Bible Lexicons

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

Accismus; or Apparent Refusal

Ac-cis´-mus, a cutting all but through, from the Latin, accido. This Figure is so named because it is an apparent or assumed refusal.

Matthew 15:22-26.-When the woman of Canaan cried "Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David," the Lord did not intend to reject her: but, having no claim (as a Gentile) on Christ as the "Son of David," He uses the figure Accismus, and apparently refuses her request by saying, "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel."

"Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord help me." But again, there was no confession as to the "me." It was not like the Publican, "God be merciful to me-a sinner." It might have been a self-righteous "me."

So the Lord again uses the Figure Accismus, but He now combines it with Hypocatastasis; and says:

"It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs."

Now came the confession-she saw the point. She admitted the fact as to her condition as "a dog of the Gentiles," and said, "Truth, Lord:" and received the blessing which had been determined for her.

Matthew 21:29 is sometimes given as an example; but this was a real refusal, altered by after repentance.