Customer Reviews

Dictionary Of The Bible

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As somewhat of a collector of such books, and frequent user, I've found this dictionary to be one of the very best. I had the 1965 edition, and replaced it with the 1995 Touchstone edition because the first book became worn. These "dictionaries" are often part dictionary and part encyclopedia. That is certainly true of this one. Many of the articles are much more information-packed than articles on the same subjects in other dictionaries. The print is very clear. There are not many pictures in the 954-page book, and the few that are included are not in color. But that's okay with me. I'm after the written information, and this book is packed. If you need a Bible dictionary for children, and want a visually attractive book with colored photos rather than a very scholarly work, stay away from this book. Though written by a Jesuit, this book should definitely NOT be viewed as for Catholics only. Christians from any denomination would find this book very valuable. You won't go wrong with this book. I don't know how they can sell it for that price.

For twenty years, this book has been a constant source of information for me. I first purchased my original copy while studying for the priesthood in the early 1980s. It has since received a new cover and its pages are enscribed with notes and highlights, but seldom do I write anything on scripture without referring to one or more of its entries.

Whether you are a lay person in the pews who wishes to know more or an academic who sometimes forgot just where you read that interesting biblical insight, McKenzie's work is for you. The topics are myriad and in-depth, but are also very readable. They cover every possible angle of biblical interest, including history, ritual, individual persons, and even biblical criticism. Once you have familiarized yourself with this dictionary, it will become a constant and invaluable companion.

John McKenzie's DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE is a resource that has been a true friend to me over the years. I first purchased this volume when I taught seventh and eighth graders at a Catholic school in the mid-1980's. Like many Catholics, my knowledge of the Bible was limited and I needed a quick resource to use to answer questions. This easy to use work served the purpose rather well, especially when questions about people, places, events, and words regarding scripture came up in class. I also found it had good background information and enough information to answer most basic questions. For this reason, I can attest that this volume will be very helpful for a teacher who needs a quick and easy reference for the Bible.

This volume will probably appeal most to the person who wants a bit of in depth or extra information about the Bible. It is written in clear and understandable language that will make accessible to anyone with an interest in scripture. One note to potential buyers: this reference tool is neither the newest nor the most up to date resource available, so it may not be the best tool for a student or for research purposes. Either Harper Collins or Anchor would probably be a better choice for students and research. However, I still look to this resource when I need quick and accurate information regarding scripture, and since my copy is well worn, I have referred to it many times and have certainly got my money's worth.

This book is indispensable for the Biblical student, however I am very disappointed at the materials used to put the book together-the binding is poor and this book will fall apart on you very quickly if you use this book regularly. They should have a sewn, hard-cover edition. That said, this book has made me a much more educated high school teacher of Religion, and I don't know what I would do without it.

A consise; well written dictionary that answers all the questions that you could ever think to ask. It is so complete that I am amazed at Fr. McKenzie's ability to author such a huge body of work.
Surely it was with Divine Intervention. This book deserves a place in the book case of every Catholic.

I bought this dictionary on the recommendation of my bishop. He was right. It is a great reference book!

This is so much more than the dictionaries I have used over the years. It gives detailed explanations of words and concepts that link those to other personalities or relationships and times, and not just a brief interpretation of a word. Very useful to connect and understand events and philosophies of both Old and New Testament times.

This edition is a paperback using 'perfect binding' which means it is glued in single sheets. It will last well provided it is handled carefully. The paper is moderately thick and nicely opaque. The print is fairly good and large enough to read without strain.

For production I rate this as 3 or 4 stars.

The content of this dictionary is truly excellent. John L McKenzie writes succinctly, clearly, and accurately on the topics he addresses. His coverage of topics is very good indeed.

For content I rate this as 5 stars.

This is so much more than just a dictionary you can read it for the wealth of information it contains. It is like a Bible encyclopedia. A truely wonderful reference book. I highly recommend it as part of every Bible believer's library.

It is excellent! I have relied on McKenzie's Dictionary of the Bible since I got it in 1995. The notes and materials in the introductory articles in the bible I had the time did not satisfy me. They sometimes did not inspire confidence--for example, the note on John 11:33-36 opined that he must have wept out of vexation at Mary and Martha's not understanding who He was and why He was there!

At present I have two study bibles, the Catholic NAB and the NIV. They are both good but, still, I am frequently left unsatisfied and will refer to McKenzie's Dictionary. It is not a line-by-line reference like the text in the study bibles, but the articles are so good, taking in the known issues thoughtfully and without evident bias, that I always come away feeling that I have a better understanding. In dealing with things like the actual authors of NT materials, he assesses the scholarship, giving thumbnail sketches of the various views--and then states the probabilities as he sees them. He is by no means dogmatic or radical (the nihil obstat for its publication was issued in 1965). I am not a professional user. My reading becomes consistent and intensive only when I decide to go into something again. The binding is still in very good condition. The print is readable.
Dictionary Of The Bible
1/15/11. Recently I began rereading the OT and I was dismayed by some of McKenzie's comments. I found that his entry on Jacob/Isreal is that he didn't exist, as far as being the father of the 12 tribes. He did exist as far as being the father in the line of David, Solomon and Jesus. My feeling on the OT is that it is the foundation of the NT claims for Christ and Christianity.