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Definition
Synthetic parallelism occurs when the second colon completes or compliments the meaning of the first. It is difficult to put a precise definition on this type of parallelism, and it is consequently used as a "catch-all" category. In other words, if the parallelism doesn't appear to be synonymous or antithetical, then it is classified synthetic.
We should note here that most Hebraists today no longer refer to the "synthetic" category. It has been replaced with more detailed and precise categories of parallelism, which would require a knowledge of Hebrew to adequately discuss.
While recognizing its inadequacy, this guide still uses the term synthetic as a useful category of parallelism.
Example 1
Fire goes before Him
And burns up His adversaries round about. (Psalm 97:3)
In this example of synthetic parallelism, the second colon neither echoes nor contrasts the first colon. Rather, it completes the thought which began in the first colon. One cannot draw direct equivalencies between the cola.
Often, the second colon of a synthetic bicolon will answer one of these questions: who? what? where? when? why? how?
In the above bicolon, the second colon answers the "what?" questions. It can be expressed thusly:
Q: What does the fire (that goes before Him) do?
A: It burns up His adversaries round about.
Example 2
Because your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips will praise You. (Psalm 63:3)
Again, there are no direct equivalencies between these two cola. Yet the second colon is related because it completes a thought that began in the first colon and is carried forward.
This bicolon answers the question "why?" However, the answer to the question actually comes in the first colon:
Q: Why will my lips praise You?
A: Because Your lovingkindness is better than life.
Example 3
But as for us, we will bless the LORD
From this time forth and forever. (Psalm 115:18)
The second colon in this bicolon answers the question "when?" It completes the thought of the first colon by adding a further detail:
Q: When will we bless the LORD?
A: Now and forever.