Bible Lexicons

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

Tmesis; or Mid-Cut

A Change by which one Word is cut in two, and another Wordput in between

Tmç´-sis. Greek, τμῆσις, a cutting, from τέμνειν (temnein), to cut.

It is a figure by which a compound word or connected phrase is separated, and the position of its syllables changed, by the intervention of one or more words.

Each of the syllables thus cut off is a separate and complete word. Thus in "to us ward," the word "toward" is, by the figure Tmesis, cut in two: and the word "us" is put in between the two separated words, "to us ward." So also we say "to heaven ward," or "what condition soever."

The figure is also called DIACOPE, Di-ac´-o-pee. Greek, διακοπή, a cutting in two.

DIAERESIS, Dî-AE´-re-sis. Greek, διαίρεσις (diairesis), a dividing through.

DIASTOLE, Di-as-to-lee. Greek, διαστολή, a separating through.

ECTASIS, Ec´-ta-sis. Greek, ἔκτασις, a stretching out.

DIALYSIS, Di-al´-y-sis. Greek, διάλυσις, a dissolving or parting asunder.

DIVISIO, Division.

There is an example of it in Ephesians 6:8 : ὅ τι ἐάν (ho ti ean), three words, which usually go together in this order, are divided: and the last is put in between the other two, so that it reads "what soever thing," instead of "what thing soever."

Our English Tmesis here better expresses the Greek, than the A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] which neglects the Greek Tmesis.

Through not seeing the figure in this passage, there are several various readings created in order to explain it.