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Updated: March 8, 2024
Janus Parallelism
Janus Parallelism--Hebrew Wordplays
Janus Parallelisms are a recent 'discovery' in Hebrew Parallelisms.
Janus Parallelisms are 'plays on words,' where a verse pivots on the dual meaning of a word.
The term "Janus" is derived from the Roman god Janus, often depicted with two faces looking in opposite directions, symbolizing duality.
Similarly, Janus parallelism in Hebrew poetry reflects a dual perspective within the parallel lines.
Adele Berlin, noted Hebrew Parallelism Scholar writes, "Cyrus Gordon coined Janus parallelism (or “polysemous parallelism”) to refer to instances where the meaning of a line “hinges on the use of a single word with two entirely different meanings: one meaning paralleling what precedes, and the other meaning what follows.” (Identifying Poetic Features in Biblical Texts, p. 41.)
Like all the other Parallelisms, Janus Parallelisms abound in the Book of Mormon.
And now my son, I would that ye should understand that these things are not without a shadow.
For as our fathers were slothful to give heed to this compass –
now these things were temporal –
they did not prosper,
Even so it is with things which are spiritual.
For behold, it is as easy to give heed to the word of Christ,
which will point to you a strait course to eternal bliss,
As it was for our fathers to give heed to this compass,
which would point unto them a strait
course to the Promised Land.
(LDS: Alma 37:44)
Words of Mormon 1:20-Words of Mormon 1:21
But behold, King Benjamin gathered together his armies
and he did stand against them.
And he did fight with the strength of his own arm
with the sword of Laban.
And in the strength of the Lord they did contend against their
enemies until they had slain many thousands of the Lamanites.
(LDS: Words of Mormon 1:14)
---
It is better that one man should perish
than that a nation should dwindle and perish in unbelief.
(Perish physically vs perish spiritually)
(LDS: 1 Nephi 4:13)
1 Nephi 3:216 Either to the convincing of them unto peace and life eternal, Or unto the deliverance of them to the hardness of their hearts and the blindness of their minds, Unto their being brought down into captivity and also unto destruction, both temporally and spiritually, according to the captivity of the devil of which I have spoken.
(Physical vs spiritual captivity)
(LDS: 1 Nephi 14:7)
Wherefore, He will bring them again out of captivity,
And they shall be gathered together to the lands of their first
inheritance.
And they shall be brought out of obscurity and out of darkness.
(Physical vs spiritual bring/brought out)
(LDS: 1 Nephi 22:12)
For behold, ye have accused him that he sought power and
authority over you,
But I know that he hath not sought for power nor authority over you,
But he hath sought the glory of God and your own
eternal welfare.
(LDS: 2 Nephi 1:25)
Ye say that he hath used sharpness,
Ye say that he hath been angry with you.
But behold, his sharpness was the sharpness of the power of the word of
God which was in him.
(LDS: 2 Nephi 1:26)
May the gates of hell be shut continually before me
Because that my heart is broken and my spirit is contrite.
O Lord, wilt Thou not shut the gates of Thy righteousness before me,
That I may walk in the path of the low valley,
That I may be strict in the plain road.
(LDS: 2 Nephi 4:32)
For thus saith the Lord: I will contend with them that contendeth
with thee, And I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh.
And they shall be drunken with their own blood as with sweet wine.
And all flesh shall know that I, the Lord, am thy Savior, And thy Redeemer, the
Mighty One of Jacob.
(LDS: 2 Nephi 6:18)
2 Nephi 5:42 But thus saith the Lord: Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away,
And the prey of the terrible shall be delivered.
For the Mighty God shall deliver His covenant people.
(Man's deliverance vs God's deliverance)
(LDS: 2 Nephi 6:17)
For behold, He suffereth the pains of all men, Yea, the
pains of every living creature - both men and women and children - which belong
to the family of Adam.
And He suffereth this that the resurrection might pass upon all men,
that all might stand before Him at the great and judgment day.
(Suffers physically vs 'suffering' to allow)
(LDS: 2 Nephi 9:22)
For it behooveth the great Creator that He suffereth Himself to become subject unto man in the flesh
and die for all men,
that all men might become subject unto Him.
