Bible Lexicons

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

Homoeoteleuton; or Like Endings

The Repetition of the same Letters or Syllables at the end of Successive Words

Hô´-mœ-o-tel-eu´-ton. From ὅμοιος (homoios), like, and τελευτή (teleutee), an ending, i.e., words with like endings.

This is the opposite Figure to Homœopropheron; and is used when successive words end with the same or similar letters or syllables.

These two figures are for the most part involved in others which affect the whole of the connected words; and therefore we shall meet with other examples as we proceed.

Mark 12:30.-"This is the first commandment." In the Greek this sentence consists of three words, each ending with the same syllable: αὕτη πρώτη ἐντολή (hautee prôtee entolee); and thus our attention is called to this weighty saying.

1 Peter 1:3-4.-"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away."

Here, the Homœoteleuton emphasizes the wondrous character of this inheritance:-

ἄφθαρτον, ἀμίαντον, ἀμαιραντον (aphtharton, amianton, amaranton), uncorruptible, undefiled, unfading. It is difficult accurately to reproduce the sound of this in English; except in marking it by the voice in reading aloud.

We might say, incorruptible, indefilable, indestructible, but this would be at the expense of exact accuracy in translating.