Lesson 8 | What about...? Dealing with special cases
Unpacking figures of speech
Id⦁i⦁om noun
An expression that conveys something different from its literal meaning, and that cannot be guessed from the meanings of its individual words. Idioms are closely tied to a particular culture or language and are not easily understood by someone of a different culture.
Examples
It is raining cats and dogs.
I’ve got a frog in my throat.
Fig⦁ure of Speech noun
A phrase that expresses an idea by using words in a nonliteral and imaginative way. Unlike an idiom, it is possible to understand a figure of speech even if you have never heard it before.
Examples
The lake was like a mirror. (simile)
The lake was a mirror. (metaphor)
I’ve told you a million times. (hyperbole)
** Note: For the sake of simplicity, I will use figure of speech and figure as catch-all terms that include both idioms and figures of speech.
We use figures of speech frequently in ordinary conversation. By them we express beauty, urgency, humor, or subtlety. We use them in order to be creative, coy, alarming, or tactful. And so it is for biblical writers. Figures of speech appear on nearly every page of Scripture. Most paint a picture whose meaning is immediately apparent, while others can present a greater challenge. Let’s explore how to unpack a figure of speech.
I compare you, my love, to a mare among Pharaoh’s chariots.
Song of Songs 1:9
Behold, I make of you a threshing sledge, new, sharp, and having teeth; you shall thresh the mountains and crush them, and you shall make the hills like chaff.
Isaiah 41:15
The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls.
Matthew 13:45
If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.
Matthew 5:29
Then David slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David.
1 Kings 2:10
Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks.
Proverbs 1:20-21
We have a two-fold task.
1. Discern the truth to which the figure points.
The vast majority of figures of speech found in Scripture are discernible with careful attention, particularly to the context. It is also helpful to see how various translations handle the figure. Occasionally you may come across a figure that just does not come clear. The historical/cultural distance between the original setting and our own is the primary reason a figure of speech may be in the fog to us. As with many other facets of understanding a text of Scripture, context will be a significant guide. At the very least, the context will indicate the trajectory of the passage and help define the borders of meaning. A good commentary can be of great service at this point. Most study Bibles will also include helpful notes on difficult figures of speech. On Biblearc, you will find the NET’s footnotes helpful in this respect. (Be sure that “show notes” is turned on in the display options.)
2. Express the figure in an accurate and appropriate paraphrase.
The difficulty in paraphrasing figures of speech is that they often contain a shade of meaning or point of emphasis that is difficult to express in other words—this is likely the reason the author chose a figure in the first place. Below are four options for how to restate a figure of speech:
(With each option, I have included an example from The Message that effectively uses that strategy.)
Restate key elements of the figure with closely parallel terms. This is an effort to preserve the figure while at the same time helping to clarify its meaning.
Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you. —Romans 16:16 ESV
Holy embraces all around! All the churches of Christ send their warmest greetings! —The Message
Fully unpack the figure. That is, provide a clear expression of the intended meaning. While some of the figurative language may be left intact, it is no longer a tight unit but is explained in detail.
You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. —Matthew 5:13 ESV
Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage. —The Message
Reuse the key words or phrases in order to preserve the figure.
Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks. —Prov 1:20-21 ESV
Lady Wisdom goes out in the street and shouts. At the town center she makes her speech. In the middle of the traffic she takes her stand. At the busiest corner she calls out. —The Message
Use a parallel contemporary figure.
My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word! —Psalm 119:28 ESV
My sad life’s dilapidated, a falling-down barn; build me up again by your Word. —The Message
Determining which of these strategies to use with any particular figure of speech is, once again, a matter of accuracy and appropriateness. You will need to weigh which strategy best accomplishes these aims.
If you would like to dig deeper into the various types of figures of speech, here is a helpful survey with examples of each type.
Figures of Speech in the Biblehtmlby Robert I. Bradshaw
(Note that the author of this article uses idiom and figure of speech synonymously.)