(Becoming physically subject, so we can become spiritually subject)
(LDS: 2 Nephi 9:5)
2 Nephi 6:86, 2 Nephi 6:88 O my beloved brethren, remember my words. Behold, I take off my garments and I shake them before you.
Wherefore, ye shall know at the last day, when all men shall be judged of their works, that the God of Israel did witness that I shook your iniquities from my soul, And that I stand with brightness before Him and am rid of your blood.
(LDS: 2 Nephi 9:44)
2 Nephi 6:89 O my beloved brethren, turn away from your sins.
Shake off the chains of him that would bind you fast.
(Bound by Physical chains vs spiritual chains)
(LDS: 2 Nephi 9:45)
2 Nephi 6:97 Behold, if ye were holy, I would speak unto you of holiness,
But as ye are not holy,
And ye look upon me as a teacher,
It must needs be expedient that I teach you the consequences of sin.
(LDS: 2 Nephi 9:48)
And he that fighteth against Zion shall perish, saith God. For
he that raiseth up a king against Me shall perish,
For I, the Lord, the King of heaven, will be their king, And I will be a
light unto them forever that hear My words.
(Physical king vs spiritual king)
(LDS: 2 Nephi 10:14)
And now my beloved brethren, seeing that our merciful God hath given us so great knowledge concerning these things,
Let us remember Him and lay aside our sins and not hang down
our heads, for we are not cast off.
Nevertheless, we have been driven out of the land of our inheritance,
but we have been led to a better land,
(Hebrew 'hang down head' was Hebraism to be disinherited)
(LDS: 2 Nephi 10:20)
2 Nephi 12:61 And when the two nations shall run together,
The testimony of the two nations shall run together also.
(Physically combining vs spiritually combined testimony)
(LDS: 2 Nephi 29:8)
2 Nephi 12:73 And it shall come to pass that My people, which are of the house of Israel, shall be gathered home unto the lands of their possessions.
And My word also shall be gathered in one.
(People gathered vs the word being gathered)
(LDS: 2 Nephi 29:14)
Wherefore, a commandment I give unto you which is the word of God,
That ye revile no more against them because of the darkness of their skin,
Neither shall ye revile against them because of their filthiness.
But ye shall remember your own filthiness and remember that their
filthiness came because of their fathers.
(Physical vs spiritual filthiness)
(LDS: Jacob 3:9)
And now I, Jacob, am led on by the Spirit unto prophesying,
For I perceive by the workings of the Spirit which is in me that by the stumbling of the Jews
They will reject the stone upon which they might build and have
safe foundation.
But behold, according to the scriptures
This stone shall become the great and the last and the only
sure foundation upon which the Jews can build.
And now my beloved,
How is it possible that these,
After having rejected the sure foundation,
Can ever build upon it that it may become the head of their
corner?
Behold, my beloved brethren, I will unfold this mystery unto you,
If I do not by any means get shaken from my firmness in the
Spirit and stumble because of my overanxiety for you.
· (In the first instance, The Jews "stumbling" refers to the Jews rejecting the stone, resulting in a negative consequence.
· In the second instance, Jacob's "stumble" is used in the context of the speaker's potential hesitation or faltering due to overanxiety)
(LDS: Jacob 4:18)
Jacob 3:17 That ye may obtain a resurrection,
according to the power of the resurrection which is in Christ,
And be presented as the firstfruits of Christ unto God,
Having faith and obtained a good hope of glory in Him before He manifesteth Himself in the flesh.
(LDS: Jacob 4:11)
Enos 1:45 And I soon go to the place of my rest which is with my Redeemer.
For I know that in Him I shall rest.
(Place of rest, death; in Him shall I rest, eternal life)
(LDS: Enos 1:27)
Words of Mormon 1:20-Words of Mormon 1:21
But behold, King Benjamin gathered together his armies
And he did stand against them.
And he did fight with the strength of his own arm with
the sword of Laban.
And in the strength of the Lord they did contend against their enemies
Until they had slain many thousands of the Lamanites.
(Personal strength vs strength of the Lord)
(LDS: Words of
Mormon 1:14)
And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the
blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God,
For behold, they are blessed in all things,
Both temporal and spiritual.
