THE POINT : Deeper meaning can be drawn from the passage, also providing more proof of good doctrines by looking at these figures.
HYPOTHESIS : Whatever culture uses these figures must conclusively be the true Hebrews. Along with the use of these figures humor (Isaac) and emphatic conclusions are the reasons.
The Three main categories of Figures of Speech given by E.W. Bullinger:
OMISSION: These figures require the reader to supply the completed thought. Literal translations would wreak havoc to these passages
ADDITION: These figures amplify and describe, negligence of their em-PHA-sis takes away the force and urgency behind the figure, loosing the emotions of the Father.
CHANGE: Here is where the meaning and application are seriously contorted if Literalness is applied. The actual truth (true to reality) is not conveyed when the figure is ignored.
SCRIPTURAL PRINCIPLE: Seriously, the figures naturally add and take away (addition & omission) to the translation. If we are to translate, then these figures should be PARAMOUNT to any translation.
Rev 22:18-19
18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this
book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add
unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of
this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of
life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this
book.
| Figures involving Omission | Figures involving Addition | Figures involving Change |
| Affecting words (Ellipsis) & the sense. | Affecting words &
sense (by way of Repetition, Amplification, Description, Conclusion,
Interposition, & Reasoning)
We have the common figures of alliteration, acrostics, rhyming, synonyms, refrain, parallel lines, exaggeration, epithet, example, exclamation, parenthesis, & Interjection all in this category. |
Affecting the meaning,
order, & application of words.
Well known figures like Metonymy, Simile, Type, Symbol, Idioms, Irony, oxymoron, & Personification all fall under this category. |
WHY IS IT NECESSARY TO UNDERSTAND AND LEARN FIGURES? Because learning how to spot a figure of speech and apply it properly protects the Words from God. Sometimes we are left with incongruity, omission of the subject or conclusion, which can lead to a literal mess!
Special notes on unusual figures:
It is interesting that enumeration is a figure of speech, since we are told to enumerate the mark of the beast.
This figure can both tell us HOW to enumerate, & reveal a connected pattern from Genesis to Revelation, which otherwise may be difficult to connect.
Example of Simile:
Ps 1:3-5
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that
bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and
whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind
driveth away.
5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the
congregation of the righteous.
