Nov 25, 2009 biblical hebrew poetry often features parallel couplets or triplets. A guide for understanding and for translating by lynell zogbo and ernst wendland. This post will cover only the two mostsimple forms. This kind of parallelism takes the form of a couplet, or two backtoback parallel lines. Typically, the lines display parallelism of thought rather than parallelism of rhyme or sound. Unlike much english poetry, the primary emphasis of hebrew poetry is not rhythm or rhyme, but parallelism. In hindsight, one should have expected hebrew to make use of such a device.
The poetry of the psalms hebrew poetry is quite different from english poetry. This type of literature makes up of the old testament. What is the literary device of synthetic parallelism used. This feature can be found in any poetic passage, and sometimes even in narrative, although it is more common in the psalms and. How does biblical poetry differ from much of our modern poetry. Parallelism is pervasive throughout many of these poetic books and contributes meter. Form, in other words, is apparent in hebrew poetry at all levels.
It is one of several types of parallelism used in hebrew poetry the other types being synonymous parallelism, syntheti. Modern hebrew poetry, poetry written after the revival of the hebrew language. Even when not borrowing entire phrases, poems often employ what look to be common templates. Biblical hermeneutics interpreting biblical poetry i.
There are numerous types of parallelism used in hebrew poetry, including. In this essay, i am concentrating on five types of parallelism that are commonin the bible, but may not be easily identified by the average christian. Emblematic parallelism is a poetic device often used in the book of proverbs. The book of revelation hasbeen set into poetic form by the translators of the newevangelical translation. King david exerted a major influence on the book of psalms. Bible poetry rarely relies on devices such as rhyme or meter, but often on a device called parallelism defined in chamberss dictionary as a balanced construction of a verse or sentence, where one part repeats the form or meaning of the. Hebrew poetry uses all the figures of speech of english poetry.
Some scholars may refer to three or four major types of parallelism in hebrew poetry and place minor types or less used types as sub categories of the major types. The ancient hebrews identified poetical portions in their sacred texts, as shown by their entitling as songs or as chants passages such as exodus 15. Most poetic lines are composed of two or sometimes three balanced segments, though the balance is often loose, with the second segment commonly somewhat shorter than the first. Ill add more information like this in subsequent posts, but lets get right to the matter of parallelism in hebrew literature and in the psalms in particular. In many respects, the book of job is far different from the other poetic books. A little understanding of how the hebrew poetry works will help us better appreciate these bible books. It is a structure of thought rather than external form like meter or rhyme in which the writer balances a. There are three major types of parallelism in hebrew poetry. Additional poetic passages can be found in the apocrypha and writings that are not a part of the approved body of scripture, such as in parts of the pseudepigrapha and in the writings of the qumran sect. Not even the parallelismus membrorum is an absolutely certain indication of ancient hebrew poetry. Hebrew literature, the body of written works produced in the hebrew language and distinct from jewish literature, which also exists in other languages literature in hebrew has been produced uninterruptedly from the early 12th century bc, and certain excavated tablets may indicate a literature of even greater antiquity.
Understanding poetic devices creates a greater depth to reading the wisdom books job, psalms, proverbs, ecclesiastes, and song of solomon and the major and minor prophets in the old testament. Nevertheless, the pivot pattern is largely ignored by scholarship. What is the literary device of synthetic parallelism used in hebrew poetry. Parallelism in hebrew poetry chart adapted from john b. Synonymous parallelism is a poetic device used to amplify and emphasize an important idea. Biblical hebrew poetry often features parallel couplets or triplets. The parallelism is so inwrought in the nature of hebrew poetry that it can not be lost in translation.
Seven types of parallelism in hebrew poetry more free. The author or speaker in this chapter identified in verse 1 as agur uses this structure frequently. Instead of rhyming successive lines of a poem, hebrew poetry matches the thought in successive lines. It is especially common in the prophets all but haggai and malachi contain poetry and writings sections of the hebrew canon. However, the concept of the forms of hebrew poetry often refers to the various genres, or types, of poems. The abundance of literary devices throughout hebrew poetry tells us that the psalms may and ought not be taken literally.
