Bible Lexicons

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

Ecphonesis; or Exclamation

An Expression of Feeling by way of Exclamation

Ec´-phô-nee´-sis. Greek, ἐκφώνησις, a crying out, an exclamation, from ἐκ (ek), out, and φωνεῖν (phonein), to speak, from φωνή (phônee), voice or sound.

The figure is used when, through feeling, we change our mode of speech; and, instead of merely making a statement, express it by an exclamation. So that Ecphonesis is an outburst of words, prompted by emotion, and is not used as though any reply were expected.

It was called also ANAPHONESIS, an´-a-phô´-nee´-sis, the same word, with ἀνά (ana), up, prefixed instead of ἐκ (ek), out, a lifting up of the voice.

The exclamation itself is called ANAPHONEMA (An´-a-phô-nee´-ma).

The Latins called it EXCLAMATIO, exclamation.

But note that, when the exclamation occurs at the end of a sentence, as an addition by way of conclusion, it is called Epiphonema (see page 464).

When the Ecphonesis is an exclamation thrown in parenthetically, it is called Interjectio (see page 478).

Joshua 7:7.-"And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord God (Adonai Jehovah), wherefore hast thou at all brought up this people over Jordan," etc.

1 Chronicles 11:17.-"And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, that is at the gate!" This would come also under the figure Œonismos (q.v. [Note: Which see.] ).

Psalms 22:1 (2).-"My God (Eli), my God (Eli), why hast thou for saken me?" (Matthew 27:46. Mark 15:34). See under Epizeuxis.

Psalms 57:7 (8) is also a beautiful Ecphonesis.

Psalms 84:1 (2).-"How amiable (i.e., How lovely, or How delightful) are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts," etc.

Isaiah 1:4.-"Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evil-doers, children that are corrupters."

See under Synonymia and Anabasis.

Isaiah 6:5.-"Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone"; etc. This is the true Ecphonesis of a convicted soul. A confession, not of what he has done, but of what he IS; as to nature, condition, and deserts. Of such an exclamation the result is ever (as recorded in the next verse) "THEN flew," etc.

Ezekiel 9:8.-"I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord God (Adonai Jehovah)!" etc.

Hosea 13:9.-"O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help."

Matthew 15:28.-"Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt."

Matthew 17:17.-"Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation," etc.

Acts 7:51 is also an Ecphonesis.

Romans 7:24.-"O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from this body of death?" (marg. [Note: arg. Margin.] ). See Hypallage, Ellipsis and Metonymy.

This is a true Ecphonesis; but, as concluding the whole of the chapter, it is also in that respect a kind of Epiphonema (q.v. [Note: Which see.] ).

This verse expresses the continuous experience of every true child of God, who understands the conflict between the two natures:-the old man and the new man: the flesh and the spirit, the old nature and the Divine nature implanted within him by the Holy Spirit.

This conflict is the one thing of which a merely religious person is destitute. It is the one thing that cannot be imitated by the hypocrite. He never has an abiding sense of inward corruption and of the conflict with it; because he has not the New nature by which alone it is manifested and brought to light. He has no standard within him to detect it, or by which to try it.

Until the truth of the abiding conflict between the two natures is seen no spiritual peace can be enjoyed.

The fruits of the old tree are dealt with in the former portion of this Doctrinal part of the Epistle (Romans 1:16-32; Romans 2:1-29; Romans 3:1-31; Romans 4:1-25; Romans 5:1-11): and then the old tree itself is dealt with in chap. 5:12 to 8:39, and is shown to be (in God’s sight) as dead, having been crucified with Christ. Thus, the conflict goes on till this body of death (i.e., until this dying body). either dies, or is "changed" at Christ’s appearing.

Then the longing desire will be realised, and faith will be rewarded, as expressed in the words that follow, where the Ellipsis must be supplied:-"I thank God-He will deliver me-[and reckoning myself even now as already having died with Christ (6:11)-I thank God, that He will deliver me] through Jesus Christ our Lord."