Hebrew Poetry - Parallelism/Contrasts

[cweber]

Hi Folks, I am not a Theologian or Pastor and am dedicated to studying the Bible. I am very interested to know more about this topic. I was reading a forum conversation "29305-jewish-perspective-on-the-psalms" with great interest and after also reading 'The Bible in Context' (Craig Keener) - Context within Verses, I encountered Craig's comment "Hebrew poetry balanced ideas".

 

So Hebrew poetry

1. reinforces an idea through expansion (called parallelism); e.g. Psalms

 

He who sits in the heavens laughs

  the Lord holds them in derision

 

2.

or presents contrasts

 

the wicked do … 

the righteous do …

 

The following were suggested as text I could read, but none are in Accordance:

• The Dynamics of Biblical Parallelism (The Biblical Resource Series) Adele Berlin 2007
• Reading Biblical Narrative: An Introductory Guide (J. P. Fokkelman) 2000
• Reading Biblical Poetry (J. P. Fokkelman) 2001
• The Basics of Hebrew Poetry (Samuel T. S. Goh and Tremper Longman) 2017

 

Q1.  Does anyone know of anything similar currently available in Accordance?

 

Q2.  I am also keen to learn whether Koine Greek (on my list to learn) has any similar concepts, or differences than what Keener quotes as "Traditional English poetry balances sounds with rhymes"?

 

Edited September 25, 2022 by cweber

[Donald Cobb]

On 9/25/2022 at 2:23 AM, cweber said:

Hi Folks, I am not a Theologian or Pastor and am dedicated to studying the Bible. I am very interested to know more about this topic. I was reading a forum conversation "29305-jewish-perspective-on-the-psalms" with great interest and after also reading 'The Bible in Context' (Craig Keener) - Context within Verses, I encountered Craig's comment "Hebrew poetry balanced ideas".

 

So Hebrew poetry

1. reinforces an idea through expansion (called parallelism); e.g. Psalms

 

He who sits in the heavens laughs

  the Lord holds them in derision

 

2.

or presents contrasts

 

the wicked do … 

the righteous do …

 

The following were suggested as text I could read, but none are in Accordance:

• The Dynamics of Biblical Parallelism (The Biblical Resource Series) Adele Berlin 2007
• Reading Biblical Narrative: An Introductory Guide (J. P. Fokkelman) 2000
• Reading Biblical Poetry (J. P. Fokkelman) 2001
• The Basics of Hebrew Poetry (Samuel T. S. Goh and Tremper Longman) 2017

 

Q1.  Does anyone know of anything similar currently available in Accordance?

 

Q2.  I am also keen to learn whether Koine Greek (on my list to learn) has any similar concepts, or differences than what Keener quotes as "Traditional English poetry balances sounds with rhymes"?

 

 

I imagine a good place to start would be one of the more recent commentaries on Psalms. If I recall, Craigie's commentary (Word) has a section on parallelism in Hebrew poetry, as would this and this. You could also try looking at some of the Bible dictionaries. The phenomenon is well known, so I'm sure you'll find something!

[Robert Holmstedt]

I've written a Vetus Testamentum article on this poetic convention from a linguistic angle: https://ancienthebrewgrammar.wordpress.com/holmsted_appositivestylebhpoetry_vt2019/

 

 

[c. stirling bartholomew]

Twenty years ago I edited two papers (English) on Hebrew Poetic Parallelism for Andre Desnitsky. If you search you might find them.

 

Postscript: John Hobbins used to have a blog dedicated to the topic.

Edited September 27, 2022 by c. stirling bartholomew

[cweber]

Thanks for the replies, I'll look into those resources.

 

And I am guessing the Septuagint was written by Jewish people, thereby the Greek possibly influenced with similar poetic conventions?

 

[c. stirling bartholomew]

6 minutes ago, cweber said:

Thanks for the replies, I'll look into those resources.

 

And I am guessing the Septuagint was written by Jewish people, thereby the Greek possibly influenced with similar poetic conventions?

 

You should make some effort to find publications by Andre Desnitsky. He did his dissertation on the  Septuagint under Jan De Waard .

[A. Smith]

If you're wanting to just get started in this topic, I highly recommend Interpreting Hebrew Poetry by Petersen and Richards

https://www.amazon.com/Interpreting-Hebrew-Biblical-Scholarship-Testament/dp/0800626257/ref=sr_1_1?crid=V668EB9OBLU6&keywords=interpreting+hebrew+poetry&qid=1664365390&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjQzIiwicXNhIjoiMC4zNyIsInFzcCI6IjAuNTQifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=interpreting+hebrew+poet%2Caps%2C1037&sr=8-1

 

followed closely by Berlin, which you've already mentioned. These two are unbeatable, IMO. 

