CHAPTER 6

PRINCIPLES ABOUT LANGUAGE

6.1 Literal and Figurative Language

6.2 Interpreting Figures of Speech: Simple

Comparisons

6.3 Interpreting Figures of Speech: Complex

Comparisons

6.4 Interpreting Figures of Speech: Contrasts,

Overstatements, and Relations

LITERAL AND FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

Literal language is plain, direct, and common speech, without

symbols

Figurative language uses symbols, metaphors, and similes, etc.

Rules:

1. Always try first to interpret a verse in a plain, direct, literal way

2. If the plain literal message does not work, look for symbols or

hidden meaning

3. Look for an explanation in the context. The Bible often tells us if the

language is figurative or literal

Interpreting Figures of Speech: Simple Comparisons

1. Similes: use like and as = “His spear shaft was like a weaver’s

rod.” I Sam

2. Metaphors: one thing is another = “The Lord your God is a

consuming fire, a jealous God” Deuteronomy 4: 24

3. Anthropomorphisms: a metaphor that gives God human

form/parts = “I have engraved you on the palms of My

hands” Isaiah 49:16

4. Personification: gives inanimate objects human

characteristics = “Does not wisdom call out? Does not

INTERPRETING FIGUERES OF SPEECH: COMPLEX COMPARISONS:

Jesus’ favorite method of instruction was the parable. A

parable is a short, simple story that illustrates a spiritual lesson.

In a parable, most of the details are just for the purpose of

telling the story; they do not symbolically represent anything.

In the parable of the Good Samaritan, the one truth of the

parable is that our neighbor is anyone in need.

Let us review what we have said about interpreting parables.

1. Discern the historical and literary setting of a parable by

analyzing three things: the time, the reason, and the

application.

2. Analyze the parable itself by doing three things: identify the

characters, the points of comparison, the one main lesson,

ALLEGORIES –A SIMPLE DEFINITION:

Both metaphors and allegories compare two things without

using “like” or “as”.

A metaphor says, “You are the salt of the earth...”

An allegory says, “I am the vine and my Father is the

gardener...” It is an extended metaphor.

A parable is an expanded simile

METONYMS AND SYNECDOCHE

Metonyms are words that can be exchanged; one word can

represent another. Example:

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world.” world =

people

Titus 2:13 “while we wait for the blessed hope - the glorious

appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.”

His 2nd Coming

SYNECDOCHE

Remember that a part can represent the whole. Here are some examples:

“Give us today our daily bread.” (Matthew 6:11) Bread is a part of our needs, but

represents all of them.

“And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect

from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other” (Matthew 24:31). The four

winds represent all directions.

The whole can represent a part. We often find examples of this with the words like all,

always, nothing, and everywhere

“And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and

daughters will prophesy,...” . In Joel 2:28, all refers to all tribes and kinds of

people, especially those who seek after God. On the day of Pentecost, God

did not pour out His Spirit on all Jews. Throughout the history of the church,

God pours out His Spirit on those who seek Him.

“Apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). In this case, the

TYPES: OT CONTAINS SOME SHADOWS OR TYPES, SHADOWS

INCLUDE PEOPLE, EVENTS, ACTIONS, OBJECTS, AND

CEREMONIES.

Old Testament

The Most Holy Place in the

Tabernacle

The Passover Lamb in Egypt

(Exodus)

The bronze serpent in the

wilderness

New Testament

“The Most Holy Place”–God’s

presence in heaven (Hebrews

9:25; 10:19).

“For Christ, our Passover lamb,

has been sacrificed” (1

Corinthians 5:7).

Jesus lifted up (crucified) John

3:14

IRONY AND HYPERBOLE

Irony: stating the opposite of what you mean

Hyperbole: an overstatement

I Kings 10: 27, “The king (Solomon) made silver as common

in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as plentiful as sycamore-fig

trees in the foothills.”

Matt 7: 3, “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your

brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank (log) in your

own eye?”