Hebrew Poetry
<p>Excerpt from The Teacher's Commentary:</p>
<h4>Hebrew poetry</h4>
<p>Unlike English poetry, which emphasizes rhyme and meter, Hebrew poetry relies on other characteristics for its impact. These are parallelism, rhythm, and figures of speech. J.V. McGee, "Hebrew poetry is not attained by rhyming. When we think of poetry, we think of rhymes. We like the sentences to end in words that sound alike. Here is an example of one of our modern ditties: 'I shoot the hippopotamus with bullets made of platinum. If I used lead ones, his hide were sure to flatten 'em!' That is not exactly Shakespeare, but it is our kind of poetry. Hebrew poetry is attained by what is known as parallelism, which is repeating a thought in a different way and generally amplifying and enlarging upon it." </p>
<h4>Parallelism</h4>
<p>English verse manipulates sound, and emphasizes rhyme and meter. Hebrew poetry repeats and rearranges thoughts rather than sounds. There are several types of parallel arrangement of thoughts, with three being basic.</p>
<h5>* Synonymous parallelism</h5>
<p>indicates verses in which the same thought is repeated in different words.
But God in heaven merely laughs! He is amused by all their puny plans.
Psalm 2:4 (tlb)</p>
<h5>* Antithetical parallelism</h5>
<p>indicates verses in which a thought is emphasized by a following contrasting thought.
The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
Psalm 34:10</p>
<h5>* Synthetic parallelism</h5>
<p>indicates a pattern of adding thoughts to explain or develop an original expression.
He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and whose leaf does not wither.
Psalm 1:3</p>
<p>When reading the Psalms or any other Hebrew poetry, it is important to be aware of parallelism. Our understanding of the text, and our interpretation of it, hinges on sensing this thought pattern.</p>
<h4>Rhythm</h4>
<p>In the original text there are accent marks, which indicate stress to be placed on words and phrases. But this rhythm is not metrical, and it cannot be distinguished in English translations.</p>
<h4>Figures of speech</h4>
<p>Hebrew poetry, like the Hebrew language itself, uses vivid images, similies, and metaphores to communicate thoughts and feelings. These, like parallelism, are easily translated into other languages, even though at times idiomatic uses may be obscure.
In reading Hebrew poetry then, and especially in reading the Psalms, we need to be sensitive to these literary distinctives. We need to be aware of the role of repetition and imagery in the Psalms, and discover their meaning in these characteristics."
The Teacher's Commentary.</p>