Bible Lexicons

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

Metallage; or a Changing Over

A different subject of thought substituted for the original subject

Me-tal´-la-gee. Greek μεταλλαγή, from μετά (meta), beyond, or across; and ἀλλαγή (allagee), a change, exchange (from ἀλλάσσω, allasso). Hence, Metallage means a taking over in exchange.

In this figure the word taken over is exchanged for a separate object of thought.

The Latins called it SUPPOSITIO, substitution, and MATERIALIS, the mother stuff: i.e., one material out of which something else is made. The figure Metallage is used when a word is taken as the material, and out of it another object of thought is made and substituted.

Brydane exclaims, "O frightful and terrible perhaps!" Whitefield speaks of "Judas accosting his glorious Lord with a ‘Hail, Master!’ "

Hosea 4:18.-"Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually: her rulers with shame do love, ‘Give ye.’ "