An overall interpretation of your passage answers the question, "What is the significance of this passage?" 

Your research has given you the information you need to form this interpretation and to support it with details regarding its historical, cultural, and literary context and your verse-by-verse exegesis. Your interpretation is not merely a summary or report of the information you found; rather it is higher-level argument of what the passage means in light of what you found. Your analysis should also take into consideration alternate interpretations of the passage and explain the differences. 

A good research process is critical to your overall interpretation.  You cannot successfully complete the exegesis without the necessary background, context, and verse-by-verse interpretation of your passage.  

The books suggested in this guide are just a starting point for your research and may not be helpful for your particular passage.  To find books and articles on your passage, search TOPCAT, the library catalog. Use words (known as "keywords") that represent your topic, not sentences or questions. For further explanation about keywords, see, The all-important keywords box on the "Finding Articles" page in this guide.