Parallelism; or, Parallel Lines
The Repetition of similar, synonymous, or opposite Thoughts or Words in parallel or successive Lines
This form of sacred writing has been noted from the earliest times. De Rossi,* [Note: Kitto. Bib. Cyc. III. 702.] a learned Jew of the sixteenth century, first published a mass of information on the subject in a remarkable work, Meor Enajim (i.e., The Light of the Eyes). Bishop Lowth translated chapter 60 [Note: Lowths Translation of Isaiah, Prel. Dis. p. xxviii. (15th Ed. 1857).] , which deals with the construction of lines: and Bishop Jebb in his Sacred Literature extended the study. But none of these got beyond Parallelism as it is applied to lines. This has universally gone under the name of, and been treated as, Poetry.
It is a form of the figure Synonymia, by which the subject of one line is repeated in the next line in different, but so-called, synonymous terms.
Parallelism is of seven kinds: three simple and four complex:-
I.Simple.
1.Synonymous or Gradational.
2.Antithetic or Opposite.
3.Synthetic or Constructive.
II.Complex.
1.Alternate. Two lines repeated only once (four lines in all).
2.Repeated Alternation. Two lines repeated more than once.
3.Extended Alternation. Three or more lines repeated.
4.Introverted.
I. Simple
1. Synonymous or Gradational
This is when the lines are parallel in thought, and in the use of synonymous words.
The oldest example, and the first in the Bible, is in
Gen 4:23-24.-In these oldest human poetic lines Lamech celebrates the invention of weapons of war: and it is significant that this should be the first subject of poetry! Lamechs son was an instructor of every artificer in brass and iron, and the injury of others was the earliest application of the art.
Lamech is so elated with that which would give him power among men that he at once breaks out in eulogy; and boasts that if any one injures him, he would outdo even Jehovah in His punishment of those who should injure Cain.
There are three pairs of lines, and the synonymous words will be at once seen, as we have exhibited them:-
Adah and Zillah hearken to my voice;
Ye wives of Lamech listen to my speech.
For I can slay a man, if he injures me,
And a young man, if he hurts me.
If Cain shall be avenged seven-fold,
Truly Lamech [shall be avenged]* [Note: See under Ellipsis.] seventy-seven-fold.
Luk 1:46-47.-
My soul doth magnify the Lord,
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
Psa 1:1.-Blessed is the man
that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly,
nor standeth in the way of sinners,
nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
Here, we have three series of gradation:-
Walketh,standeth,sitteth,
Counsel,way,seat.
Ungodly,sinners,scornful.
These gradations point us to the fact that there is a mine of truth contained in the verse, on which a volume might be written.
The tenses also have their lessons for us too, for they imply that never did walk stand sit: and so help to teach us that in this first Psalm David speaketh concerning: i.e., with an ultimate reference to (, eis), Christ (see Act 2:25). In fact, this first Psalm speaks of Christ as the one perfect Man; while the second speaks of Him as the one perfect King: (the model Shepherd, He Himself says He is: (ho poimeen ho kalos), not simply (ho kalos poimeen): and then twice over at least (see Joh 10:11; Joh 14:1-31); and so, too, is He the model Man and the model King.
2. Antithetic, or Opposite
This is when the words are contrasted in the two or more lines, being opposed in sense the one to the other.
Pro 10:1.-
A wise son maketh a glad father;
But a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother
Pro 27:6.-
Faithful are the wounds of a friend,
But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy
3. Synthetic, or Constructive
This is where the parallelism consists only in the similar form of construction:-
Psa 19:7-9.-
The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul:
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart:
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever:
The judgments of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether
Here, there is neither gradation nor opposition of words in the several lines; which are independent, and depend for their parallelism on their construction.
In all the above cases the lines are simply parallel, and are chiefly in pairs.
When the parallelism appears in four or more lines, then it may be called
II. Complex
1. Alternate
This is when the lines are placed alternately. In this case, the first and third lines, and the second and fourth lines, may, as a rule, be read continuously, while the intervening line is thus placed in a parenthesis.
These alternate lines may be either synonymous or antithetic.
Gen 19:25.-
aThe cities (and He overthrew)
bThe plain (and all the plain),
aThe inhabitants of the cities,
bThe produce of the plain.
Deu 32:21.-
aThey have moved me to jealousy
bwith that which is not God:
aThey have provoked me to anger
bwith their vanities:
cAnd I will move them to jealousy
dwith those which are not a people:
cI will provoke them to anger
dwith a foolish nation.
