The DNI Bible project is interdisciplinary in its approach, and focuses on the nature images encapsulated within the literary compositions of the Hebrew Bible. The Dictionary is easily searchable by the name of the item in Hebrew characters, in transcription, and by its English translation. Each item takes its place within one of the five ecological fields: fauna, flora, landscape characteristics, climate systems, water sources.
How do I search an item in DNI?
Go to Dictionary, choose category, sub-category, and type the name of the item in the search box. You may search your item in Hebrew, in transcription, or in its English translation.
OR
Through the Homepage, go directly to one of the five ecological fields: fauna, flora, landscape characteristics, climate systems, and water sources. Items in each of the fields are then presented alphabetically according to the Hebrew names.
Each of the fields is structured by subcategories, by items, and followed by a short Index of Terms, to allow further acquaintance with the professional terminology of each ecological field.
The sub-categories are as follows:
- Wild Animals
- Domestic Animals
- Birds
- Reptiles
- Insects
- Fish and Amphibians
- Hybrids
- Index of Terms
The land of Israel and its environs had a diverse array of fauna. DNI Bible divides fauna into six subcategories: wild mammals, domestic animals, birds, reptiles, insects, fish and amphibians.
- Wild Plants
- Plants in Agriculture
- Groups of Plants
- Hybrids
- Index of Terms
Over one hundred plants are mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. DNI Bible divides them into three groups: wild plants, from trees to thorns; plants used in agriculture, including their products; and groups of plants, e.g., Zimrat Ha’aretz, or the Seven Species with their paradigmatic products: dagan, tirosh, and yitzhar.
- Geomorphology
- Phytogeography
- Man Made Landscape
- Geology and Natural Resources
- Index of Terms
Biblical authors describe, or implicitly reveal, geomorphological and phytogeographical characteristics of the land of Israel and its environs. DNI Bible refers to both core areas and periphery, in the land and its surroundings, looking at man made landscapes, as also on the geology and natural sources.
- Seasons
- Winds
- Precipitation
- Index of Terms
Biblical authors experienced the climate of the land of Israel and its environs year-round and described several of its features. DNI Bible brings entries on the seasons, winds, precipitation, as also on the horrendous impact of drought on humans and animals alike.
- Water Reservoirs
- Inland Water Reservoirs
- Watercourses
- Index of Terms
Water in the land of Israel involves special issues, particularly of shortage, especially in comparison to the rivers of Mesopotamia and Egypt. Biblical authors refer to water reservoirs, springs, and watercourses, such as rivers and wadis.
Instructions for Authors / Information for Readers
The DNI Bible is designed as a comprehensive, multidisciplinary, online resource, targeted at biblical scholars and students worldwide. Each DNI Bible entry describes a specific animal, plant, or other natural phenomenon mentioned in the Bible, in one of five fields: fauna, flora, landscape characteristics, water sources, and climate systems. The data is organized in the following six sections: 1. Biblical Data; 2. History of Identification; 3. Life & Natural Sciences Information; 4. Material Culture; 5. Exegetical Studies; 6. Reception Literature.
Each entry begins by listing the English name of the item (if known), the biblical Hebrew name, and the scientific name of the species. There is also a space for other translation equivalents (e.g., LXX or Vulgate); or for modern language equivalents when these are relevant to the ensuing discussion.
Section 1. Biblical Data introduces the item through its occurrences in the HB, according to the following subsections:
- Introduction. Open the discussion by describing general features of this item (phenomenon, etc.), its occurrences and usage in the Bible, and points of particular interest, highlighting any noteworthy features pertaining to etymology, usage, etc.
- Distribution within the Bible. Describe the literary contexts in which the term occurs, noting the number of occurrences in each category and giving specific citations. Please classify these occurrences in ways that go beyond what a concordance would show (e.g., by genre).
- Parts, Elements, and Features That Are Specified in the Bible. This subsection describes the biological and ecological characteristics by which the biblical authors present the entity. For animals, please include information (if available) about such aspects as feeding habits, habitat, home building, parenting behaviors, and other behavioral tendencies; for plant or topographical systems (e.g., deserts, forest) give physical characteristics, climactic and geographical descriptors, and so on. Please specify both biblical references and the literary contexts in which they appear.
- Function in Context. For each occurrence of the term, specify its function as realistic or figurative; cultic, mythological, legal, etc. If the usage is figurative, please note the types of figurative constructions used (e.g., image, metaphor, simile, allegory, parable, etc.).
- Pairs and Constructions. Please note any instances in which entries appear in repeated phrases, constructions, or even strings of phrases.