In the book of proverbs, this type of construction the most common of the different types. What is the literary device of synthetic parallelism used in. Parallelism the basic principle of hebrew poetry is the repetition, elaboration, or variation on the sense of a line this parallelism may be semantic andor grammatical. Nevertheless, i generally see seven types of parallelism in hebrew poetry. Synonymous parallelism is the most common type of hebrew parallelism. Types of parallelism in hebrew poetry sermon preparation tips. Hebrew poetry three main characteristics of hebrew poetry terseness imagery parallelism hebrew parallelism not rhythmic meter, not rhyming sounds but rhyming meaning parallelism second line somehow reinforces the meaning of the first not 2 distinct thoughts prov. Michael houdmann supporter got questions ministries many books of the old testament were written as poetry. This video introduces robert lowths simple system for classifying types of parallelis. This manual closes a circle which began almost thirtyfive years ago november, 1954 with the beginning of work an a doctoral dissertation defended at the pontifical biblical institute in april, 1957 published in spanish in 1962. Hebrew poetry encyclopedia of the bible bible gateway. Almost 75 percent of the old testament is made up of poetic passages, yet for many readers lay christians. A definition merism an explanation an abbreviated list, often of two extremes, that suggests the whole or that which lies between the extremes. The first half of a verse will make a statement, and the second half.
Biblical poetry is predominately written in this verse form. This parallelism occurs in the portions of the hebrew bible that are at the same time marked frequently by the socalled dialectus poetica. Piyyut, religious jewish liturgical poetry in hebrew or aramaic. It is basically thoughtbased in balanced, parallel lines.
Translatable poetry parallelism in old testament hebrew poetry. Do you remember where we have already observed examples of poetry in previous books of the bible. The following types of parallel structure are attempts to organize this feature of. Merism merism involves a list of common opposites or extremes, known as polar wordpairs watson 321, to refer to the. Three primary types of parallelism occur in hebrew poetry. This paper will define these types of parallelism, give examples of each type found in the poetic books of scripture, and examine the importance of parallelism. English poetry is developed from greek and latin poetry, which is primarily soundbased. Ever since robert lowths 1753 study, lectures on the sacred poetry of the hebrews, biblical scholars have known that ancient hebrew writers relied on parallelism to make their poetry. During three decades of teaching and writing the author has kept an active interest in poetics and stylistics and the resulting accumulated knowledge has been. There are several ways to categorise the different types of parallelism in hebrew poetry. This is different from synonymous parallelism, which amplifies a thought with. This is the most common of the parallelism in hebrew poetry.
Lowth observes of these three fundamental kinds of parallelism preliminary. The question as to whether the poetical passages of the old testament show signs of regular rhythm or meter remains unsolved. How should graded numerical parallelism in hebrew poetry. A trial cutnt i and proverbs 2 supplements to vetus testamentum english.
A common literary feature of hebrew poetry in the old testament is called parallelism, in which the words of two or more lines of text are directly related in some way. The first half of a verse will make a statement, and the second half will essentially say the same thing in different words. Parallelism doesnt have to be only a poetic device. If so, you will have observed one of the basic concepts of hebrew poetry. There are three types of parallelism in hebrew poetry. Mar 03, 2010 i have always been fascinated by the parallelism which characterizes hebrew poetry. A major error in the hermeneutic of many oldearth creationists. Of the wisdom booksjob, psalms, proverbs, ecclesiastes, and song of. In other words, biblical poetry consists of a distinctive type of sentence structure and it is called parallelism. What is the literary device of synthetic parallelism used in hebrew. In the oldest postbiblical hebrew poetic productions extant, that is, the liturgy, the principle of parallelism is existent, though not exhibiting the regularity and symmetry of the biblical poetry. Parallelism in hebrew poetry ever since robert lowths 1753 study, lectures on the sacred poetry of the hebrews, biblical scholars have known that ancient hebrew writers relied on parallelism to make their poetry. This is essentially what parallelism in poetry is, but i have found that it goes much further than that much further. The following are three different types of parallelism.
