Bible Lexicons

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

Symploce; or Intertwining

The Repetition of different Words in successive Sentences in the same Order and the same Sense

Sym´-plo-kee´, from σύν (sun), together with, and πλοκή (plokee), a folding. An intertwining of two different words in a similar order: one at the beginning and the other at the end of successive sentences.

It is a combination of Anaphora (q.v. [Note: Which see.] ) and Epistrophe (q.v. [Note: Which see.] ).

The Latins called it COMPLEXIO, combination, and COMPLICATIO, a folding together.

When phrases or sentences are thus repeated, instead of single words, it is called Cœnotes (q.v. [Note: Which see.] ).

Though there may be more than one word in the English, it does not follow that there is more than one in the original.

Isaiah 2:7-8.-We have it in alternate lines:

"Their land also is full of silver and gold,

Neither is there any end of their treasures;

Their land is also full of horses.

Neither is there any end of their chariots;

Their land also is full of idols, etc."

Isaiah 65:13-14.-"Thus saith the Lord God,

"Behold my servants shall eat,

But ye shall be hungry.

Behold my servants shall drink,

But ye shall be thirsty.

Behold my servants shall rejoice,

But ye shall be ashamed.

Behold my servants shall sing for joy of heart,

But ye shall cry for sorrow of heart."

In the last two lines we have Epistrophe in the word heart.

Jeremiah 9:23 (22).-Here, in the Hebrew, the three sentences begin, "Let him not glory" (אַל־יִתְהַלֵּל, al-yithhalleyl), and each ends with the pronominal suffix וֹ, his.

1 Corinthians 12:4-6.-Here in the Greek each verse begins With "diversities" or differences (διαιρέσεις, diaireseis), and ends with "the same" (αὐτός, autos).

1 Corinthians 14:15.-Here the two words repeated and emphasized by Symploce are "the spirit" and "the understanding."

1 Corinthians 15:42-44.-Here we have four pairs, a kind of double Anaphora.

"It is sown in corruption;

It is raised in incorruption.

It is sown in dishonour;

It is raised in glory.

It is sown in weakness;

It is raised in power.

It is sown a natural body;

It is raised a spiritual body."

2 Corinthians 9:6.-Here the Greek exhibits a beautiful example of this figure.

"He that soweth sparingly, sparingly shall reap also:

He that soweth bountifully, bountifully shall reap also."

With this is combined the figure of Anadiplosis (q.v. [Note: Which see.] ), in the repetition of the words "sparingly" and "bountifully."

Revelation 18:21-23.-To emphasize the complete overthrow of Babylon six times we have the repeated words "no more."

Babylon … shall be found no more at all,

and the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters shall be heard in thee no more at all.

and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found in thee any more at all:

and the sound of a millstone shall be heard in thee no more at all.

and the light of a candle shall shine in thee no more at all:

and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard in thee no more at all."

Here we have Anastrophe (i.e., Polysyndeton) combined with Epistrophe.

(b) In a different order (but the same sense)