The Assyrian and Hebrew Hymns of Praise

by Charles Gordon Cumming

—Psalm 98:2.

Very common in the Assyrian hymns, but not so frequent in the Hebrew hymns is tautological parallelism, where the second line repeats the thought of the first line in almost the same words. The frequency of this form in the Assyrian hymns is most certainly in part due to the magical potency attached to the repetition of significant lines.

O Lord, who is like thee, who can be compared to thee?

Mighty one, who is like thee, who can be compared to thee?

—Hymn to Sin No. 3.

When thou callest inside, the people within thou killest;

When thou callest outside, the people outside thou killest.

—Hymn to Nergal No. 7.

Sing praises to God, sing praises:

Sing praises unto our king, sing praises.