Biblical poetry, the poetry found in the poetic books of the hebrew bible. Literature in hebrew has been produced uninterruptedly from the early 12th century bc, and certain excavated tablets may indicate a literature of. The most common and repeated structure is parallelism. Definition with examples of one of the major literary devices of hebrew writing. Types of parallelism in hebrew poetry sermon preparation. A trial cutnt i and proverbs 2 supplements to vetus testamentum english, hebrew and ugaritic edition pardee, dennis on. In this feature the second line is the opposite of the first. For it was he who founded it and planted it firm upon the sea upon the waters beneath. Unlike some modern poetry that rhymes, the main poetic forms of the psalms, indeed of hebrew poetry, are elegantly crafted lines that structure how one thought or idea. That the semites in general were people of some musical ability, and that the hebrews in particular fostered the cultural pursuits of music and poetry, will be apparent when it is realized that onethird of the heb. Parallelism in hebrew poetry demonstrates a major error in the. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.
Poetic language in the psalms is set within the structure of biblical poetry. What is the literary device of synonymous parallelism used in hebrew poetry. Translatable poetry parallelism in old testament hebrew. When we read the poetical books of the old testament we can notice three main kinds of parallelism. Like the hebrew language itself, the pivot pattern is quintessentially economical.
Well start with the simplest forms first and progress to the more complicated. I have always been fascinated by the parallelism which characterizes hebrew poetry. English poems usually have rhyme and meter, but hebrew poetry does not. It is sufficient here to refer to such prayers as leel baruk, ahabah rabbah, ezrat abotenu, and the shemoneh esreh. We see parallelism when two or more lines of a hebrew poem correspond closely with one another in order to make a point. Hebrew poetry exhibits parallelism as its chief characteristic. The psalms and other hebrew poems aim to create and evoke imagery in readerhearers mind.
The wisdom books of job, psalms, proverbs, ecclesiastes, and song of solomon are wholly poetic. Hebrew poetry is not limited to the five books you have listed above. Many books of the old testament were written as poetry. The major and minor prophets were also written largely in poetic form. Some scholars categorise them as major types and sub types but for simplicity, i will categorise them as seven types of parallelism in hebrew poetry. Bishop robert lowth in his book, lectures on the sacred poetry of the hebrews 1753 was the first to. What is the literary device of synonymous parallelism used. Question 1 what are some of the common characteristics of hebrew poetry. The three characteristics of sin are listed and expanded upon in this couplet.
Lewis the student of hebrew poetry may pity the pivot pattern. This feature of hebrew poetry is called parallelism. The following describes the basic types of parallelism in the psalms but these structures are found in other bible books as well. Hebrew poetry the five poetical books illustrate three kinds of poetry. These are pointed outin the appendix of the new evangelical translation. One type of synthetic parallelism simply classifies certain behaviors or traits.
Hebrew poetry has much in common with canaanite poetry. This type of parallelism makes use of chiasm, a common device in hebrew poetry bullock 1988, p. Hebrew literature, the body of written works produced in the hebrew language and distinct from jewish literature, which also exists in other languages. What is the literary device of synonymous parallelism used in. Meter, parallelism, chiasm, and acrostics all play a role in hebrew poetry p. I remember taking a seminary course in which i learned about the various kinds of hebrew parallelism and realized that it is far more than just saying the same thing twice. Synonymous parallelism is a poetic literary device which involves the repetition of one idea in successive lines. I was myself compelled to consider these questions more fully than before when i came to prepare my commentary on isaiah for the international critical comment. The basic thought unit composed of two or three lines can accomplish one of several different things. This feature can be found in any poetic passage, and sometimes even in narrative, although it is more common in the psalms and proverbs. Ps 56 above is an example of the genre of individual lament. Jul 25, 2012 these are sometimes called similar thoughts, contrasting thoughts, and additional thoughts, respectively mcquilkin 1992, p. It is especially common in the prophets all but haggai and malachi contain poetry and writing sections of the hebrew canon. Hebrew poetry is poetry written in the hebrew language.
Many of the sayings of jesus are given in the parallelism form, even though it is prose. Large sections of the ot prophetic books are poetry. Verses 1516, 1819, 2123 and 2931 in some cases it appears that the entire list is his focus, while in others it appears that the final item is the emphasis and the previous items. Nov 24, 2012 additional poetic passages can be found in the apocrypha and writings that are not a part of the approved body of scripture, such as in parts of the pseudepigrapha and in the writings of the qumran sect. Question 4 describe the points of view of eliphaz, bildad, and zophar. The second segment echoes synonymous parallelism, contrasts antithetic parallelism, or syntactically completes synthetic parallelism the first segment.
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