The message or the content of the Bible is presented in either prose form or poetry. Prose is written verse which contains sentences and paragraphs. Poetry, on the other hand, contains lines and stanzas or verses. Prose tend to be straight forward and pragmatic, with the purpose of providing information or conveying a message. Poetry is expressive, using selective words to create an experience for the reader. While prose is realistic, poetry is figurative. Prose can be paraphrased, but poetry cannot be exactly paraphrased as the reader’s interpretation plays a part in the understanding of the poem. Poetry is used for impact. It engages one’s intellect and imagination through the use of verbal art.
Almost 30% of the Bible is written in poetry. Most of God’s speech is represented in the format of poetry. Biblical poetry introduces the main thought or statement then expands on it by deepening, completing or contrasting. It provides examples through imagery.
Biblical poetry is designed for the reader to pause, ponder, savour, and engage with what is written. They are works of verbal artistry that invites the reader to discover deeper meanings. The purpose of poetry is not just to inform but to stimulate understanding that engages the imagination.
Hebrew Bible has as one of its features the use of alphabet acrostics. In Proverbs 31, we see an example of this, where each verse elaborates or deepens our understanding of the main thought – a virtuous woman. Each verse gives us a glimpse into and provides us with vivid imagery of what a virtuous woman looks like. Through the use of an alphabet acrostic poem, the author offers a complete picture of a virtuous woman.
The footnotes accompanying Proverbs 31:10 in the TPT bible translation states, “Starting with verse 10 through the end of the book, we have a Hebrew acrostic poem. It is alphabetical in structure, with each of the twenty-two verses beginning with a consecutive Hebrew letter of the alphabet. The implication is that the perfections of this woman would exhaust the entire language. The subject is the perfect bride, the virtuous woman. This woman is both a picture of a virtuous wife and an incredible allegory of the end-time victorious bride of Jesus Christ, full of virtue and grace.”
Interesting to note is the fact that the first recorded piece of poetry in the Bible was the introduction of woman into the narrative of the Bible.
“This is now bone of my bones
And flesh of my flesh;
She shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man.” – Genesis 2:23
If the purpose of poetry is for impact, to cause the reader to pause, ponder, savor, and engage with what is written, and to invite the reader to discover deeper meanings, then there is more to this verse than meets the eye.
Similarly, as we study Proverbs 31, we want to bear in mind that these characteristics of the virtuous woman are presented not as prose but as poetry, calling for us to give deeper thought and meditation to what the poet is conveying beneath the surface.
In our future studies, we will be looking at each verse and pondering what we can glean on our search for what it means to be WOMAN.
DIG DEEPER:
1. Blog Post – ishah chayil: A Virtuous Woman
2. Devotional – FOUND: A Virtuous Woman