Ellipsis
Def:
A Gap purposely left in the sentence of omitted words. The laws of geometry declare that there must be 3 lines to enclose a space,
so the laws of syntax require at least three words to make complete sense.
Ellipsis legitimately breaks this law by design, not want of thought.
Isa 53:12 "Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong”; i.e. “Therefore will I [YHVH] divide (or apportion) to him a great multitude [for booty], and the strong ones will HE divide as spoil.”
The ellipsis is the word “portion”. Isaiah’s main theme “The Day of the Lord” has the “nations” as its object of study. Overall the nations are given many names throughout Isaiah, but they all refer to the same rebellious group.
This group is divided as a reward because they repent. In
Is. 52:15 the word nazah means to leap out: of liquids, to spurt out as blood:
of People, to leap UP from Joy or Astonishment.
The Structure of the passage is designed to exhibit and emphasize the GREAT CONTRAST between the
despising and the admiration.
Asyndeton: or, No-Ands
Def:
An Enumeration of things without conjunctions. Other names; a dissolving; a separation of parts; a running along, tripping along. All these names are given because without any “ands” the items are soon run over.Isa 33:8-9
8
The highways lie waste, the wayfaring man ceaseth:
he hath broken the covenant,
he hath despised the cities,
he regardeth no man.
9 The earth mourneth and languisheth: Lebanon is ashamed and hewn down:
Sharon is like a wilderness;
and Bashan and Carmel shake off their fruits.
13 Hear, ye that are far off, what I have done; and, ye that are
near, acknowledge my might.
We are hurried along the various matters as though they were of no account, in comparison with
the great climax to which they lead up (v. 13). This passage gives the details of the judgment of Assyria that we may dwell on the important fact that the HOUR of Judah’s deliverance has come.
Catabasis – Omission of the Conclusion
Def:
A bringing of all the premises; and the conclusion before the mind. Ref:
Isa 2:3-4
3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
4 And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
Verse 3 leaves us to conclude what the marvelous results of this wonder working word is.
Verse 4 gives us the major premises (beating their swords into plowshares). Oh what shall we conclude from this? That the flesh age of war is come to an end.
This figure is dangerous in the hands of children, FORE they shall come to wild unsupported conclusions. Ezekiel, on the other hand spells it out for us, and doesn’t leave scoffers to conjure up wild thoughts.
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II. AFFECTING WORDS
The Repetition of the Same word
(a) in the same sense
Epizeuxis; or Duplication
Def:
Repetition of the same exact word in the same sense.
Isa 6:3
3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
Isa 21:9
9 And, behold, here cometh a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground.
Both of these verse are repeated in REVELATION ONLY!! Rev. 4:8 has Holy Holy Holy & Revelation 14:18; 18:2 has Babylon is Fallen is Fallen. Clearly a link to the most impacting book of scripture ever (Revelation)!
Mesoteleuton; Middle & end repetition
Def:
Repetition of the same word or words in the middle and at the end of successive sentencesIsa 8:12
12 Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.
You may say this is common to repeat “confederacy” or “conspiracy”, BUT this word isn’t used but 16 times in the whole OLD Testament! And only twice in Isaiah, … in this very verse. Cool huh?
Polyptoton; many inflections
Def:
The Repetition of the same Part of Speech in different locations. Ref: Isa 2:11
11 The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. The singular and plural used together to emphasize the far reaching effects of
"The Day of the Lord", here (v12) mentioned for the first time in the Bible.
(b) in a different sense
Antanaclasis or word-clashing
Def:
Repetition of the same word in the same sentence, with different meanings. no verses
Yet another application of word definition that cannot be obtained from a concordance, but must be realized by the careful reader.
Ploce; or, Word-Folding
Def:
The same as word-clashing, only with Ploce that sense implies more than the first use of it. Isa 66:3-4
And their soul delights in their abominations,
4 So will I choose their delusions,
And bring their fears on them;
Because, when I called, no one answered,
When I spoke they did not hear;
But they did evil before My eyes,
And chose that in which I do not delight."