- Bibliography. See the instructions for references below.
Section 2. History of Identification
This section consists of two parts: a table that sets out the terms or definitions that have been supplied for the entry in different versions and languages, both ancient and modern; and a discussion of the data.
DNI Bible does not seek to definitively identify the natural phenomena discussed, but we certainly want to present the identifications that have been suggested throughout the history of scholarship, as well as to trace and evaluate the traditional or scholarly arguments where possible.
The conclusions arrived at in this discussion lead the presentation of the various suggestions in the third section of the entry, which discusses the life and natural sciences information.
1. History of Identification Table
The Identification History Table is structured according to language, and includes any relevant data from a wide corpus of ancient texts:
a) Hebrew texts:
- Masoretic Text (MT), biblical and non-biblical Dead Sea Scrolls, Samaritan Pentateuch (SP)
b) Primary translations:
- Greek: Septuagint (LXX) and the Revisions: Aquilas (A), Symmachus (S), and Theodotion (T)
- Aramaic Targums: Onqelos (O), Neofiti (N), Pseudo-Jonathan (P-J), Jonathan, and Samaritan Targum (Tg. Sam).
- Syriac: Peshitta
- Latin: Vulgate
c) Secondary translations are listed according to the languages (Syriac: Syro-Hexapla [S-H]; Latin: Vetus Latina [VL]); and in separate columns:
- Arabic: Jewish translations: Saadia’s Tafsir of the Pentateuch; Isaiah, Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Five Scrolls; and Christian translations
- English: King James Version (KJV), New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), New Jewish Publication Society (NJPS)
For the general categories (Hebrew texts, primary and secondary translations), see Armin Lange and Emanuel Tov (Editors), Textual History of the Bible, Vol 1: The Hebrew Bible (Leiden: Brill, 2016). The textual information is based on Accordance (OakTree Software, Inc.), and the specific editions can be checked there.
The online template for the Table may be accessed HERE.
2. The prose section should interpret the table by noting the information available in ancient and modern translations of the Bible and should initiate a discussion of the efforts to identify the target phenomenon through the process of translation. A further goal of this section is to show how the various identifications specified by the different translations have influenced generations of exegetes in shaping their interpretive traditions.
The discussion following the table may include etymological information based on ancient Semitic Languages, as well as Second Temple literature, and Greek and Roman sources (e.g. Jubilees, Pliny, Josephus, and more).
3. Bibliography. See the instructions for references below.
Section 3. Life & Natural Sciences Information
- ID, Scientific Description. Please provide a biological description of the organism, its measurements, its habitat (distribution in the land), etc.
- “Life History.” Provide a short presentation of the life cycle of the animal or plant (or the characteristics of the season, etc.).
- Characteristics That Appear in the Bible. This subsection should be in close conversation with the parallel subsection in Biblical Data (Parts, Elements, and Features That Appear in the Bible). Please provide the biological description of each feature presented in the Bible; highlight how this information either concurs with or differs from the biblical account.
- Other Characteristics. Describe features of the subject that are not part of the biblical description, highlighting those of particular importance. This section will allow readers to appreciate what the biblical writers did and did not see as significant about the phenomenon.
- Bibliography. See the instructions for references below.
Section 4. Material Culture. Depending on your field of expertise, you may focus on archaeological findings; agricultural characteristics and artifacts; or on any of the fields of archaeobotany, archaeozoology, and iconography. The information of most relevance will be epigraphic, pictorial, and material culture evidence from the second and first millennia BCE, from the land of Israel, the Levant, the ancient Near East, and the Eastern Mediterranean.
Section 5. Exegetical Studies. You may choose any one (or more) of the passages where this entry occurs in the Bible and explore how this nature imagery is used in this specific biblical text or group of texts. Please draw on and integrate the information found in the other sections of the entry; we hope that these essays will demonstrate the scholarly benefits of the DNI Bible.
Section 6. Reception Literatures. You may choose any of the postbiblical literary traditions that have referred to or interpreted this phenomenon. Essays may target Second Temple writings; classical literature; New Testament and early Christianity; rabbinic literature; Jewish, Christian, and Muslim medieval exegesis; modern and postmodern hermeneutics; history of art; and more.
DNI Bible’s academic reputation is built on first rank academic contributions from each of the disciplinary fields, with clear perspectives on the interdisciplinary needs and interests to enrich our understanding of the Bible. DNI Bible is a growing project on a huge scale. We welcome professionals in all the above-mentioned fields to join and contribute.
Whether a biblical scholar, a nature / life scientist, or an archaeologist, if you are interested in contributing to the project, please contact us