An Invitation to Biblical Poetry

by Elaine T. James

An Invitation to Biblical Poetry is an accessibly written introduction to biblical poetry that emphasizes the aesthetic dimensions of poems and their openness to varieties of context. It demonstrates the irreducible complexity of poetry as a verbal art and considers the intellectual work poems accomplish as they offer aesthetic experiences to people who read or hear them. Chapters walk the reader through some of the diverse ways biblical poems are organized through techniques of voicing, lineation, and form, and describe how the poems' figures are both culturally and historically bound and always dependent on later reception. The discussions consider examples from different texts of the Bible, including poems inset in prose narratives, prophecies, psalms, and wisdom literature. Each chapter ends with a reading of a psalm that offers an acute example of the dimension under discussion. Students and general readers are invited to richer and deeper readings of ancient poems and the
subjects, problems, and convictions that occupy their imagination.

Genres: Biblical Studies

216 pages, Hardcover

First published November 12, 2021

Reviews

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really excellent informational text on all the forms of biblical poetry and all the facets of poetry therein. A bit dry at times, but well summed up by its final lines: “poems are always unfinished as long as they are not actually destroyed— they will remain open to new encounters as they reach forward into the future.”

[Val Timke · Rating 3 out of 5]

The most important part of the book (in my opinion), "Contexts," came last. There was not much context throughout the earlier chapters. I thought the moments where this book shined was when it combined context and form, or context and voices, etc. Unfortunately, this was not done for every poem encountered in the earlier chapters, so it read as more of a "how to read poetry" book than specifically biblical poetry. Also, research on ancient reading practices was not really included; rather, knowledge of how poetry was read was inferred/hypothesized.

But, I thought the analyses of many of the poems were very observant and interesting, especially in the "voices" chapter.

[Regina Puratich · Rating 5 out of 5]

poetry revisited

What was once daunting to me (Biblical poetry) is now something I look forward to reading for my upcoming class. This books opens doors!

[Michael Vidrine · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book, James offers tools for engaging Biblical poetry as poetry, i.e. with attention to the literary devices being used and the inexhaustibility of their interpretation. This literary approach to the highly literary dimensions of scripture is something that one does not see enough of in Biblical scholarship, so I always appreciate when it is done well, as it is here. The book focuses particularly on the Psalms, and has left me with a desire to see James write a full commentary in the Psalter.

[Hope Cody Peppers · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a super accessible and informative read for those interested in Biblical poetry. Through a breakdown of voices, lines, forms, figures, and contexts, James lifts the veil of mystery that biblical poetry is often shrouded in. As far as required reads go, I was pleasantly surprised by this book.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent overview of biblical poetry. I loved the organization of this book. I felt that this book did an amazing job of balancing the formalism and the dynamism of poetry, its particularity and its openness. The reading of a Psalm at the end of each chapter was less helpful, but still interesting.