Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary | AYBD (6 vols.)
Digital Verbum Edition
What is the AYBD?
The Anchor Bible Dictionary (AYBD) is a pivotal resource in biblical scholarship. This six-volume compendium, now digitized, offers over six thousand entries from eight hundred international scholars, covering a vast array of topics in both the Old and New Testaments.
The Anchor Bible Dictionary stands as an unparalleled reference tool in biblical studies. Its comprehensive coverage spans archaeology, theology, historical contexts, and literary analysis, making it invaluable for anyone from seasoned scholars to novice Bible readers.
These six volumes will appear as a single resource in your digital library.
- Extensive entries: Over 6,000 detailed articles covering every aspect of biblical studies.
- Illustrated content: Rich with illustrations and maps for better understanding.
- Interdisciplinary scope: Contributions from scholars in diverse fields including archaeology, Egyptology, and philosophy.
- Comprehensive cross-references: Extensive cross-referencing for in-depth research.
- Updated bibliographies: Each entry includes a full bibliography for further study.
Why choose the AYBD?
The Anchor Bible Dictionary is renowned for its thorough and authoritative content. Whether you’re researching specific biblical figures, historical events, or theological concepts, AYBD provides detailed insights supported by the latest scholarship.
How the AYBD enhances your study
By integrating the Anchor Bible Dictionary into your digital library, you gain access to interconnected resources that simplify your research process. Each entry is meticulously linked to relevant biblical passages, ensuring a seamless and enriched study experience.
FAQs about the AYBD
- What makes the AYBD unique? The AYBD is known for its comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach, involving contributions from experts across various fields.
- Who can benefit from the AYBD? Scholars, theologians, students, and anyone interested in deepening their understanding of the Bible.
- How many volumes are included? The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary comprises six volumes, each rich with detailed information.
- What topics does the dictionary cover? It covers a wide range of topics, including biblical characters, places, historical events, and theological concepts.
- How is this product different than the Anchor Bible Dictionary? The contents of the Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (AYBD) are identical to the Anchor Bible Dictionary (ABD). The name of the product has changed because the copyright for this resource was transferred from Doubleday to Yale University.
Mentioned in:
- Online Bible Dictionaries: Why Everyone Needs at Least One
- Improving Your Bible Study with Dictionaries
What You'll Learn
For each entry in Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (AYBD), you'll learn related Hebrew or Greek words, where that word or concept shows in the Old and New Testament, and information about the word or concept in external sources. Plus, you'll learn about related topics from articles from respected scholars in the field.
For example, in the entry on Joshua (the person), you'll learn that five persons in the Bible bear this name and that Joshua ben Hananiah was an important early rabbinic sage outside the biblical corpus. You'll learn where else in the Bible this name surfaces (and in the Logos version, all Bible entries are linked, so you can visit them immediately—a huge plus) and who it's referring to, as well as informative commentary for each that will broaden your understanding of the person according to the related context, culture, and background. Every supporting article includes an exhaustive bibliography to research the topic further.
You'll come away with a solid theological understanding of the word, topic, place, event, person, or idea and confidence that what you learned is backed by scholars in the field you can trust.
Top Highlights
“‘Repent and be baptized … so that your sins may be forgiven’ (Acts 2:38). Further usage links repentance not only with forgiveness (5:31) but also with ‘faith in our Lord Jesus’ (20:21) and with ‘life,’ as a result of repentance (11:18). In Acts 17:30–31 Paul on the Areopagus states God’s command for ‘all people everywhere to repent’ or be justly judged. Parallel to the phenomena in the gospels (NIDNTT 1: 359), repentance in Acts may be complementary to faith (20:21) or include faith (17:30) and leads to forgiveness of sins (2:38; 5:31) and eternal life (11:18).” (Volume 5, Page 673)
“JOY. The experience of deliverance and the anticipation of salvation provide the most significant occasions for rejoicing among the people of God in the OT. The coming of the Messiah, who delivers his people and brings salvation becomes the basis for rejoicing in the NT. The response of joy, gladness, or happiness is not only a deep inward feeling, but is expressed in celebration when God’s people gather together.” (Volume 3, Page 1022)
“In the following centuries the original meaning of the eucharistic sacramentum was entirely forgotten, and increasingly it came to be viewed either as a mysterious and mystical ‘communion’ with Christ, or (particularly for the laity) as a sacrificial ritual that served to heighten the sanctity (and the authority) of the presiding priestly hierarchy.” (Volume 1, Page 1199)
“When we review the rabbinic evidence, we discover that the basic issue separating the Sadducees and Pharisees/rabbis was purity.” (Volume 5, Page 893)
“There is wide agreement, however, that for most of the prophets, the Day of Yahweh meant that time in the relatively near future when Yahweh would punish not only his people’s enemies, but also his people (Israel, Judah, or the Jewish people) for breaking the covenant. Then, either through a new Davidic king or messiah or by acting directly, Yahweh would establish his own rule or kingdom over all the earth.” (Volume 2, Page 83)
The Anchor Yale Bible Series, previously the Anchor Bible Series, is a renowned publishing program that for more than 50 years has produced books devoted to the latest scholarship on the Bible and biblical topics. Yale University Press, having acquired this prestigious series in 2007, is now proud to offer all previously published Anchor Bible titles as well as new books—more than 115 titles in all. Many more volumes are in progress as the AYB Editorial Board, under the direction of General Editor John J. Collins, vigorously pursues the goal of bringing to a wide audience the most important new ideas, the latest research findings, and the clearest possible analysis of the Bible. Widely recognized as the flagship of American biblical scholarship, the Anchor Yale Bible Series is comprised of:
- Anchor Yale Bible Commentary Series (AYBC), a book-by-book translation and exegesis of the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament, and the Apocrypha
- Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (AYBD), a state-of-the-art dictionary in six volumes with more than 6,000 entries from 800 international scholars
- The Anchor Yale Bible Reference Library, containing more than 40 volumes by foremost scholars from a variety of religious backgrounds who focus on broad biblical themes
...Because of the numerous developments in biblical scholarship during the past three decades, the editor felt (rightly) that it was time for a Bible dictionary that would represent the current state of the discipline.
