Figures of Speech - Part 3

      This week we continue our look at common figures of speech employed in the scripture. We will look at four more.

Personification: This is ascribing human characteristics to material non-living things or abstract ideas. When we say the ground drank up the rain after a drought, we are using Personification. When the Proverbialist used it when he spoke of wisdom in Proverbs 1:20-33 as a woman who was calling people to her. As did God, when He said Abel’s blood was crying out in Genesis 4:10.

      A special form of this figure is called “Anthropopathism.” This is ascribing human characteristics to God. For instance, when Genesis 6:6 says God repented of creating man, this is a figure ascribing a human characteristic to God. The reality of God’s situation is beyond our comprehension. He and His knowledge are infinite. However, the concept of “repentance” or “changing His mind” is as close as we can come to understanding what happened.

Metonymy: This term literally means to change the name. This figure is using one subject to speak of a greater or lesser subject because the two are related. When we say, “The pen is mightier than the sword,” we are using Metonymy because we are actually talking about literature vs. force. In Luke 16:29, when Abraham told the rich man that his brothers had “Moses and the prophets” he was using Metonymy. The brothers actually had the writings of Moses and the prophets. Jesus’ statement, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood” in Luke 22:20 is an example of Metonymy. Jesus was speaking of the juice inside the cup, not the container.

Oxymoron: These are statements that seem to contradict, but actually contain great wisdom. For instance, “killing someone with kindness” or “tough love” are both Oxymorons. The “living sacrifice” of Romans 12:1 is an Oxymoron.  Several of the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-12 are Oxymorons.

Ellipsis: Ellipsis is omitting words that are not necessary to understand the statement. An example is when Tessa and I are the only ones in the room and I say, “Go clean your room.” Grammatically, I left out the subject of that sentence. Tessa has clearly picked up on this because she will respond, “Me?” which is also an Ellipsis, leaving out any real question words. I will typically respond, “No, the other person standing next to you.” The context of the situation supplies the missing words. In Matthew 10:34, Jesus employed Ellipsis when He said, “I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” The sense of the statement in Biblical context is “I did not come to bring peace only, but also a sword.”

      I hope our extended look at studying the Bible and understanding figures of speech has been helpful. Remember the primary key for any of this to be helpful. We have to read our Bibles. Get your Bible out this week and read it.

Edwin L. Crozier