Reading any ancient text in its original language can be a difficult chore, and even more so when it comes to the New Testament: the numerous translations, adapted from many sources, diverge wildly in language and vocabulary. So this classic reference work can be a valuable friend to the Bible scholar or student of ancient languages.

Culled from "the latest and the best authorities," this 1893 dictionary-style work is a handy guide to all the potentially questionable words you'll encounter while reading the New Testament in the original Greek. From proper names to simple nouns to phrases for which there is no direct equivalence in English (what word did the Greeks use to describe someone "of whose descent there is no account"?), this is an essential volume for anyone who wants to read and genuinely understand the New Testament on its own terms.


Late 19th-century editor and translator WILLIAM JAMES HICKIE is best remembered for his translation of Aristophanes' Clouds.