Lesson 5:
The Two Key Elements of Hebrew Poetry

The difference between English and Hebrew poetry.

o The focus of English poetry is on rhyme and meter. While rhyming is not absent in Hebrew poetry we can’t see it because it only exists in the original language. The same is true for meter.

o The biggest difference between Hebrew and English poetry is that Hebrew poetry relies primarily on parallelism and figures of speech to emphasize meaning.

Parallelism. Hebrew poetry repeats and rearranges thoughts rather than sounds. The five most common types of parallelism include synonymous, antithetical, synthetic, climactic, and emblematic.

o Synonymous--the thought of the first line is basically repeated in different words in the second line (examples 2:4; 3:1; 7:17).

o Antithetical--the thought of the first line is emphasized by a contrasting thought in the second line (examples 1:6; 34:10). They are often identified with “but.”

o Synthetic--the second line explains or further develops the idea of the first line (examples 1:3; 95:3).

o Climactic--The second line repeats with the exception of the last terms (example 29:1).

o Emblematic--One line conveys the main point, the second line illuminates it by an image (examples 42:1; 23:1).

Figures of Speech. Hebrew poetry uses vivid images, similes, metaphors, and other rhetorical devices to communicate thoughts and feelings. The ten most common include:

o Simile: A simile is a comparison between two things that resemble each other in some way (examples. Ps. 1:3-4; 5:12; 17:8; 131:2). Often uses the word “like.”

o Metaphor: This is a comparison in which one thing is likened to another without the use of a word of comparison as in “like” or “as” (examples 84:11; 91:4).

o Implication: This occurs when there is only an implied comparison between two things in which the name of one thing is used in place of the other (example 22:16).

o Hyperbole: This is the use of exaggeration to stress a point (examples 6:6; 78:27; 107.26).

o Paronomasia: This refers to the use or repetition of words that are similar in sound, but have a different meaning (example 22:16).

o Pleonasm: This involves the use of redundancy for the sake of emphasis. This may occur with the use of words or sentences.

o Rhetorical question: The use of a question to confirm or deny a fact (examples 35:10; 56:8; 106.2).

o Metonymy: This occurs where one noun is used in place of another because of some relationship or type of resemblance that different objects might bear to one another (Ps. 5:9; 18:2; 57:9; 73:9).

o Anthropomorphism: The assigning of some part of the human anatomy to God’s Person (examples 10:11, 14; 11:4; 31:2).

o Zoomorphism: The assigning of some part of an animal to God’s Person to convey certain truths about God (examples Ps. 17:8; 91:4).

Source: https://bible.org/seriespage/5-poetical-books