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Creative Bible Study
POETIC FORM
The poetry of the Bible probably will not be like any poetry with which you are familiar. The poetry of the Bible is written in the form of Hebrew poetry since most of the Old Testament was written in this language. The basic principle of Bible poetry is that it contains "parallelism" in thought. The word "parallelism" is from the word "parallel" which means "beside one another or like each other." For example, these two lines are parallel: ____________________ ____________________
When things are parallel to each other, just like these two lines, they are alike. Hebrew poetry is parallel in thought just as these two lines are parallel in appearance. Each line of the poem agrees with other lines of the poem.
There are four common parallel forms used in Hebrew poetry:
1. SYNONYMOUS PARALLELISM:
The word "synonymous" means the same. In synonymous parallel poems the second line of the poem repeats the thought of the first line. For example:
Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! Many are they that rise up against me. (Psalm 3:1)
He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: The Lord will have them in derision. (Psalm 2:4)
In both of these examples the second line rewords the same thought as the first line. The thought expressed in the second line is synonymous (exactly like) that expressed in the first line.
2. ANTITHETIC PARALLELISM:
"Antithetic" means opposite. In antithetic parallel poems the second line is an opposite thought to the first line. But it is still parallel or like the first line because it is stating a similar truth. It uses an opposite to state a similar truth. This is why it is called antithetic. For example:
For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: But the way of the ungodly shall perish. (Psalm 1:6)
In this example the second line is antithetic (opposite) of the first line. The first line speaks of the way of the righteous. The second tells of the way of the unrighteous. But the second line is still parallel to the first line because it agrees with what is said in the first line by presenting an opposite truth.