Bible Lexicons

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

Synathroesmos; or Enumeration

The Enumeration of the Parts of a Whole which has not been mentioned

Syn´-ath-rœs´-mos. Greek, συναθροίσμος (syn-ath-rois-mos), gathering together, assembling. It is used of an assemblage of terms or species brought together without being first mentioned as a whole, and not being necessarily the distribution of the parts of any one thing.

The figure is also called APARITHMESIS (ap-a-rith´-mee-sis), from ἀπό (apo), from or off, and ἀριθμεῖν (arithmein), to count. Hence, to count off, enumerate. The Latins, from this, called it ENUMERATIO, which has the same meaning. The Latin term for Synathrœsmus is CONGERIES (con-ge´-ri-ees), from con, together, and gerere, to bear, carry or bring; and denotes a heap, or combination.

From the fact that such enumeration or combination sometimes made the argument or statement drag, the figure was called SYRMOS, which is the Greek συρμός (syrmos), a trailing, from σύρειν (surein), to drag, trail along. And, because a number of different words were thus united, it was also called EIRMOS (eir´-mos), from εἴρω (eirô), to string together.

It differs from Merismus in that the things enumerated are not first briefly mentioned under one head: and it differs from Synonymia, in that they are not synonymous, but may be of many kinds and descriptions.

It also differs from Symperasma, in that they do not occur at the conclusion, but in the course of what is said.

The use of the figure is to enrich a discourse, or part of it, by enumerating particulars, or by multiplying epithets.

All the figures which we are grouping under this head are figures of Amplification; otherwise this is called by some Amplificatio. But we have used this as a general term for the whole group and have not restricted it to any one particular figure.

Isaiah 1:11; Isaiah 1:13.-"To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he-goats … Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me."

One sentence would have expressed the whole, "your sacrifices are not pleasing to me." But, by the figure Synathrœsmos, all kinds of sacrifices are enumerated, and the sense is thus amplified and emphasized to show that, with all their outward show of "religion," there was no true worship of the spirit and heart.

So with the feasts, in verse 14, and with prayers, in verse 15.

The figure is used here to emphasize the fact that religious ordinances and services are nothing in themselves.

In the days of our Lord there was plenty of "religion": Isaiah 1:1-31 describes the abundance of it; but there was no heart in it. It was all form! and it was these very religious people (and not the rabble) who crucified the Lord!

Isaiah 3:16-23.-Here, the various ornaments of women are heaped together, to heighten the effect, and to emphasize the awful judgment of verses 24-4:1.

Romans 1:29-31.-Here, many abominations of the heathen are enumerated to show what is the outcome of the "reprobate mind."

There are other figures in this passage. See under Paronomasia, Ellipsis, and Asyndeton.

It will be easy to recognize this figure whenever it is met with.

1 Timothy 4:1-3.-Here, is an enumeration of the characters which will make the "latter times" so perilous. Also in

2 Timothy 3:1-7, we have another enumeration.

1 Peter 4:3.-Here, are enumerated the things which characterize the condition of the Gentiles.