A Bible commentary is a scholarly or devotional work that provides explanation and interpretation of the biblical text. It typically includes background information, historical and cultural context, and verse-by-verse or passage-by-passage analysis. Commentaries help readers understand the meaning, significance, and application of Scripture by drawing on theology, language studies, and insights from biblical scholarship.
There is no 'one size fits all' Bible commentary set. Some commentaries are very technical and academic (for the biblical scholar), some are focused on lay persons with no theological training, and some are in-between for ministers and teachers. Commentaries can also be written from a theological persuation (ex. Catholic, Reformed, etc.) or purely for academic study.
Want a more in-depth classification of commentaries? Check out this blog post.