Bible Lexicons

Bullinger's Figures of Speech Used in the BibleBullinger's Figures of Speech

Antimereia: or Exchange of Parts of Speech

The Exchange of one part of Speech for another

An´-ti-me´-rei-a, from ἀντί (anti), over against or instead of, and μέρεια (mereia) (for μερός), a part. It means that one part of speech is used instead of another:-as a noun for a verb or a verb for a noun, etc.

The following are the several kinds of Antimereia:-

ANTIMEREIA. Exchange of Parts of Speech.

I. Of the Verb.

1. Infinitive for Noun.

2. Participle (active) for Noun.

3. Participle (passive) for Adjective.

II. Of the Adverb.

1. Adverb for Noun.

2. Adverb for Adjective.

III. Of the Adjective.

1. Adjective for Adverb.

2. Adjective for Noun.

IV. Of the Noun.

1. Noun for Verb.

2. Noun for Adverb.

3. Noun for Adjective.

4. Noun (repeated) for Adjective (Epizeuxis).

5. Noun (in regimen) for Adjective.

6. Noun (governing) for Adjective (Hypallage).

7. The former of two (both in regimen) for Adjective.

8. The latter of two (both in regimen) for Adjective.

9. One of two in same case for Adjective (Hendiadys).

10. Noun (in regimen) for Superlative Adjective.

HYPALLAGE. Interchange. The Antimereia of the governing Noun.

I. Antimereia of the Verb

1. The Infinitive for a Noun

Genesis 32:24 (25).-Heb.: "Until the go-up of the dawn": i.e., until the rise or break of dawn.

1 Kings 8:52.-"To hearken unto them in all their crying unto Thee": i.e., in all their prayer.

1 Chronicles 16:36.-"And all the People said, ‘Amen,’ and be there praising Jehovah": i.e., and said, "Amen! and praise Jehovah!"

2 Chronicles 3:3.-"Now these [are the things wherein] Solomon was instructed (marg. [Note: arg. Margin.] , founded) for the building of the house of God": i.e., these are the instructions or fundamentals [given to] Solomon for the building, etc.

Psalms 101:3.-"I hate the doing of those turning aside": i.e., I hate the work of sinners.

Psalms 132:1.-"Lord, remember David and all his being afflicted": i.e., all the things in which he has been afflicted, or simply the noun as in A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] , "his afflictions."

Isaiah 4:4.-"By the spirit of judgment and the spirit of burning (or consuming)": i.e., by the spirit of burning or consuming.

Daniel 10:1.-"And the word to understand": i.e., "and he had a comprehension of the word, and an understanding of the vision."

Luke 7:21.-"He granted to see": i.e., as in A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] , "he gave sight."

Philippians 1:23.-"Having a desire unto the return": i.e., (lit.) unto the to return (i.e., the returning of Christ). Ἀναλύω (analuô), to loosen back again, but always from there to here; hence, to return (not from here to there, which would be to depart). See the only occurrences of the verb:- Luke 12:36. Tobit 2:1. Judith 13:1. 1 Esdras 3:3. Wisd. 2:1; 5:12. Sirach 3:15. 2 Maccabees 8:25; 2 Maccabees 9:1; 2 Maccabees 12:7; 2 Maccabees 15:28; and Josephus Ant. vi. 4, 1.

The meaning is that the Apostle knew not which to choose, whether to live or to die. His living would be better for them than his dying, but not better than a third thing which pressed him out of the other two, viz., the return of Christ, which was "far better" than either. See further under Epanalepsis, Resumptio, Pleonasm, etc.

Hebrews 2:15.-"Through fear of death were all their living, subject to bondage": i.e., "all their lifetime," as in A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.]

Hebrews 4:1.-"A promise being left us to enter in": i.e., of entering in.

2. The Participle (active) for a Noun

Genesis 23:16.-"Current money of purchasing": i.e., "silver (or money) which passes with the merchant."

Job 13:4.-"Ye are all healing-ones of no value": i.e., as in A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] , physicians.

Proverbs 14:20.-"The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but many are loving the rich": i.e., the friends of the rich.

Jeremiah 23:2.-"Against the shepherding-ones feeding my people": i.e., the feeders of my People. Compare Genesis 4:2, where the term "shepherds" refers more to the keeping of the sheep. Hence the addition, here, of the feeders.

