Bible Lexicons

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

Cycloides; or Circular Repetition

The Repetition of the same Phrase at regular Intervals

Cy-clo-id´-es means having the form of a circle; from κύκλος (kuklos). a circle, and εἶδος (eidos), form.

The figure is so called because the sentence or phrase is repeated at intervals, as though in regular circles.

When this repetition occurs at the end of successive passages, as in poetry, in the form of a Refrain or Burden, it is called AMŒBAEON (q.v. [Note: Which see.] ). But when it occurs at the beginning or middle or any other part of the passage it is called Cycloides.

2 Samuel 1:19; 2 Samuel 1:25; 2 Samuel 1:27.-Where we have the burden of the lamentation three times, "How are the mighty fallen."

Psalms 42:5; Psalms 42:11 (6, 12) and 43:5.-We have the three-fold emphasis on the great question: "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and the blessed answer, "Hope thou in God!"

Psalms 46:7; Psalms 46:11.-Here, the phrase occurs twice, "The Lord of hosts is with us: the God of Jacob is our refuge."

Psalms 56:4; Psalms 56:10 (5, 11).-Where we have the sentence repeated, to emphasize the fact that when our enemies seem mightiest, we can say, "In God will I praise His word."

Psalms 80:3; Psalms 80:7; Psalms 80:19 (4, 8, 20).-Three times we have the prayer: "Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine, and we shall be saved."

Jeremiah 3:12; Jeremiah 3:22.-Where we have the twice repeated command to the backsliding People to "return."

Ezekiel 32:20-26; Ezekiel 32:28-32, -Twelve times we have the expression repeated "Slain with the sword," at intervals, irregularly, but twelve times to denote the judgment as being executed by Divine government.* [Note: See Number in Scripture, by the same author and publisher.]