One of the best Bible Encyclopedias. A comprehensive encyclopedia of Bible people, places, objects, events, culture, history and artifacts. This book includes many color photos and maps. No study library should be without at least one Bible Dictionary/Encyclopedia and this is a good one to start with.

[This is for the new edition]
The Holman Bible Dictionary edited by Trent C. Butler has become one of the best-selling Bible reference tools since its publication in 1991. Now this revised and expanded edition called the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary offers even greater value to Bible students and teachers.

The Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary is designed both for those who need information quickly and those who want in depth treatments of hundreds of topics. Each entry begins with a brief definition of the word followed by more detailed information.

Through its more than 700 full-color graphics, the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary brings readers right into the world of the Bible and enables them to better understand the Scriptures.

Anthony C. Garland from Camano Island, WA USA
[This review is for the new edition]
This is probably the best new bible dictionary to come along in some time. It contains over 700 full-color photos, illustrations, charts, and maps. And these are not just "eye-candy," they are meaty and well thought-out. For example, under the topic of "Revelation" there is a 5-page chart which summarizes how each of the major interpretive views (amill, historic pre-mill, pretrib premill, preterist, postmill) understands each major point of interpretation or passage (e.g., seven heads of Rev 13, Beast, bride of Christ, etc.). The maps are beautifully done and the text is conservative and information-dense. This is not your typical fluff published to make a fast buck. The topics covered are extremely comprehensive. This may be the best single-volume Bible Dictionary I've seen to date. The only slighly negative observation I could make is the size of the work (over 1700 pages) is a bit large for a single volume and the binding could probably be better. (I haven't had a problem yet, but I can tell that I need to handle it carefully due to its size and weight.)

Minister Ledbetter (ledbetters -- netscape.com), a holiness Gospel preacher
I am thoroughly impressed with this Bible Dictionary! It is a MUST HAVE for Bible Students. Everything is explained in detail. This is an excellent reference tool for pastors, Bible teachers, students, families and individuals who appreciate a comprehensive approach to learning.

Jan M Nace from Gowanda, New York United States
This little gem has more than meets the eye. Granted, it is a conservative (but not lacking in information) approach, but avoids the liberal academic pitfalls so often found in their literature (critical analysis etc). This is a user friendly book, thick in size and content is generous. Most of all it comes across trustworthy and reliable, not full of conjecture. A quiet authoritive spiritual treatment without the heavy-handness to go with it. I have used one for years after using many others of the same genre and I prefer Holman's for overall satisfaction after reading it.

Nigel P Lamb from European Union
Do you get what you pay for when you purchase one of the cheaper dictionaries? Yes and no. The book itself reminds you from the moment you open it that it was cheap: the paper is not the best quality around; the book creaks and groans as you page through it (just how long will it be before the spine cracks and breaks?); the quality of the photos is, in general, nothing short of abominable (in the 1960's and 1970's they would have been acceptable).

The dictionary entries are good, if you like conservative biblical scholarship. Reference to various (modern) translations of the bible makes it quite a useful book. But one essential ingredient of a good scholarly work is missing: a bibliography. Of the three dictionaries I know (Eerdmans, HarperCollins and this one from Holman), the Holman is the only one totally lacking any kind of bibliography. For the lay-user maybe not a problem. For an academic user a great problem. I would advise academic users to consider either the Eerdmans or the HarperCollins publications.

For the lay-user this is a useful publication at a good price. For academic users this might be handy to have as a second dictionary but it is, thanks to its lack of a bibliography, unsuitable as a sole work of reference.

Biga Cubensis from BUDAORS Hungary
Very useful and it has at not least very nice fashion. Nice pictures, a lot of text, historical timelines. I recommend to everyone who studies the Bible.

Anthony J. Valasek from Clemmons, NC United States
This is a very thorough dictionary that covers just about everything in a non-biased manner considering all opinions and possibilities. This is in the top 2 of Bible Dictionaries I've seen, hence why I have it. All serious Bible students need to have access to this one.

lwm99 from New Tazewell, Tn.
This is one of the finest reference works that I have ever seen. The subjects it covers,and they are many, are covered more thoroughly than any other work I have encountered.

Richard D. Wright from Groveland, Massachusetts
Having just finished four years of seminary, I found the Holman Bible Dictionary to be invaluable. Often, I needed some source verse, or a specialized meaning for a Bible term, and Holman had it at my fingertips. Everything from Aaron to Zuzite plus a wealth of other information including maps, photographs, and illustrations rounds out a first rate reference for the seminarian, pastor, lay person, or even crossword puzzler! I can not do without Holman as a constant source for facts, ideas, and verse citations. I recommend this book highly as the first one to serve as the foundation for your personal library.