Zondervan Dictionary of Biblical Imagery

by John A. Beck

Publisher:

Zondervan

, 2011

Overview

Biblical authors seized imagery drawn from everyday life and redeployed it in the service of divine revelation. But today’s readers are not familiar with many of these once-common illustrations. The distance in time, place, and culture between the Bible’s first recipients and people today often mutes the rhetorical impact of such images.

Students of the Bible need someone to explain both the meaning and significance of the imagery found in the biblical text. The Zondervan Dictionary of Biblical Imagery provides the kind of assistance today’s readers need. Entries explain images that correspond to a cultural artifact from the biblical world (such as arrow or sandal), a component of natural history (such as fox or fig tree), a named place (such as Mount Sinai or Nazareth), or a component of the Promised Land’s physical geography (such as mountain or wilderness). Each entry contains a description of the element or image, examples of how the image is used in the biblical text, and appropriate photographs and maps that further illustrate the ideas presented. Students of Scripture will find the Zondervan Dictionary of Biblical Imagery a fascinating and inspiring portal to the biblical world.

Key Features

• Appearance, distinctive characteristics, and cultural use are addressed with each biblical image
• Clear descriptions, photographs and maps
• Cultural connotations linked to each image

Contents

Top Highlights

“Biblical Bethel is associated with the modern city of Beitin” (Page 27)

“The cornerstone of a wall was, in part, selected because of its relative strength. It had to be able to carry the cumulative weight of all the stone courses rising above it. This stone also had to be the right shape. A plumb bob was used to make sure that a wall rose vertically, not leaning inward or outward; but it was the cornerstone that provided both a pleasing corner and a sighting tool to confirm that the wall was following a straight and true line.” (Page 54)

“this image is extended in Ephesians to portray the church as a building that rises from a certain foundation.” (Page 56)

“play the key role in giving the building its symmetry and strength.” (Page 54)

“by its size, insignificance, and Jewish nationalism” (Page 181)

Product Details

• Title: Zondervan Dictionary of Biblical Imagery
• Author: John A. Beck
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Print Publication Date: 2011
• Logos Release Date: 2012
• Pages: 288
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subjects: Bible › Language, style--Dictionaries; Symbolism in the Bible › Dictionaries
• ISBNs: 9780310496670, 9780310292852, 0310496675, 0310292859
• Resource ID: LLS:ZPHDICTBBCLIMG
• Resource Type: Encyclopedia
• Metadata Last Updated: 2024-08-01T23:15:22Z

About John A. Beck

John A. Beck earned his PhD from Trinity International University and has taught courses in Hebrew and Old Testament at various colleges and universities for more than 20 years. He is currently an adjunct faculty member at Jerusalem University College in Israel. His books include The Land of Milk and Honey: An Introduction to the Geography of Israel, God as Storyteller: Seeking Meaning in Biblical Narrative, A Visual Guide to Bible Events, A Visual Guide to Gospel Events, and more.