I just copied some parts from the Introduction and Note in "Figures of speech used in the Bible" by Bullinger and thought "I should read this once a month" and I should share this. It is no where near perfect, I am prone to skipping words amongst other random typing issues so be warned. Starts out kinda dry but makes up for it in the end. He just was touched by God in my opinion.
Jehovah has been pleased to give us the revelation of His mind and will in his words. It is therefore absolutely necessary that we should understand not merely the meaning of the words themselves, but also the laws which govern their usage and combinations.
All language is governed by law but in order to increase the power of a word, or the force of an expression, these laws are designedly departed from; and the words and sentences are thrown into and used in, new forms, or figures. The ancient Greeks reduced these new and peculiar forms to science, and gave names to more than 200 of them.
The Romans carried forward this science; but with the decline of learning in the Middle Ages, it practically dried out. A few writers have since then occasionally touched upon it briefly, and have given a few trivial examples: but the knowledge of this ancient science is so completely forgotten, that it's very named today is used in a different sense an with almost an opposite meaning.
These manifold forms which words and sentences assume were called by the Greeks (Schema) and by the Romans (figura). Both words have the same meaning, a shape or figure. When we speak of a person as being "a figure" we mean one who is dressed in some peculiar style, an out of the ordinary manner. The Greek word schema is found in 1 Corinthian 7:31 "the fashion of this world passes away" Philippians 2:8 "being found in fashion as a man". The Latin word figura is from the verb FINGERE, to form, and has passed into the English language in the words figure, transfigure, configuration, effigy, faint, feign, etc.
We use the word figure now in various senses. Its primitive meaning applies to any marks, lines, or outlines, which make a form or a shape. Arithmetical figures are certain marks or forms which represent numbers 1,2,3. All secondary and derived meanings of the word "figure" retain this primitive meaning.
Applied to words, a figure denotes some form which a word or sentence takes, different from its ordinary an natural form. This is always the proper purpose of giving additional force, more life, intensified feeling, and greater emphasis. Whereas today "figurative language" is ignorantly spoken of as though it made less of the meaning, and deprive the words of their power and force. A passage of God's word is quoted; and it is met with the outcry, "Oh, that is figurative" meaning, or that it has no meaning at all. But the very opposite is the case. For an unusual form is never used EXCEPT to add force to the truth conveyed, emphasis to the statement of it, and depth to the meaning of it. When we apply this science then to God's word and to divine truth, we see it once that no branch of Bible study can be more important, or offer greater promise of substantial reward .
It lies at the very root of all translation; and it is the key to true interpretation. As the course of language moves smoothly along , according to the laws which govern it, there is nothing by which it can awaken or attract attention. It is as when we are traveling by railway. As long as everything proceeds according to the regulations we notice nothing; we sleep or we read or we meditate as may be the case. But, let the train slack in its speed, or make an unexpected stop , we immediately hear the question asked, "What is the matter? What are we stopping for ?" We hear one window go down and then another: attention is thoroughly aroused, an interest excited. So it is exactly with our reading. As long as all proceeds smoothly and accordingly to law we noticed nothing. But suddenly there is a departure from some law, a deviation from the even course, an unlooked for change - our attention is attracted, and we at once give our mind to discover why the words have been used in a new form, what the particular force of the passage is, and why we are to put special emphasis on the fact stated or the truth conveyed. In fact, it is not too much to say,
Jehovah has been pleased to give us the revelation of His mind and will in his words. It is therefore absolutely necessary that we should understand not merely the meaning of the words themselves, but also the laws which govern their usage and combinations.
All language is governed by law but in order to increase the power of a word, or the force of an expression, these laws are designedly departed from; and the words and sentences are thrown into and used in, new forms, or figures. The ancient Greeks reduced these new and peculiar forms to science, and gave names to more than 200 of them.
The Romans carried forward this science; but with the decline of learning in the Middle Ages, it practically dried out. A few writers have since then occasionally touched upon it briefly, and have given a few trivial examples: but the knowledge of this ancient science is so completely forgotten, that it's very named today is used in a different sense an with almost an opposite meaning.
These manifold forms which words and sentences assume were called by the Greeks (Schema) and by the Romans (figura). Both words have the same meaning, a shape or figure. When we speak of a person as being "a figure" we mean one who is dressed in some peculiar style, an out of the ordinary manner. The Greek word schema is found in 1 Corinthian 7:31 "the fashion of this world passes away" Philippians 2:8 "being found in fashion as a man". The Latin word figura is from the verb FINGERE, to form, and has passed into the English language in the words figure, transfigure, configuration, effigy, faint, feign, etc.
We use the word figure now in various senses. Its primitive meaning applies to any marks, lines, or outlines, which make a form or a shape. Arithmetical figures are certain marks or forms which represent numbers 1,2,3. All secondary and derived meanings of the word "figure" retain this primitive meaning.
Applied to words, a figure denotes some form which a word or sentence takes, different from its ordinary an natural form. This is always the proper purpose of giving additional force, more life, intensified feeling, and greater emphasis. Whereas today "figurative language" is ignorantly spoken of as though it made less of the meaning, and deprive the words of their power and force. A passage of God's word is quoted; and it is met with the outcry, "Oh, that is figurative" meaning, or that it has no meaning at all. But the very opposite is the case. For an unusual form is never used EXCEPT to add force to the truth conveyed, emphasis to the statement of it, and depth to the meaning of it. When we apply this science then to God's word and to divine truth, we see it once that no branch of Bible study can be more important, or offer greater promise of substantial reward .
It lies at the very root of all translation; and it is the key to true interpretation. As the course of language moves smoothly along , according to the laws which govern it, there is nothing by which it can awaken or attract attention. It is as when we are traveling by railway. As long as everything proceeds according to the regulations we notice nothing; we sleep or we read or we meditate as may be the case. But, let the train slack in its speed, or make an unexpected stop , we immediately hear the question asked, "What is the matter? What are we stopping for ?" We hear one window go down and then another: attention is thoroughly aroused, an interest excited. So it is exactly with our reading. As long as all proceeds smoothly and accordingly to law we noticed nothing. But suddenly there is a departure from some law, a deviation from the even course, an unlooked for change - our attention is attracted, and we at once give our mind to discover why the words have been used in a new form, what the particular force of the passage is, and why we are to put special emphasis on the fact stated or the truth conveyed. In fact, it is not too much to say,