HEBREWHEBREW

POETRYPOETRY

The Scope of Hebrew PoetryThe Scope of Hebrew Poetry The poetical books are The poetical books are one-fourth one-fourth of the Old Testament. of the Old Testament.

Hebrew poetry, however, makes up Hebrew poetry, however, makes up one-third one-third of the Old of the Old Testament. Testament.

Every book of the Old Testament contains poetry except Every book of the Old Testament contains poetry except Leviticus and Esther. Leviticus and Esther.

Some Old Testament books, although not classified as Some Old Testament books, although not classified as such, are entirely poetical: Lamentations, Obadiah, such, are entirely poetical: Lamentations, Obadiah, Habakkuk. Habakkuk.

Some poetical books contain a great deal of prose: Job, Some poetical books contain a great deal of prose: Job, Ecclesiastes.Ecclesiastes.

The Sections of Hebrew PoetryThe Sections of Hebrew Poetry

Wisdom literature makes up most of O.T. Wisdom literature makes up most of O.T. poetry and is divided into two sections:poetry and is divided into two sections:

Higher Wisdom & Lower WisdomHigher Wisdom & Lower Wisdom

There are Three There are Three Fundamental Features Fundamental Features of of Hebrew Wisdom.Hebrew Wisdom.

First, Hebrew wisdom is God centered.First, Hebrew wisdom is God centered.Second, Hebrew wisdom is life centered.Second, Hebrew wisdom is life centered.Third Hebrew wisdom is not a matter of capacity, but a Third Hebrew wisdom is not a matter of capacity, but a

matter of choice.matter of choice.

There are There are Levels of Folly Levels of Folly in Hebrew Wisdom.in Hebrew Wisdom.

– "Simple" is the elementary school fool. "Simple" is the elementary school fool.

– "Fool" is the high school fool. "Fool" is the high school fool.

– "Scoffer," "Mocker," or "Scorner" is the graduate "Scoffer," "Mocker," or "Scorner" is the graduate school foolschool fool..

The Sections of Hebrew PoetryThe Sections of Hebrew Poetry

The Specifics of Hebrew PoetryThe Specifics of Hebrew Poetry The differences between Hebrew poetry and The differences between Hebrew poetry and

prose are not easy to specify. prose are not easy to specify. Bishop Robert Lowth laid the foundation for Bishop Robert Lowth laid the foundation for

the systematic study of Hebrew poetry in the systematic study of Hebrew poetry in 1753. 1753.

Lowth discovered that the central feature of Lowth discovered that the central feature of Hebrew poetry is Hebrew poetry is parallelism.parallelism.

Parallelism is the balancing of the thoughts Parallelism is the balancing of the thoughts in successive lines of poetry. in successive lines of poetry.

In Hebrew poetry the words do not rhyme. In Hebrew poetry the words do not rhyme. Instead the Instead the thoughts rhyme.thoughts rhyme.

Types of Parallelisms:Types of Parallelisms: Synonymous Synonymous - each line repeats its own - each line repeats its own

thought in different words. thought in different words.

JOB 8:11JOB 8:11 “Can papyrus grow tall “Can papyrus grow tall

where there is no marsh? where there is no marsh?

Can reeds thrive without water?”Can reeds thrive without water?”

Antithetic - Antithetic - the thought of line two contrasts the thought of line two contrasts that of line one.that of line one.

PSALM 1:6PSALM 1:6 “For the Lord “For the Lord

watches over the watches over the way of the righteous, way of the righteous,

but the way of the but the way of the wicked will perish.”wicked will perish.”

Emblematic Emblematic - line one contains a simile or - line one contains a simile or metaphor in reference to line two.metaphor in reference to line two.

PSALM 42:1PSALM 42:1““As a deer pants for As a deer pants for streams streams of water, of water, so my soul so my soul

pants for you, pants for you,

O God.” O God.”

Types of Parallelisms:Types of Parallelisms:

External External - two parallelisms are taken together - two parallelisms are taken together to make a unit.to make a unit.

PSALM 27:1 PSALM 27:1 "The Lord is my light and my "The Lord is my light and my salvation— salvation— whom shall I fear? The whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— Lord is the stronghold of my life—

of whom of whom shall I be afraid?"shall I be afraid?"

ISAIAH 1:3 ISAIAH 1:3 “The ox knows his master, “The ox knows his master,

the donkey his the donkey his owner’s manger, owner’s manger, but Israel does not but Israel does not know, my people do not know, my people do not

understand.understand.

Types of ParallelismsTypes of Parallelisms::

SYNTHETIC REASONSYNTHETIC REASON

Proverbs 26:4 RSV Proverbs 26:4 RSV Answer not a Answer not a fool according to his fool according to his

folly, folly,

lest you be like him lest you be like him yourself, yourself,

Chiastic Chiastic - in this parallelism there is an - in this parallelism there is an inverted arrangement in which the parallelism inverted arrangement in which the parallelism runs in reverse order.runs in reverse order.

PSALM 51:1PSALM 51:1

Have mercy on me, Have mercy on me, according to youraccording to yourO God unfailing love;O God unfailing love;

according to youraccording to your blot our my blot our my great compassion transgressions.great compassion transgressions.

Types of Parallelisms:Types of Parallelisms:

Other Literary DevicesOther Literary Devices

Onomatopoeia in Judges 5:22Onomatopoeia in Judges 5:22

Hyperbole in Jonah 2:5ff Hyperbole in Jonah 2:5ff

Acrostic in Psalm 119Acrostic in Psalm 119Puns in Isaiah 5:7 Puns in Isaiah 5:7

PUNPUNISAIAH 5:7ISAIAH 5:7

The Lord looked for:The Lord looked for: The Lord saw: The Lord saw:

mishpat mishpachmishpat mishpach

“ “justice”justice” “bloodshed” “bloodshed”

ze dakahze dakah tze‘akah tze‘akah

““righteousness” “distress”righteousness” “distress”