Deu 32:42.-Here a and a are continuous, and likewise b and b. They must be so read, thus dispensing with the italics. The line b we give from the R.V. [Note: The Revised Version, 1881.]
aI will make mine arrows drunk with blood,
band my sword shall devour much flesh;
awith the blood of the slain and of the captives,
bfrom the head of the leaders of the enemy.
Here a and a relate to the arrows, while b and b refer to the sword.
1Ch 21:22.-
aRequest. Grant me the place of this threshingfloor.
bDesign. That I may build an altar therein unto the Lord.
aRequest. Thou shalt grant it me for the full price.
bDesign. That the plague may be stayed from the people.
Here a and a are continuous, likewise b and b. We must read on from b to b, placing a in a parenthesis. This shows that the plague was stayed, not because David paid the full price for the place, but because of the atoning sacrifice which he offered.
Est 8:5.
aThe king. If it please the king.
bEsthers personal influence. And if I have found favour.
aThe king. And the thing seem right before the king.
bEsthers personal influence. And I be pleasing in his eyes.
Pro 18:24, -The parallel here is lost owing to an obscurity in the Hebrew. The Massorah records that the word (sh) (which has been taken by translators as another spelling of (eesh), a man) is put three times* [Note: The other two passages are 2Sa 14:19 (where the sense is unaffected, If there is any that turn meaning none can turn), and Mic 6:10, where the reading called Sevir which is equal in authority to the Keri, is boldly adopted into the Text by both the A.V. and the R.V. Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, etc.] for (yesh), there is.
The R.V. [Note: The Revised Version, 1881.] avoids the italics of the A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] which are put in to make some sort of sense owing to the A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] having taken from the wrong root (, to feed), instead of , to break). So that instead of meaning to make friends, it means (as in the R.V. [Note: The Revised Version, 1881.] ) to be broken in pieces. Hence, to ruin oneself.
The point and the parallel, therefore, lies in the plural friends: i.e., or many friends in contrast with the faithfulness of the one friend:-
aThere are friends
bto our own detriment:
aBut there is a friend
bthat sticketh closer than a brother.
See under Paronomasia.
Pro 24:19-20.
aFret not thyself because of evil men,
bneither be thou envious at the wicked;
aFor there shall be no reward to the evil man;
bThe candle of the wicked shall be put out.
Isa 1:29-30.-
aFor they shall be ashamed of the oaks which ye have desired,
bAnd ye shall be confounded for the gardens that ye have chosen.
aFor ye shall be as an oak whose leaf fadeth,
bAnd as a garden that hath no water.
Isa 9:10.-
aThe bricks are fallen down,
bbut we will build with hewn stones:
aThe sycomores are cut down,
bBut we will change them into cedars.
Isa 14:26-27.-
aThis is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth:
bAnd this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations,
aFor the Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it?
bAnd his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?
Isa 17:7-8.-
aAt that day shall a man look to his Maker,
band his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel,
aAnd he shall not look to the altars, the work of his hands,
bneither shall respect that which his fingers have made:
Isa 18:6.-
aFowls. They shall be left, etc.
bBeasts. And to the beasts, etc.
aFowls. And the fowls, etc.
bBeasts. And all the beasts, etc.
Isa 31:3.-
aThe Egyptians are men,
band not God:
aAnd their horses flesh,
band not spirit.
See under Pleonasm.
Isa 34:6.-Here the first and third lines are continuous, as are also the second and fourth lines.
aThe sword of the Lord is filled with blood,
bit is made fat with fatness,
aand with the blood of lambs and goats,
bwith the fat of the kidneys of rams.
Isa 51:20 (R.V. [Note: The Revised Version, 1881.] ).-Here a and a, and b and b must be read together in order to catch the sense.
aThy sons have fainted,
bthey lie [i.e., are cast down]
aat the top of all the streets,
bas an antelope in a net.
Isa 59:5-6.-
aThey hatch cockatrice eggs,
band weave the spides web;
aHe that eateth of their eggs dieth
bTheir webs shall not become garments.
Isa 61:4.-
aAnd they shall build the old wastes,
bThey shall raise up the former desolations,
aand they shall repair the waste cities,
bThe desolations of many generations.
See also under Epanodos, Antimetabole, and Chiasmos.
2. Repeated Alternation
This is not confined to two alternate lines repeated, making four lines in all, as in the preceding examples; but in the repetition of the two parallel subjects in several lines.
