Technical and Analytical Lexica and Dictionaries

• Brown, Francis, Samuel R. Driver, and Charles A. Briggs. The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon: Coded with Strong’s Concordance Numbers. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1906. Repr., Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1994.
  • Available online for free
  • SBL abbreviation: BDB
  • This was the dominant lexicon for scholars and serious students for the majority of the 20th century. It was based on Gesenius’s lexicon, listed below. BDB is still valuable, although it was written before significant archaeological discoveries related to ancient Hebrew and cognate languages.
  • Currently under major revision (click for more information)
  • Entries are listed by their root, which sometimes makes it hard to navigate. A separate index is available to help find entries.
• Clines, David J. A., ed. The Dictionary of Classical Hebrew. 9 vols. Sheffield: Sheffield Phoenix Press, 1993-2015.
  • SBL abbreviation: DCH
  • This massive Hebrew dictionary includes entries on extra-biblical texts up to 200 CE (Ben Sira, Dead Sea Scrolls, inscriptions). As indicated by the name, the DCH only covers Hebrew, not Aramaic. It is currently being revised.
  • DCH takes a different approach to lexicography than other items on this list. It does not contain information on cognates. Instead, it is informed by modern linguistic understanding and includes syntagmatic analysis.
  • Can also function as a concordance, as it lists every occurrence for each word
  • At 9 volumes, each costing hundreds of dollars, it is usually only purchased by academic libraries. However, it can be purchased for a reasonable price on Bible software.
  • See the introductory announcement of the DCH by its editor, David Clines.
• Gesenius, Wilhelm. Gesenius’s Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament Scriptures. Edited and translated by S.P. Tregelles. London: Samuel Bagster and Sons, 1857. Repr., Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1979.
  • Compiled by the “father of Hebrew lexicography” (1786-1842), this volume is the basis for nearly every Hebrew lexicon to come after, with the exception of DCH.
  • Although it is out of date in terms of its scholarship, it can commonly be found for free online.
• *Koehler, Ludwig and Walter Baumgartner. The Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament. 2 vols. Translated by M. E. J. Richardson. Leiden: Brill Academic Publishers, 2002. 
  • SBL abbreviation: HALOT
  • This lexicon has replaced BDB (above) as the premiere lexicon for Old Testament studies.
  • It has become harder to find in print in recent years, but can be purchased for use in Bible software.
• Owens, John J. Analytical Key to the Old Testament. 4 vols. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 1989-92.
  • This four volume set is different from other lexica listed above. It provides full parsing information of every word in the Old Testament.
  • It has largely been rendered obsolete since the advent of modern Bible software. Parsing information can also be found freely online (e.g. Blue Letter Bible).

Handbook Lexica

• Clines, David J. A., ed. The Concise Dictionary of Classical Hebrew. Sheffield: Sheffield Phoenix Press, 2009. 
  • An abridgment of the nine-volume DCH, above
• *Holladay, William L., ed. A Concise Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament: Based on the First, Second and Third Editions of the Koehler-Baumgartner Lexicon in Veteris Testamenti Libros. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, MI: 1988. 
  • An abridgment of HALOT, above

Theological and Exegetical Lexica and Dictionaries¹

• Botterweck, G. Johannes, Helmer Ringgren and Heinz-Josef Fabry, eds. Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament. 17 vols. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1977-2021.
  • SBL abbreviation: TDOT
  • Translation of the German Theologisches Wörterbuch zum Alten Testament. The first volume of the German appeared in 1970
  • Volumes 1-15 cover the Hebrew of the Old Testament; volume 16 covers the Aramaic portions; volume 17 is an index with supplementary bibliography.
  • Very expensive to purchase in print, but more affordable in electronic form in Bible software
• Harris, R. L., G. L. Archer, Jr., and B. K. Waltke. Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament. 2 vols. Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1980. 
  • SBL abbreviation: TWOT
  • Evangelical
• Jenni, Ernst, and Claus Westermann. Theological Lexicon of the Old Testament. 3 vols. Translated by Mark E. Biddle. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1997.
  • SBL abbreviation: TLOT
  • Sometimes hard to find in print (at an affordable price), but readily available in electronic form in Bible software
• *VanGemeren, Willem A. New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology and Exegesis. 5 vols. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1997.
  • SBL abbreviation: NIDOTTE
  • Evangelical
  • Sometimes hard to find in print (at an affordable price), but readily available in electronic form in Bible software

