read-bible.org - Figures of Speech

Figures of Speech are deliberate departures from the normal rules of language and they are considered the third part of the Greek Language, together with grammar and syntax.

Traditionaly gramar classifies words based on eight parts of speech: the verb, the noun, the pronoun, the adjective, the adverb, the preposition, the conjunction, and the interjection.

As each part of speech explains not what the word is, but how the word is used, so figures of speech explain the abnormal usages thereof. They are legitimate and designed departures from the laws of language, that affect both meaning and form of words and sentences.

A word or words are used out of their ordinary place, or ,manner, or sense. The same word can be a noun in one sentence and a verb or adjective in the next, for example.

Traditionaly in English Grammar there are two types of Figures of Speech schemes (from the Greek schēma [σχήμα], form or shape)and tropes(from the Greek tropein [τροπείν], to turn).

Schemes are figures of speech in which there is a deviation from the ordinary or expected pattern of words.

Tropes involve changing or modifying the general meaning of a term.

Many Scholars have categorised figures of Speech, especialy the ones used in the Bible. The most noted of them is E.W. Bullinger and his classic work "Figures of Speech Used in the Bible."

But In the Greek Language Figures of Speech are categorised in six parts.

Figures of Speech

As to the sequence of words

As to the meaning of words

Antiphrasis figures i.e. Contradictory figures

As to the position of words

As to the quantity of words

Rhetorical figures

Remember that figures of speech are delibarate divagations and deviations from the formal structural elements of the language.

If you are interested in learning more about figures of speech you can check the "Reading the Bible" category and "Figures of Speech" subcategory in the Christian books resource page of this web site or visit the Wikipedia article.

As to the meaning of words ( 2 items )

Generally these figures are derived:
- from the change of the main meaning of the word to the limits of their meaning
- expansion of meaning - diastole
- contraction of meaning - systole
- enchanchement of meaning - anabathmisis
- debasement of meaning - hypovathmisis
- constriction of meaning - stenosis
- expansion of meaning - dievrinsis
- alteration of meaning - paraphthora
- improvement of meaning - veltiosis
- from their metaphorical or implied usage
- from their close connection with similar words or specific circumstances
- from their characteristic similarities or opposites
- from the possibility to replace them with other words of phrases with similar or opposite meaning
Following is a list of the figures with examples from the Bible classical Greek and everyday language.

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