H. Clay Gorton
The parallelism is perhaps the most prolific literary form in biblical literature. E.W. Bullinger identifies in the Bible seven different types of parallel structures, including the repeated alteration. In this form, the sentence structure is of the type a, b; a_, b_ —a and b being related topics, and a_ and b_ being alterations or modifications of the first pair. The 24th Psalm, noted for its beauty of expression, is a classic example of this type of parallelism. Minor variations of the form occur in three of the twelve sets of parallelisms in the Psalm. In verses 6 and 8 a and a_ comprise identical words rather than alterations of a word or phrase; and in verse 4 the form is antithetic or opposite, where ‘‘clean hands’’ is paired with ‘‘vanity’’ and ‘‘a pure heart’’ is paired with ‘‘deceit’’.
The 24th Psalm is printed below with each of the sets of parallelisms identified. Recognition of the literary structure enhances the beauty of expression.
1 A Psalm of David.
| The earth [is] the LORD'S, | and the fulness thereof; |
| the world, | and they that dwell therein. |
| 2 For he hath founded it | upon the seas, |
| and established it | upon the floods. |
| 3 Who shall ascend | into the hill of the LORD? |
| or who shall stand | in his holy place? |
| 4 He that hath clean hands, | and a pure heart; |
| who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, | nor sworn deceitfully. |
| 5 He shall receive | |
| the blessing | from the LORD, |
| and righteousness | from the God of his salvation. |
| 6 This [is] the generation of them | |
| that seek | him, |
| that seek | thy face, |
| O Jacob. Selah. | |
| 7 Lift up your heads, | O ye gates; |
| and be ye lift up, | ye everlasting doors; |
| and the King | of glory shall come in. |
| 8 Who [is] this King | of glory? |
| The LORD | strong and mighty, |
| the LORD | mighty in battle. |
| 9 Lift up your heads, | O ye gates; |
| even lift [them] up, | ye everlasting doors; |
| and the King | of glory shall come in. |
| 10 Who is this King | of glory? |
| The LORD of hosts, | he [is] the King of glory. |
| Selah. |
1. E.W. Bullinger, Figures of Speech Used in the Bible, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, Michigan. 1991, pp 349-62.