Description
Dictionary of Biblical Imagery, Every reader of the Bible has encountered the powerful, comforting & sometimes puzzling imagery of Scripture. These concrete pictures with their hidden force have struck sharp & lasting impressions on our minds. Their imprint has etched itself on the language & grammar of Christian faith & Western culture. Why then do traditional Bible dictionaries & reference works offer so little help to explorers of the Bible’s galaxy of verbal pictures? They excel in describing the climate, borders & location of Galilee or Sinai. But they are often blind to the artistic expressions & deaf to the musical meanings that echo from within the world of the biblical text. The Dictionary of Biblical Imagery is the first contemporary reference work dedicated to exploring the images, symbols, motifs, metaphors & literary patterns found in the Bible. More than that, it examines the Bible’s universal archetypes or master images, including the plot motifs & character types that recur throughout life, literature & the Bible. This unique dictionary explores the dazzling variety in which the Word of God comes dressed in clothes of everyday life. It traces the trail of images from Eden to the New Jerusalem. It captures the plotted patterns of biblical narrative. It surveys the imaged texture of each book of the Bible. In short, The Dictionary of Biblical Imagery is an inviting, enlightening & indispensable companion to the reading, study, contemplation & enjoyment of the Bible.