Bible Lexicons

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

Anthropopatheia; or Condescension

The Ascribing of Human Attributes, etc., to God.

An-thrôp´-o-path-ei´-a. Greek, ἀνθρωποπάθεια, from ἄνθρωπος (anthropos), man, and πάθος (pathos), affections and feelings, etc. (from πάσχειν, paschein), to suffer).

This figure is used of the ascription of human passions, actions, or attributes to God.

The Hebrews had a name for this figure, and called it דֶרֶךְ בְנֵי אָדָם (Derech Benai Adam), the way of the sons of man.

The Greeks had another name for it: SYNCATABASIS (Syn´-cat-ab´-a-sis), from σύν (syn), together with, κατά (kata), down, and βαίνειν (bainein), to go: a going down together with: i.e., God, by using this figure, condescends to the ignorance and infirmity of man.

Hence, the Latin name for it was CONDESCENSIO, condescension.

The following are the divisions in which the various uses of this figure may be presented:-

I. Human and Rational Beings.

1. Parts and Members of Man.

2. The Feelings of Men.

3. The Actions of Men.

4. Circumstances:

a. Negative.

b. Positive.

c. Of Place.

d. Of Time.

e. Of Person.

II. Irrational Creatures.

1. Animals.

2. The Actions of certain Animals.

3. Parts or Members of certain Animals.

4. Plants:

a. Of Genus.

b. Of Species.

III. Inanimate Things.

1. Universals.

2. Particulars.

3. The Elements.

4. The Earth.

I. Human and Rational Beings

1. Parts and Members of Man; or, of the Human Body

A Soul is attributed to God

in condescension, so that we may understand His essence and will: i.e., God Himself.

Leviticus 26:11.-"And I will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you": i.e., I myself (see under Idiom and Synecdoche).

Hence the expression "to swear by one’s soul," Jeremiah 51:14. (See A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] marg. [Note: arg. Margin.] ) Amos 6:8, where it is rendered, "by himself."

Lamentations 3:20.-"And thy soul will condescend to me."

This was the primitive text, and we find here one of the eighteen emendations of the Sopherim, who altered it to, "My soul is humbled in me." (See Appendix E).

Jerusalem, personified, speaks, and says (verses 19, 20) addressing God:

"Remember my misery and my forlorn state,

The wormwood and the gall.

Yea, verily, Thou wilt remember,

And Thy soul will mourn over me.

This I recall to my heart,

Therefore I have hope."

A Body is used of Christ.

Colossians 2:17.-"Which are a shadow of things to come: but the body of Christ is the substance": i.e., Christ Himself, either personally (verse 9) or mystically.* [Note: See The Mystery, by the same author and publisher.]

The Head is spoken of Christ.

The Face, to signify presence.

Exodus 33:20; Exodus 33:23.-Compare 1 Corinthians 13:12. Jonah 1:3. Psalms 51:11 (13).

Psalms 31:20 (21).-"Thou wilt hide therein the secret of thy face": i.e., of thy presence, in Divine grace and favour.

Psalms 17:2.-"Let my sentence come forth from thy face": i.e., Thy presence or Thyself, in righteousness and truth.

Psalms 89:15 (16).-"They will walk, O Lord, in the light of thy face": i.e., in the light of Thy presence, enjoying Thy favour and blessing.

1 Chronicles 29:12.-"Riches and honour come from thy face": A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] , "of Thee": i.e., from Thy grace and favour.

Hence the hiding of God’s face meant the withholding of His grace and favour.

It is used of the Divine presence in anger and judgment.

Psalms 9:3 (4).-"They shall fall and perish from thy face" (i.e., at Thy presence manifested in judgment).

Psalms 21:9 (10).-"Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of Thy face" (i.e., Thy presence in judgment).

The A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] actually renders this "anger": but not in

Psalms 34:16.-"The face of the Lord is against them that do evil" (i.e., the anger of the Lord, as in 21:9 and Lamentations 4:16. See A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] marg. [Note: arg. Margin.] )

It is used of Jehovah Himself, for emphasis.