 

Regarding koine poetry, I'd say, No. Koine does not have its own unique style of parallelism. However, the NT writers do use parallelism (often in the form of chasm) and imitate hebrew parallelism (modeled after the LXX, I would suggest). They do this at many levels (phonetic, syntactic, discourse, etc; see Berlin). Greek poetry is a unique beast, but I'm among those who don't really see it in the NT. Even the prayers and 'hymns' of the NT don't follow traditional greek (classical, attic) style. No one has convincingly shown meter in the Greek New Testament (or Hebrew OT, as far as I'm concerned; I'm among those who see Hebrew poetry as a matter of parallelism, not meter). 

[A. Smith]

14 hours ago, cweber said:

Thanks for the replies, I'll look into those resources.

 

And I am guessing the Septuagint was written by Jewish people, thereby the Greek possibly influenced with similar poetic conventions?

 

It's worth nothing that Muraoka, one of the world's leading scholars of LXX grammar and language, largely considers the LXX to be typical of greek of it's period. In other words, the semitic influence may have affected how often this or that construction was used but did not cause the wholesale invention of new grammatical constructions (there are exceptions, of course). This to say that what the LXX authors did with poetry is as much Greek as it is Hebrew, and it's possibly ill advised to try and sharply divide the two in such a translation. Not that you'd be dong that, given the background and intentions you've described.  

Edited September 28, 2022 by A. Smith
wrong scholar!

[cweber]

On 9/27/2022 at 11:13 PM, Robert Holmstedt said:

I've written a Vetus Testamentum article on this poetic convention from a linguistic angle

 

On 9/28/2022 at 7:25 AM, c. stirling bartholomew said:

I edited two papers (English) on Hebrew Poetic Parallelism for Andre Desnitsky

 

As a non-academic person embarking on a study journey to get closer to our Lord Jesus, it is very much appreciated to receive responses from such knowledgeable individuals

 

Edited September 29, 2022 by cweber

[Michael Hunt]

On 9/27/2022 at 1:28 PM, Donald Cobb said:

I imagine a good place to start would be one of the more recent commentaries on Psalms. If I recall, Craigie's commentary (Word) has a section on parallelism in Hebrew poetry, as would this and this. You could also try looking at some of the Bible dictionaries. The phenomenon is well known, so I'm sure you'll find something!

 

1 hour ago, cweber said:

As a non-academic person embarking on a study journey to get closer to our Lord Jesus, it is very much appreciated to receive responses from such knowledgeable individuals

 

I would second what Donald has said then about starting with a good commentary on the Psalms. They will all have some form of discussion on that nature of parallelism in Hebrew poetry as well as other aspects of Hebrew poetry (though they might not do it to the depth of the other mentioned specialist studies on the topic).

 

One thing you will get with a commentary over one of the other specialist studies mentioned is a complete and comprehensive working through of all the examples of Hebrew poetry we have in the Psalms. Added to this will be discussions on the connections the Psalms have with each other, their respective types, place in the OT and NT, and finally how they point to and find fulfilment in Jesus. Such a resource I feel will continue to be helpful in your larger goal.

 

As a Pastor/Preacher I have found the "Kregel Exegetical Library: Psalms (3 Volumes)" by Ross to be my go to commentary on the Psalms (see link below). Its quite accessible to all levels and has a good though short discussion on the structure of Hebrew Poetry in its introduction.

 

https://accordancebible.com/product/kregel-exegetical-library-psalms-3-volumes-ross/
 

[cweber]

@Michael Hunt  Thanks, I went searching my ever growing library and found I do have "The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Revised (EBC-R)" Ross, Allen P., while not the three volumes it does appear to be a good start

 

Edited September 29, 2022 by cweber

[Donald Cobb]

3 hours ago, cweber said:

@Michael Hunt  Thanks, I went searching my ever growing library and found I do have "The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Revised (EBC-R)" Ross, Allen P., while not the three volumes it does appear to be a good start

 

 You have the Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary in Accordance, you may want to take a look at the article on "Parallelism". A quick look at its contents gives the impression that it's fairly complete. So potentially another good place to start,

Edited September 29, 2022 by Donald Cobb

[Michael Hunt]

@cweber That certainly would be a good start. Ross builds on his past work (like EBC) and I feel that the many years he has spent looking at the Psalms shows in his later works like Kregel. But his early works are also of such a quality that I would suggest only adding his Kregel volumes on the Psalms if this was an area you wanted to dig into over many years. Buying books is the easy bit, finding time to read and process all the ones you have already brought is much harder.

 

And yes the Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary article is very a good summary on the topic written by Adele Berlin no less.

 

Edited September 29, 2022 by Michael Hunt
For clarity

[cweber]

I have found it very encouraging to receive each of your replies to my question. The subject is very interesting to me. At high school (so long ago) we only learnt relatively plain English grammar and never touched on what or how other languages might articulate and express ideas. Only during my career and science degree did I expand my understanding a little further. What I am encountering in Accordance is opening my mind to another whole other level of interests. I look forward to making time to learn the very basics or Greek and then Hebrew, but at a peak of paying work it won't be soon. In the meantime, I will explore these ideas and hopefully build a background of knowledge and concepts for when I do have more time.