Best Bible Commentaries

The Word Biblical Commentary delivers the best in biblical scholarship, from the leading scholars of our day who share a commitment to Scripture as divine revelation. This series emphasizes a thorough analysis of textual, linguistic, structural, and theological evidence. The result is judicious and balanced insight into the meanings of the text in the framework of biblical theology. These widely acclaimed commentaries serve as exceptional resources for the professional theologian and instructor, the seminary or university student, the working minister, and everyone concerned with building theological understanding from a solid base of biblical scholarship.

The Word Biblical Commentary delivers the best in biblical scholarship, from the leading scholars of our day who share a commitment to Scripture as divine revelation. This series emphasizes a thorough analysis of textual, linguistic, structural, and theological evidence. The result is judicious and balanced insight into the meanings of the text in the framework of biblical theology. These widely acclaimed commentaries serve as exceptional resources for the professional theologian and instructor, the seminary or university student, the working minister, and everyone concerned with building theological understanding from a solid base of biblical scholarship.

This commentary, on the text of Exodus, has been written for the building up of the church. It not only provides insights into the book of Exodus, but also clear and concise application. It is a book for everyone who wants to understand better what God says to us in his Word. The author writes, ‘It is my hope that pastors will use it for sermon preparation, and others for Bible study preparation and personal study.’ Dr. Currid provides solid exegesis in an accessible way matched with practical application that displays the relevance of this Old Testament book for the twenty-first century. This volume covers the first eighteen chapters of Exodus, telling the account of the deliverance of the children of Israel from Egypt to their arrival at Sinai. It is the story of the persecution of God’s people, their release from the domination of Pharaoh’s Egypt to the crossing of the Red Sea. Central to this narrative is the birth, life and ministry of Moses.

This commentary on the text of Exodus, has been written for the building up of the church. It not only provides insights into the book of Exodus, but also clear and concise application. It is a book for everyone who wants to understand better what God says to us in his Word. The author writes, "It is my hope that pastors will use it for sermon preparation, and others for Bible study preparation and personal study." Dr. Currid provides solid exegesis in an accessible way, matched with practical application that displays the relevance of this Old Testament book for the twenty-first century. This volume, on Exodus chapters 19-40, covers the giving of the law at Mt. Sinai and the institution of the Old Testament system of worship, culminating in the consecration of the tabernacle, the visible symbol of God's presence with his people. The account which began with Israel enduring oppression and in slavery to Pharaoh concludes with them enjoying freedom and traveling to the land of promise with the only true God present with them and leading them.

Leviticus used to be the first book that Jewish children studied in the synagogue. In the modern church it tends to be the last part of the Bible that anyone looks at seriously. Because Leviticus is largely concerned with subjects that seem incomprehensible and irrelevant today , rituals for sacrifice and regulations concerning uncleanness, it appears to have nothing to say to twenty-first-century Christians.In this excellent commentary on Leviticus, Gordon Wenham takes with equal seriousness both the plain original meaning of the text and its abiding theological value. To aid in reconstructing the original meaning of the text, Wenham draws from studies of Old Testament ritual and sacrifice that compare and contrast biblical customs with the practices of other Near Eastern cultures. He also closely examines the work of social anthropologists and expertly utilizes the methods of literary criticism to bring out the biblical author's special interests.In pursuit of his second aim, to illumine the enduring theological value of Leviticus, Wenham discusses at the end of each section how the Old Testament passages relate to the New Testament and to contemporary Christianity. In doing so, he not only shows how pervasive Levitical ideas are in the New Testament but also highlights in very practical ways the enduring claim of God's call to holiness on the lives of Christians today.

Numbers tells of the events occurring in the years between Israel's exodus from Egypt and their entrance into the Promised Land. Iain Duguid aids both pastors and laypeople by explaining the profundities of the biblical text and communicating the lasting message of God's devotion to those who follow him in faith.

The New International Commentary on the Old Testament is a conservative and scholarly analysis of the scriptures. This work by Craigie is meant to take in the issues, both theological and textual, brought out in Deuteronomy. He begins with a discussion of the theology, occasion, and problems of interpretation found in the book. He then goes on to discuss the text verse by verse. This is a scholarly work, not meant for all readers.

This exposition is rooted first in a thorough analysis of the Hebrew text, employing helpful insights from archaeology and linguistics, and second in the major theological and literary themes discovered in each section. Finally the author brings the fragments together in an expository treatment 'that is not ashamed to stoop to the level of application.'

The church has a problem with Judges; it is so earthly, puzzling, primitive and violent—so much so that the church can barely stomach it. To many it falls under the category of 'embarrassing scripture'. Such an attitude is, of course, wrong—so Ralph Davis here makes Judges digestible by analyzing the major literary and theological themes discovered in each section. He provides a 'theocentric' exposition that rings with practical relevance.

Whether they are thrilled by the love story of Ruth and Boaz or encouraged by a happy ending for Naomi, many people are drawn to the book of Ruth. But though the story is indeed charming, Ruth is included in Scripture for more than our entertainment. Ruth's message is theological, rooted in God's oversight of the movement of redemptive history that climaxes in the person and work of Jesus Christ.