Bible Voyages

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  Isa 21:9 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 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.
Polyptoton; many inflections Def: The Repetition of the same Part of Speech in different locations. Ref: Isa 2:11 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-clashingDef: 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 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 2:7-8This 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 paragraphs Isaiah 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  “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; RedundancyDef: When more Words are used than the grammar requires.  Isa 33:23 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 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 34:44 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 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-PictureRef. 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 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 MannersDef: 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 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.