And if they hold out faithful to the end,
They are received into heaven.
That thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness.
(Temporal vs spiritual happiness)
(LDS: Mosiah 2:41)
And behold also if I whom ye call your king,
Who has spent his days in your service
And yet hath been in the service of God,
Doth merit any thanks from you,
O how had you ought to thank your heavenly King.
(Janus Parallelism on three levels:
- Thankfulness:
- "Doth merit any thanks from you,"
- "O how had you ought to thank your heavenly King."
- Service:
- "Who has spent his days in your service"
- "yet hath been in the service of God"
- King/Kingship:
- "If I whom ye call your king,"
- "O how had you ought to thank your heavenly King.")
(LDS: Mosiah 2:19)
And lo, He cometh unto His own
That salvation might come unto the children of men,
Even through faith on His name.
(Janus Parallelism: Coming down to earth physically, that salvation can come spiritually)
(LDS: Mosiah 3:9)
Mosiah 1:105 And He shall rise the third day from the dead.
And behold, He standeth to judge the world.
(Rises physically to judge us spiritually)
(LDS: Mosiah 3:10)
Thus all mankind were lost.
And behold, they would have been endlessly lost,
were it not that God redeemed His people from their lost and fallen state.
(LDS: Mosiah 16:4)
And that ye may know of their surety,
I have suffered myself that I have fallen
into your hands,
Yea, and I will suffer even until death.
And I will not recall my words,
And they shall stand as a testimony against you.
(LDS: Mosiah 17:10)
And He shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and
temptations of every kind,
And this that the word might be fulfilled which saith He will take upon Him
the pains and the sicknesses of His people.
And He will take upon Him death,
That He may loose the bands of death which bind His people.
And He will take upon Him their infirmities,
That His bowels may be filled with mercy according to the flesh,
That He may know, according to the flesh how to succor His
people according to their infirmities.
Now the Spirit knoweth all things.
Nevertheless, the Son of God suffereth, according to the flesh,
That He might take upon Him the sins of His people,
That He might blot out their transgressions according to the power of His deliverance.
And now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.
(Janus parallelism on 'taking upon him'. But also:
- Synthetic Parallelism:
- And He shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind,
- And this that the word might be fulfilled which saith He will take upon Him the pains and the sicknesses of His people.
- Synonymous Parallelism:
- And He will take upon Him death,
- That He may loose the bands of death which bind His people.
- And He will take upon Him their infirmities,
- That His bowels may be filled with mercy according to the flesh,
- That He may know, according to the flesh, how to succor His people according to their infirmities.
- Nevertheless, the Son of God suffereth, according to the flesh,
- That He might take upon Him the sins of His people,
- That He might blot out their transgressions according to the power of His deliverance.)
(LDS: Alma 7:13)
Neither doth He vary from that which He hath said.
Neither hath He a shadow of turning from the right to the left,
Or from that which is right to that which is wrong,
Therefore, His course is one eternal round.
(Janus Parallelism on 'right' spatially, vs 'right' morally/ethically/spiritually)
(LDS: Alma 7:20)
Behold, I say unto you, Nay. Let us retain our swords, that they
be not stained with the blood of our brethren,
For perhaps if we should stain our swords again, They can no more be washed
bright through the blood of the Son of our great God which shall be shed
for the atonement of our sins.
(Swords being stained with human blood vs swords (their lives) being washed bright through the blood of Jesus, shed for our atonement)
(LDS: Alma 24:13)
And now behold, we have come and been forth amongst them,
And we have been patient in our sufferings,
And we have suffered every privation.
Yea, we have traveled from house to house,
Relying upon the mercies of the world.
Not upon the mercies of the world alone but upon the mercies of God.
(LDS: Alma 26:28)
Behold, they have labored exceedingly and have brought forth much fruit.
And how great shall be their reward.
Now when I think of the success of these my brethren, my soul is carried away,
Even to the separation of it from the body as it were, so great
is my joy.
And now may God grant unto these, my brethren, that they may sit down in the
kingdom of God,
yea, and also all those which are the fruit of their labor,
That they may go no more out,
but that they may praise Him forever.