Isa 65:21-22.-
a1And they shall build houses,
b1and inhabit them;
a2And they shall plant vineyards,
b2and eat the fruit of them.
a3They shall not build,
b3and another inhabit;
a4They shall not plant,
b4and another eat.
Or, these may be arranged in four longer alternate lines, thus:-
Positive.
aHouses (they shall build),
bVineyards (they shall plant).
Negative.
aHouses (they shall not build),
bVineyards (they shall not plant).
Where the first two lines are positive and the last negative.
1Jn 2:15-16.-
a1If any man love the world,
b1the love of the Father is not in him,
a2For all that is in the world.
b2is not of the Father,
a3but is of the world.
3. Extended Alternation
The Scriptures abound with other illustrations of the arrangement of alternate parallel lines.
But these alternate lines may consist not merely of two pairs, or of four lines; or, of repeated alternations: the alternation may be extended. That is to say, the alternation may be extended so as to consist of three or more lines.
Jdg 10:17.-
aThen the children of Ammon
bwere gathered together,
cand encamped in Gilead.
aAnd the children of Israel
bassembled themselves together,
cand encamped in Mizpeh.
Mat 6:19-20.-
aLay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth,
bwhere moth and rust doth corrupt,
cand where thieves break through and steal:
aBut lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,
bwhere neither moth nor rust doth corrupt,
cand where thieves do not break through nor steal.
See under Epibole.
4. Introverted Parallelisms
This is when the parallel lines are so placed that if there be six lines, the first corresponds with the sixth, the second with the fifth, and the third with the fourth.
When this Introversion consists only of words and of the same words, it is called Epanodos (q.v. [Note: Which see.] ).
When Propositions are introverted, it is called Antimetabole (q.v. [Note: Which see.] ).
When Subjects are introverted, it is called Chiasmus (see under Correspondence).
Gen 3:19.-
aEnd. Till thou return unto the ground.
bOrigin. For out of it was thou taken.
bOrigin. For dust thou art.
aEnd. And unto dust shalt thou return.
Exo 9:31.-
aAnd the flax
band the barley was smitten:
bFor the barley was in the ear,
aand the flax was bolled.
Num 15:35-36.-
aAnd the Lord said unto Moses,
bThe man shall be surely put to death:
cthey shall stone him with stones,
dall the congregation without the camp.
dAnd they brought him forth, all the congregation without the camp,
cand stoned him with stones,
band he died;
aas the Lord commanded Moses.
Deu 32:16.-
aThey provoked Him to jealousy
bwith strange gods:
bwith abominations
aprovoked they Him to anger.
This shows that when abominations are spoken of, idols are meant.
1Sa 1:2.-
aThe name of the one was Hannah,
band the name of the other was Peninnah:
bAnd Peninnah had children,
abut Hannah had no children.
2Sa 3:1.-
aNow there was long war between the house of Saul
band the house of David:
bbut [the house of] David waxed stronger and stronger,
aAnd the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.
1Ki 16:22.-
aBut the people that followed Omri prevailed
bagainst the people that followed Tibni the son of Ginath:
bSo Tibni died,
aand Omri reigned.
2Ch 32:7-8.-
aOur resource. There be more with us.
bHis resource. Than with him.
bHis resource. With him is an arm of flesh.
aOur resource. But with us is the Lord our God.
Psa 76:1.-
aIn Judah
bis God known:
bHis name is great
aIn Israel.
This shows how the Name of God stands, and is put for God Himself. See under Metonomy.
Psa 115:4-8.-
a4-. The idols.
b-4. Their fabrication.
c5-. Mouth without speech (singular in Heb.).
d-5. Eyes without sight (plural).
e6-. Ears without hearing (pl. [Note: l. The Plural Number.] )
f-6. Nose without smell (sing. [Note: ing. The Singular Number.] )
e7-. Hands without handling (pl. [Note: l. The Plural Number.] )
d-7. Feet without walking (pl. [Note: l. The Plural Number.] )
c-7. Throat without voice (sing. [Note: ing. The Singular Number.] )
b8-. The fabricators.
a-8. The idolators.
Psa 135:15-18.-
aThe idols of the heathen.
bTheir fabrication.
cMouths without speech.
dEyes without sight.
dEars without hearing.
cMouths without breath.
bThe fabricators.
aThe idolatrous heathen.
Pro 1:26-27.-
aI also will laugh at your destruction,
bI will mock when your fear cometh;
bWhen your fear cometh as desolation,
aand your destruction cometh as a whirlwind.
