One of the greatest lessons about writing I have learned from my Bible study time is the importance of using the right words to convey a particular meaning. Also, the use of prose and pacing to reinforce the sentiment of what you're reading.

Maybe this is in part because it (in many cases) first passed down person-to-person as a spoken or even sung history. Stories built upon generations of understanding include so many small details and nuance - they provide a richer tapestry for reading those words today. I don't think you can discount this since in earlier times it wasn't as though everyone could have a Bible in their home - it just wasn't possible (even after the Gutenberg press they weren't easily available in many homes for centuries.