The acts of men (in which they delight) versus the acts of God (who doesn’t delight in the evil). The second use of the word “delight” has more meaning then when describing the men’s evil acts.
The Repetition of different Words
(a) In a similar order (but same sense)
Symploce or Intertwining
Def: The repetition of different words in successive sentences in the same order & the same sense.
Ref: Isa 2:7-8
7 Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures; their land is also full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots:
8 Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made:
This repeated and alternated contrast is a style Isaiah uses from chapter 1- the close of the prophecy. It is also used in
Revelation 18:21-23 to emphasize the fall of Babylon. We have the repeated words “no more at ALL”.
(c) similar in sound, but different in sense
Paranomasia; Rhyming
Def:
The Repetition of words similar in sound, but not necessarily in Sense. Ref: Isa 5:7 “He looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.”
We might English this by rendering it, “He looked for equity, but behold iniquity; for a righteous nation, but behold lamentation.”
(d) different in sound, but similar in sense
Synonymia
Def: Words similar in Sense repeated for the purpose of enhancing the
force and fire of the passage. Ref: Isaiah
2:11-17 Comment: Synonyms are
heaped together (just as the Babylonians sins are piling higher &
higher, doubly & simultaneously). God's power is expressed by His
exaltation, which marks the Great Day of the Lord and man's abasement.
The Repetition of Sentences & Phrases
Amoebaean; or Refrain
Def:
Repetition of the same phrase at the end of successive paragraphsIsaiah 9:12,17,21;10:4
Where we have the four fold burden to emphasize the SOLEMN WARNING “For all His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still.”
Epibole; or overlaid repetition
Def: The repetition of the same phrase at irregular intervals. The same sentence or phrase is cast upon or laid upon (like layers or courses of bricks) several successive paragraphs.
Ref: Isaiah 2:7-8 Their land also is full of silver and gold . . .
8 Their land also is full of idols;
Their land is full of riches, idols, and buildings (built with layers of bricks).
The Repetition of Subjects
Parallelism
Def:
The Repetition of similar, synonymous, or opposite Thoughts or Words in
parallel or successive lines. Ref: Isa 14:26-27 26
"This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth: and this is the
hand that is stretched out upon all the nations. 27 For the LORD of hosts hath
purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who
shall turn it back?" Purpose is closely associated with Judgment.
These parallel thoughts show us the complexity of judgment (seemingly chaos)
with order and deliberate planned purpose. Isaiah explains the purpose of his
prophecies in “divers manners & at sundry times”.
II. AFFECTING THE SENSE
(figures of Rhetoric -
the use of exaggeration or display; used in persuasive speech)
By way of addition or amplification
Pleonasm; Redundancy
Def:
When more Words are used than the grammar requires. Isa 33:23
23 Thy tacklings are loosed; they could not well strengthen their mast, they could not spread the sail: then is the prey of a great spoil divided; the lame take the prey.
The extra word is prey of a spoil. “Spoil” is a lot already, by adding “prey” it gives us the idea there will be an overabundance of spoil, and the victory will be quite complete over the “prince of the power of the AIR”. We can note they cannot spread their sails to catch any AIR.
Periphrasis; or circumlocution
Def:
When a description is used instead of a name. Isa 14:15
15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. This figure illustrates the writing style of Isaiah who uses an abundance of descriptive deprivation to lay before our hearts and minds the desolation of Babylon. It is circumlocuted by Isaiah’s prophecy in FULL.
Hyperbole; or, exaggeration
Def:
When more is said than literally meant.
Isa 34:4
4 And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree
The exaggeration here showing us that their defeat will be COMPLETE in all aspects, even in the less understood spiritual dimension (where the Prince of the power of the Air is)
Anabasis
Def: The increase in sense. Ref: Isaiah 1:4 “Ah sinful nation; A people
laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters.”
From sinful to inquity to evildoers to corrupters.