(Janus Parallelism: Bringing forth fruit, vs fruit of labor)
(LDS: Alma 29:17)
Therefore, they were not permitted to enter into their synagogues to worship God,
Being esteemed as filthiness.
Therefore, they were poor.
Yea, they were esteemed by their priests as dross.
Therefore, they were poor as to things of the world,
and also they were poor in heart.
(LDS: Alma 32:3)
And now my beloved brethren,
I would exhort you to have patience
and that ye bear with all manner of afflictions,
That ye do not revile against those who do cast you out because of your exceeding poverty,
lest ye become sinners like unto them,
But that ye have patience and bear with those afflictions,
with a firm hope that ye shall one day rest from all your afflictions.
(Janus Parallelism: affliction is introduced more narrowly, afflictions of living vs resting from all affliction.)
(LDS: Alma 34:41)
O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way,
for so was it with our fathers.
For so was it prepared for them that if they would look they might live.
Even so it is with us the way is prepared –
And if we will look we may live forever.
(Janus parallelism: the subtle shift in looking at a compass, vs
looking at Christ to live forever.
One to live physically, the other to live eternally)
(LDS: Alma 37:46)
And the angel spake more things unto me which were heard by my brethren,
But I did not hear them,
For when I heard the words - If thou wilt be destroyed of thyself, seek no more to destroy the church of God,
I was struck with such great fear and amazement,
Lest perhaps that I should be destroyed,
That I fell to the earth and I did hear no more.
(The shift in destroyed of thyself vs destroy the church of God is a Janus parallelism, or play on words)
(LDS: Alma 36:11)
For behold, it is as easy to give heed to the word of Christ,
Which will point to you a strait course to eternal bliss,
As it was for our fathers to give heed to this compass,
Which would point unto them a strait course to the Promised Land.
(The Janus parallelism involves the comparison between giving heed to the word of Christ and giving heed to the compass, and the strait course to the promised land vs the strait course to eternal life.)
(LDS: Alma 37:44)
And now I say, is there not a type in this thing?
For just assuredly as this director did bring our fathers,
by following its course to the Promised Land,
Shall the word of Christ,
if we follow its course,
carry us beyond this vale of sorrow into a far better Land of Promise.
(LDS: Alma 37:45)
Or, in other words, if they should trangress the commandments of God,
Or fall into transgression and be ashamed to take upon them the name of Christ,
The Lord should rend them even as they had rent their garments.
(Janus Parallelism: Rending their garments vs their lives)
(LDS: Alma 46:21)
Yea, He may cast us at the feet of our enemies,
Even as we have cast our garments at thy feet to be trodden underfoot,
If we should fall into trangression.
(LDS: Alma 46:22)
Alma 21:57 And he saith:
Even as this remnant of garment of my son hath been preserved,
So shall a remnant of the seed of my son be preserved by the hand of God
and be taken unto Himself,
While the remainder of the seed of Joseph shall perish,
even as the remnant of his garment.
(Janus Parallelism:
- "Even as this remnant of garment of my son hath been preserved" - The remnant of the garment is preserved.
- "So shall a remnant of the seed of my son be preserved by the hand of God and be taken unto Himself" - The parallelism continues, indicating that a remnant of the seed of Joseph will be preserved by God.
- "While the remainder of the seed of Joseph shall perish, even as the remnant of his garment" - The contrast comes in, stating that the remaining seed of Joseph will perish, drawing a comparison to the fate of the remnant of his garment.)
(LDS: Alma 46:24)
And now behold, I say unto you that myself and also my men and also Helaman and his men have suffered exceeding great sufferings –
Yea, even hunger, thirst and fatigue and all manner of
afflictions of every kind.
But behold, were this all we had suffered, we would not murmur nor
complain.
But behold, great has been the slaughter among our people -
(LDS: Alma 60:5)
Therefore, my beloved brother Moroni, let us resist evil.
And whatsoever evil we cannot resist with our words –
yea, such as rebellions and dissensions –
Let us resist them with our swords.
That we may retain our freedom.
That we may rejoice in the great privilege of our church and in the cause of our Redeemer and our God.