Psalms 17:14.-"Whose belly thou fillest with thy hid": i.e., thy treasure or secret thing.

Joel 1:17.-"Rotted have scattered things": i.e., rotted have the seeds.

Matthew 4:3. 1 Thessalonians 3:5.-"He the tempting-one": i.e., he who tempteth, i.e., the tempter.

Matthew 11:3 and elsewhere, "the One Coming": i.e., the Coming One.

Mark 6:14, etc.-"John the baptizing-one": i.e., John the baptizer.

Mark 15:29.-"The destroying-one": i.e., thou destroyer. And "building it in three days": i.e., the builder of it.

1 Corinthians 9:25.-"He the striving-one": i.e., the one that strives-the competitor.

Hebrews 1:6, etc.-"The world": οἰκουμένη (oikoumenee), inhabited, hence used for the world as inhabited.

Hebrews 9:17.-"The maker of the covenant," (ὁ διαθέμενος): i.e., the sacrifice. As long as the sacrifice was alive, the covenant was not made. It was only ἐπὶ νεκροῖς (epi nekrois) over dead sacrifices that the covenant could have force. See further under Ellipsis (page 69).

Hebrews 12:18.-"Ye are not come to a mount being touched": i.e., a touchable, palpable or literal mount.

Revelation 9:11.-"The destroying-one": i.e., the Destroyer.

3. The Participle (Passive) for Adjective

2 Kings 18:21.-"The staff of this bruised reed": i.e., this broken reed.

Psalms 12:6 (7).-"Silver tried in a furnace": i.e., pure silver. See under Ellipsis, page 71.

Psalms 18:3 (4).-"I will call upon the Lord, the praised One" i.e., laudable one, or as in A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] worthy to be praised.

Proverbs 21:20.-"There is treasure to be desired": i.e., a most desirable treasure.

Isaiah 33:19.-"Of a scorned tongue that thou canst not understand": i.e., a foreign tongue, which is often despised. The A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] renders it "stammering" (but puts ridiculing in the margin); and the R.V. [Note: The Revised Version, 1881.] "strange" (with stammering in the margin).

Zephaniah 2:1.-"O nation not desired": i.e., not desirable, or better, incapable of shame.

Galatians 2:11.-"Because he was to be blamed": i.e., blameworthy, or better, because he stood self-condemned.

Hebrews 12:27.-"That those things which cannot be shaken may remain": i.e., the unshakable things; the things that know no shaking.

II. Antimeria of the Adverb

1. Adverb for Noun

John 1:25.-"He that cometh behind me (i.e., after, as to position) is preferred before me": i.e., has precedence of me. The adverbs, ὀπίσω (opisô) behind, and ἔμπροσθεν (emprosthen) before, never refer to time, but to position or grade.

2. Adverb for Adjective

Genesis 30:33.-"So shall my righteousness answer for me to-morrow": i.e., some future day.

1 Samuel 25:31.-"That thou hast shed blood causelessly": i.e., innocent blood. A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] and R.V. [Note: The Revised Version, 1881.] render it "causeless."

Nehemiah 2:12.-"I, and not enough men with me": i.e., as in A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] "some few men."

Proverbs 3:25.-"Be not afraid of fear suddenly": i.e., sudden fear.

Proverbs 15:24.-"The way of life is above, to the wise, that he may depart from sheol beneath": i.e., the lower Sheol.

Proverbs 24:28.-"Be not a witness against thy neighbour heedlessly": a rash, and hence likely to be, a false witness.

Proverbs 27:1.-"Boast not thyself of to-morrow": i.e., of any future day.

Matthew 6:34.-"Be not full of care for to-morrow": i.e., have, then, no anxiety for any future day.

John 15:5.-"Without (or apart from) me ye can do nothing": i.e., severed from me.

2 Corinthians 4:16.-"Though our without (i.e., external or outward) man perish, yet the within (i.e., internal or inward) man is renewed day by day."

2 Corinthians 4:17.-"For our momentary lightness of tribulation (i.e., light tribulation) worketh for us exceedingly excessively an eternal weight of glory": i.e., an excessively surpassing eternal weight of glory." R.V. [Note: The Revised Version, 1881.] "more and more exceedingly."

III. Antimereia of the Adjective

1. Adjective for Adverb

Acts 16:37.-"They have beaten us in public": i.e., publicly.

1 Corinthians 12:11.-"Dividing to each one personally": i.e., severally.

2. Adjective for Noun

Isaiah 24:23.-"Then the pale shall be confounded": i.e., the moon, because pale.

Romans 1:15.-"τὸ κατ᾽ ἐμὲ πρόθυμον" (to kat’ eme prothumon), according to my ready [mind], i.e., my readiness.

Romans 1:19.-"The known (i.e., knowable or discoverable) of God": i.e., that which may be learnt even by the natural man.

Romans 2:4.-"Not knowing the kind [thing or gift] of God": i.e., the kindness of God.

1 Corinthians 1:27-28.-"Foolish," "weak," "base," "despised": i.e., as in A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] , "the foolish things," etc.

2 Corinthians 8:8.-"To prove the genuine of your love": i.e., the genuineness (or genuine character of).

Ephesians 6:12.-"The spiritual [powers, bands, hosts] of wickedness": i.e., wicked spirits.

Philippians 2:6.-"Equal with God": i.e., on an equality with God.

This is what the first man grasped at, tempted and deceived by the Old Serpent. But Christ, the second man, the last Adam, did not think it a matter to be grasped at in this way, "but humbled Himself," and through suffering and death reached His exaltation. (See pages 202, 433).

Philippians 4:5.-"Let your moderate be known unto all men": i.e., your moderation.

Hebrews 6:17.-"The unchangeable of his counsel": i.e., the unchangeableness of His counsel, or the unchangeable [character] of His counsel.

IV. Antimereia of the Noun

1. A Noun for a Verb

This is called "Antimereia of the Noun."

Judges 16:23.-"Then the lords of the Philistines gathered them together for to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their God, and to rejoice." Lit., for a great rejoicing.

Isaiah 7:1.-"Rezin … and Pekah … went up toward Jerusalem to war against it."

Lit., for the war. Fig., to make war.

Mark 12:38.-"And he said unto them in his doctrine." Here, the noun "doctrine" is put instead of the verb, "during his teaching" or, "while he taught."

2. A Noun for an Adverb

Isaiah 21:7.-"And he hearkened diligently with much heed": i.e., most attentively.

Psalms 139:14.-"I will praise thee, for I am made with fears and wonder": i.e., fearfully and wonderfully.

Lamentations 1:8.-"Jerusalem hath sinned a sin": i.e., grievously.

Mark 7:3.-"Except they wash their hands with the fist": i.e., carefully or assiduously.

3. A Noun for an Adjective

Thus "circumcision" and "uncircumcision" are used instead of circumcised or uncircumcised persons.

Anathema, which means accursed, is an accursed or excommunicated person or thing.

1 Corinthians 14:12.-"So also ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spirits." Here, the noun is used instead of an adjective (πνευμάτων for πνευματικῶν). Both the A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] and R.V. [Note: The Revised Version, 1881.] insert "gifts" in italics.

1 Corinthians 14:32.-"And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets." Here, the noun "spirits" is again used for the adjective spiritual gifts. See under Metonymy.

Galatians 1:14.-"Being more exceedingly a zealot": i.e., zealous, as in A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.]

Hebrews 12:11.-"Any discipline for the present (time) seems not to be of joy" (χαρᾶς, charas): i.e. joyous, "but of grief" (λύπης, lupees): i.e., grievous, as in A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.]

1 John 5:6.-"Because the Spirit is truth." Here the noun is rendered literally: but it is used by the figure Antimereia for the adjective true; and the meaning is that the witness of the Holy Spirit concerning Christ is true in every place and in every particular.

If this figure were not Enallage, then it would be a Metaphor, which is quite out of the question.

4. A Noun (repeated) for an Adjective

A noun is sometimes repeated in order to express the adjective in the highest or superlative degree. This is called Geminatio or Epizeuxis (q.v. [Note: Which see.] ).

Isaiah 26:3.-"Thou wilt keep him in peace, peace": i.e., perfect peace. See under Epizeuxis, where many examples are given.

5. A. Noun (in regimen) for an Adjective

When, of two nouns, one noun is placed in regimen: i.e., when one governs the other in the genitive case: the latter word (sometimes two words) becomes an adjective.

The natural and ordinary way of qualifying a noun is by using an adjective. But, if it is wished to emphasize the adjective, then this rule is departed from; in order to attract the attention of the reader, and to tell him that the adjective is very emphatic, and is to be read as if it were underlined or under-scored in ordinary writing. For example: suppose we are speaking of Angels, and our thought is simply of them and their being, we should use the word "mighty" as an adjective, and say "Mighty ANGELS," but if we wished to emphasize the adjective "mighty," and call attention to the fact that we are not referring to angels as such, but to their wondrous power, and we should say "MIGHTY Angels." How is this to be done? By Antimereia. By using a noun instead of an adjective, and saying "Angels of might."

It is difficult to say how this should be dealt with in translation so as to render it idiomatically, and yet apprise the reader of the correct emphasis.

Neither the Authorized nor the Revised Version follows any fixed rule. Sometimes the noun is translated literally, and sometimes it is rendered as an adjective.

It is important, however, that the reader (especially the public reader) should know where the emphasis is required.

It should be observed, however, that the second noun (i.e., the noun in the genitive case) is not always used instead of an adjective.

The word "of" takes many different meanings; and it is important that each should be accurately defined and determined.

As this, however, does not belong strictly to the figure Antimereia, we have given an outline of the whole subject in the Appendix. (See Appendix B "On the usuage of the Genitive case.")

The following are examples of Antimereia, where a noun in regimen is used instead of an adjective:-

Exodus 34:7.-"The iniquity of the fathers": i.e., when the iniquity wrought by the children is the same in character, it will he punished in the same way.

2 Kings 24:3.-"The sins of Manasseh": i.e., the sins like Manasseh’s, as is explained by the next sentence, "according to all that he did."

2 Chronicles 24:6; 2 Chronicles 24:9.-"The collection of Moses": i.e., like that ordered by Moses. The italics of the A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] are put in to fill out the sense.

Job 8:6.-"The home of thy righteousness": i.e., thy righteous home.

Psalms 2:6.-"Upon Zion, the mount of my holiness": i.e., my holy mountain. See A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] marg. [Note: arg. Margin.]

Psalms 60:9 (11).-"Who will bring me into the city of strength": i.e., the strong city, with emphasis on strong. See 2 Samuel 11:1; 2 Samuel 12:26. See also under Irony.

Ezra 8:18.-"A man of understanding": i.e., a wise and prudent man.

Psalms 23:2.-"Pastures of tender grass": i.e., green pastures.

Psalms 23:2.-"Waters of quietness": i.e., peaceful streams.

Psalms 31:2 (3).-"Be to me for a rock of strength, for a house of bulwarks to save me": i.e., a strong rock, and a fortified house, or fortress.

Psalms 140:11 (12).-"Will not a man of tongue (i.e., a braggart; P.B.V. [Note: .B.V. The Prayer Book Version of the Psalms (from Coverdale’s Bible).] , a man full of words; A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] , an evil speaker) be established in the earth: evil will hunt the man of violence (i.e., the violent man) to overthrow him."

Psalms 150:1.-"The firmament of his power": i.e., his strong firmament.

Proverbs 10:15.-"City of his strength": i.e., his strong city.

Proverbs 29:8.-"Men of scorning": i.e., scoffers (A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] , "scornul men").

Isaiah 1:10.-"Ye rulers of Sodom … ye people of Gomorrah": i.e., rulers and a people who acted as those of Sodom and Gomorrah did.

Isaiah 28:1 (2).-"Crown of pride": i.e., Pride’s crown.

Isaiah 30:21.-"The graven images of thy silver": i.e., thy silver graven images.

Isaiah 33:21.-"Broad of spaces": i.e., spacious or broad streams. (See A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] margin).

Isaiah 51:20.-"Like a wild bull of a net": i.e., a netted wild oryx.

Isaiah 52:1.-"The city of holiness": i.e., the holy city.

Isaiah 54:9.-"For this is the waters of Noah unto me": i.e., Noah’s flood, as we call it. The times and circumstances referred to are to be like the days of Noah. The A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] and R.V. [Note: The Revised Version, 1881.] supply "as."

Jeremiah 12:10.-"My portion of desire": i.e., my desired portion.

Jeremiah 22:19.-"The burial of an ass": i.e., an ass’s funeral!

Jeremiah 51:3.-"A sleep of perpetuity": i.e., a perpetual sleep.

Matthew 5:22.-"The gehenna of the fire": the fiery or burning Gehenna: or, the fiery Hinnom-vale.

Matthew 15:26.-"The bread of the children": i.e., -the children’s own bread, with emphasis on the children.

Matthew 19:28.-"The throne of His glory": i.e., His glorious throne, with emphasis on glorious. There are no articles in the Greek.

Luke 1:17.-"The spirit and power of Elias": i.e., with Elijah’s spirit and power.

Luke 6:12.-"Continued all night in the prayer of God": i.e., in instant earnest prayer.

Luke 16:8.-"The steward of injustice": i.e., the unjust steward.

Luke 18:6.-"Hear what the judge of injustice saith": i.e., the unjust judge, as in A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.]

John 10:23.-"And Jesus walked in the porch of Solomon": i.e., in the porch built like that of Solomon, and in the same place, etc. For Solomon’s porch was burnt with the Temple by Nebuchadnezzar.

Romans 1:26.-"Lusts of dishonour": i.e., A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] , "vile passions."

Romans 6:4.-"In newness of life": i.e., a life-long newness.

Romans 7:5.-"Motions (or passions, margin) of sins": i.e., sinful passions: or, sins’ passions; i.e., the passions of the various sins set in motion by the Law.

Romans 7:24.-"Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?": i.e., this dying body or this mortal body.

Romans 8:6-7.-"Mind of the spirit" and "mind of the flesh" rendered "spiritually minded" and "carnally minded."

This is almost stronger than the mere characterizing of the spirit or the flesh. It denotes the ruling principle which governs and controls the mind: the one being the old nature; and the other, the new.

2 Corinthians 4:2.-"The hidden things of dishonesty": i.e., the shameful secret things.

Ephesians 2:3.-"Fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind": i.e., coarse fleshly lusts, and refined mental lusts; for there is "no difference" between these in God’s sight, though there may be in man’s.

Ephesians 4:22.-"Lusts of deceit": i.e., deceitful lusts; or lusts which deceive, and are the instruments of deceit.

Verse 24: "Righteousness and holiness of truth": i.e., true righteousness and holiness, as contrasted with Adam (Genesis 1:27) with the emphasis on true.

Ephesians 6:12.-"Against the spiritual things of wickedness": i.e., wicked spirits. Here we have two forms of Antimereia, viz., the Ant. of the adjective "spiritual" for spiritual powers, or spirits, and the Ant. of the noun, "of wickedness," for their origin or character.

Philippians 3:21.-"Who shall change the body of our humiliation (i.e., our corruptible body) that it may be fashioned like unto His body of glory (i.e., his glorious body): with emphasis on corruptible and glorious.

Colossians 1:11.-"According to the power of his glory": i.e., His glorious power.

Colossians 1:13.-"Who hath translated us into the Kingdom of the Son of His love": i.e., of His beloved Son.

Colossians 1:22.-"The body of his flesh": i.e., his fleshly body.

Colossians 2:18.-"The mind of his flesh": i.e., as in A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] , his fleshly mind.

Colossians 3:14.-"Bond of perfectness": i.e., a perfect bond.

2 Thessalonians 1:7.-"The angels of His power": i.e., His mighty angels, with great emphasis on "mighty." (See margin).

2 Thessalonians 2:3.-"The man of sin": i.e., the man characterized by sin, the sinful or wicked man, with the emphasis on "sinful." "The son of perdition." (See under Metonomy, for the use of the word "son.")

Hebrews 9:10.-"Which stood only in meats and drinks and divers washings (βαπτισμοῖς, baptisms) and (or even) ordinances of the flesh, put upon them until the time of setting things right": i.e., Baptisms whose character was fleshly, having effect only on the flesh, and thus opposite to that baptism of the Spirit with which Christ baptises the members of His Body.

Hebrews 12:9.-"Fathers of our flesh": i.e., human or natural fathers, in contrast with the Heavenly Father and giver of our spirits.

James 1:25.-"A hearer of forgetfulness": i.e., as in A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] , a forgetful hearer: with emphasis on "forgetful."

James 2:4.-"Judges of evil thoughts": i.e., evil-thinking judges.

James 3:13.-"Meekness of wisdom": i.e., wise meekness.

1 Peter 1:2.-"Sanctification of [the] Spirit": i.e., spiritual sanctification, or perhaps it may be the Genitive of Origin, and mean that sanctification of which the Spirit is the author and source.

2 Peter 2:1.-"Heresies of perdition": i.e., destructive heresies or sects. The A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] renders it "damnable heresies."

2 Peter 2:16.-"With the voice of a man": which the A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] correctly renders man’s voice; i.e., a human being’s voice in contrast to animal.

1 John 1:1.-"The Word of life": i.e., the living Word. Accordingly, it is added in the next verse, "and the life (viz., of the Word) was manifested."

Judges 1:11.-"The way of Cain … the error of Balaam … the gainsaying of Korah": i.e., the way, the error, and gainsaying characterized like those of Cain, Balaam, and Korah.

Judges 1:18.-Walking "after their own lusts of ungodliness": i.e., as in A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] , "ungodly lusts."

The Divine Names form a special class by themselves.

The Names of God (El), God (Elohim), Lord (Jehovah) are sometimes used, in regimen, as adjectives, denoting Divine; or that which is the greatest, highest, mightiest, most glorious, or beautiful.

Genesis 6:1.-"The sons of God": i.e., wondrous, mighty, supernatural beings. Hence, used always of angels in the Old Testament.

Genesis 23:6.-"A prince of God": i.e., a mighty prince.

Genesis 30:8.-"Wrestlings of God": i.e., great wrestlings.

2 Chronicles 20:29.-"A fear of God": i.e., a great fear.

2 Chronicles 28:13.-"A trespass of Jehovah": i.e., a terrible sin.

The A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] entirely loses the sense of this verse, which should be thus rendered: "Ye shall not bring in the captives hither; for ye propose that which will bring upon us a trespass of Jehovah (i.e., a trespass of the greatest magnitude) to add to our sin and to our guilt; for abundant is the guilt we have and the fierceness of anger on Israel."

Job 4:9.-"A blast of Eloah": a vehement blast.

Psalms 36:6 (7); 68:15 (16), etc.-"Mountains of God": i.e., the loftiest mountains.

Psalms 80:10 (11).-"Cedars of God": i.e., the loftiest cedars.

Psalms 104:16.-"Trees of Jehovah": i.e., the loftiest trees.

Song of Solomon 8:6.-"Flames of Jehovah": i.e., vehement flames. The verse should be rendered:

"For love is strong as death:

Affection is inexorable as Sheol:

Its flames are flames of fire:

The flames of Jehovah."* [Note: See Ginsburg’s Introduction, page 386.]

Jeremiah 2:31.-Here the last syllable of the word "darkness," יה, is an abbreviation of Jehovah; and the words should be rendered:

"Have I been a wilderness to Israel.

Is the land the darkness of Jah?" i.e., utter darkness.† [Note: Ditto, page 384.]

Ezekiel 28:13; Ezekiel 31:8-9.-"Garden of God": i.e., the Divine, beautiful or wonderful garden.

The Name of God is used in the same way in the dative case.

Ruth 2:20.-"Blessed be he to the Lord": i.e., divinely blessed with all things. Ruth 3:10, "Blessed be thou to the Lord."

Isaiah 28:2. Here, it is literally:

"Behold, a mighty and strong one to Adonai": i.e.,

"Behold, a mighty one, immensely strong-

As a storm of hail, a destructive storm;

As a flood of mighty waters overflowing

Hath he cast [Ephraim] down to the earth with his hand."

Jonah 3:3.-"A city great to God": i.e., as in A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] , an exceeding great city.

Acts 7:20.-Moses was "fair to God": i.e., Divinely beautiful.

2 Corinthians 10:4.-"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty to God" (so A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] margin): i.e., immensely powerful.

The word "sons" or "children" with a noun (in regimen) is used idiomatically:-

"Sons of valour" (2 Samuel 2:7. 1 Kings 1:52. Deuteronomy 3:18): i.e., brave men.

"Sons of the pledges": i.e., hostages (2 Kings 14:14).

"Son of oil" (Isaiah 5:1, marg. [Note: arg. Margin.] ) beautifully rendered "in a very fruitful hill."

"Sons of light" (Luke 16:8): i.e., men illuminated from above (John 12:36. 1 Thessalonians 5:5. Ephesians 5:8).

"Children of the devil" (1 John 3:10. Acts 13:10).

"Children of wrath" (Ephesians 2:2).

"Children of this world" (Luke 20:34): i.e., men who are characterized by living for this present age or life.

"Children of the resurrection" (Luke 20:36): i.e., raised from the dead.

"Children of disobedience": i.e., disobedient children (Ephesians 2:2).

"Children of obedience": i.e., obedient children (1 Peter 1:14).

Hebrews 10:39 must be explained by this usage, if sense is to be made of the words, the difficulty of which is seen in the R.V. [Note: The Revised Version, 1881.] margin: "But we are not [children of unbelief] of drawing back unto destruction of the soul (i.e., unbelievers), but [children] of faith (i.e., believers) unto the gaining of it."

So the expression "son of man," "sons of men," "children of men" is a Hebrew idiom for a human being as distinct from a beast on the one hand and from God or angelic beings on the other (Genesis 11:5, etc.).

In like manner the "sons of God" in the New Testament are those who partake of the New, Divine, or spiritual nature (2 Peter 1:4), whether angels or men, as distinct from the beasts and from mere human beings.

Beni Ha-Elohim, the sons of God, is used seven times in the Old Testament for angels (see above).

Once it is used of Restored Israel (Hosea 1:10) in Hebrews 2:1, but here the expression is different, Beni El-hai.

In the singular with both articles it is used of Christ.

"The Son of God" is that blessed one who is perfect man and perfect God, perfectly human as "the Son of man" (also with both articles) and perfectly Divine as "the Son of God."

6. Noun (governing) for Adjective

When the first noun (instead of the second noun, in regimen) is changed, and used instead of the adjective, the figure is called Hypallage. See below.

7. The former of Two Nouns (both in regimen) used for an Adjective

When two nouns are both of them in regimen, and only one of them is used for the adjective, sometimes it is the former* [Note: Sometimes it is the latter that is put for the adjective. (See No. 8 below). Sometimes they are both of them different forms of the genitive case, and one of them is in regimen to the other: i.e., depends upon the other. For examples of this, see Appendix B.] :

(a) Where the former of the two nouns (both in regimen) is used for an adjective, and is to receive the emphasis.

Genesis 45:22.-"Changes of raiment."

Acts 7:30.-"In a flame of a fire of a bush": i.e., in a flame of a burning bush.

Romans 5:2.-"And rejoice in hope of the glory of God": i.e., and rejoice in God’s glorious hope.

Romans 8:2.-"The law of the spirit of life": i.e., the spiritual law of life.

2 Corinthians 4:6.-"The knowledge of the glory of God": i.e., the knowledge of the glorious God.

Ephesians 1:6.-"To the praise of the glory of His grace": i.e., of His glorious grace.

Titus 2:13.-"The appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour": i.e., the glorious appearing of the great God, even our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Revelation 18:3.-"The wine of the wrath of her fornication": i.e., the furious wine, etc.

8. The latter of Two Nouns (both in regimen) used for an Adjective

Genesis 9:5.-"At the hand of a man of his brother": i.e., at the hand of his fellow or brother man. There is no "every" expressed in the Hebrew.

Romans 3:23.-"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God": i.e., of God’s glory.

Romans 8:3.-"In likeness of flesh of sin": i.e., sinful flesh’s likeness.

Colossians 1:11.-"According to the power of the glory of Him": i.e., according to His glorious power.

9. One of two Nouns in the same case (and not in regimen) used for an Adjective

When two nouns in the same case are united by a conjunction, one of them (generally the latter) is used as a very emphatic adjective, e.g., Acts 14:13 : "They brought oxen and garlands," means "They brought oxen, yes, and they were garlanded too!" This figure is called Hendiadys, under which the reader will find many examples.

10. Noun (in regimen) for superlative of Adjective

When the latter noun is the genitive plural of the former noun e.g., King of Kings, Holy of Holies, it is put instead of, and to emphasise, the superlative degree of the adjective. As this is a species of Polyptoton, we have put the examples under that figure (q.v. [Note: Which see.] ).