The Anchor Bible Dictionary (ABD) is the result of his vision. The ABD is both international and interconfessional, with nearly 1,000 contributors from around the world representing Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, and Muslim traditions (and also those of no religious tradition). The list of contributing scholars includes names long associated with biblical and theological studies. The currency of the dictionary as a whole is reflected especially in the inclusion of such subjects as the Dead Sea Scrolls, early Jewish-Christian relations, the historical Jesus, and sociological and literary methods of biblical criticism (including feminist hermeneutics), and in numerous entries on archaeological sites.
In addition, the bibliographies are usually up to date and often extensive. Unlike previous Bible dictionaries, the bibliographic entries in the ABD are complete citations, listed individually rather than in a run-on fashion, and hence easier to use.
...The ABD deserves a place on the shelves beside the standard Bible dictionaries of previous generations and is recommended for public, academic, and seminary libraries.
—Craig W. Beard, University of Alabama at Birmingham Library
- Title: Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (formerly Anchor Bible Dictionary)
- Editors: David Noel Freedman, Gary A. Herion, David F. Graf, John David Pleins, Astrid B. Beck
- Abbreviation: AYBD (formerly ABD)
- Publisher: Yale University Press
- Print Publication Date: 1992
- Logos Release Date: 2001
- Volumes: 6
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subject: Bible › Dictionaries
- Resource ID: LLS:14.0.4
- Resource Type: Encyclopedia
David Noel Freedman (1922–2008) was a Jewish-American biblical scholar, author, editor, archaeologist, and Presbyterian clergyman. He earned his BA from City College of New York, graduated from UCLA at age 17, and earned his Bachelor of Theology from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1944, then studied Semitic Languages and Literature at Johns Hopkins University.
In 1947, while a graduate student, Freedman was one of the first American scholars, along with other archaeologists, to participate in excavating the caves near the Dead Sea, unearthing thousands of fragments of texts. He would spend the next 20 years painstakingly studying and translating a scroll of Leviticus—one of the books of the Torah found in the caves. After earning his doctorate in 1948, he held several academic and administrative positions at various theological institutions and universities.
In addition to editing Anchor Bible Dictionary (AYBD), David Noel Freedman was the general editor of several other distinguished series, including Eerdmans Critical Commentaries (2000–08) and The Bible in Its World (2000–08). In addition, he edited and authored many other award-winning works, including the Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000). He also produced over 330 scholarly books, including The Unity of the Hebrew Bible (1991); Psalm 119: The Exaltation of Torah (1999); The Nine Commandments (2000); and What Are the Dead Sea Scrolls and Why Do They Matter? (2007).
A highlight of his career was editing the Leningrad Codex: A Facsimile Edition (1998), in which, for the first time in history, Freedman and his colleagues brought the world's oldest complete Hebrew Bible to churches, synagogues, libraries, and laypeople.
Reviews
240 ratings
Getachew Yohannes
10/28/2024
Anatolii Tsoniev
9/5/2024
David Anfinrud
6/13/2024
A resource to use to help understand Topics. I have used this in the Past. Providing a good set to read a little deeper into topics. Like all resources compare the information from other resources to ensure you get a good coverage on a topic. When they say it is gold standard I want to look very carefully. This is a resource that can help you grow.Pitrell
5/5/2024
A very comprehensive lexicon, but in the tone of unbelieving theologians. If you can cope with the sometimes disgusting subjunctive verbiage ala Bultman, you will find many sources and thoughts here. However, most of the knowledge is already covered by the much cheaper Lexham Bible Dictionary, which has a similar scope. Here is one of many examples that await the reader: "Probably relying on ideas drawn from Isaiah 52-53, understood and nuanced in new ways, Mark's Jesus claims that his death initiates a covenant that will effect "a ransom for many."
Tracy Spaur
3/12/2023
Stanislav Lanc
12/1/2022
One of the best I use. Extensive, perfect work. I'm glad I was able to get it this year.Matthew Rini
5/24/2021
I have several biblical resources, and I have noticed that this resource has consistently come up in many of my searches into esoteric subjects. Highly recommend!
Slawomir Gromadzki
12/31/2020
