Unlike the thunderous laws of the Pentateuch or the fiery speeches of the prophets, the Old Testament’s wisdom and poetic books take a quieter, more reflective approach. Here, we find human voices responding to God—through hymns, laments, love songs, and proverbs. Books like Job, Psalms, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs give us rich and varied expressions of life with God, while Ruth and Esther quietly showcase God’s providence through personal stories.

The Dictionary of the Old Testament: Wisdom, Poetry & Writings offers nearly 150 articles covering these unique books. Edited by Tremper Longman III and Peter Enns, the volume brings together insights from over 90 scholars. Each book is introduced with background, interpretation history, and key themes. You’ll also find entries on literary techniques—like parallelism and acrostics—and deep dives into wisdom literature, poetic form, and interpretive methods from historical to feminist readings.

This is a practical, well-researched resource for anyone studying or teaching the poetic and wisdom books of the Bible, combining depth with accessibility. Part of IVP’s trusted Bible Dictionary Series, it’s built for the shelves of pastors, students, and serious readers alike.