Figures of Speech in the Bible - Part 2

      Figures of speech stop us dead in our reading tracks. That is their job. Instead of skipping over them as annoyances, we ought to enjoy them. Here we examine four of the more common figures: Symbol, Metaphor, Simile and Hyperbole.

Symbol: Symbolism is almost synonymous with figure of speech. However, for our purposes, we want to narrow that down. A symbol is a material object used as a substitute for a spiritual truth.

      Symbolism is a difficult figure to deal with because so often it is culturally based. Because we are separated from Biblical culture, we may struggle at times to see the connection between the symbol and what it symbolized. One thing is certain; the symbol only meant what it was symbolizing. We are not allowed to claim some reference is symbolic to twist its meaning to our liking.

      The parable of the sower is a good example of symbol. In Matthew 13:3-9, 18-22, the seed symbolized the word of God, the different grounds symbolized different kinds of hearers.

Metaphor/Simile: These are two similar kinds of figures. A metaphor is a declaration that one thing is another. For instance, “Taking my child into that store is setting a bull loose in a china closet.” A simile is a declaration that one thing resembles another, most often using “like” or “as.” For instance, “Taking my child into that store is like setting a bull loose in a china closet.”

      When Jesus said “You are the salt of the earth…the light of the world” in Matthew 5:13-14, He was using a metaphor. When the Psalmist said the one who meditates upon God’s law “will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water” in Psalm 1:3, he was using simile. When Jesus took the unleavened bread and said, “This is my body” and the fruit of the vine and said, “This is my blood” in Matthew 26:26-28, He was using metaphor.

Hyperbole: Hyperbole is an exaggeration to drive home a point. “If I have said it once, I have said it a thousand times…” is a hyperbole. Hyperbole over emphasizes and over dramatizes to demonstrate how truly important the point is.

      When Jesus said we should cut off our hands and pluck out our eyes in Matthew 5:29-30, He used hyperbole. When Paul said, “Pray without ceasing” in I Thessalonians 5:17 he was using hyperbole. Too often we dismiss hyperboles because they are exaggerations. Instead we must realize God used hyperbole precisely because the point was so important straightforward speech could not properly convey the message.

      We must not be scared of figures, but study and enjoy them. They add spice to our reading and drag us into the message. The key, of course, is we have to be getting into the message in the first place. Make sure to read your Bible this week.

Edwin L. Crozier