Merismos; or distribution
Def:
An Enumeration of the Parts of a whole which HAS been mentioned. The parts are added together to enhance the effect, increase the emphasis, & amplify the sense.
Isa 24:1
24:1 Behold, the LORD maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof.
This chapter (24) is the apocalypse of Isaiah – therefore through the use of the figure, can be seen the way God will do this & scatter His people is also enumerated.
Synathroiesmos, or Enumeration
Def: {a
figure of Amplification} Enumeration of the Parts of A WHOLE which has not
been mentioned!
Ref. Is. 1:11-15 “What purpose is the
multitude of your sacrifices unto me? I am full of your . . .”
HOW: Once sentence would suffice, but by the figure all kinds of sacrifices
are enumerated, and the sense is thus amplified and emphasized to show that,
with ALL their outward show of “religion” there was no true
worship of the Spirit & the heart. SO with the FEASTS in verse 14 &
with the PRAYERS in verse 15. In the days of our Lord & in the Lord’s
Day there was plenty of religion, but NO heart in it.
{Do you remember in Revelation where we were COMMANDED to enumerate the number
of the beast? If 600 means warfare, than whom do we war against? The evil eye
of the religion of churches today}
By way of Description
Hypotyposis; or Word-Picture
Ref. Is. 1:11-15
The Hollowness of mere religion is described in a word-picture.
It existed when Christ was on earth, and as such in the present day.
Topographia; Description of Place
Def:
It is used of the figure which adds something to what is said by describing a place; or any peculiarity which marks that place, and throws light on what is being treated of.
Isa 33:20-21
20 Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken.
21 But there the glorious LORD will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby.
The future glory of Jer-usa-lem and the land yields Jerusalem as the
center of the compass. Isaiah is a major contributor to the description of the condition of our current countries involved on the face of the compass.
Ethopoeia; or Description of Manners
Def:
Expression of Manner or custom; hence used of a person’s peculiarities as to manners, caprices, habits, whether in voice, gestures, or otherwise.
Isa 3:16
16 Moreover the LORD saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet:
The daughters are noted for their inappropriateness & outlandish expression of themselves, which signifies FALSE RELIGION, not because the daughters are women, but because they exemplify BAD RELIGION practiced by charlatans. They are also known as Mystery Babylon, the mistress of witchcrafts.
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I.
Affecting the meaning and usage of words
Heterosis
; or,
Exchange of accidence
Def:
Exchange of one Voice, Mood, Tense, Person, Number, Degree, or Gender for another Ref: Isa 8:10 Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.
29:9; 37:30In this example, the command (imperative) “Take Counsel” is used instead of the suggestion that they will conspire and do evil (indicative). Kind of like when mom says “Go ahead and do it, you’ll do what you want to anyway.”
This figure reflects Isaiah’s style, which takes the indicative prophecies and makes them
imperative.
Past Tense used for Present -
Isa 9:2
2 The people that walked in darkness have seen {i.e. see present
tense} a great light: they that dwell in the land
of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
The Light here is a prophecy of the Messiah.
The Second Person put for the Third -
Isa 42:20
20 {They} Seeing many things, but thou
{He} observest not; {They}
opening the ears, but he {He}
heareth not.
These are the spiritually blind.
Plural is put for the Singular --
Isa 26:2
2 Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truths
{the Great & Important Truth of God} may enter in.
Def:
Accidents are changes to the basic form of the sentence. They can be
:Voice, Mood, Tense, Person, Number, Degree, or Gender.
The four moods defined:
Subjunctive – A statement that is contingent or hypothetical in action.
Indicative – Indicating how it will happen or is already happening, not hypothetical.
Imperative – A command.
Infinitive – When actions are the nouns (preceded by “to” usually)… “To walk to school is difficult.”
Metonymy; or, Change of Noun
Def:
The Change of One Noun for another related Noun.
Isa. 1:15 “Your hands are full of blood.”
By Metonymy the hands are put for the people who did the crime.
