Bible Lexicons

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

Epistrophe; or Like Sentence-Endings

The Repetition of the same Word or Words at the end of successive Sentences

E-pis´-tro-phee. Greek ἐπιστροφή, a turning upon or wheeling about, from ἐπί (epi), upon, and στρέφω (strepho), to turn.

It is a figure in which the same word or words are repeated at the end of successive sentences or clauses, instead of (as in Anaphora) at the beginning.

It is sometimes called ANTISTROPHE (an-tis´-tro-phee), a turning against; also EPIPHORA (e-piph´-o-ra), a bringing to or upon.

The Latin name is CONVERSIO (con-ver´-si-o), a turning round.

All these titles express the character of the figure, which is thus the opposite of Anaphora.

Genesis 13:5.-"And the land was not able to bear them that they might dwell together: for their substance was so great that they could not dwell together."

Deuteronomy 27:15-26, where each clause ends with the word "Amen."

Deuteronomy 32:10.-* [Note: The Errata section of the print edition marks this example for deletion.] It is beautifully expressed in the Hebrew by the repetition of the pronoun הוּ (hû), him, at the end of each sentence. It in hidden in the translation, both in the A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] and R.V. [Note: The Revised Version, 1881.] , on account of not being in accordance with the English idiom. It reads:-

"In a desert land He found him

And in the waste howling wilderness, about, he led him.

He instructed him.

As the apple of His eye He kept him."

So also in verse 12:-

"So the Lord alone did lead him,

And there was no strange god with him."

Psalms 24:10.-

"Who is this King of glory?

The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory."

Psalms 115:9-11.-

"O Israel, trust thou in Jehovah,

he is their help and their shield.

O house of Aaron trust in Jehovah,

he is their help and their shield.

Ye that fear the Lord, trust in Jehovah,

he is their help and their shield."

Thus is emphasized by Epistrophe the strength and security of Jehovah’s people.

Psalms 118:18-19.-Twice we have the Epistrophe:-

"Than to put any confidence in man."

And three times (verses 10-11):-

"But in the name of the Lord I will destroy them."

We have also Anaphora in verses 8, 9, and 10-12.

See also in the Psalms called the "Songs of degrees":

120:2, 3, "false or deceitful tongue";

121:3, 4, "not slumber";

123:4, 5, "contempt";

125:1, 2, "for ever";

131:2, "a weaned child";

132:2, 5, "the mighty God of Jacob."

Psalms 136:1-26 is a notable example of this figure, for every clause ends with the well-known words, "for his mercy endureth for ever."

Ezekiel 33:25-26.-The words are twice repeated to emphasize their solemnity. "And shall ye possess the land."

Joel 2:26-27.-Twice are the Words repeated and thus solemnly emphasized. "And my people shall never be ashamed."

Romans 8:31.-

"If God be for us

Who can be against us?"

Revelation 7:5-8, which have the repetition of the sealing and the number, as we have Anaphora at the beginning in the words "of the tribe."

Revelation 22:11.-We have here the word "still" repeated at the end of four successive sentences. The figure of Polysyndeton is also seen in the repetition of the word "and" at the beginning of these sentences (verse 17).

The repetition of the verb "come."

This figure may not only exist in the originals, and be hidden in the translation, but there may apparently be a repetition in the English when there may be none in the original. For example, Acts 19:15, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know." But, in the Greek, the two words for "know" are quite different. Jesus I know (γινώσκω (ginôskô), to perceive, or know, and to be influenced by the knowledge), and Paul I know (ἐπίσταμαι (epistamai), to have knowledge of).