Pro 3:16.-
aBlessings. Length of days.
bHand. Is in her right hand.
bHand. And in her left hand.
aBlessings. Riches and honour.
Isa 5:7.-
aFor the vineyard of the Lord of hosts
bis the house of Israel,
band the men of Judah
aHis pleasant plant.
Isa 6:10.-
aMake the heart of this people fat,
band make their ears heavy,
cand shut their eyes;
clest they see with their eyes,
band hear with their ears,
aand understand with their heart.
See under Polyptoton, page 299.
Isa 11:4.-
aHe shall smite the oppressor,
bwith the rod of his mouth,
band with the breath of his lips
aShall He slay the wicked.
The current Hebrew Text reads (eretz), the earth, but this is manifestly a scribal error for (aritz), the oppressor. The Aleph () being similar in sound with Ayin () was easily exchanged by transcribers. And the Parallelism shows beyond doubt that this is the case here.* [Note: This is from the ms. notes for the second edition of Dr. Ginsburgs Hebrew Bible.]
Isa 50:1.-
aWhere is the bill of your mothers divorcement, whom I have put away?
bor which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you?
bBehold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves,
aAnd for your transgressions is your mother put away.
Isa 51:8-9.-
aFor my thoughts are not your thoughts,
bNeither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord,
bFor as the heavens are higher than the earth, so aremy ways higher than your ways,
aand my thoughts than your thoughts.
Here the whole paragraph is introverted. In a and a we have thoughts, in b and b we have ways. But the pronouns in a and a are alternate as to the thoughts:-
cMy thoughts.
dYour thoughts.
cMy thoughts.
dYour thoughts.
While they are introverted in b and b as to the ways:-
eYour ways.
fMy ways.
fMy ways.
eYour ways.
Further we may note that a and b are negative; and b and a are positive.
Isa 60:1-3.-
aArise,
bShine; for thy light is come,
cand the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.
dFor behold darkness shall cover the earth,
dand gross darkness the people:
cbut the Lord shall arise upon thee and His glory shall be seen upon thee.
bAnd the Gentiles shall come to thy light,
aand kings to the brightness of thy rising.
All these structures may be described, as well as set forth in full. Thus:-
aThe rising of Israel. (Rising up.)
bThe Light received.
cThe glory of the Lord.
dThe darkness of the earth.
dThe darkness of the peoples.
cThe glory of the Lord.
bThe Light reflected.
a-The rising of Israel. (Dawning: Thy sunrise.)
Dan 5:19.-
aSeverity (Whom he would he slew).
bFavour (and whom he would he kept alive).
bFavour (and whom he would he set up).
aSeverity (and whom he would he put down).
Mat 6:24.-
aNo man can serve two masters:
bFor either he will hate the one
cand love the other:
cor else he will hold to the one
band despise the other.
aYe cannot serve God and mammon.
Mat 7:6.-
aGive not that which is holy unto the dogs,
bneither cast ye your pearls before swine,
blest they trample them under their feet,
aand turn again and rend you.
Here, the introversion shows that it is the swine who tread the pearls under foot, and the dogs which rend.
Rom 11:21-23.-
aIf God spared not the natural branches,
btake heed lest He also spare not thee.
cBehold therefore the goodness
dand severity of God:
don them which fell, severity;
cbut toward thee, goodness,
botherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
aAnd they also (the natural branches), if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in.
This passage occurs in the Dispensational part of the Epistle to the Romans (9-11). See under Correspondence. Hence, it relates to Jew and Gentile as such; and consequently it is not to be interpreted of the Church, the standing of which is so clearly set forth in chapter 8. So that the statement in line b can have no reference to those who are in Christ, for whom there is no condemnation and no separation.
1Co 1:24-25.-
aPower. Christ the power of God.
bWisdom. And the wisdom of God.
bWisdom. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men.
aPower. And the weakness of God is stronger than men.
2Co 1:3.-
aDeity. Blessed be God.
bPaternity. Even the Father.
bPaternity. The Father of mercies.
aDeity. And the God of all comfort.
2Co 8:14.-
aEquality. By an equality.
bLiberality. That now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want.
bLiberality. That their abundance also may be a supply for your want.
aEquality. That there may be equality.
Gal 2:7-8.-
aPauls commission. When they saw that the Gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me.
bPeters. As the Gospel of circumcision was unto Peter.
bPeters. For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision.
aPauls commission. The same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles.
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