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Thoughts to Keep in Mind

Reading Poetry in the Old Testament

In the Old Testament books that come before the book of Job, we find mostly stories—narrative accounts that describe historical events from a spiritual perspective. Noah built an ark, Moses delivered Israel, Hannah prayed to have a son, and so on. Beginning with Job, we find a different writing style, as Old Testament writers turned to poetic language to express deep feelings or monumental prophecies in a memorable way.

We have already seen a few examples of poetry sprinkled throughout the historical books of the Old Testament. And from the book of Job forward, we will see a lot more of it. The books of Job, Psalms, and Proverbs are almost entirely poetry, as are parts of the writings of prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Amos. Because reading poetry is different from reading a story, understanding it often requires a different approach. Here are some thoughts that could make your reading of Old Testament poetry more meaningful.

Getting to Know Hebrew Poetry

First, it may help you to keep in mind that Hebrew poetry in the Old Testament isn’t based on rhyme, like some other kinds of poetry. And although rhythm, wordplay, and repetition of sounds are common features of ancient Hebrew poetry, they are typically lost in translation. One feature you will notice, however, is the repetition of thoughts or ideas, sometimes called “parallelism.” This verse from Isaiah contains a simple example:

• Put on thy strength, O Zion;

• put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem (Isaiah 52:1).

The 29th Psalm has many parallel lines—here is one example:

• The voice of the Lord is powerful;

• the voice of the Lord is full of majesty (Psalm 29:4).

And here’s an instance in which knowing that the second line is parallel to the first actually makes the passage easier to understand:

• I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities,

• and want of bread in all your places (Amos 4:6).

In these examples, an idea is repeated with slight differences. This technique can emphasize the repeated idea while using the differences to more fully describe or develop it.

In other cases, the two parallel phrases use similar language to convey contrasting ideas, as in this example:

• A soft answer turneth away wrath:

• but grievous words stir up anger (Proverbs 15:1).

This parallelism didn’t happen by accident. The writers did it intentionally. It allowed them to express spiritual feelings or truths in a way that seemed to them both powerful and beautiful. So when you notice parallelism in Old Testament writing, ask yourself how it helps you understand the writer’s message. For example, what might Isaiah have been trying to say by relating “strength” with “beautiful garments” and “Zion” with “Jerusalem”? (Isaiah 52:1). What can we infer about the phrase “a soft answer” if we know that “grievous words” is its opposite? (Proverbs 15:1).

man writing on a scroll

He Restoreth My Soul, by Walter Rane

Hebrew Poetry as a New Friend

It may be helpful for you to compare reading poetry to meeting a new person. For example, you might compare reading Old Testament poetry to meeting someone from a distant country and foreign culture who doesn’t speak the same language we do—and who happens to be over two thousand years old. This person will probably say things we don’t understand at first, but that doesn’t mean he or she has nothing valuable to tell us. With some patience and some compassion, our new acquaintance can eventually become a dear friend. We just need to spend some time together, trying to see things from his or her point of view. We may even find that in our hearts we actually understand each other quite well.

So the first time you read a passage from Isaiah, for example, consider it your first introduction to a new acquaintance. Ask yourself, “What’s my general impression?” How does the passage make you feel—even if you don’t understand every word? Then read it again, several times if possible. Some people find added meaning by reading the passages out loud. Notice specific words Isaiah chose, especially words that paint a picture in your mind. How do those pictures make you feel? What does the imagery suggest about how Isaiah felt? The more you study the words of these Old Testament poets, the more you will find that they deliberately chose their words and techniques to express a deep spiritual message.

Poems can be wonderful friends because they help us understand our feelings and experiences. Old Testament poems are especially precious, because they help us understand our most important feelings and experiences—those that have to do with our relationship with God.

As you study the poetry in the Old Testament, remember that scripture study is most valuable when it leads us to Jesus Christ. Look for symbols, imagery, and truths that build your faith in Him. Listen for promptings from the Holy Ghost as you study.

Wisdom Literature

One category of Old Testament poetry is what scholars call “wisdom literature.” Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes fall into this category. While psalms express feelings of praise, mourning, and worship, wisdom literature focuses on timeless advice or deep, philosophical questions. The book of Job, for example, explores the justice of God and the reasons behind human suffering. Proverbs offers counsel on how to live well, including wise sayings collected and passed down from earlier generations. And Ecclesiastes calls into question the purpose of life itself—when everything seems fleeting and random, where do we find true meaning? You might think of wisdom literature as thoughtful conversations with inspired mentors who want to share some observations about God and the world He created—and maybe help you understand these things a little better than you did before.