(LDS: Alma 61:14)
And whosoever of those which belonged to their band should reveal unto the world of their wickedness and their abominations should be tried –
Not according to the laws of their country,
But according to the laws of their wickedness
which had been given by Gaddianton and Kishcumen.
(Word play, 'laws of wickedness' were not actual laws)
(LDS: Helaman 6:24)
And thus we see that the Nephites did begin to dwindle in unbelief
and grow in wickedness and abominations,
While the Lamanites began to grow exceedingly in the knowledge of their God.
Yea, they did begin to keep His statutes and commandments and to walk in truth and uprightness before Him.
(LDS: Helaman 6:34)
Helaman 3:52 And this that it should be shown unto the people a great many thousand years before His coming that even redemption should come unto them.
(LDS: Helaman 8:18)
O ye wicked and ye perverse generation.
Ye hardened and ye stiff-necked people.
How long will ye suppose that the Lord will suffer you?
Yea, how long will ye suffer yourselves to be led by foolish and blind guides?
Yea, how long will ye choose darkness rather than light?
(Janus parallelism in this passage to suffer.
The contrasting pairs include:
- Wicked vs. Perverse generation
- Hardened vs. Stiff-necked people
- Suffer you vs. Suffer yourselves to be led
- Foolish guides vs. Blind guides
- Darkness vs. Light)
(LDS: Helaman 13:29)
But in this thing they were disappointed,
For the Nephites did not fear them,
But they did fear their God
And did supplicate Him for protection.
(Janus: Fearing men vs fearing God)
(LDS: 3 Nephi 4:10)
And when they had hanged him until he was dead, they did fell the tree to the earth.
And did cry with a loud voice, saying:
May the lord preserve his people in righteousness and in holiness of heart.
That they may cause to be felled to the earth all who shall seek to slay them
because of power and secret combinations.
Even as this man hath been felled to the earth.
(LDS: 3 Nephi 4:29)
And ye shall offer up unto Me no more the shedding of blood.
Yea, your sacrifices and your burnt offerings shall be done away,
For I will accept none of your sacrifices and your burnt offerings.
And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto Me a broken heart and a contrite spirit.
(Janus Parallelism: A physical sacrifice vs a spiritual sacrifice)
(LDS: 3 Nephi 9:20)
For whoso receiveth not the words of Jesus,
and the words of them which He hath sent,
receiveth not Him.
And therefore, He will not receive them at the last day.
And it would be better for them if they had not been born.
(Janus parallelism in this passage. The contrasting pairs include:
- Receiveth not the words of Jesus vs. Receiveth the words of Jesus
- Receiveth not the words of them which He hath sent vs. Receiveth the words of them which He hath sent
- Will not receive them at the last day vs. Will receive them at the last day
- Better for them if they had not been born vs. Better for them if they had been born)
(LDS: 3 Nephi 28:35)
And they had all things common among them.
Therefore, there were not rich and poor, bond and free,
But they were all made free
And partakers of the heavenly gift.
(LDS: 4 Nephi 1:3)
For behold, the same that judgeth rashly shall be judged rashly again.
For according to his works shall his wages be.
Therefore, he that smiteth shall be smitten again of the Lord.
(Janus Parallelism: The contrasting pairs include:
- Judgeth rashly vs. Judged rashly
- According to his works shall his wages be vs. He that smiteth shall be smitten again of the Lord
This Janus parallelism emphasizes the reciprocity and divine justice in the consequences of one's actions.)
(LDS: Mormon 8:19)
And there were many whose faith was so exceeding strong,
Even before Christ came,
Which could not be kept from within the veil,
But truly saw with their eyes
The things which they had beheld with an eye of faith
And they were glad.
(Janus Parallelism: actually seeing physically the things they believed spiritually, i.e. seen with an eye of faith)
(LDS: Ether 12:19)
And if ye shall ask with a sincere heart,
with real intent,
having faith in Christ,
And He will manifest the truth of it unto you by the power of the Holy Ghost.
And by the power of the Holy Ghost, ye may know the truth of all things.
(Janus Parallelism: knowing truth of the record, vs knowing all truth)
(LDS: Moroni 10:5)