Poetry in the Bible

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8 

I recently heard that 95% of the Bible is poetry. A definition of poetry is literature that evokes a concentrated awareness of experience or a specific emotion response through language chosen and arranged for its meaning, sound, or rhythm. There are six books of the Bible that are considered poetry: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, and Lamentations. Besides these books, poetry appears throughout the Bible. In Bible poetry it is common for 2 or more lines to share the same thought with the second line building up or intensifying the first. Philippians quoted above seems to fit this description.  

Some Bible poetry compares and contrasts such as Romans 28: 38-39. For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.  

 An example of the use of words and their repetition to create an emotional response is John 1:1-5. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.  

A similar poetry example with the use of words is I Corinthians 13: 4-7. Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does no insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  

Why is there poetry in the Bible? It certainly makes the text more interesting, more creative, and more connected with the reader. In a time when many people could not read, it is easier to memorize and remember the main thought. The poetry sends strong messages about God and Christ that stimulates our emotional responses with warmth and comfort.   

Prayer: Heavenly Father, as we read both the old and new testaments, help us pay attention to the poetry representing God's creativity in communicating his love for us. Amen 

Nancy Hall