Bible Study Tools: Bible Dictionary

When I start a construction project, I always take an inventory to make sure that I have the proper tools needed to completed the job. In a similar way, when you undertake the study of God’s Word you might also need a few tools. One of the most basic tools that you can purchase is a Bible dictionary. A Bible dictionary provides information on key people and
events, historical information, background of key words, entries on animals and plants and everything in between. Some dictionaries can be multi-volume, but the majority of them are one-volume, which is cost-effective for the average user.

At this point, I can hear someone asking a question, “What about the internet? Can’t I just search the word/phrase on the internet?” You can definitely do that, and if you’re a seasoned internet user who uses trusted sites, you might be able to find all the information you need. However, if you’ve ever simply typed in a word or phrase in your search bar you know that anything remotely close to the word or phrase will show up, whether good or bad. What you need is a filter of some kind, and that is exactly where a Bible dictionary shines the brightest. Bible dictionaries are often written by teams of scholars who have done all the research for you and compiled it into a handy volume for easy reference. Some examples of good Bible dictionaries are: Unger’s Bible Dictionary, Lexham Bible Dictionary, Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary, and Holman’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary.

A Bible dictionary is just one of many tools you need to have close by when you read and study God’s Word. Stay tuned! Next month we will take a look at another tool that you need to add to your tool belt.