Bible Lexicons

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

Antonomasia; or Name-Change

Change of proper name for appellative; or vice versa

An -to-no-mâ´-si-a. Greek, ἀντονομασία, a different name, from ἀντονομάζειν, to name instead; and this from ἀντί (anti), instead, and ἀνομάζειν (onomazein), to name (from ὄνομα (onoma), a name).

This figure is so called because a proper name is put for a common or appellative noun; or because, on the contrary, an appellation derived from some attribute is put for a proper name. As when a name of some office, dignity, profession, science, or trade, is used instead of the proper name of the person: e.g., when we speak of the Queen as Her Majesty, or of a nobleman as his lordship; or when a wise man is called a Solon, or a Solomon, etc.

When we speak of David as "the Psalmist," or of Paul as "the Apostle," we use the figure Antonomasia.

1 Samuel 4:21.-"And she named the child ‘In-glorious’ (i.e., I-chabôd), saying, ‘The glory is departed,’ " I-chabôd meaning there is no glory. The name occurs once more, in chap. 14:3.

Isaiah 62:4.-

But thou shalt be called ‘Hephzi-bah’ (i.e., my delight is in her),

And thy land ‘Beulah’ (i.e., married)."

Here note that the four lines are alternate: the subject of the first and third being the People, while that of the second and fourth is the Land.

Hosea 1:6.-"And He said unto him, Call her name ‘Not-having- obtained-mercy (i.e., Lo-ruhamah)."

Mark 8:20.-"And when [I brake] the seven among four thousand": i.e., the seven loaves.

Acts 3:14.-"But ye denied the Holy One and the Just": i.e., the Lord Jesus Christ. See Hendiadys.

Acts 22:14.-"The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just (or Righteous) One": i.e., the Lord Jesus. Thus was Paul led of the Spirit to avoid the use of any word which would excite and inflame them. By this means he obtained audience, until, in verse 21, he had to use the word "Gentiles" ("I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles"), when we read: "And they gave him audience unto this word."

Acts 25:26.-The Roman Emperor is called "my lord."

The Divine Names and Titles are sometimes the attributes of God used as proper names:-

God is called the Strong One (El); or, the Most High (Elyôn). Psalms 5:4 (5); 22:1 (2), etc.

Christ is in the same way called the Lord. Matthew 21:3. John 11:3; John 11:12, etc.

The Son of man (see under Synecdoche). Matthew 8:20; Matthew 9:6; Matthew 10:23; Matthew 11:19; Matthew 12:8, etc.

The Angel of the Lord. Exodus 3:2. Judges 6:11

So also other appellatives are used: e.g., "The Seed of the woman," "The Messiah," "The Servant of Jehovah," "The Messenger of the Covenant," "The Prophet," etc.