Journal: Reformed Presbyterian Theological Journal
Volume: RPTJ 11:1 (Fall 2024)
Article: The Majesty Of The Style Of Biblical Hebrew Poetry
Author: Timothy L. Decker

RPTJ 11:1 (Fall 2024) p. 35

The Majesty Of The Style Of Biblical Hebrew Poetry

Timothy L. Decker

Pastor of Trinity Reformed Baptist Church (Vinton, Virginia)

In unpacking what moves the church to a high esteem for the Word of God, the Westminster Confession of Faith (and the 2^nd London Baptist Confession of Faith) extols one of those reasons as “the majesty of the style.”1 Such an acknowledgement is a vital aspect of the exegetical process and often, sadly, one not included in many approaches.2 When it comes to portions of Scripture in which the very genre imbibes the vehicle of majesty—namely poetry—how often do God’s saints miss this majesty “because these original tongues are not known to all people of God”?3 Sadder still is when those preaching biblical poetry fail to communicate this majestic style as one of the multiple vehicles by which God has chosen to communicate.

This lack may be a result of either a methodological or hermeneutical misstep. How many are trained in rhetorical and literary craft as well as equipped to discern the meaning imbedded in a highly creative literary text? But I suspect this matter goes much deeper. Lack of deep familiarity with the biblical languages notwithstanding, there is a gap in knowledge of the Bible’s poetry in general, and biblical Hebrew poetry (henceforth, BHP) specifically. And if this aspect of our exegesis is absent, can we truly say that we are living up to our confessional commitments, when we ignore the majestic style of God’s Word?

What follows is a brief introduction to the developments and inner workings of BHP, to facilitate comprehension and appreciation for the majesty of BHP’s style, and its effect upon the Christian. Although entire books have been devoted to these elements, we will focus upon the modern advances and the practical benefits they would have for the expositor of God’s Word. Should one desire to preach the Psalms or one of the many prophetic books written in BHP, an understanding of the medium by which the language is delivered to the Church is essential for right interpretation.

RPTJ 11:1 (Fall 2024) p. 36

The Developments Of Understanding Biblical Hebrew Poetry

Almost any hermeneutics textbook or literary introduction to Scripture will treat as a separate study the poetry of the Old Testament (and sometimes the New).4 Typically, most reach back to the middle of the 1700s when Robert Lowth posited the notion that BHP was in large part determined not by rhyme, rhythm, or meter that Engl...