Bible Voyages

I. Affecting the meaning and usage of words

 

Heterosis ; or, Exchange of accidenceDef: 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. Isa 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 work Isa 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 TransportationDef: The placing of a word out of its usual order in a sentence.  Isa 34:4 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 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 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

1. 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 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 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 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 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)}
2. 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,
   

    

3. Subject-matter ApostropheDef: 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”!
4. Time
   Prolepsis; Anticipation Def: An anticipation of some future time which cannot yet be enjoyed: but has to be deferred.
   Isa 48:5-7 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.

1. 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 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 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 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.
2. 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 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.