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“Hebrew Poetry”
Categories: Magnify the Lord!(By Michael Walls)
The Psalms are deeply poetic, but sometimes we miss their meaning and beauty in the space between the translation of language and culture. When reading the psalms, it is helpful to understand how they are written and to know some of the forms used. For example, to understand Haiku, a famous Japanese form of poetry, one must grasp the structure of 5, 7, and 5 syllables. Most of us probably wrote a Haiku or two when we were in school, but even then, the Japanese language lends itself better to this form than English does. Thus, the real art of Haiku lies in expressing complicated thoughts and ideas in this regimented and beautiful style. Shakespeare, known for his comedic and tragic plays, also wrote quite a bit of poetry in what is called iambic pentameter, a kind of rhythmic da DUM, da DUM, da DUM, da DUM, da DUM (10 beats, the “penta” in pentameter), feeling that it served to mimmic the human heartbeat. Shakespeare often used this rhythm to differentiate his educated or highborn characters from the low, who often spoke in rhymes to make them seem simple or foolish.
On the other hand, rather than using word rhymes, syllables, or meter, which are typical of much western poetry and music, the psalmists employed what many have called “thought rhymes.” That is, rather than making the sounds match, they focused on matching (or contrasting) the ideas by using colorful images and repetition. This is a brilliant move by God (of course), who always intended the words to be used and translated for the entirety of history to follow. Word rhymes, syllables, and meter just do not translate well, but ideas do.
Parallelism is the defining feature of Hebrew poetry, where ideas are expressed in balanced, corresponding lines. The main types include:
Synonymous Parallelism – The second line restates the first in a slightly different way. “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” (Psalm 19:1)
Antithetical Parallelism – The second line contrasts the first, often using “but.” “For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.” (Psalm 1:6)
Synthetic Parallelism – The second line expands or completes the thought of the first. “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.” (Psalm 1:1)
There are other forms, but these will get you most of the way toward understanding psalms, and, incidentally, most of the other “poetic” or “wisdom” literature found in Scripture. Of course, the psalmists are not strictly limited to some form of parallelism to make their point - this is art, after all! Some psalms (like Psalm 119) follow an acrostic pattern, where each section begins with a successive Hebrew letter. Others use repetition and refrains (e.g., Psalm 136: “His steadfast love endures forever”).
As in all poetry, the writers employ powerful metaphors and similes to express deep theological truths. For example: God is described as a shepherd (Psalm 23), a rock (Psalm 18:2), and a fortress (Psalm 46:1). Human life is compared to grass that withers (Psalm 103:15-16) or a shadow that passes away (Psalm 144:4), and, the righteous are like a tree planted by streams of water (Psalm 1:3), to name a few. Imagine NOT having these words to more fully expand our understanding of these things!
Psalms capture the full range of human emotion. There are laments (e.g., Psalm 22) which express sorrow, questioning, and a plea for help. There are thanksgiving psalms (e.g., Psalm 30) which celebrate God’s deliverance, royal psalms (e.g., Psalm 2) that highlight God’s anointed, and wisdom psalms (e.g., Psalm 119) which reflect on the value of God’s law. There are even more types, depending which scholar you ask. If you have felt it, so has at least one of the psalmists - read with confidence!
The Psalms are beautiful and deeply poetic, but their beauty lies not just in their structure—it’s in how they convey theology, devotion, and the rawness of human experience before God. They were meant to be sung, prayed, and meditated upon, making them a unique blend of art, worship, and theology. Is it any wonder the Psalms have inspired songwriters throughout history to write new worship songs?
Will you spend more time with the psalms, dwelling in their spiritual truths?
