Evaluation

Overall Score: 8.3/10

We find this a substantial and pastor friendly Bible dictionary that offers reliable definitions and useful background for teaching Scripture.

Publication Date(s): 2006

Pages: 1416

ISBN: 9780802490667

Accuracy & Reliability: 8.5/10

We find the entries generally reliable and conservative, offering definitions and explanations that aim to clarify Scripture rather than undermine it.

Breadth of Coverage: 8/10

We find the coverage broad and balanced across biblical themes, with a steady theological tone, even when the dictionary format naturally limits explicit gospel emphasis.

Clarity of Articles: 8.5/10

We benefit from entries that often go beyond a brief gloss, providing background and biblical synthesis that can genuinely aid interpretation.

Theological Soundness: 8/10

We find the definitions generally clear and well structured, though some longer entries require slower reading to follow the detail.

Usefulness for Preaching & Teaching: 8.5/10

We find it consistently helpful for sermon preparation, especially for quick orientation on terms, names, places, and recurring themes.

Ease of Use & Layout: 8/10

We find it easy to consult and browse, though its size means it works best as a desk reference rather than a carry around tool.

Summary

At a Glance

Length: 1416 pages
Type: Specialised
Theo. Perspective: Broadly Evangelical
Overall score: 8.3 / 10
Strength: Wide coverage with consistently useful entries for day to day pastoral study.
Limitation: A single volume cannot offer full depth on complex debates, so it works best alongside more specialised references.

We find The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary to be a substantial, conservative reference work that has served pastors for decades. It offers a wide range of entries on people, places, customs, doctrines, and key biblical terms, often giving more than a brief definition, and regularly supplying the kind of background that helps us read a passage with clearer eyes.

We also appreciate its steady confidence in the reliability of Scripture. The tone is not speculative, and it generally aims to clarify rather than impress. For day to day ministry, that matters. When we are pressed for time and need quick orientation on a name, a place, or a theme, this dictionary usually gets us moving in the right direction.

Why Should I Own This Resource?

We should own this dictionary because it is built for practical use. The entries are typically direct, the cross referencing is helpful, and the scope is broad enough that we can consult it for both ordinary reading questions and sermon preparation.

We also find it useful for giving context without pushing us away from the text. Geography, ancient practice, and biblical history are treated as servants to interpretation, not substitutes for it. That makes it a good companion for pastors who want background help while keeping exegesis central.

We do want to use it with the same discernment we apply to any single volume reference work. Some entries, especially where interpretive frameworks come into play, may lean in a more conservative evangelical direction that will not always match every Reformed instinct. Even so, the overall stance is pastorally safe and the utility is real.

Closing Recommendation

We recommend The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary as a strong, workmanlike tool for pastors and serious readers who want reliable definitions and helpful background in one substantial volume. It is not the only dictionary we should own, but it is a worthwhile one.

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Classification

Level: Mid-level
Best For: Busy pastors, General readers
Priority: Strong recommendation

Reviewed by

An Expositor

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