Hebrew Poetry

1
Hebrew Poetry
2
B. Hebrew Poetry1. General Characteristics
3
Hebrew Poetry1. General Characteristics

• a. The Difference between Poetry and Prose
• (1) Basic Differences

4
Hebrew Poetry General Characteristics

• The Difference between Poetry and Prose
• (1) Basic Differences
• (a) Use of Language

5
Hebrew Poetry General Characteristics

• a. The Difference between Poetry and Prose
• (1) Basic Differences
• (a) Use of Language
• (b) Purposes

6
Hebrew Poetry General Characteristics

• a. The Difference between Poetry and Prose
• (1) Basic Differences
• (a) Use of Language
• (b) Purposes
• (2) Example Lam 2 2 Kings 251-21

7

• 2 Kings 259
• And Nebuzaradan burned the house of the Lord,
  the kings house, and all the houses of
  Jerusalem even every great house he burned with
  fire.

8

• Lamentations 25-6
• The Lord has become like an enemy,
• He has swallowed up all its palaces,
• He has destroyed its strongholds
• And multiplied in the daughter of Judah mourning
  and moaning.
• And he has violently treated his tabernacle like
  a garden booth
• He has destroyed his appointed meeting place.

9
b. Hebrew Poetry Nature and Structure
10
b. Hebrew Poetry Nature and Structure

• (1) Rhythm and Sound

11
b. Hebrew Poetry Nature and Structure

• (1) Rhythm and Sound
• Alliteration (beginning sounds)

12
b. Hebrew Poetry Nature and Structure

• (1) Rhythm and Sound
• Alliteration (beginning sounds)
• Assonance (vowel sounds)

13
b. Hebrew Poetry Nature and Structure

• (1) Rhythm and Sound
• Alliteration (beginning sounds)
• Assonance (vowel sounds)
• Play on Words

Example Gamla (camel) Galma (gnat) Mt 2324
14
b. Hebrew Poetry Nature and Structure

• (1) Rhythm and Sound
• Alliteration (beginning sounds)
• Assonance (vowel sounds)
• Play on Words
• Rhythm (meter)

15
b. Hebrew Poetry Nature and Structure

• (1) Rhythm and Sound
• Alliteration (beginning sounds)
• Assonance (vowel sounds)
• Play on Words
• Rhythm (meter)
• Hermeneutical Significance
• Relationship of word choice to form

16
b. Hebrew Poetry Nature and Structure

• (2) A Key Structural Feature Parallelism

17
b. Hebrew Poetry Nature and Structure

• (2) A Key Feature Parallelism
• The balancing of adjacent lines

18
b. Hebrew Poetry Nature and Structure

• (2) A Key Feature Parallelism
• The balancing of adjacent lines
• But he was pierced for our trangressions,
• he was crushed for our iniquities
• The punishment that brought us peace was upon
  him,
• And by his wounds we are healed. Is 535

19
b. Hebrew Poetry Nature and Structure

• (3) Other Structural Features
• (a) Chiasm An ABBA pattern in the structure of
  a verse or section of Hebrew poetry

20
b. Hebrew Poetry Nature and Structure

• (3) Other Structural Features
• (a) Chiasm
• If I forget you, O Jerusalem, A
• May my right hand forget its skill, B
• May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth, B1
• If I do not remember you A1
• Ps 1374-5

21
b. Hebrew Poetry Nature and Structure

• (3) Other Structural Features
• (a) Chiasm
• Do not give dogs what is sacred
• Do not throw your pearls to pigs.
• If you do, they may trample them under your feet,
• And then turn and tear you to pieces.
• Matt 76

22
b. Hebrew Poetry Nature and Structure

• (3) Other Structural Features
• (a) Chiasm
• (b) Acrostic
• The use of the Hebrew alphabet to structure
  sections of poetry

23
b. Hebrew Poetry Nature and Structure

• (3) Other Structural Features
• (a) Chiasm
• (b) Acrostic
• e.g., Psalm 34Its lines are organized
  according to the Hebrew alphabet

24
b. Hebrew Poetry Nature and Structure

• (4) Metaphorical Language and Imagery
• Figures of Speech
• E.g., simile metaphor

Simile Comparison often using like/as
As the deer longs for flowing streams, so my
soul longs for you, O God. Ps 421
Metaphor Indirect comparison
You are my rock and my fortress. Ps 713