Struktur Puisi dan Teologi Repetisi dalam Mazmur 136

Menelusuri Peran Liturgis Frasa Refrein

  • Sulistiono sekolah tinggi theologia nazarene indonesia
Keywords: Psalm 136, doxology, repetition, steadfast love (ḥesed), Israelite liturgy.

Abstract

This study examines Psalm 136 within its historical, canonical, and liturgical contexts, emphasizing the underexplored role of doxology as a post-exilic response. The findings reveal that the 26fold repetition of the phrase “His steadfast love endures forever” is not merely a poetic device, but a pedagogical, liturgical, and theological instrument binding Israel’s collective memory. This repetitive pattern functions as a litany of trauma healing, a means of communal strengthening, and a theological affirmation of God’s ḥesed. Structural analysis highlights the role of parallelism, double stichothetic patterns, and the interplay of hemistich and refrain as mnemonic tools in ancient liturgy. Psalm 136 stands out among the Hallel Psalms for its responsive nature, and its influence can be traced in Pauline doxologies (e.g., Ephesians 3:20–21), which adopt the repetitive pattern as a Christological affirmation. This study provides theoretical implications for the development of liturgical hermeneutics and biblical theology, and practical implications for revitalizing repetitive doxologies in contemporary worship, particularly for addressing spiritual trauma and strengthening communal faith identity.

Published
2025-10-27
How to Cite
Sulistiono. (2025). Struktur Puisi dan Teologi Repetisi dalam Mazmur 136. Jurnal Misioner, 5(2), 172-193. https://doi.org/10.51770/jm.v5i2.248