The Spirit
is
Put for His workIsa 26:9
learning doctrine
The Word Spirit
is
sometimes used for the soul or life in its manifestations Isa 29:10
Spirit of deep sleep
Labor
is
put for that which is produced by it.Isa 45:14
The labour of Egypt, and merchandise of Ethiopia and of the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over unto thee, and they shall be thine: they shall come after thee; in chains they shall come over, and they shall fall down unto thee, they shall make supplication unto thee, saying, Surely God is in thee; and there is none else, there is no God.
What they labored for will be yours.
Verbs of remembering
are
used of a strong desire or wish for the thing mentioned or remembered. Isa 44:21
21 Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me.
i.e. desire the things which make for your peace. Even though Israel was blinded (v 18), deceived (v 20), & full of lies (v 20).
Stones
are
put for things made of them. Isa 34:11
11 But the cormorant and the bittern shall possess it; the owl also and the raven shall dwell in it: and he shall stretch out upon it the line of confusion, and the stones of emptiness.
Stones used many times for people, enumerate the stones worn smooth over time, they are stones of emptiness… the kenites.
Flax
is
put for the wick. Isa 42:3
3 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.
Ever heard of the smoking gun? Usually that is where the action is. Flax and barley are symbolic of the servants of God (as firstfruits at Passover).
Flight
is
put for the effect for the confusion & shame which is the cause of it. Isa 28:16
16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
The sense is that he that believeth will have no need of hurried flight, he will wait God’s time.
Bread
is
put for the corn from which it is made. Isa 28:28
28 Bread corn is bruised; because he will not ever be threshing it, nor break it with the wheel of his cart, nor bruise it with his horsemen.
Render this verse as a question, “Is the corn crushed for ever?”, which, of course, the answer is no. There is an end in sight, for the crushing. So, God’s people will also reach an end where rest will come.
The action
is
put for what is foretold will happen. Isa 6:10
10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes;
Isaiah could not make it fat, so this action is put for the actual occurrence. What is most important here is that “this people” will be blinded and “filled to their full” at the fullness of times, which is the Day of the Lord.
The Burden
is
put for prophecy of the Divine Punishment. Isa 21:1-2
21:1 The burden of the desert of the sea. As whirlwinds in the south pass through; so it cometh from the desert, from a terrible land.
And the burdens are just that, different viewpoints of the same thing, i.e. punishment for disobedience.
Blood
is
put for blood shedding. Isa 33:15
15 He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;
The Righteous DO NOT LISTEN to those who “shed blood”, especially from those who spiritually kill innocent ones with LIES and deceit.
Double
is
used for that which is complete, thourough, or ample; and of full compensation, whether of judgment or of blessing. Isa 61:7
7 For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.
We see both righteous and unrighteous alive and well during the judgment and after, enjoying or dreading their reward.
The Thing Signified
is
put for the sign. Isa 49:6
6 And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.
The thing signified is the desolated (translated preserved) land of Israel, and the sign is the land returned to its rightful owners, peace ensued, which means God has returned.
Vanity
is
put for the subject itself. Isa 57:13
13 When thou criest, let thy companies deliver thee; but the wind shall carry them all away; vanity shall take them: but he that putteth his trust in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain;
Vanity is an attiribute of man. It cannot “carry” anything, but vain men can be carried away from the truth of the Word of God, and since they are carried away by nothing, we might say the wind carries them away.
Days
is
put for what transpires in them. Isa 13:6
6 Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.
This figure adds much to the context and contention that the Day of the Lord is a specific length of time characterized by all the Isaiah describes.
Summer
is
put for the fruits gathered in it. Isa 16:9
9 Therefore I will bewail with the weeping of Jazer the vine of Sibmah: I will water thee with my tears, O Heshbon, and Elealeh: for the shouting for thy summer fruits and for thy harvest is fallen.
Babylon is fallen is fallen. The first-fruits of Israel have fallen. The day of the Lord is full of regret and wailing.
To Open & Shut
is
put for power of administration. Isa 22:22
22 And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.
This power has been temporarily “given” to satan the prince of the power of the air, but will be recovered and given to Christ the King and His people.