Technical and Analytical Lexica and Dictionaries

• Beekes, Robert. Etymological Dictionary of Greek. 2 vols. Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary. Leiden: Brill, 2016.
  • Provides etymological information on 7500+ Greek words, including its first attestation
  • Covers over 2000 years of ancient Greek
  • Sometimes hard to find in print form (at an affordable price), but readily available in print form in Bible software
• *Danker, Frederick William, Walter Bauer, William F. Arndt, and F. Wilbur Gingrich. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. 3rd ed. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 2001.
  • SBL abbreviation: BDAG
  • Widely considered the most important lexicon for New Testament Greek
• Liddell, Henry George, and Robert Scott with Henry Stuart Jones, and Roderick McKenzie. A Greek-English Lexicon. 9th ed. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1996.
  • SBL abbreviation: LSJ
  • A standard lexicon for classical Greek
• Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene A. Nida. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains. 2nd ed. 2 vols. New York, NY: United Bible Societies, 1988-89.
  • This lexicon is structured differently than others on this list. Instead of listing all words alphabetically, it groups together words according to their various meanings. Those meanings are then arranged topically. This arrangement highlights distinctions among similar words.
  • Available in Bible software.
• Lust, Johan, Erik Eynikel, and Katrin Hauspie. Greek-English Lexicon of the Septuagint. Rev. ed. Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 2008.
  • SBL abbreviation: LEH
  • A Greek lexicon specifically for the Septuagint.
  • The glosses provided are often based on recourse to a Hebrew Vorlage.
  • Compare with Muraoka, below.
• Montanari, Franco. The Brill Dictionary of Ancient Greek. Leiden: Brill, 2015.
  • This dictionary is quickly becoming a new favorite for scholars of ancient Greek.
  • Covers ancient Greek (literature, inscriptions, papyri, etc.) up to the 6th century CE.
  • Also available as an online subscription through Brill, which is periodically updated with new and expanded entries.
  • Readily available through Bible software.
• Mounce, William D. The Analytical Lexicon to the Greek New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1993.
  • As an analytical lexicon, this volume lists alphabetically every inflected form of every word in the Greek New Testament. This can be helpful if you are having trouble identifying the lexical form of a word. The glosses provided are fairly basic.
• Muraoka, T. A Greek-English Lexicon of the Septuagint. Leuven: Peeters, 2009.
  • A Greek lexicon specifically for the Septuagint
  • The glosses provided are based on the meaning of Greek words at the time the Septuagint was written.
  • Compare with LEH, above.
• Taylor, Bernard A. Analytical Lexicon to the Septuagint: Expanded Edition. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2009.
  • Arranged similarly to Mounce, above. Every inflected form of every word in the Septuagint is listed alphabetically.
  • Glosses provided for each word are drawn from LEH, above.
• Thayer, Joseph. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Coded with Strong’s Concordance Numbers. 4th ed. Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1896. Repr., Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1995.
  • An older lexicon, but still very useful with references to biblical and extra-biblical occurrences of words (sometimes going back to Attic, before Koine).
  • Written before the discovery of many significant manuscript discoveries in the 20th century.
  • Strong’s numbers are used, making it possible for those with no Greek to navigate.

Handbook Lexica

• Danker, Frederick W., and F. Wilbur Gingrich. Shorter Lexicon of the Greek New Testament. 2nd ed. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 1983.
  • Based on BDAG, above
  • Contains entries for all Greek words (as occurring in NA26), but with briefer definitions than those found in BDAG
• *Danker, William Frederick. The Concise Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 2009.
  • Based on the NA27 Greek text
  • Not an abridgment or revision of other works by Danker
  • Includes etymological information for many entries
• Newman, Barclay M. Greek-English Dictionary of the New Testament. Rev. ed. Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 2010.
  • Available as a standalone volume, but often included with printed copies of the Greek New Testament published by Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft
  • Glosses are very brief, designed to keep one reading (not analyzing information provided in each entry)
• Trenchard, Warren C. A Concise Dictionary of New Testament Greek. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003.
  • Draws heavily on BDAG, above

Theological and Exegetical Lexica and Dictionaries (see footnote 1, below)

