Characteristics of Hebrew Poetry

We have been immersed in the book of Psalms for our daily Bible reading. Hebrew poetry is very different from poetry in our Western culture. Below are some details that will help us with the Psalms as we wrap up the year and as we continue to the Psalms in the years to come.

The use of thought rhyme instead of word rhyme.

In our modern poetry, we make our words to rhyme. A songwriter or poet might use words like “moon, June, and tune” to express his thoughts This is rarely the case in Hebrew poetry. Instead of rhyming words, the Hebrews used rhyming thoughts. That is where two thoughts might be used together to express a similar idea. Thought rhyme is also known as parallelism. 

It involves arranging thoughts in relation to each other. This is seen not only in the Psalms, but also in Proverbs. Notice a simple illustration of thought rhyme in Proverbs 19:9.

“A false witness will not go unpunished,

And he who speaks lies shall perish.”

In Hebrew poetry there is no concern as to whether certain words rhyme in their sounds.

There are numerous examples of how thought rhyme may be found. Not all parallels are simple to identify.

1.     Synonymous parallelism: The thought of the first line is repeated in the second expressed in different words for emphasis. Consider Psalm 24:2 where it says:

“For He has founded it upon the seas,

And established it upon the waters.”

Note that “founded” (first line) is synonymous with “established” (second line); and “seas” (first line) is synonymous with “waters” (second line).

2.     Antithetic parallelism: The truth presented in one line is strengthened by a contrasting statement in the other. That is, the second line is the antithesis or opposite of the first. Psalm 1:6 illustrates this.

“For the LORD knows the way of the righteous,

But the way of the ungodly shall perish.”

Note that the second line expresses contrasting thoughts to the first. The teaching of the second line does not contradict the first but reinforces and compliments it.

3.     Synthetic parallelism: The first and second lines bear some definite relation to each other (such as cause and effect, or proposition and conclusion). A good example is Psalm 119:11.

“Your word I have hidden in my heart,

That I might not sin against You.”

Can you see how the first line speaks of the cause, while the second speaks of effect? The first thought (God’s word hidden in the heart) causes the effect seen in the second (not sin against you).

4.     Progressive parallelism: There are several varieties, the most common being the stair like and climactic. These Psalms are composed of several lines, each providing an element of thought that builds to make the whole. The stair like is illustrated by Psalm 1:1. Notice that each line builds on the previous as it progresses to the complete thought.

“Blessed is the man…

            Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,

                        Nor stands in the path of sinners,

                                    Nor sits in the seat of the scornful.”

The godly man avoids the way of the wicked. Note that each line progresses the thought and builds a complete picture of how the godly man avoids the (1) counsel, (2) path and (3) seat of the unrighteous.

Appreciating these characteristics of Hebrew poetry can help the Psalms become more meaningful to us.