Who were the Pharisees? What did Samson and John the Baptist have in common? Does an altar really have "horns"? Turn to the NIV Compact Dictionary of the Bible and find out. It has the answers to these and hundreds of other questions you're likely to wonder about as you read the Bible. Condensed from the New International Bible Dictionary, this unique volume offers much more than its convenient, take anywhere size. It's actually three books in one: - A Dictionary -- for easy-to-find, practical information on thousands of topics - A Topical Index -- for detailed study of nearly 150 larger topics, listing all articles in the dictionary that relate to a given topic - A Survey -- providing an introductory overview of the Bible, biblical history, and biblical culture -- Concise, readable, and informative, the NIV Compact Dictionary of the Bible is ideal for use at home, in study groups, and in schools. It will help you clear up the who, what, where, why, and how of the Bible so you can better appreciate the depth of its wisdom and its relevance for you today.