In this month’s issue we are going to take some time and look at the subject of figures of speech.
According to Encarta World English Dictionary, a figure of speech is a non-literal expression or use of language: an expression or use of language in a non-literal sense in order to achieve a particular effect. Metaphors, similes, and hyperbole are all common figures of speech.
The following is an excerpt from the introduction of Dr. Bullinger's incredible work Figures of Speech Used in the Bible.
JEHOVAH has been pleased to give us the revelation of His mind and will in words. It is therefore absolutely necessary that we should understand not merely the meanings of the words themselves, but also the laws, which govern their usage and combinations.
All language is governed by law; but, in order to increase the power of a word, or the force of an expression, these laws are designedly departed from, and words and sentences are thrown into, and used in, new forms, or figures. The ancient Greeks reduced these new and peculiar forms to science, and gave names to more than two hundred of them. The Romans carried forward this science: but with the decline of learning in the middle Ages, it practically died out.
Applied to words, a figure denotes some form which a word or sentence takes, different from its ordinary and natural form. This is always for the purpose of giving additional force, more life, intensified feeling, and greater emphasis. Whereas today, “Figurative language” is ignorantly spoken of as though it made less of the meaning, and deprived the words of their power and force.
A passage of God’s Word is quoted; and it is met with the cry,” Oh, that is figurative”—implying that its meaning is weakened, or that it has quite a different meaning, or that it has no meaning at all. However, the very opposite is the case. For an unusual form (figure) is never used except to add force to the truth conveyed, emphasis to the statement of it, and depth to the meaning of it.
Without an understanding of figures of speech, we will never be able to follow the command given in 2 Timothy.
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
As the course of language moves smoothly along, according to the laws which govern it, there is nothing by which it can awaken or attract our attention.
Take for instance flying in an airplane. As long as everything proceeds according to plan and the plane flies smoothly we notice nothing; we sleep, or we read or perhaps we watch the in flight movie.
However, should the plane suddenly slow down or bank abruptly to either side we immediately hear the questions asked, “What is the matter?” “Why are we losing power?”
All of a sudden people’s attention is completely aroused, and their interest excited. So it is exactly with our reading. As long as all proceeds smoothly and according to rules of grammar, we notice nothing. But suddenly there is a departure from some law, a deviation from the even course our attention is attracted, and we at once give our mind to discover why the words have been used in a new form, what the particular force of the passage is, and why we are to put special emphasis on the fact stated or on the truth conveyed.
In fact, it is not too much to say that, in the use of these figures, we have, as it were, the Holy Spirit’s own markings of our Bibles as to alert us to that passage.
In his book Figures of Speech Used in the Bible, Dr. Bullinger lists over 200 of these figures under various headings and gives a definition of each figure.
Through God’s divine power He has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness. However, this can only be found through the knowledge of Him. The study of science, psychology, philosophy, are all noble but must be grounded in a knowledge of God. If modern spiritualism and all its practices are tested against God’s Word, they fail. Secular doctrines of peace through a new world order also fail the test because Jesus Christ the prince of peace is the only one who can bring peace to a troubled and dying world.
There are three broad sections that he covers in dealing with the two hundred plus figures of speech in this book.
They are as follows
Now a figure of omission is when a word that is grammatically necessary is left out of the sentence, or the sense of the passage is lowered or lessened a bit.
In a figure of addition, words will be repeated or added into the context where their not strictly necessary or the sense of the passage is heightened or intensified.
A figure of change is where the sense of the passage is turned or twisted away from their normal usage and application. A figure something that attracts attention because its is unusual , it makes you stop when you are reading and causes you to ask what does that mean , what was that , we many times re read it and say did it really say..
A figure of change will really catch your attention because that is not the way things are normally said. It is a departure from the normal language. Some are very apparent some are not so apparent.
We must therefore watch for these grammatical changes or changes in sense if we are going to stand approved as workmen of the word rightly dividing the word of truth.
I am very concerned that many people today have lost their respect for God’s wonderful word and spout off their opinion before they have taken adequate time to work the word of God to see what the verse is really saying.
Some go as far to promulgate that all you need to do is ask God and he will tell you the answer. People who think like this are approaching witchcraft.
God has given us the answers already.
2 Peter 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
This is just one example of deceitfully handling the word of truth.
Revelation 22:18-19 18For 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: 19And 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.
To teach people that all you need to do is ask God is to teach people to be lazy and lead them into witchcraft.
We are commanded to study to show ourselves approved not to just ask God.
Our father God has taken incredible measures to assure us that we have His word. Thousands of men and woman have been viciously murdered and mutilated, their children raped and burned at the stake or thrown to savage lions to be torn apart; and some idiot has the unmitigated gall to teach that all you need to do is ask God.
Jesus Christ gave his life so we could have God’s Word to read study and live by.
You see it doesn’t matter what you think or what I think. All that matters is what does the word say.
Dr. Wierwille had great love and respect for the Holy Scriptures. He taught us in order to rightly divide the word we must adhere to the foundational principles. I believe that he equipped us to continue his work safely and accurately if we would heed his warning. This I have done and continue to do. I am thankful for all I have learned.
However, to be thankful is not enough. Many have been taught the greatness of God’s Word and have fallen by the wayside.
Some have become prideful and arrogant, and have strayed from the truth they once knew and believed.
E.W. Bullinger said “figures of speech lie at the very root of all translation; and it is the key to true interpretation …”
In our next issue we will begin to look at 1 John and begin to work some of these figures so that you can begin to see the great depth of God‘s incredible Word.
To be continued …ÿ
Note: All scripture is from the King James Version unless otherwise noted. NIV indicates The New International Version, ASV means the American Standard Version, BBE means the Bible in Basic English, DBY means the Darby translation, and NAB means the New American Bible translation. For more information, go to the Works Cited page.