What is parallelism, and why is it important in studying the Bible? When we study anything—whether it’s the Bible, a novel, or an essay—it helps to understand the genre, the type of work we are studying, and the different elements that genre uses. Parallelism appears many times in the Bible, particularly in the poetry.
Before a more in-depth look at parallelism in biblical poetry, let’s look at the dictionary definition and how theologians use the term.
In Bible scholarship, parallelism may refer to interpreting scripture by scripture. The concept is related to the idea that Scripture is unified, which means it can be used to interpret itself since all Scripture provides a consistent vision.
Therefore, parallelism allows theologians to interpret the Bible better. A more in-depth discussion of parallelism in hermeneutics is available here.
However, parallelism can also refer to a particular kind of literature we see in the Bible: its poetry. The Bible, especially the Old Testament, uses poems and songs. They are beautiful, easy to remember, and express God in ways that prose doesn’t.
Parallelism served several important uses. For one thing, it made poetry easier to remember—a good trait in oral cultures where not everyone could read.
However, parallelism wasn’t just good for oral presentation. Parallelism uses a kind of repetition that is helpful for memorization, especially when people have to memorize large chunks of poetry. Many religious teachers were required to memorize the Torah, the Bible’s first five books. Can you imagine memorizing Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy? Parallelism made that process much easier.
How does parallelism accomplish this task? Smith’s Bible Dictionary explains that parallelism features “as the recurring of symmetrically constructed sentences, the several members of which usually correspond to one another.” This definition may seem daunting, so let’s break it down and give some examples.
Although there are many kinds of parallelism listed in the dictionary definition, the three most common are:
Synonymous – This is where the same idea is repeated in different words.Antithetic – In this case, the second line gives the opposite side of the first line.Synthetic – The second line adds or explains something to the first line.Other types include Introverted (Proverbs 23:15), Palalogical (Nahum 1:2), Climactic or Comprehensive (Psalms 29:1), and Rhythmical (Psalms 138:4). Each type has the same basic format.
For simplicity’s sake, we will focus on the three most common. Let’s look at some examples of each type.
Below, I have given a type of parallelism and an example from scripture, followed by an explanation:
1. Synonymous Parallelism: consider this quote from Psalm 36:5 – “Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.”
The first phrase talks about the mercy of God, and the second mentions the faithfulness of God. Both are characteristics of God’s nature. The first phrase says heavens, and the second says clouds. Both words are different ways to say things that are high up. So, God’s nature is higher than anything on earth. His reach is greater than anything we can imagine. The second phrase reinforces the first one.
2. Antithetic Parallelism: consider this quote from Proverbs 10:1 – “A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.”
This proverb contrasts the consequences of a wise son and a foolish son. A wise son makes his parents glad; a foolish son makes his parents sad. The idea is, would you rather be a wise child or a foolish child? It also shows how we have a choice regarding how we behave, and those choices affect the ones we love.
3. Synthetic parallelism: consider this quote is Psalm 19:8 – “The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.”
In this example, the second phrase extends the idea of the first phrase. We rejoice when we follow God's statutes because we know we are doing what is right. Additionally, it is enlightening, opening our eyes to spiritual truths. Obedience to God’s commands brings joy and wisdom.
So, what does that mean to you? Parallelism is just as pertinent and useful today as it was in the Old Testament for several reasons:
1. Parallelism helps us memorize scripture. Many people think there is no need to memorize scripture because we have many copies of the Bible, including digital resources. This is a lie from the enemy. Memorizing scripture helps us to put God’s word in our hearts so that when we need it, the Holy Spirit will bring it to our minds. Also, what would happen if the internet or digital devices went down? What if you are in a place without access to a physical copy of the Bible? Memorization also helps us more quickly identify the enemy's lies when we hear them.
2. Parallelism helps us dig deeper into Bible verses. Too often, we read the scripture, but we don’t comprehend it. How often have you read a textbook page but could not recall anything for a pop quiz? There is a difference between active reading and passive reading. Parallelism invites you to take a closer look at the depth of a verse and see the application, not just breeze by it so that you can check off that you read your Bible. What is God trying to say to you?
3. Parallelism helps us see connections. In the example verses above, we saw that God’s nature can reach us no matter where we go or what we do. We learned that our choices affect other people. Finally, we learned that obedience to God’s commands results in joy. What other connections can you find?
Let’s use parallelism to help us take our Bible reading to a deeper level. Start by opening the book of Proverbs, dig into a chapter, and choose a verse or two. If you don’t understand the comparisons or contrasts, get a commentary or look at multiple translations. You can even use search engines.
Next, grab an index card and handwrite the verse, maybe using spacing to separate two parallel statements. Make notes on what you learned in your research. Then, memorize it and ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes and bring it to your mind when needed.
There are a lot of hidden gems to be found in the scriptures if we take the time to mine them. God wants to communicate with us, and as the Creator of the Universe, He has many different ways to make himself known. He asks that we meet Him where we are and reach out to Him. When we take the time to dig into the Word, it will come alive for us. Then, it will no longer be just a task to check off our to-do list; it will be an adventure of discovery as we grow in a deeper relationship with God and better understand His Word.
To delve deeper into parallelism, check out “Parallelism in the Bible.” The Bible uses many poetic forms, including songs, laments, and acrostics (see Psalm 119). For more information about using poetry in scripture, check out Bethany Verrett’s article “Why Does the Bible Include Poetry.”
Linda Lyle is a writer, teacher, knitter, and unintentional collector of cats. She has written articles for the Alabama Baptist, Open Windows, Refresh, as well as multiple novels and novellas. Her newest book, 5-Minute Prayer Plan for When Life Is Overwhelming, is set to release in October. She spins yarns on her blog The End of My Yarn at lindalyle.com.
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