Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible
Encyclopedia
The Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible (DDD) is an academic reference work edited by Karel van der Toorn
, Bob Becking and Pieter W. van der Horst
which contains academic articles on the named gods, angels, and demons in the books of the Hebrew Bible
, Septuagint and Apocrypha
, as well as the Christian Bible and patristic literature
.
The first edition (Brill) appeared in 1995 and was chosen by Choice magazine of the American Library Association
as Best Reference Work of 1996. The second extensively revised edition (Eerdmans, 960pp) appeared in 1999. An electronic edition (Logos) appeared in 2001.
Advisors included Hans Dieter Betz
, André Caquot (1923–2004), Jonas C. Greenfield
(1926–1995), Erik Hornung
Professor of Egyptology
at Basel University, Michael E. Stone
of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
, and Manfred Weipert of the University of Heidelberg.
Some of the articles overlap with, and may be written from different perspectives, articles in other major academic reference works such as the Anchor Bible Dictionary (ABD). For example the article on Lilith
in ABD gives a very different perspective on surviving Mesopotamian evidence than DDD.
Karel van der Toorn
Karel van der Toorn is a Dutch scholar of ancient religions. From 2006 to 2011 he was chairman of the Board at the University of Amsterdam, where he was a professor since 1988 and until he became the chairman of the Board.-Source:...
, Bob Becking and Pieter W. van der Horst
Pieter Willem van der Horst
Pieter Willem van der Horst is a scholar and university professor emeritus specializing in New Testament studies, Early Christian literature, and the Jewish and Hellenistic context of Early Christianity.-Education and career:...
which contains academic articles on the named gods, angels, and demons in the books of the Hebrew Bible
Hebrew Bible
The Hebrew Bible is a term used by biblical scholars outside of Judaism to refer to the Tanakh , a canonical collection of Jewish texts, and the common textual antecedent of the several canonical editions of the Christian Old Testament...
, Septuagint and Apocrypha
Apocrypha
The term apocrypha is used with various meanings, including "hidden", "esoteric", "spurious", "of questionable authenticity", ancient Chinese "revealed texts and objects" and "Christian texts that are not canonical"....
, as well as the Christian Bible and patristic literature
Church Fathers
The Church Fathers, Early Church Fathers, Christian Fathers, or Fathers of the Church were early and influential theologians, eminent Christian teachers and great bishops. Their scholarly works were used as a precedent for centuries to come...
.
The first edition (Brill) appeared in 1995 and was chosen by Choice magazine of the American Library Association
American Library Association
The American Library Association is a non-profit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 62,000 members....
as Best Reference Work of 1996. The second extensively revised edition (Eerdmans, 960pp) appeared in 1999. An electronic edition (Logos) appeared in 2001.
Advisors included Hans Dieter Betz
Hans Dieter Betz
Hans Dieter Betz is a prominent German/American scholar of Early Christianity and Shailer Mathews Professor Emeritus of New Testament at the University of Chicago Divinity School. He has made influential contributions to research on Paul's Letter to the Galatians, the Sermon on the Mount and the...
, André Caquot (1923–2004), Jonas C. Greenfield
Jonas C. Greenfield
Jonas Carl Greenfield was a scholar of Semitic languages, who published in the fields of Semitic Epigraphy, Aramaic Studies and Qumran Studies....
(1926–1995), Erik Hornung
Erik Hornung
Erik Hornung is an Egyptologist and one of the most influential modern writers on the Ancient Egyptian religion. He is Professor Emeritus of Basle University.-Biography:...
Professor of Egyptology
Egyptology
Egyptology is the study of ancient Egyptian history, language, literature, religion, and art from the 5th millennium BC until the end of its native religious practices in the AD 4th century. A practitioner of the discipline is an “Egyptologist”...
at Basel University, Michael E. Stone
Michael E. Stone
Prof. Michael E. Stone is a leading scholar of Armenian studies in many fields, but particularly notable in the field of early Jewish and Christian literature and the Old Testament pseudepigrapha....
of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem ; ; abbreviated HUJI) is Israel's second-oldest university, after the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. The Hebrew University has three campuses in Jerusalem and one in Rehovot. The world's largest Jewish studies library is located on its Edmond J...
, and Manfred Weipert of the University of Heidelberg.
Some of the articles overlap with, and may be written from different perspectives, articles in other major academic reference works such as the Anchor Bible Dictionary (ABD). For example the article on Lilith
Lilith
Lilith is a character in Jewish mythology, found earliest in the Babylonian Talmud, who is generally thought to be related to a class of female demons Līlīṯu in Mesopotamian texts. However, Lowell K. Handy notes, "Very little information has been found relating to the Akkadian and Babylonian view...
in ABD gives a very different perspective on surviving Mesopotamian evidence than DDD.