arranged alphabetically according to the triliteral root system.

This is an abridgement of Köhler-Baumgartner (HALOT)

This text is more recent than BDB and a standard, comprehensive Hebrew lexicon. Entries are listed alphabetically by word and contain Ugaritic cognates.

This is a multi-volume theological Hebrew word dictionary. Strong's Concordance key makes references to volume and page numbers.

This is an easy to access one-volume dictionary with short bibliographies

This an accessible multi-volume Bible Dictionary. The Library has access to the 2011 volume available online.

Pritchard's anthology is a classic collection of ancient Near Eastern historical, legal, liturgical, and mythological texts.
Also available in print at REF BS1180 .P74 1978

This multi-volume set is an indispensable tool for understanding the world of the ancient Near East through geography, economics, language, daily life, and religion.

The COS volumes contain translations of texts from the ancient world with references to analogous biblical texts.
Also available in print at REF BS1180 .C66 1996

This volume is a groundbreaking reconsideration of religion in ancient Israel/Palestine. The authors examine often overlooked aspect of ancient Israel, art, symbols, and iconography.

This volume is an up-to-date reference for the people and places of the ancient Near East. Each essay is written by a leading scholar and considers the importance of each culture relevant to the study of the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible.

Also available in print at REF DS111.A2 O94 2013

Also available in print at REF FOLIO BS538.7 .O94 2015

Also available in print at REF FOLIO BS680.E84 O94 2014

Also available in print at REF FOLIO BS680.W7 O94 2014

Also available in print at REF FOLIO BM520.52 .O94 2015

Also available in print at REF BS440 .O927 2015
Exploration of the Bible’s theology is an ever-changing endeavor. While some issues are clearly rooted in the Bible’s historical context like theological perspectives on the creation of the world, covenant, sin, sacrifice and atonement, grace and forgiveness, other issues are rooted in the modern world, where both the secular and religious raise questions biblical authors may not have anticipated. For example, biblical perspectives may critically inform contemporary concerns about market economics, global climate change, wealth and poverty, and gender/race discrimination. The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Bible and Theology situates itself inside this tension, classically defined as the intersection between what the Bible meant and what it means, with the objective of providing a resource for constructive theological reflection in the market place of public discourse.

Also available in print at REF BS440 .O93 2011

This is the classic and standard reference grammar.

Seow's grammar is a standard introduction to Biblical Hebrew with all the benefits of a reference grammar.

This is one of the most extensive revisions of Hebrew grammar currently available. It is an important reference work in its own right, and a rich supplement to the other volumes in this list.

Waltke and O'Connor's essential reference grammar helps students and scholars alike dive deeper into the grammar and syntax of the Hebrew Bible in an accessible yet useful way.