Understanding the Peculiar Language of The Bible, formerly titled Figurative Language of the Bible:
Figurative language had its’ start in the early history of mankind. The Bible abounds with the most beautiful figurative images. Because the books of the Bible are ancient, it sometimes reads very different from that of modern writings.
When the interpretation of the Scriptures is done without proper research, it becomes misinterpretation. Careless men, ignorant men, those who chose to prove the Scriptures wrong, lead others to believe the Scriptures to be full of errors.
To prevent this, I hope that this study, and the explanation of the figurative language used within its’ pages, will shed more light on your understanding, and give you more pleasure when you read the Bible.
In speaking or writing, one can use figurative language, metaphors, writing with pictures, use a metonymy, and allegories, etc.
To speak figuratively can be described as the language which is moved to action by a person’s imagination, or by their passions. This can be divided into three classes:
Figures of words;
Figures of imagination;
Figures of passion:
Figures of words, are usually termed, tropes. A trope is a word, or expression used in a different sense from that which it properly signifies; or, a word changed from its original meaning to another for the sake of giving life or emphasis to an idea.
In 2 Samuel 23:3, “The Rock of Israel spake to me,” Here the trope lies in the word, “Rock.” It is changed from its’ original sense, as meaning, a literal rock, that has the ability to bear and endure against the harshness of nature itself, and in its recesses a person can find safe shelter.
In Samuel, it is used to signify that God, by His faithfulness and power, gives that same security to any person who puts their trust in Him.
In 2 Samuel 22:2, “The LORD is my Rock.”
Matthew 7:25, Jesus said, “And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a Rock.” The floods and wind represent the figurative language used by Jesus, and the prophet Samuel, to represent the trials that all men have to endure.
We must endure many temporary afflictions, and sicknesses, financial problems, and spiritual problems. Any person, whose mind, body, and spirit are built on, and rests on, the Rock of ages = (Jesus Christ), that person will be able stand all shocks, and attacks, sent both by the world, and Satan. One will not only stand, but one will profit.
In Luke 13:32, Jesus is speaking of Herod the king, “Go ye, and tell that fox:” Here the word “fox” is diverted from its proper meaning, which is that of a beast of prey and of extreme cunning. Scripture alludes to a mischievous, cruel, and crafty tyrant. Jesus in His application of the term “fox” gives us a complete idea of Herod’s true nature and of his hypocrisy.
All languages are more or less figurative. Figurative language presents a kind of picture to the mind. The language of the Bible is highly figurative, especially in the Old Testament. One reason is that many of the books of the Old Testament are poetical, so the writers have rendered them more animated, by figures and images drawn from almost every subject that presents itself to the imagination. This can be seen in the writings of David, Solomon, Isaiah, and others.
The New Testament, and especially the discourses and speeches of Jesus, are also very figurative. Many errors concerning Jesus’ comments have been made by Bible readers making a literal interpretation and application, when Jesus had intended His audience to interpret certain of His words in a figurative manner.
When Jesus said to the Jews, in John 2:19, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews understood the word “temple” in its natural sense; that is, they thought Jesus meant the real temple that was in Jerusalem would be destroyed in that time frame.
They then asked him, how could you raise, or build it again in three days, when it had taken 46 years for us to build it? They did not understand that Jesus language was figurative, and that “He spoke of the temple of his body.”
What He was saying was this, “after you kill me, my body, which is my temple, will be resurrected from the dead in three days.” Every “i” was dotted, and every “t” was crossed concerning this prophecy, as it was fulfilled a short time later when Jesus was killed.
So in order to understand fully the figurative language of the Bible, it is important, to make sure, and to determine what is really figurative.
1. If not sure, one may confuse that what is literal, for that which was meant to be figurative, just as the disciples and the Jews did. When this happens, we then pervert the literal meaning of words by a figurative interpretation.
2. When we are sure what is literal and what is figurative, we are to interpret it correctly, and then to deliver its’ true sense. We are to seek out that particular subject’s internal and external sense and meaning.
The literal meaning of words must be retained, more in the historical books of Scripture, (books such as, Genesis, Exodus, Judges, etc.), than in those which are poetical, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, etc.