Metalepsis: or Double Metonymy
Def:
Two Metonymies, one contained in the other, but only one expressed. Isa 33:15
15 He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;
Here, “bloods” is first put for blood-shedding, and then blood-shedding is put for the murders who shed it.
Synecdoche (sin-ek-duh-kee); or, Transfer
Def: The exchange for one idea for another associated idea.
Ref: Is. 1:15 “your hands are full of blood” blood is put for guilt. The idea of blood is closely related to crime, and that is exactly what this group is guilty of, a crime.
Other types of synecdoche useful in translation:
To go out & come in is used of OFFICIAL Actions or of life in
general Isaiah 37:28
To sit is used of a permanent condition in which one is
placed Isaiah 42:7
Gate is put for the inhabitants of the city, or for the
people who assemble at its gates Isaiah 14:31
A year is put for time, definite, & indefinite
Isaiah 61:2 ". . . to proclaim the acceptable year
of the Lord . . "
Isaiah 63:4 "the year of my redeemed is come"
Hendidys, or Two for One
Def: Two words used, but one thing meant. One
expresses the thing, the other intensifies it by being changed into an adjective of the superlative degree. Hence the passage
gains considerable LIGHT & FORCE.
The figure is truly oriental, and exceedingly picturesque.
Ref: Isa 1:13
" Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting."
Here the ellipsis is “endure”. Father can’t endure their sin, so much that he
can’t even say “endure” (ellipsis; close to our English saying “I can’t bear
to say it…”).
The iniquitous assemblies is a “Two for one”. Is there any doubt whom
this refers? The churches of today! Full of their “evil enjoyment” (good &
evil), the WHOLE head is sick.
Catachresis; or Incongruity
Def:
One word changed for another only remotely connected with it. Isa 62:5
5 For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.
To speak of sons marrying their mother is incongruos, and yet what else could be said? The apparent figure arrests our attention; and, when we give the attention which is thus demanded, we find the passage means that as a young man marries a virgin, so shall Zion’s sons hold her in sure and happy possession. (Marry means primarily to possess in Hebrew) This sudden shift in perspective is similar to the church of Christ (sons of God, comprising men & women) marrying or possessing Jerusalem in the Millennial Kingdom.
Euphemismos; or, Euphemy
Def:
Change of what is unpleasant for pleasant. no verses
The euphemisms of the Bible do not gloss over sin, but it is spoken of plainly in all its abomination. Compare, again, man’s euphemies
of life & death; and note the false teaching conveyed by them. Man calls
death a friend, & speaks of joining the majority; but God speaks of it
as a terrible calamity.
Indeed, we may say that the contrast between the Hebrew & other
languages in this respect is one of the greatest proofs of Inspiration.
Other languages abound in terms of indecency & immorality, which are a
corrupt reflex of the corrupt mind of fallen man.
Ampliatio; or Adjournment
Def:
A retaining of an old Name after the reason for it is passed away. This adjournment (extension of time) is either (1) before it acquired the reason for the name or (2) after the reason ceased to exist. Isa 11:6
6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
The term “wolf” is used of the animal, though his nature will have then been so changed that he shall dwell with the lamb, which formerly he devoured, and be no more really a wolf.
II. Affecting the order and
arrangement of words
Hyperbaton; or Transportation
Def:
The placing of a word out of its usual order in a sentence. Isa 34:4
4 And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree.
The word for host, HEAVENS is placed first to arrest our attention to the subject including the inhabitants of the HEAVENS which is the other realm. Our thoughts are on the wars and fightings taking place and by whom they are fought & whom is coming out completely victorious.
Hysterologia; or, the First, Last
Def:
The first of two things put Last.
Isa 38:21-22
21 For Isaiah had said, Let them take a lump of figs, and lay it for a plaister upon the boil, and he shall recover.
22 Hezekiah also had said, What is the sign that I shall go up to the house of the LORD?
Here, the sign which Hezekiah had asked for, in verse 22, is described in verse 21, beautifully emphasizing the Divine over-ruling of the history.