• Balz, Horst, and Gerhard Schneider, eds. Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament. 3 vols. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1993.
  • SBL abbreviation: EDNT
  • Translated from the German original: Exegetisches Wörterbuch zum Neuen Testament (1980-1983)
  • Shorter articles than TDNT (below), but more up-to-date
• Brown, Colin, ed. The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology. 4 vols. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1975-78.
  • SBL abbreviation: NIDNTT
  • Adapted from the German Exegetisches Wörterbuch zum Neuen Testament (1965-1971)
  • Greek terms are not arranged alphabetically. Instead, they are grouped together with other terms expressing similar concepts (e.g. baptism, faith, glory, etc.). The index (vol. 4) is indispensable for locating relevant entries.
  • Avoids some of the criticisms made by James Barr (The Semantics of Biblical Language) against TDNT, below
  • Pastoral in tone
• Kittel, Gerhard, and Gerhard Friedrich, eds. Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. 10 vols. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1964-76.
  • SBL abbreviation: TDNT
  • Translated from the German Exegetisches Wörterbuch zum Neuen Testament (1933-1979)
  • Monumental work, with much valuable information and analysis
  • Earlier volumes were criticized by James Barr (The Semantics of Biblical Language). Later volumes largely corrected the problems in methodology.
  • Readily available in Bible software.
• *Silva, Moisés, ed. New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology and Exegesis. 5 vols. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2014.
  • Extensive revision of NIDNTT, above
  • Unlike NIDNTT, (Greek) terms are arranged alphabetically. However, a list of concepts is provided in vol. 1.
• Spicq, Ceslas, ed. Theological Lexicon of the New Testament. 3 vols. Translated by James D. Ernest. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1993.
  • SBL abbreviation: TLNT
  • Translated from the French Notes de Lexicographie Néo-Testamentaire (1978-1982; this English version is based on the 1991 French revision)

Technical and Analytical Dictionaries and Lexica

• Brown, Francis, Samuel R. Driver, and Charles A. Briggs. The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon: Coded with Strong’s Concordance Numbers. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1906. Repr., Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1994.
  • See BDB under Hebrew lexica, above.
• Gesenius, Wilhelm. Gesenius’s Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament Scriptures. Edited and translated by S.P. Tregelles. London: Samuel Bagster and Sons, 1857. Repr., Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1979.
  • See Gesenius under Hebrew lexical, above.
• Jastrow, Marcus. Dictionary of the Targumim, the Talmud Babli and Yerushalmi, and the Midrashic Literature. London: Luzac & Co./New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1903. Repr., Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2006.
  • Older, but still a valuable resource for Aramaic
• *Koehler, Ludwig and Walter Baumgartner. The Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament. 2 vols. Translated by M. E. J. Richardson. Leiden: Brill Academic Publishers, 2002. 
  • See HALOT under Hebrew lexica, above.
• Owens, John J. Analytical Key to the Old Testament. 4 vols. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 1989-92.
  • See Owens under Hebrew lexica, above
• Sokoloff, Michael. A Dictionary of Jewish Palestinian Aramaic of the Byzantine Period. 3rd ed. Dictionaries of Talmud, Midrash and Targum II/Publications of The Comprehensive Aramaic Lexicon Project. Ramat-Gan: Bar Ilan University Press/Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2017.
  • With the next entry, this is the best and most up-to-date lexicon for Aramaic available.
• Sokoloff, Michael. A Dictionary of Jewish Babylonian Aramaic of the Talmudic and Geonic Periods. Dictionaries of Talmud, Midrash and Targum III/Publications of The Comprehensive Aramaic Lexicon Project. Ramat-Gan: Bar Ilan University Press/Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2002.
  • See previous lexicon.

Handbook Lexica

• *Holladay, William L., ed. A Concise Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament: Based on the First, Second and Third Editions of the Koehler-Baumgartner Lexicon in Veteris Testamenti Libros. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, MI: 1988. 
  • See Holladay under Hebrew lexica, above.

Theological and Exegetical Lexica and Dictionaries (see footnote 1, below)

• Botterweck, G. Johannes, Helmer Ringgren and Heinz-Josef Fabry, eds. Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament. 17 vols. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1977-2021.
  • See TDOT under Hebrew lexica, above.
• Harris, R. L., G. L. Archer, Jr., and B. K. Waltke. Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament. 2 vols. Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1980.
  • See TWOT under Hebrew lexica, above.
• Jenni, Ernst, and Claus Westermann. Theological Lexicon of the Old Testament. 3 vols. Translated by Mark E. Biddle. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1997.
  • See TLOT under Hebrew lexica, above.
• *VanGemeren, Willem A. New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology and Exegesis. 5 vols. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1997.
  • See NIDOTTE under Hebrew lexica, above.