Don Lowth

Don Lowth (1707-1787) was an English Anglican bishop and scholar, renowned primarily for his contributions to biblical Hebrew poetry and literary criticism. He served as the Bishop of St David's (1766), Bishop of Oxford (1766-1777), and Bishop of London (1777-1787).

Lowth's most influential work was De Sacra Poesi Hebraeorum (Lectures on the Sacred Poetry of the Hebrews), published in 1753. This groundbreaking study revolutionized the understanding of Hebrew poetry, arguing that it was structured around parallelism – the balancing of ideas in successive lines or phrases. He identified three primary types of parallelism: synonymous, antithetical, and synthetic. Synonymous parallelism involves the repetition of a similar idea in different words; antithetical parallelism presents contrasting ideas; and synthetic parallelism develops or completes a thought in the second line.

Lowth's work significantly impacted the interpretation of the Hebrew Bible, particularly the books of Psalms, Proverbs, and the prophetic literature. By emphasizing the poetic nature of these texts, he encouraged a more nuanced and aesthetically sensitive approach to their reading. His insights influenced generations of scholars and writers, including Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

Beyond his work on Hebrew poetry, Lowth also made contributions to English grammar. His Short Introduction to English Grammar (1762) was a widely used textbook that helped to standardize English usage, although its prescriptive approach has been subject to later criticism.

In summary, Don Lowth's legacy rests primarily on his profound understanding of Hebrew poetry and his articulation of the principle of parallelism, which transformed biblical scholarship and literary criticism. He was also a figure of influence in the Church of England, rising to the position of Bishop of London.