Antithesis; or Contrast
Def: Two thoughts or ideas are set over against each other. It makes the contrast more striking.
Ref: Isa 1:21 How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.
Isa 59:9
9 Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness.
We can see the contrasts in each reference : Righteousness versus Murderers; lightness versus darkness.
III. Affecting the application
of words, as to
- Sense
Simile
Def: A declaration that one Thing resembles another; or, Comparison by Resemblance.
Ref: Is.1:7 It is a desolate as the overthrow of strangers (apostates), meaning our land is desolated with apostasy. Isa 55:10-11
10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Syncrisis ;
Repeated Simile
Def:
Repetition of a number of Resemblances. Ref: Isa
32:2 And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from
the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock
in a weary land. This figure is explained using Isaiah only.
Allegory; OR, continued Metaphor and Hypocatasis
Def:
Continued representation by Hypocatastasis (our example), only one part of the figure being
mentioned. Isa 28:20
20 For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it: and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it.
Here, the bed and its covering are mentioned, but not the people to whom it refers. The prophet is speaking of the great fear which ought to agitate the people of Judea at the speedy coming of Sennacherib; but they preferred to be left in their false security. By this beautiful allegorical illustration they are informed that their rest should be restless, and their sleep should soon be disturbed.
Paroemia: or Proverb
Def:
to rule, to have, or exercise control over.
Isa 10:22
22 For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness.
Hence their must be a close connection between “a rule” & “a proverb” illustrated by our phrase “a ruling principle”. Sand of the Sea was used proverbially to express the vast multitude that could not be numbered (Hence, must not be the modern “Jews” in Israel who are easily numbered).
Aenigma; or Dark Saying
Def:
A truth expressed in obscure language. The meaning has to be searched for in order to be discovered. Hypaenigma – a saying deep as well as dark.
Isa 21:11
11 The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?
Dumah means silence, and it is implied that this oracle of silence implied in the name prophecies that the end is here.
Irony
Def: The expression of thought in a form that naturally conveys the opposite.
Ref: Isaiah 50:11
Divine Irony to show the vanity of striving for light & happiness apart from God. It is a solemn warning for all those today who are seeking to bring about a millennium without Christ.
Where the words in question are used by man in hypocrisy --
Isa 5:19
19 That say, Let him make speed, and hasten his work, that we may see it:
and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may
know it!
Idioma
Def:
The peculiar usage of Words or Phrases, which are translating by meaning and thought not literal.
Ref: Isa. 1:13 “away with” means to tolerate.
"To open the Mouth" means to speak at great length or with great solemnity,
liberty, or freedom
Isa 53:7
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth:
he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers
is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
Prosopopoeia; Personification
Def: When we attribute our intelligence, by words or actions to inanimate objects or abstract ideas. Ref: Is. 13:18
"Their eye shall not spare children." Comment:This evil personified or the "evil eye", our very English (or Hebrew?) expression. “They rip innocence into shreds.” {This is the action of the church today.}
Ref: Is. 3:26 "Her gates lament & mourn" Is. 5:14 "Sheol hath enlarged herself” this is to show the great mortality (spiritual death) of THAT Day.
Here we see a "whole people" as an individual man --> Isaiah 1:5,6 "Why should ye be stricken any more? Ye will revolt more and more: the whole HEAD is sick."
Isaiah 7:20; 30:28 {The church of the first century was to be "head" over all it's body, but here this very same church is sick and the LAST STATE OF THAT MAN is worse than the first (Mt. 12:45)}
- Persons
Anthropopathia
Def: The ascribing of human attributes to God.
Ref: Isa 1:14 “my soul hateth”. This
ascribes the human emotion of hatred to God.
This should impress upon us that these verses are integral to our
understanding the reason for God’s wrath and the importance of these verses,
which shouldn’t be read through lightly. The figure sets it up high on a table
in the broad daylight for ALL to regard, i.e. GOD the Creator of everything
HATES their assemblies. We must ask, WHY? Read on.
