Bible Lexicons

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

Syllepsis; or Change in Concord

Grammatical Syllepsis, by which there is a change in the Ideas rather than in actual words, so that the concord is logical rather than grammatical

Syl-lep´-sis. Greek, σύλληψις, from σύν (sun), together with, and λῆψις (leepsis), a taking.

It is a figure by which one word, or the meaning of one word, is taken with another; or, when one word is used, and another idea is meant. When involving addition of words, or sense, it has already been described in Div. II.

It is a kind of Enallage, or Heterosis; in that there is an exchange of genders, of numbers, or of both. But it differs from Enallage, in that the change takes place rather in the idea than in the actual words.

It is a kind of Zeugma, in that one adjective or verb belonging to two or more nouns of different genders, persons, or numbers, agrees with one rather than with another.

Syllepsis therefore depends on a change or disturbance in the concord of parts of speech; in making a logical rather than a grammatical concord.

John 16:13-14.-"When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you unto all truth," etc.

Here, though the word πνεῦμα (pneuma), Spirit, is neuter, the word ἐκεῖνος (ekeinos), He, is masculine; agreeing with the Divine Person rather than with the actual word "Spirit."

John 21:12.-"And none (sing. [Note: ing. The Singular Number.] ) of the disciples durst ask him Who art thou? knowing (pl. [Note: The Plural Number.] ) that it was the Lord."

The figure points out that not one asked; for all knew.

2 Corinthians 5:19.-"God was in Christ, reconciling the world (sing. [Note: ing. The Singular Number.] ,) unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them (pl. [Note: The Plural Number.] )."

Here, the figure Metonymy, by which the "world" is put for its inhabitants, is interpreted by the use of the plural, "them."