Parallelism: A Key to Study (Pt. 1)
Learning to compare texts is one of the most important skills a disciple can develop.
The heart of Bible study revolves around Jesus, as we have said many times (and plan to continue trumpeting from every rooftop). The way this works is through comparison. We compare a story of David, such as his fight with Goliath, to the story of Jesus who defeats Israel’s most fearsome foe in a manner that is completely unexpected and unforeseen. Or consider the story of Daniel, thrown into the lions’ den which was covered by a giant stone, and yet he came out unscathed to be given a title and a place at the right hand of the most powerful king while his enemies are defeated in the same way they intended to defeat him. We compare this story to Jesus who was put into a hole in the ground (a tomb) which was covered with giant stone, and yet He came out perfect to return to his place at the right hand of the King of the Universe (His Father) while his enemies were defeated in the very way they intended to defeat him—by the cross.
All of this is comparison. These stories are parallels. Intentional parallels. They are meant to be set alongside one another and understood fully only by being compared. This kind of parallelism is indicated in the most basic of building blocks found in Scripture. The Psalms, the Prophets—all Hebrew poetry, period (and narrative, as we will see)—is built on the idea of parallelism. It can be seen in the couplets that fill page after page of the Old Testament. The most common kind of parallelism is called synonymous parallelism. It means that the first line of couplet is simply repeated in different words by the second line. There are almost countless examples in Scripture, but here are few:
Your right hand, O LORD, glorious in power, your right hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy. (Ex. 15:6)
The lines above say the same thing in different words. God is glorious in power because He shatters the enemy. He shatters the enemy because He is glorious in power. Both phrases give more definition to the other. They are meant to be compared to one another for fuller understanding to be achieved.
Again, we see it in the following when God speaks:
I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine. (Ps. 50:11)
The two lines above are saying the same thing, namely, that all creatures of the earth are God’s to do with as He wills. “Birds” in the first line parallels “all that moves” in the second, “hills” parallels “field,” and “I know” parallels “is mine.” For God to “know” the birds/creatures means the kind of knowing that goes with having full possession. The parallel makes that clear.
Let’s look at the parallel lines in the last verse of Hosea for more insight into parallelism:
Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the LORD are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them. (Hosea 14:9)
Notice in the above verse that the first two lines are synonymous parallels. They say the same thing in different words and each gives the other just a bit more definition. “Whoever is wise” parallels “whoever is discerning.” “Let him understand these things” parallels “let him know them.” To be wise means to be discerning and vice-versa. To understand something means to know it intimately. By comparing the parallels, greater comprehension of meaning is achieved.
But, as we look at the rest of the verse above, we note that the last two lines also consist of a parallel. But it is not a synonymous parallel this time. This time the lines do not mean the same but the opposite of one another. This is known as antonymous parallelism. There are almost as many uses of this as there are of synonymous.
In this, the meaning of the second line is in direct opposition to the first. Above, that means that “the upright” contrasts with “transgressors” and “walk in them” contrasts with “stumble in them.” Again, the reader is given more clarification. To be upright is the opposite of transgressing. To walk (positive) means to do the opposite of stumbling (negative).
Again, these are the most basic building blocks of Scripture. They come into play on a constant basis as we learn to understand the depths of the text.
We will further consider this idea of parallelism and how it plays into our Bible study and grows us into the better students of the Word next time.