Isaiah 30:30, where YHVH's voice is
used of thunder & His arm denotes His lightning.
Isa 11:11
11 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand
again the second time to recover the remnant of his people,
Apostrophe
Def: Turns from 3rd Person to 2nd .
Ref: Isaiah 1:4,5
“they have forsaken the LORD, . . . they have provoked . . . they are gone away backward 5 Why should ye . . . ye will revolt”
Comment: It’s not “them” it’s “you”!
- Subject-matter
- Time
Prolepsis; Anticipation
Def:
An anticipation of some future time which cannot yet be enjoyed: but has to be deferred.
Isa 48:5-7
5 I have even from the beginning declared it to thee; before it came to pass I shewed it thee: lest thou shouldest say, Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them.
6 Thou hast heard, see all this; and will not ye declare it? I have shewed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them.
7 They are created now, and not from the beginning; even before the day when thou heardest them not; lest thou shouldest say, Behold, I knew them.
Many times our chronologically bound mentality dissallows us to see a short glimpse of the future. In writing this is called prolepsis. Our heavenly Father states here, that He does use this figure! We must be diligent in observing it, and not confuse chronology when prolepsis is applied.
- Feeling
Ecphonesis; Exclamation
Def:
Outburst of words prompted by emotion.
Ref: Isaiah 1:4 “Ah sinful nation. . . .”Comment:
Just like Christ who expounded all the scriptures, where his entire sermon was
an outburst of words prompted by emotion..
Paenismos; Exultation
Def:
Instead of merely stating a thing this figure calls on others to rejoice over something. I.e. a song of deliverence; a war-song; any solemn song of triumph. Isa 42:10
10 Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof.
This is another intricate and creative way for Isaiah to express something that has been said before, but in a different way. The “others” called on to rejoice are none other than the inhabitants of the Isles. Who might be these “Isles”? Perhaps the literal seed-line of Israel, most likely to be cheering and singing a victory war song, would be located in these “Isles”. Perhaps America is the home of this seed-line, and perhaps it is this great nation indicated as the inhabitants who are required to sing! Just Perhaps.
Apodioxis, or Detestation
Def: An expression of Detestation. The Latins called it Rejectio, a rejecting or rejection; Destio; & Abominatio or abominating or abomination.
Ref: Is. 1:12-15 A SOLEMN expression of YHVH’s detestation of Religion.
This passage describes the most minute attention to every religious observance which only heightens the indignation, because it does not proceed from the heart.
Maledictio; or imprecation
Def:
Expression of Feeling by way of Malediction (cursing) or Execration. Isa 3:11
11 Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.
Excuse my French, here, but this is like saying, “Damn him!” that evil man, he already has his reward (like the guy who ran into your car for blocking him, he has his “reward”). I always say, I hope they enjoy it, while they can!
Deasis; or Adjuration
Def:
An expression of feeling by Oath or asseveration. This figure is used when the speaker or writer calls God or heaven to witness to the truth of what is said, or to the facts which he states. Isa 62:8
8 The LORD hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, Surely I will no more give thy corn to be meat for thine enemies; and the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for the which thou hast laboured:
The unfair balances here require divine intervention because the receiving end doesn’t want to give up their ill-gotten gains.
- Reasoning
Erotesis; or interrogating
Def:
The Asking of questions without waiting for an answer.
Isa
63:1 Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.
Instead of declaring a conviction, or expressing indignation, or vindicating authority . . . He questions. These questions contain a mine of truth & teaching. And questions can lead US to study and explore the Bible in new light. Questions can reveal to us what the subject of the passage is and what we should be thinking as we read through the passage.
Dialogismos; or Dialogue
Def:
This figure is used when one or more persons as speaking about a thing, instead of saying it ourselves.
Isa 63:1,6
63:1 Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.
6 And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth.
Thus, vividly & powerfully, is the day of vengence, and of judgment, described.
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