Picturing Theology, Revised Edition

76 | Picturing Theology, Revised Edition

The speaker or writer says the very opposite of what he intends to convey. “. . . you are the people and wisdom will die with you” (Job 12:1). One word is used in place of another to portray some actual relationship between the things signified. “Kill the passover . . .” (Exodus 12:21 KJV) where the paschal lamb is meant. Intentional exaggeration for the purpose of emphasis, or magnifying beyond reality. “If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away . . .” (Matthew 5:29). Inanimate objects are spoken of as persons, as if they had life. “The sea looked and fled . . .” (Psalm 114:3). Turning from the immediate hearers to address an absent or imaginary person or thing. “Ah, sword of the Lord! How long till you are quiet?” (Jeremiah 47:6). Where the whole is put for a part, or a part for the whole, an individual for a class and vice-versa. “And we were in all 276 souls . . .” in Acts 27:37, where soul is used for the whole person.

IRONY (Eiron = a dissembling speaker)

METONYMY (Meta+onoma = a change of name)

HYPERBOLE (Huper+bole) = a throwing beyond

PERSONIFICATION (to make like a person)

APOSTROPHE (apo+strepho = to turn from)

SYNECDOCHE (sun+ekdechomai = to receive from and associate with)

Simile First, let’s compare simile and metaphor. Ephesians 5:22-27 is a simile, making a formal comparison between Christ and the church on the one hand, and husbands and wives on the other. The words “as . . . so” or “even so” make this very clear. And this figure heightens our interest and dignifies the marriage relationship, especially if we see it in outline form, like this: