Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible (DDD)
Digital Verbum Edition
The Standard Dictionary of Demons
The definitive single-volume scholarly dictionary on gods, angels, demons, spirits, and semi-divine heroes found in the biblical books.
What's Inside:
- Over 400 Meticulously Researched Names: A comprehensive dictionary of demons and deities from the Hebrew and Greek Bible.
- Comprehensive Coverage: Includes entries from the Old Testament, New Testament, and the Apocrypha.
- In-Depth Entries: Each entry provides a discussion of the name, its meaning, religio-historical background, relevant biblical passages, and up-to-date bibliography.
- Expert Authorship: The result of a common effort by over a hundred international scholars, ensuring unmatched academic rigor.
- Explore the meaning of 'deity' in the Bible and how various divine beings are understood across different biblical contexts.
- Uncover the complex roles of figures like Baal, Asherah, Leviathan, and Lilith, along with other significant biblical demons and spirits.
- Gain insights into biblical demonology, ancient Near Eastern polytheism, and the spiritual cosmology of the biblical world.
- This resource is an essential tool for anyone seeking to understand the spiritual beings that shape the biblical narrative.
Chosen for their special competence, the contributors write about those deities or demons for which their research makes them eminently qualified. Acting as advisors are Hans Dieter Betz (Chicago), André Caquot (Paris), Jonas C. Greenfield (Jerusalem), Erik Hornung (Basel), Michael Stone (Jerusalem), and Manfred Weipert (Heidelberg).
Top Highlights
“Beginning in the second millennium Assur was given a theological personality by regarding him as the Assyrian Enlil, Enlil being the god of Nippur and one of the most important figures in the pantheon of Babylonia.” (Page 108)
“A third group of deities consists of gods mentioned in the Bible, but not in their capacity as gods. They are the so-called demythologized deities.” (source)
“The geographical indication Bashan functions as the depiction of the divine abode in Ps 68:16 and Deut 33:22, also without article, related possibly to Canaanite mythology which places here the heavenly/infernal dwelling place of its deified dead kings, echoed in the Biblical geographical tradition mentioned in bāšān I a) and probably in b).” (Page 161)
“It should be stressed that the Egyptian gods are not eternal, not all-seeing and all-knowing, and not all-powerful.” (Page 354)
“Although Behemoth is not mentioned in the NT, Rev 13 patently is informed by the Leviathan-Behemoth tradition. In this pericope two kindred beasts rise up in united opposition to the righteous, the one beast ‘from the →Sea’ (13:1) and ‘another beast which rose out of the →Earth’ (13:11).” (Page 166)
This unique source is a grand scholarly achievement whose depth, breadth, and contemporaneity will make it useful to scholars and graduate students in religion and ancient cultures. Highly recommended for any library supporting programs in religion.
—D. Bourquin, Choice, 1996
...this is a fine work, and DDD will not fail to become a household term of scholars. The editors - and not to forget the publisher - can be congratulated on their achievement.
—Internationale Zeitschriftenschau für Bibelwissenschaft und Grenzgebiete, 1995
...an excellent resource on the religious background of the Bible...an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the religious background of the Bible.
—Rich Johnson, Southwestern Journal of Theology, 1998.
It is an authoritative resource, an exhaustive catalog of super-natural beings whose names appear in the Bible (that is, the Hebrew Bible, The Septuagint, and the New Testament)...Recommended for academic collections...
—Craig W. Beard, Library Journal, 1999.
Every serious student of the Bible and its ancient setting must have this important tool near his or her desk.
—Internationale Zeitschriftenschau für Bibelwissenschaft und Grenzgebiete, 1999.
…magnificently produced…This work is invaluable for the beginning and competent reseracher.
—Linda L. Lam-Easton, American Reference Books Annual, 2000.
Reviews
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6/29/2025
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4/2/2025
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3/20/2024
