|
Figures of Speech
All languages have a limited number of words
to use in expressing thoughts and ideas. We have approximately 40,000 words we use to
express hundreds of thousands of experiences, feelings, and thoughts. Because of this
poverty of words, we begin saying the sun rises or we feel blue. This type of expression
is what we call a figure of speech, which is a special way of creating a picture in the
mind of the reader or listener to enhance understanding. Examples:
- SIMILE comparing two things that resemble one another; look for "like"
or "as." Examples: Ps. 1:3; Mt. 13:44-45; 23:37; 1 Pt. 2:25; 5:8
- METAPHOR comparing one thing that represents another where the qualities of the
one object apply to the other. Examples: Deut. 5:15; Ps. 19:14; 23:1; Jn. 6:48
- HYPERBOLE a deliberate exaggeration for effect or emphasis. Examples: Deut. 1:28;
Ps. 6:6; Mt. 5:29-30; 1 Thess. 5:17
- PARABLE an extended simile; a short story about everyday things that illustrates
a single truth or principle. Examples: Mt. 13:3-9; Lk. 14:31-33
- PERSONIFICATION a non-personal or non-living thing is spoken about as though it
were a person. Examples: Is. 55:12; Pr. 9:1
- TYPOLOGY a correspondence between a person, event, or thing from the Old
Testament and a person, event, or thing in the New Testament. Examples: Compare Ex. 17:1-9
with 1 Cor. 10:4; Num. 21:5-9 with Jn. 3:14; Gen. 2:2 with Heb. 4:8-10.
Principles for Interpreting Figures of Speech
- Identify a figure by trying to take the passage literally. If it makes no sense to apply
it literally, then its probably a figure of speech.
- Let the context determine the meaning of the figure.
- Look for what is behind the figure; what is represented.
- Look for specific points of similarity and difference.
- Dont push the figure past the authors intended meaning theres a
limit to the meaning of any figure of speech.
Look up some of the references above and identify the figures of speech.
Types of Bible Literture
Since the Bible is literature, it utilizes various literary styles (called genre) to
communicate Gods truth. Some of these styles (or genres) are prose, poetry,
prophecy, and history. Having helpful hints for interpreting the genre (literary
style) of a passage/book is vital for discovering both meaning and significance of a Bible
passage.
PROSE plain speech; the basic model of biblical communication. Four types of
prose:
- Narration speaks directly about people, places, things or events (e.g., Genesis)
- Exposition explanation of law, events, theology, or ethics (e.g., Deuteronomy)
- Argumentation seeks to convince the reader of a point of view (e.g., Gospel of
John)
- Description paints a picture for the reader to illustrate truth (e.g., Rev. 21)
POETRY (In Proverbs) parallelism of thought rather than sound or meter. Three
types of parallelism:
- Synonymous the thought is repeated in the second line (e.g., Pr. 17:4; 20:13)
- Antithetic the second line will be contrasted to the first (e.g., Pr. 15:1, 2;
14:34)
- Synthetic the idea expressed in the first line is completed in the second (e.g.,
Pr. 10:22)
In Psalms Five categories of genre:
- Messianic foretells some aspect of the person or work of the Messiah (e.g., Ps.
2; 8; 22-24)
- Devotional speaks of the characteristics of the godly person (e.g., Psalm 1)
- Penitential recognizes sin; requests cleansing, and restoration of fellowship
with God (e.g., Ps. 32; 51)
- Imprecation calls down oaths and curses on enemies (e.g., Ps. 69; 109; 139).
- Note: Imprecatory psalms are not contrary to the biblical spirit of love, grace, and
forgiveness because:
- they do not express a desire for personal revenge
- the psalmist expects God to execute justice
- the psalmist calls down curses on himself if deserved
- the psalmist desires to see the holiness and justice of God maintained and defended
For NT examples of imprecation see 2 Tim. 4:14; Gal. 5:12; Rev. 6:10.
Nature Psalms extols the character of God as He is revealed in nature (e.g., Ps.
19).
In the NT various quotations of ancient poets (e.g., Acts 17:28; 1 Cor 15:33;
Titus 1:12; poetry molded after OT poetry (e.g., Lk 1:46-55; 68-79; 2:14; 2:29-32; Acts
1:20; Rom 11:9-10); poetry in hymns (e.g., Eph 5:14; 1 Tim 3:16; 2 Tim 2:11-13; 1 Cor 13)
HISTORICAL NARRATIVE a true story with a set of characters and a
single plot; a non-fictional play.
Remember that the Bible is a book about God, not a book about you. He is
the leading character and the One being written about and the One we are to learn about.
Every other character has a supporting role in the overall story of God.
Characteristics of historical narrative:
The beginning, middle, and end are easily identifiable. For example, the
Bible as a whole is a historical narrative. Creation and life before the Fall is the
beginning, the middle is the pilgrimage of fallen humans through history, and the end is
the climax of history with the return of Jesus Christ to rule the new heaven and new
earth.
Each individual narrative contributes to the overall plan of God. For
example, Gen. 37-50 narrates the life of Joseph, but the purpose of the narrative is not
to teach us about Joseph, but to instruct us on the power of God in preserving His promise
to Abraham (cf. Gen. 12:1-3; 15:18; 50:24).
Questions for interpreting historical narrative:
PROPHECY "special revelations which specially called men
received and by which they explained the past, elucidated the present, and disclosed the
future" (Kaiser, Back Toward the Future, p. 42). Biblical prophecy uses symbolic
imagery some of which is explained.
SYMBOLS |
EXPLANATION |
REFERENCE |
Head
of Gold |
Nebuchadnezzar |
Dan.
2:37-38 |
Rock
cut out of mountain |
Kingdom
of God |
Dan.
2:44-45 |
Ten
horns of 4th beast |
Ten
kings |
Dan.
7:24 |
Two-horned
ram |
Medo-Persian
kings |
Dan.
8:20 |
Woman
in bushel |
Iniquity
of the land |
Zech.
5:6 |
Seven
stars |
Angels
of the churches |
Rev.
1:20 |
Seven
lampstands |
Seven
churches of Asia |
Rev.
1:20 |
Bowls
of incense |
Prayers
of saints |
Rev.
5:8 |
Great
dragon |
Satan,
Devil |
Rev.
12:9 |
Ten
horns of beast |
Ten
kings |
Rev.
17:12 |
If symbolic
imagery is mentioned more than once, then the additional references may shed considerable
light on its significance.
SYMBOLS IN REVELATION |
OT REFERENCE |
Tree
of life (2:7; 22:2) |
Gen.
2:9; 3:24 |
Hidden
manna (2:17) |
Num.
11:7-9 |
Iron
scepter (2:27) |
Psalm
2:9 |
Key
of David (3:7) |
Isaiah
22:22 |
Living
creatures (4:7-9) |
Ezekiel
1:5-14 |
Four
horsemen (6:1-8) |
Zechariah
1:8-11 |
Great
angel (chap. 10) |
Zechariah
1:11 |
First
beast (13:1-10) |
Daniel
7:2-7 |
Second
beast (13:11-18) |
Daniel
7:2-7 |
Principle for
interpreting prophecy: Accept the clear; be cautious about the unclear.
Table references are from Walther C. Kaiser, Jr. Back Toward the Future,
Baker Books, 1989. |