Glossary

Glossary

Review the lesson glossary terms below. Glossary terms may be included in quiz questions.

Antithetical Parallelism

The lines of a verse express a contrast, and the second line is usually introduced with “but” (Pr 10:1).

Climactic Parallelism

One or more elements from the first line are repeated in the second line, and the parallelism comes to a conclusion or a climax at the end of the verse (Ps 29:1).

Emblematic Parallelism

A specific kind of synonymous parallelism in which one line contains a simile or metaphor (Ps 103:13).

Laconic Style

Using or involving a minimal amount of words; concise to the point of being difficult to understand without explanation.

Poetry

More than one-third of the Old Testament is written in poetic form. A feature that appears continually in Hebrew poetry is parallelism. A poetic line usually consists of two members or parts, which in one way or another run parallel to each other and correspond with each other.

Proverb

(Hebrew mashal) – A saying, usually brief, stating a truth or making a point in a memorable way. A mashal can be (1) a mocking saying or taunt (Dt 28:37; 1Sa 10:12); (2) a discourse (Job 27:1; Nu 23:7); (3) “instruction” (Pr 1:1-19); (4) “wisdom speech (Pr 1:20-33), and (5) brief words of warning or instruction (1Ki 4:32; Pr 1:1). Proverbs were intended to be semi-puzzles, thus requiring careful thought to “solve” and thus forcing the learner to understand the principles thoroughly.

Synonymous Parallelism

The expression of the first line is repeated by the second in different words (Ps 2:3).

Synthetic Parallelism

The second line develops or completes the thought in a way that could not be determined from the first line (Ps 1:2).