A good Bible study library doesn’t need to be large. A few well-chosen reference books can answer most of the questions that come up as you read. But the names can be confusing: what is the difference between a concordance and a dictionary, or a dictionary and an encyclopedia? This guide explains each one simply.
Concordance: “Where is that verse?”
A concordance is an alphabetical index of the words in the Bible. Look up a word — say, shepherd — and it lists every verse (or the main verses) where that word appears, with a short line of the verse for each.
Use it to:
- find a verse when you remember only a word or two;
- study how a word is used across the Bible;
- prepare a topical sermon or Bible study.
Two kinds:
- Exhaustive concordances list every occurrence of every word. The best-known exhaustive concordance for the KJV is Strong’s, which also gives a number for each original Hebrew and Greek word, so you can see when different English words translate the same original word.
- Compact concordances list only the main verses and are much smaller and cheaper. Many Bibles include one at the back.
Important: a concordance matches one translation. A KJV concordance works with the KJV, an NIV concordance with the NIV.
Bible dictionary: “Who or what is this?”
A Bible dictionary contains short articles, arranged A to Z, on the people, places, objects, customs and ideas of the Bible. If you meet Philistines, ephod, Pentecost or Melchizedek and want to know more, a dictionary gives you a clear explanation in a paragraph or a page, often with photos, maps and charts.
Use it to: understand background quickly while reading or preparing a lesson.
Best for: almost everyone. If you buy only one reference book after a study Bible, make it a good one-volume Bible dictionary.
Bible encyclopedia: “Tell me everything”
An encyclopedia is like a dictionary but much bigger and more detailed. Articles are longer, are often written by specialists, and cover archaeology, history, languages and theology in depth. Bible encyclopedias usually come in several volumes.
Use it for: in-depth research, sermon preparation, teaching and church or college libraries.
Bible atlas: “Where did it happen?”
A Bible atlas contains maps of the lands of the Bible across different periods — the patriarchs, the exodus, the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, the journeys of Jesus and Paul — with explanations of geography, climate and travel routes.
Use it to: picture distances and places, which brings stories to life. Children and visual learners especially enjoy atlases.
Handbook: “Give me an overview”
A Bible handbook walks through the Bible book by book, giving a summary, background, key themes and helpful charts. It is less detailed than a commentary but excellent for getting the big picture before reading a book.
Commentary: “What does this passage mean?”
A commentary explains the Bible passage by passage. We have a separate guide on choosing a Bible commentary.
Which should you buy first?
| If you want to… | Start with |
|---|---|
| Understand difficult verses as you read | A study Bible |
| Look up people, places and customs | A Bible dictionary |
| Find a verse by a word you remember | A concordance |
| Get an overview of each book | A Bible handbook |
| Picture the places | A Bible atlas |
| Research a topic in depth | A Bible encyclopedia |
| Prepare sermons on a book | A commentary |
A practical starter library for a Sunday school teacher or small-group leader is: a study Bible, a one-volume Bible dictionary and a concordance for the version you use. Add a handbook, atlas, commentaries and an encyclopedia as your needs grow.
Saving money
Reference books hold their value well because the content doesn’t go out of date quickly. Used and pre-owned dictionaries, concordances and encyclopedias are an excellent way to build a library on a budget.
Browse our Bible dictionaries, encyclopedias, commentaries and Bible study collections.