choose to select from more
than 250 languages for instant
translation of the information presented.
Creative Bible Study
USING FORM TO UNDERSTAND CONTENT
Recognizing these basic poetic forms will help you when you study Bible poetry. You will be able to understand the content as it is expressed in:
1. Identical restatements of truth (synonymous parallelism):
This will help you understand the same truth expressed in similar ways. Such repetition will fix the truth expressed firmly in your mind and heart. It is an important way of meditating on the Word of God. If for some reason you do not understand a certain truth in the way it is presented in the first line of a poem, the following lines which present the same truth will help you understand.
2. Opposite statements of the same truth (antithetic parallelism):
You will learn not only great truths, but the opposite parallels of these truths. In the example of Psalms 1:6 you not only learned something about the way of the righteous but you also learned an opposite truth about the way of the ungodly. As you learn to recognize the antithetic parallel form you will be able not only to apply positive truths in your life but you also will be warned of dangers of the opposite. In the example we used you learned that God knows your way if you are righteous which is a positive truth. You also learned that if you are unrighteous you will perish. This opposite thought provides an important warning.
3. Building blocks of truth (synthetic parallelism):
As each line of a poem builds or adds to what is presented in the first line, that truth will be fully developed in your mind.
4. Emblems which illustrate God's truth (emblematic parallelism):
Such illustrations create a visual picture of God's truths in your mind.
TYPES OF POETRY
There are three basic types of Hebrew poetry. The division of poetry into types is made on the basis of the content and manner of presentation of the poem. If you learn to recognize the different types of Bible poetry it will help you understand what you are reading. The three main types of Bible poetry include:
1. EPIC POETRY:
This is a narrative poetry. It tells the story of a heroic action. There is quite a bit of narrative poetry scattered throughout the books of history. Read Numbers 22 through 24 which tells the story of Balaam. It contains examples of epic poetry.