A historian’s duty is to relate transactions and events, simply as they happened, while a poet intends to give the work more life, has a license to decorate his subject with figurative aids, such as similes and metaphors.
The literal meaning of words is to be rejected if this interpretation is not suitable, or involves impossibility, such as:
Jeremiah 1:18, God is represented as saying to the prophet Jeremiah, “I have made thee this day a defensed city = (fortified city), and an iron pillar, and brazen walls against the whole land.”
Is it not obvious that these expressions are figurative, because if taken literally, it involves impossibility. The idea here is that the Lord had promised Jeremiah that He would defend him against all assaults, secret plans and schemes of his enemies, who would no more be able to prevail against Him, than they could against an impregnable wall or fortress.
Furthermore, where the literal meaning of words is opposite or moving against common sense or contrary to the context or scope of the passage or to parallel passages, the interpretation must also be rejected.
In Psalms 44:23, David inquires, “Awake, why sleepest thou, O LORD?” In this verse, the literal meaning of sleeping cannot be held, or meant.
As the writer of Psalms, David, observes in another of the Psalms, (121:4), “Behold, He = (God) that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.”
So the facts show, that the assertion that God never slumbers or sleeps, is to be understood literally. Therefore, the question put forth by David in,
Psalm 44, “Awake, why sleepest thou, O LORD?” must be taken figuratively.
In Psalms 44, David’s trials made him realize his weaknesses. These weaknesses draw him closer to God for His strength. By faith we can approach both Father and Son, with love, we are united to them, and by prayer we draw strength, confidence, and guidance. The Holy Spirit is always there to comfort and guide, so why do we not always ask for His protection through prayer?
In Isaiah 4:4, we read, “The Lord shall have washed away the filth = (corruption-pollution) of the daughters of Zion = (Jerusalem).”
The expression, “the filth of the daughters of Zion,” must be understood figuratively, for it is evident, not only from the scope of the passage, but also from the words that immediately follow.
The Lord, “shall have purged = (to clean or purify) the blood of Jerusalem,” that is, the murder and bloodshed committed by the inhabitants of Jerusalem. This is all figurative language.
Job 17:12, Job said, “They change the night into day.”
This is a figurative expression. What Job is saying, is that his friends would try to persuade him to change his misery = (night) into joy, and happiness = (day). This was for Job, an impossible task. He had just lost his family, his land, all of his material wealth, and was covered, from head to toe, with boils.
Isaiah 1:5-6, Isaiah is given a vision by God, and delivers his bad report to the people. He tells them,
“Why should you be stricken any more? You will revolt more and more = (against God): the whole head is sick = (meaning the whole religious and political system are corrupt), and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it = (meaning, the nation has turned from God); but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified = (soothed) with ointment = (there is no cure for them).”
The Jewish nation is here described as being in great distress, and has been completely stricken and chastised by the Lord God. They were as a man who had been mortally wounded, and was without both medicine, and help. This mortally wounded man had no means of regaining his health.
Metonymy is when one word is put for another, or when there has been a change of names which have some relation to each other. For example, in,
Luke 16:29, Jesus said, “They have Moses and the prophets.” What Jesus is saying is, the people have the books and writings of Moses and the prophets.
Many Christians today are looking for signs, miracles, or some event from God. But like Jesus said, we have the books of Moses and the prophets. Yet this is not enough for our complex and proud society. We like the people in Jesus day, are always looking for a sign or miracle. Trust me when I tell you, there will be none! You will believe by faith, or not at all.
The following words of Jesus in Matthew 26:26-28, have been abused by many in the church. When interpreting these passages literally, they become repugnant to church history, absurd, contrary to the context, to the parallel texts, and to the scope of the passage. These verses are a metonymy. Following is what Jesus said and did.
Matthew 26:26, “Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat, this is my body. And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”
These verses are repeated in Mark 14:22,24, Luke 22:19,20, and 1 Corinthians 11:24,25.
The expression, “This is my body,” and, “this is my blood,” simply mean, “this represents my body” and, “this represents my blood.” These words were spoken before Jesus body was broken upon the cross, and before his blood was shed. Jesus could not proclaim them with the intention that they should be taken and interpreted literally by his disciples: or do we find that the disciples ever understood him any other way.
