When I was a kid, I loved watching old black-and-white episodes of Zorro, the swashbuckling hero of Spanish California. After foiling some plan of the corrupt Spanish governor or defeating outlaws of every conceivable stripe, Zorro would carve the letter Z into a nearby wall or tree or—most satisfying of all—into the clothing of his now disarmed and cowering enemy. The mark of Zorro struck fear into the heart of bullies and brigands while promising freedom and justice to the people.

In the (hopefully!) less violent world of Biblical studies, the letter Z stands not for Zorro, but for Zondervan, and while it may not promise liberation from tyranny, it does promise reference works and study aids of the highest quality. We are therefore very pleased to announce the release of three new Accordance modules bearing the mark of the Z: ZEB, ZIBBCOT, and ZIBBCNT.

zeb_set.sm The Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible (ZEB) consists of five volumes, more than 5,000 pages, and more than 7,500 articles on every conceivable subject related to the Bible. ZEB has been a classic Bible study resource for more than thirty years, and this new edition has been thoroughly revised to provide up-to-date entries based on the latest scholarship. Not only is it packed with useful information; it’s also packed with 1800 high-quality color photographs, maps, and illustrations—all of which can now easily be mined using Accordance 9’s new Search All feature. Swish!

zibbcot set.sm The Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary on the Old Testament (ZIBBCOT) is a five-volume commentary which focuses on explaining the historical and cultural background of the Hebrew Bible. Illustrated with lavish, full color photos and graphics, these commentaries walk you through the text verse by verse, offering fascinating and relevant information about each passage. For example, when ZIBBCOT discusses the ten plagues against Egypt, it explains that the ancient Egyptians believed that Pharaoh was responsible for maintaining order and holding back the forces of chaos. Understanding this makes it clear that the plagues were designed to show the superiority of the Hebrews’ God to the supposedly divine pharoah. Swish! Swish!

zibbcnt set.sm The Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary on the New Testament (ZIBBCNT) is a four-volume commentary which focuses on explaining the historical and cultural background of the New Testament. It is likewise richly illustrated and gives helpful background information about each passage. For example, ZIBBCNT explains Jesus’ discussion of divorce in light of the background and circumstances of certificates of divorce in Judaism. Understanding the specifics of Jewish practice provides the setting for a richer understanding of Jesus’ teaching. Swish! Swish! Swish!

These three excellent Zondervan offerings can all be purchased at a significant introductory discount and downloaded right away through Accordance 9’s Easy Install feature. Want to sleep sound tonight under the mark of the Z? All you need do is click, click, click!