An acrostic poem is a type of poetry where the first letter of each line spells out a word or phrase. This poetic form is found throughout the Bible, especially in the book of Psalms. Acrostic poems in Scripture not only beautifully express worship and truths about God, but also aid in memorization. Here is an overview of acrostic poems in the Bible, along with examples and explanations.
Definition and Key Features of Acrostic Poems
The word “acrostic” comes from the Greek words meaning “at the end of a line.” In an acrostic poem, the first letter of each line combines to spell out a word or phrase vertically. This key feature helps make the acrostic form easy to recognize. Acrostics may convey the theme of the poem in the overall vertical message. They also often aid memorization as each line starts with the next sequential letter.
There are several types of acrostics:
- Alphabetical Acrostics – Each first letter progresses through the entire alphabet from A to Z.
- Abecedarian – Very similar to alphabetical acrostics, but the lines present the entire alphabet in order.
- Name Acrostics – The vertical word spells out a name.
- Subject Acrostics – The vertical word relates to the subject or theme of the poem.
Acrostic poems typically follow a set poetic structure. The lines are usually uniform in length and rhythm. Repetition of lines or phrases is also common. This repetition combined with the acrostic pattern makes the poems easy to commit to memory. So acrostics merge visual letters with meaningful words in a creative, memorable way.
Acrostic Poems in the Old Testament
Several acrostic poems can be found scattered among Old Testament books. But the majority appear in the book of Psalms, where at least 9 different psalms contain acrostics.
Psalm 119
The longest chapter in the Bible, Psalm 119, is one of the most striking examples of acrostic Hebrew poetry. This giant psalm is actually an extended acrostic consisting of 22 stanzas, with 8 verses per stanza. Each stanza begins with a successive letter of the 22-letter Hebrew alphabet. So the first Hebrew letter aleph starts each verse in the first stanza, while the last letter taw starts each line of the last stanza.
This intricate acrostic structure makes Psalm 119 the longest alphabetical acrostic in existence. The subject acrostic highlights this psalm’s theme of extolling God’s Word and law. Structurally each stanza also typically repeats one of eight synonyms for God’s Word to structure the lines. These include: law, statutes, precepts, commands, decrees, word, promise, and judgments. So both the acrostic form and content emphasizes the authority, necessity, and sufficiency of Scripture.
Other Acrostics in Psalms
In addition to Psalm 119, several other acrostic psalms utilize the Hebrew alphabet in their structure:
- Psalm 9-10 – An imperfect acrostic together forming one alphabetical unit.
- Psalm 25 – A multiple verse alphabetical acrostic with uneven line lengths.
- Psalm 34 – Each verse begins with the successive Hebrew letters from aleph to taw.
- Psalm 37 – Each verse starts with sequential Hebrew letters, but with gaps.
- Psalm 111 – An abbreviated acrostic that goes from aleph to taw with two letters missing.
- Psalm 112 – Structured the same as 111, also an abbreviated form.
- Psalm 145 – Each set of two verses begins with the next Hebrew letter from aleph to taw.
Additional acrostics outside of Psalms include:
- Lamentations 1-4 – Alphabetical acrostics mourning the destruction of Jerusalem. Chapter 3 is a triple acrostic with three lines per Hebrew letter.
- Proverbs 31:10-31 – forming an acrostic poem exalting the virtuous woman.
Acrostic Poems in the New Testament
The New Testament features acrostic patterns primarily using Greek rather than Hebrew letters. For example:
The Genealogy of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:1-17)
The Gospel writer Matthew creatively structured the genealogy of Jesus Christ into a memorable acrostic pattern. The genealogy contains three sets of 14 generations. The number 14 in Hebrew numerology represents the name “David.” This acrostic emphasizes Christ as the greater messianic “Son of David” and heir to the promises made to King David’s descendants.
The Symbolism of the Scarlet Woman (Revelation 17:1-18)
The Apostle John recorded an elaborately symbolic vision of a scarlet beast ridden by a harlot named “Babylon the Great” (Revelation 17:1-6). In the ESV translation, the first letter of each symbolic name for this “woman” forms an acrostic down the left side. Reading vertically spells out this mysterious name: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT.
This acrostic creatively integrates with the highly symbolic language of Revelation. It emphasizes that discerning the identity of this apostate religious system requires spiritual wisdom and understanding.
The Artistry and Purpose of Biblical Acrostics
Acrostics beautifully demonstrate how form fits meaning in the tapestry of Scripture. This distinctive poetic structure wasn’t random or accidental. Acrostics adorned Old Testament praise and lament, messianic prophecies, and apocalyptic literature of the New Testament. This artistry served key theological purposes:
- Aids in Memorization – The acrostic form connected orderly letters with memorable messages. This form helped Hebrews memorize and preserve Scripture before printing presses.
- Highlights Thematic Words – In psalms, repeating terms for God’s Word reinforced Scripture’s authority and sufficiency.
- Reveals Deeper Meaning – Acrostics can creatively conceal and reveal deeper spiritual meaning to those with eyes to see and ears to hear.
Overall, the extensive acrostics preserved in Scripture provide beautiful examples of how form and meaning interwoven can work together to communicate and glorify God’s truth. The artful crafting of biblical acrostics both conceals and reveals treasure for those seeking the deep things of God.