Dictionary of Biblical Imagery

Dictionary of Biblical Imagery
By Leland Ryken et. al. (editors)
IVP. 1,058 pages. £29.99 (hardback)

My postman is no doubt still hobbling after delivering IVP's latest major reference work. The monumental Dictionary of Biblical Imagery is published by American IVP, but British IVP has been closely involved: Colin Duriez, UK General Books Editor, was a consulting editor, and a good number of UK names feature in the contributor list, which includes both Bible scholars and literary experts. (Disappointingly, the articles are unsigned. The reason, explain the editors, is that most articles have been worked over by many editorial hands).
'Image' (a vague term at best) means generally 'metaphor; symbol; striking language; any sensuous effect provoked by literary language'. Why a dictionary of biblical imagery? Mainly because there is not one currently available.* Many Bible readers recognise that literary considerations contribute significantly to the text's meaning. For example, the literary structure of the fourth Gospel has illuminated many sermons and also commentaries (for example, those by Stephen Smalley, William Hendriksen and Oscar Cullman).

Exploration

The new dictionary includes articles on such topics as 'Colours', 'Magic', 'Horn', 'Farming' and many, many more. Under 'Farming', where conventional Bible dictionaries discuss how and with what implements biblical people farmed, this dictionary explains why, when biblical people wanted to communicate certain themes and ideas, it was farming images that came to their minds. Other articles explore the way that certain images recur in God's communication to humanity: there is a moving article on 'Prostitution', and one on 'Bride, Bridegroom' that sets out God's perfect plan. Some are very comprehensive indeed: the long article on 'Images of Jesus' would make a useful little booklet on its own. Many of the articles are illustrated with informative line drawings.
Like all good reference books, the Dictionary tempts you, once (or even before) you've found the in-formation you were looking for, to linger and browse. The article on 'Humour' is just one example of an article where a quick glance turns into a fascinating read. The article on 'Women' tackles some difficult areas, boldly proposing a definition of various aspects of gender equality that draws on some unexpected biblical imagery. Words often neglected - like 'New' - are given detailed investigation. One of the most stimulating article-types is that where a whole book of the Bible is considered in terms of imagery: 'Judges' is particularly good.

Prospecting for gold

Some articles seem too comprehensive: would anyone exploring biblical images of 'gold' really look in the first instance under 'Minerals'? The article does contain interesting comments on the theme of minerals, but would have been better as a much shorter article with cross-references to particular minerals. There is no general entry for 'Metals'; the only entry under 'Precious' refers you to 'Jewels and precious stones'; 'Gold' does have its own article, but the section on 'Gold' in 'Minerals' isn't much shorter. You have to scan both to see if either adds anything to the other.
On the other hand, the book is aimed primarily at non-academics, and there are plentiful cross-references (though I did feel that the term 'Image' deserved a longer article than a mere reference to 'Adam').

Battling for an index

A book like this cries out for a thorough index of biblical references, and it gets one - 40 meticulous pages that will become very thumbed in my copy. The subject index, sadly, is a very different matter: looking for 'Gold' here results in around 130 page references with no hint as to their contents. Using this index will be a laborious task, especially as not every topic that is the subject of an article receives an index entry. Spot-checks are discouraging too. Can't remember where you found 'Valleys of Battle'? (It's a subsection of 'Valleys' on p.909.) Tough: only 'Battle Scenes' is indexed, though not p.909. That page is indexed under 'Valleys' - but you'll have to check around 60 pages to find the one you want. More significantly, the index provides no link from the image of battle to the image of the Christian life as battle - a key Bible image. One suspects the hand of an unregenerate computer here, though the decision to have no general article on 'Battle' and just a rather bitty collection of cross-references under 'Warfare' must have been an editorial one.

Nothing to touch it

Throughout, coverage of complex topics is often reduced to their sub-topics, under which more general topics often appear that would have made better general entries followed by cross-references. Thus, much helpful material on images of spiritual warfare appears under 'Weapons'.
However, the book is largely self-indexing - I suspect most readers will find most of what they want easily enough. The minor technical blemishes ought not to stop any serious Bible student considering buying it. It may seem expensive, but it will be a companion for life. Many of us, when students, saved for months to buy the IVP one-volume Dictionary and Commentary, and we still turn to them regularly. The Dictionary of Biblical Imagery will serve you just as well, especially as there is literally nothing to touch it.

* But see TROPOLOGIA, A Key to Open Scripture Metaphors, by the Rev. Benjamin Keach, republished 1856, by William Hill Collingbridge.

David Porter

© Evangelicals Now - February 1999
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