Hermeneutics Lesson X:

Poetry

A. Poetry distinguished from Prose.

• In modern translations, poetry is usually indicated by the formatting of the text.• It’s also written using

commissive language as opposed to referential language.• So the biblical poets are no

different than modern poets – painting word pictures that appeal to the heart.

B) Specific Forms of Poetry

Unlike much of English poetry which is marked by rhyme and rhythm, Hebrew poetry is characterized primarily by parallelism. At times Hebrew poetry does contain rhyme and rhythm, but it is lost in translation. However, the parallelism will not be lost.

1. Synonymous Parallelism

In synonymous parallelism, the second line in a stanza restates the first line using different vocabulary. As an example, note Psalm 18:4-5.

The cords of death / encompassed meAnd the torrents of ungodliness / terrified me. The cords of Sheol / surrounded meThe snares of death / confronted me. Notice how in each stanza there is a virtually precise AB/ab pattern.

Sometimes the synonymous parallelism is in the form of a chiasm, as in Psalm 95:5.

The sea is His/for it was He who made

it. And His hands formed/ the dry land.

Here the pattern is AB/ba.

Sometimes the parallelism is incomplete. Note

Lamentations 3:10.

He is to me /like a bear / lying in wait like a lion / in

secret places.

The pattern is thus ABC/bc

The parallelism is at times developed beyond one or two lines or phrases, such as with Psalm 1:1. Maybe we can call this EXTENDED

PARALLELISM.

How blessed is the man/who does not walk /in the counsel of the wicked

nor stand / in the path of sinners nor sit / in the seat of scoffers

This pattern is ABC/bc/b’c’

2. Antithetical Parallelism

• Here the second line contrasts with the first line.

• A wise son / makes a father glad• But a foolish son / is a grief to his

mother.

• In antithetical parallelism, one can also find examples of chiasm, incomplete parallelism, and extended parallelism.

• • Prov. 10:4 = chiasm• Prov. 23:31 = incomplete• Prov. 31:2 = extended (and also

incomplete)

3. “Step” or “Climactic” Parallelism

• In this, the second phrase takes the first to a higher plane, e.g . Matthew 10:40

b) And he who receives me receives Him who sent me

a) He who receives you receives me,

One could argue however, this is merely incomplete, synonymous parallelism.

Synthetic Parallelism• This occurs when the second line does not

repeat the first, but develops it.

“But his delight is in the law of the Lord,/And in his Law doth he meditate day and night.

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water/ That brings forth its fruit in its season

But notice, the first two lines are just incomplete synonymous parallelism in chiasm.

• “But his delight is in the law of the LORD• And in His Law doth he meditate/ day

and night

5. Acrostics

Here, the verses follow an alphabetical pattern.

A perfect example of this is Psalm 119. Made up of 176 verses, it is divided into

22 sections of 8 verses each. Every verse in each section begins with the same Hebrew letter in alphabetical

order. Thus the first 8 verses all start with “aleph,” the second 8 verses all begin with “beth,” all the way to the

end (“tav”).

C) Psalms

1. Introductiona) they are poetry, and are written in commissive language.b) Despite being poetry, they still express objective truth.c) Since the historical/personal experiences of the Psalmist are different than ours, and since he expresses himself in culturally conditioned language, we must be vigilant in search of implications and significance to make application for our life and condition.d) Though all of the Bible is given by God to us, the Psalms are also man’s expression of faith, hope, pain, joy, and sorrow back to God.e) Psalms are a great aid to worship, and were used by the Jews as such. They are grett means by which we too can express ourselves to God in worship.f) The Psalms are usually identified with King David, they were written by a variety of individuals over a long period of time. Eventually the Psalms were compiled into 5 “books:” Pss. 1-41; 42-72; 73-89; 90-106; 107-150.

2. Types of Psalms

a) Lament Psalms There are

approximately 48 lament Psalms, making it the

largest category of Psalms. individual: e.g. 3, 4, 5, 6,

7, 17, 22, 61

corporate: e.g. 44, 85, 90, 137

As we can note from Psalm 13, lament Psalms have a

basic pattern, which applies generally to all laments.

i. address to God (v. 1: “O LORD”)ii. lament/description of need (vs. 1-2: “How long will you forget me…”)iii. petition/prayer for help (vs. 3-4: “Look on me and answer”)iv. confession of confidence (v. 5: “But I

will trust your unfailing love [pres. tense])

v. vow or confession of praise (v. 6: “I will sing to the LORD” [future tense])

Comparing Lament Psalms

Psalm 13 Psalm 3• Address to God same (v.1a)• Lam./des. of need same (v.1b-2) • Petition confession (v.3-6)• Confessionpetition (v. 7)• Vow/praise same (vs. 8)

The elements between these two verses are essentially the same, though in slightly different order.

b) Praise Psalms

These Psalms glorify and thank God.

These can be classified in a couple of ways:

• narrative praise (what God has done for me/us) and some are descriptive praise (what God is or what He does/has done objectively, as in nature Psalms e.g. Ps. 104).• Praise Psalms can be further

classified into individual praise (18, 30, 116, et.al.) or corporate praise (67, 98, 124, et. al.)

Like Lament Psalms, Praise Psalms follow a general

pattern, though they are not all identical. A classic example

of the praise format is the shortest chapter in the Bible,

Psalm 117.

opening praise (v. 1)description of what God has

done/reason for praise (v.2a,b)closing praise (2c)

c) Wisdom Psalms

These Psalms contrast the blessedness of serving God versus the folly of rejecting Him, or they discuss the benefits of serving God.

At times they have philosophical elements, as the Psalmist ponders theological questions (e.g. 73)

Examples are Psalm 1, 36, 37, 49, 73, 112, 127, 128, 133

A classic example of a wisdom Psalm is Psalm 1.

• The description of the blessed

man (vs. 1-2)• Benefit of the blessed man (v. 3)• Description of the wicked

man (v. 4)• The curse on the wicked

man (v. 5)• Final contrast between the

two (v. 6)

d) Royal Psalms

• Though some would not classify these as a distinct type of Psalms, they

contain a “royal” element where the King plays a prominent role. They

either involve God’s power upon the King or “anointed,” or

exalt God as King.

Psalm 2, 20, 21, 45, 72, 89, 110, and 132 are often classified

As Royal Psalms.

• Some of these may even be considered “Messianic Psalms”

(e.g. 2, 16, 72, et. al.).

e) Imprecatory Psalms

• These provide a special dilemma for the Christian, as they call down death and destruction upon the Psalmist’s enemies.

• Examples are Psalms 58 and 83.• Again, these are not always seen

as a distinct class of Psalms, as short imprecations can be found throughout the entire collection (e.g. Ps. 35:3-8, 69:22-28, 137:8-9).

D) Cutting to the ChaseRead the following Psalms and

classify them. What type are they, and where appropriate are

they individual or corporate, descriptive or narrative, etc.

Psalms 5, 21, 43, 49, 73, 74, 90, 92, 100, 109, 132, 135.