Discipleship
Southwestern Journal of Theology
Volume 50, No. 2 - Spring 2008
Managing Editor: Malcolm B. Yarnell III
Edited by G. Johannes Botterweck, Helmer Ringgren, and Heinz-Josef Fabry. Translated by David E. Green. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2006. 702 + xxiv pages. Hardcover, $65.00.
The Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament has long been considered a staple of Old Testament studies. Now with the completion of the English translation of volume 15, the almost three-decade effort is nearly finished. This work concludes the study of the Hebrew words: forthcoming are volumes 16 and 17, covering the Aramaic terms and a general index respectively.
This volume is a translation from the German Theologisches Wörterbuch zum Alten Testament, which was published in 1994. In all, 61 scholars contribute to the 86 articles comprising this volume which ranges from שׇׁכַר (to become intoxicated) to תַּרְשִׁישׁ (Tarshish). Occasionally, one of the editors or other contributors will add a paragraph in the middle of the discussion that supplements that material. These interjections are added seamlessly into the flow of the article and add to the scholarship. The words are arranged alphabetically according to the Hebrew, but are transliterated throughout the dictionary. Thus, while knowledge of biblical Hebrew is helpful in understanding the discussions, it is not essential.
The authors’ preface from the very first volume stated their three-fold goal, “The major goal of all the studies in this work is to present the fundamental concepts intended by the respective words and terms, the traditions in which they occur, and the different nuances of meaning they have in each tradition.” To accomplish that goal, each article includes a thorough investigation of the various concepts, traditions, and interpretations of the words, including etymology, lexical field, occurrences, derivatives, archeological insights, cognates, and both theological and secular uses. The various nuances of the lexemes are systematically addressed to give a full understanding of the term.
The work is thoroughly annotated and many of the articles include an extensive bibliography. This particular volume includes articles of sig- nificant importance. The publishers point out שׇׁלו̇ם (peace), שֵׁם (name), שׇׁמַיִם (heaven), שׇׁמַצ (hear), שֶׁמֶשׁ (sun), שׇׁפַט (judge), and תּו̇רׇה (instruction), as being particularly significant. Also included are שׇׁלַח (send), שׇׁמַר (watch, keep), שׇׁנׇה (year), שַׁצַר (gate), and תּו̇לְרו̇ת (family, clan).
This volume will be an invaluable tool to students and ministers seeking to understand better these terms in an effort to communicate more effectively.
