Interpretive Crossroads in Parallel Lines

Many sayings in Proverbs 10:1-22:16 are structured by antithetical parallelism. This article suggests that, far from being simplistic, this structure opens up the sayings to multiple possible interpretations. Consciously or subconsciously, readers confront several interpretive choices, crossroads they must navigate to make sense of the proverb: should the saying's two lines be understood as »parallel or consecutive«? In terms of their semantic content, are they »balanced or imbalanced«? Should any perceived imbalance be »emphasized or levelled«? How should any such »levelling« take place? The essay explains these choices, analyses why each interpretive path might be taken, and demonstrates the complexity of this smallest poetic unit.