Jesus spoke these words in the Syriac language, and, as in the Hebrew and Chaldeen languages, there is no word which expresses the idea, which means to “signify, represent, or denote.” Therefore we find the expression, “this is” or “it is.” This is, and, it is, mean, “this represents,” or, “this denotes.” See the following examples of this in other passages.
1. Genesis 17:10, God said, “This is my covenant,” What God means is, “this represents my covenant.”
2. Genesis 17:26-27, Joseph is interpreting Pharaoh’s dream. Joseph said of Pharaoh’s dream, that the images of “The seven good kine = (cows) are seven years; and the seven good ears = (heads of grain) are seven years.”
Both images represented prosperity for the land. The Hebrew word “are” when used than translated into English means to represent, or signify.
The two expression were given to Pharaoh to verify the dream, so there would be no doubt concerning its’ meaning. The seven good cows, and seven good ears, signify, or represent seven (good) years.” The meaning of this is that the people and the land of Egypt would prosper for seven years concerning both dairy and agriculture.
3. Exodus 12:11, The Lord is speaking to both Moses and his brother Aaron, about a special event that will take place on a special day. He describes in the first 10 verses what is required of them and the people, he than goes on to say, “It is the LORD’S Passover.” Again the expression “it is” means, “this represents.”
4. Daniel 7:24, God tells Daniel in a dream, “the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings” or, the ten horns represent ten kings.
5. 1 Corinthians 10:4, Speaks of, “that Spiritual Rock.” “That Rock” represents Christ.
6. Matthew 13:24 and 38, Jesus said, in verse 24, “The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:” In verse 38,
Jesus said, “The field is the world; the good seed are the children = (sons) of the kingdom;” In this parable, Jesus said, the “good seed” represents, sons of the kingdom, and the field represents, the whole of the world. This is the figurative language of the Bible.
A metaphor is a short similitude (likeness) or a likeness reduced to a single word; or a word expressing a likeness without the signs of comparison.
Example, “that man is a fox,” this is a metaphor: but, if I said, “that man is like a fox,” that would be a likeness or comparison. Again, if I said, “the soldiers were lions in combat,” I use a metaphor; but when I say, “the soldiers fought like lions;” I used a similitude or likeness.
In the use of a metaphor, the likeness or similitude is contained in the name; “a man is a fox,” means, a man is as crafty as a fox. So when we say, a man bridles his anger, that is, he has restrained his anger, just as a bridle restrains a horse.
It is important to interpret metaphorical expressions by corresponding and appropriate terms. In order to accomplish this, it is necessary to examine to what respect the thing, or subject, we are speaking of, is compared to, and to that thing with which it is compared, agrees, and also that they have a close relationship, or resemblance.
As a similitude, i.e. (likeness) is concealed in every metaphor, and it’s only by careful study that it can be brought out, this by observing the points of agreement between both the literal and the figurative meaning. See the following.
The prophet Ezekiel frequently charged the Israelites with having committed adultery, having played the part of a harlot and having deserted Jehovah. Jehovah was referred to as the husband, and the Jew was often called the wife or bride. After careful examination of these passages, it is evident the spiritual adultery, or idolatry is intended.
Now if we were to search for the origin of this metaphor, we would find it in the same conception or notion, in which there is full agreement between adultery and the worship paid by the Jews to strange, or false gods.
The idea here is unfaithfulness; this being compared to that of a wife or husband that cheats on their mate. So the people are represented as deceiving God = (spiritual adultery), and having violated their fidelity.
In today’s Christian society, some have committed adultery against the Lord Jesus. They have compromised, or turned to other forms of religions and worship. The Muslim religion has made great inroads into some Christian communities.
Also the doctrine of evolution, different forms of Hinduism, astrology, spirit guides, crystal balls, witchcraft, praying to people, idols, and figures made in the images of birds, animals etc. Blind faith, false principals, twisted ideals, self-love, love of country before God, these are all forms of spiritual adultery. When Jesus is put first, all other things will fall into their correct place.
Phillip Laspino www.seekfirstwisdom.com