Bible Lexicons

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

Syllepsis; or Combination

The Repetition of the Sense without the Repetition of the Word

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

This name is given to the figure when only one word is used, and yet it takes on two meanings at the same time.

The word itself is used only once; and ought to be, but is not repeated in the next clause, being omitted by Ellipsis (q.v. [Note: Which see.] ), but the two meanings are taken together with the one word.

It is called SYNESIS (Syn´-e-sis), a joining or meeting together, and SYNTHESIS (Syn´-the-sis), a putting together, compounding, from σύν (sun), together, and τίθημι (titheemi), to put or place.

The Syllepsis here considered is rhetorical rather than grammatical (q.v. [Note: Which see.] ). There is a form of Syllepsis which involves change rather than addition. It will be found therefore under those figures in our third division.

2 Chronicles 31:8.-"They blessed the Lord and his people Israel."

Here there is a duplex statement. They blessed the Lord, that is they gave Him thanks and celebrated His praises; and they blessed His People Israel; but in a different way; they prayed for all spiritual and temporal blessings for them in the name of the Lord.

Two meanings are thus given to the word, which is used only once. The sense is repeated, but not the word, and the sense is not the same in each case.

Joel 2:13.-"Rend your heart, and not your garments."

Here the word "rend" is used only once, but with two significations: in the former sentence it is used figuratively; in the latter literally-the heart not being rent in the same sense in which garments are rent.

3. Of Different Words

(a) In a similar order (and in the same sense)