For More than two decades the Zondervan Pictorial Dictionary  has been a best seller. During that period however more background information have become available. Archaeological excavations have been carried out on biblical sites. New books have been written to enhance our understanding of the bible. A further dimension was added with the publication of the New International Version Of the Bible. These developments are reflected in this revision. The revision has been so thorough, in fact that the dictionary merit a new name : New International Dictionary Of the Bible. The is For example  a completely new entry on Archaeology, and where, necessary, notes have been added to the Individuals entries dealing with particular sites. Every reviser is in debt to the original editors and writers and living with a nagging feeling  presumptuousness in setting out to amend or supersede the work of bygone saints. why did they say this or that? Did they know something we don’t know? This hunting and not  unlikely possibility is a healthy inhabiting factor for brandishes of blue pencils. This is especially relevant when confronting a presentation that is put a little more Forcefully than one would expect in a Dictionary of the Bible. In the following pages a reasonable amount of Idiosyncrasy has been perpetuated in certain entries, with a certain affectionate indulgence we recognize that was the way in which some of our Elders drew attention to the Importance of their topics. Dictionaries are particularly vulnerable a writer has to say in a few words what others expand into whole books. Contributors to Dictionaries of that two men can think differently without either being wicked. The consulting editors are not to be held accountable for the finished reversion.  None of them have seen all of it. All of them responded to their initial  invitation to comment on what needed to be done. Moreover all were contributors as well as consultants and the work has greatly benefited.  But some one had to see the work last, so for the final choice of materials the revising editor is alone responsible. In addition to articles writers a number of people work very hard to lightened the editor task Doug  Buckwalter   and David Lazell  share their expertise  in the particularly demanding job adapting some of  the Omnibus articles to NIV usage. Myra Wilson cheerfully did a mass of accurate typing  and checking, RUJ  Vanavisut  meticulously perform a daunting Load of secretarial  and kindred chores, louan  and Walter Elwell  selflessly provided a second  a second home and Library facilities for a traveling editor. For the Publisher Stan Gundry was a model of restraint  in letting the editor get on with the Project unhindered but was ready to respond promptly to editorial requests.                     J.D. DOUGLAS