Parallelism


The verse form of biblical poetry is parallelism. It avoids rhyme and consists instead of thought couplets or triplets. Parallelism can be defined as two or more lines that express something in different words but similar grammatical form.

Four main types appear in Scripture: synonymous parallelism, antithetical parallelism, climactic parallelism, and synthetic parallelism or growing parallelism.

Parallelism is part of the artistry of biblical poetry, serves as a mnemonic device, and produces a meditative effect.

(The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. The Bible as Literature by Leland Ryken, Page 137-138)

Synonymous Parallelism

A form that expresses a thought more than once in similar grammatical form or sentence structure.

(The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. The Bible as Literature by Leland Ryken, Page 137)

Antithetical Parallelism

A form whose second line states the truth of the first in a negative or contrasting way.

  • For the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
  • but the way of the wicked will perish.

(The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. The Bible as Literature by Leland Ryken, Page 137)

Climactic Parallelism

A form whose second line completes the first by repeating part of it then adding more.

  • Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings,
  • ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

(The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. The Bible as Literature by Leland Ryken, Page 137)

Synthetic Parallelism

AKA growing parallelism.

A form consisting of a pair of lines that together form a complete unit and in which the second line completes or expands the thought of the first without repeating.

  • Thou preparest a table before me
  • in the presence of my enemies.

(The Origin of the Bible: Newly Updated by F. F. Bruce, J. I. Packer, Philip W. Comfort, and Carl F. H. Henry, 2020. The Bible as Literature by Leland Ryken, Page 137-138)