Show notes
This is episode 1 in our series on Biblical Poetry!In part 1 (0-In part 2 (In part 3 (In part 4 (“Song” (Heb. shir / shirah): Exodus “Psalm” (Heb. mizmor): Many headings to the Psalms have these: Psalm 3, “A mizmor of David.”“Lament” (Heb. qinah): 2 Samuel There are three keys to reading Hebrew poetry:Rhythm: Hebrew poetry is shaped into a “line-rhythm” or “verse.” It is not metrical (based on syllable counts), but a form of “free verse.”The line in Hebrew poetry is most often:a. A complete sentence or subordinate clauseb. Consisting of 3-5 wordsc. Marked by repetition and clear end-stop signalsThe Dead Sea Scrolls show the earliest divisions of Hebrew poetry into line-columns.Terseness:This poetry is often concise and uses as few words as possible to communicate as much as possible.“The terseness of biblical poetry gives the impression that each word or phrase is more loaded with meaning, since fewer words must bear the burden of the message.” (Adele Berlin, Introduction to Biblical Poetry)Parallelism:Robert Lowth's Lectures on the Sacred Poetry of the Hebrews and a commentary on Isaiah created the first comprehensive synthesis of features in Biblical poetry. In his words:“There is a certain conformation of the sentences, which is chiefly observable in those passages which frequently occur in Hebrew poetry, in which they treat one subject in many different ways, and dwell upon the same sentiment; when they express the same thing in different words, or different things in a similar form of words: and since this artifice of composition seldom fails to produce an agreeable and measured cadence, we can scarcely doubt it must have imparted to their poetry an exquisite degree of beauty and grace.”In part 5 (In part 6 (All the Proverbs are cast in this poetic form. In fact, the word “proverb” in Hebrew (mashal) means “a comparison.” In Proverbs Being slow to anger is better than being a warrior,And being one who rules their passions is better than one who captures a city.Show Resources:Adele Berlin, Introduction to Biblical PoetryRobert Alter, The Art of Biblical PoetryExtinct species of wild ox: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AurochsLaurence Perrine, Sound and Sense: An Introduction to PoetryPsalm 29Produced by:Dan Gummel, Jon CollinsShow Music:J Cole Type Beat, Thunderstorm Instrumental (Educational and Non Profit Fair Use)Rosasharn Music, Defender InstrumentalUnwritten Stories, All NightMiss Emeli, General Vibe