Exodus 33:14-15, as is explained in verse 16, and Isaiah 63:9. Exodus 23:20, etc., where doubtless Christ is meant by "the angel."

So Exodus 23:15 : "None shall appear before my face (i.e., Me) empty."

Hence the shewbread was called the bread of the presence (lit., the bread of the faces), because it was in the holy place in the manifested presence of God.

Exodus 25:30.-"Thou shalt set upon the table the bread of the faces (פָּנִים, pahneem) before me (לְפָנַי, l’phahnai) alway." Observe the Paronomasia (q.v. [Note: Which see.] ).

Psalms 27:8.-"Seek ye my face": i.e., seek me.

Psalms 100:2.-"Come before his face (i.e., before Him) with singing."

Psalms 105:4.-"Seek his face (i.e., Himself) evermore." So 2 Samuel 21:1 : "And David enquired of the Lord": lit., sought the face of the Lord. (See A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] marg. [Note: arg. Margin.] )

Psalms 139:7.-"Whither shall I flee from thy face?" (A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] , presence): i.e., from Thee.

Hence "Face to face" means great intimacy. Deuteronomy 5:4; Deuteronomy 34:10. Numbers 12:6-7, etc., which is explained by Exodus 20:18-21. In Numbers 12:8 we have "mouth to mouth" for the first time. See below.

Eyes are attributed to God.

2 Samuel 16:22.-"The Lord will behold with his eye." This was the primitive text; and is one of the eighteen passages altered by the Sopherim (see Appendix E) to "mine eye," which has been taken (by Metonymy) to stand for tears or affliction.

Zechariah 2:8 (12).-"He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of my eye." So the primitive Hebrew text read, but was altered by the Sopherim to "his eye." See Appendix E.

Eyes are used of God’s observation.

Eyes are used of God’s grace and favour.

Psalms 32:8.-A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] : "I will guide thee with mine eye." R.V. [Note: The Revised Version, 1881.] : "I will counsel thee with mine eye upon thee." Lit., I cause mine eye to take counsel concerning thee: i.e., I will cause My Spirit to graciously to inform thee and lead thee in the right way. (See A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] marg. [Note: arg. Margin.] )

So 1 Peter 3:12. See above.

"I am cut off from before thine eyes" (Psalms 31:22): i.e., I have lost Thy favour.

"To keep as the apple of the eye" (Deuteronomy 32:10).

Ears are attributed to God.

Psalms 10:17.-"Thou wilt cause thine ear to hear."

Psalms 31:2 (3).-"Bow down thine ear to me."

Psalms 40:6 (7).-"Mine ears hast thou opened or bored": i.e., Christ says, "A servant for ever hast thou made me." See margin, and compare Exodus 21:6 and Deuteronomy 15:17; and see under Metonymy.

Psalms 55:1 (2).-"Give ear to my prayer, O God."

Psalms 71:2.-"Incline thine ear unto me and save me."

Psalms 130:2.-"Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications."

Ezekiel 8:18.-"Though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them."

James 5:4.-"The cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth."

See also Isaiah 50:4-5, where Messiah speaks.

Nostrils are attributed to God.

Exodus 15:8.-"With the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together."

Job 4:9.-"By the breath of his nostrils are they consumed."

Deuteronomy 33:10.-"They shall put (or let them put) incense to thy nose." A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] and R.V. [Note: The Revised Version, 1881.] , "before thee." (But see A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] marg. [Note: arg. Margin.] )

Psalms 18:15.-"At the blast of the breath of thy nostril."

Ezekiel 8:17.-"Lo, they put the branch (the Asherah) to my nose." So the Heb. Text originally read, but was altered by the Sopherim, "to their nose." See Appendix E.

A Mouth and Lips and a Tongue are attributed to God, in connection with His will, His word, His commands, etc.

Numbers 12:8.-"With him (Moses) will I speak mouth to mouth": i.e., familiarly, and with really audible words.

Joshua 9:14.-"And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord."

Job 11:5.-"Oh that God would speak and open his lips against thee."

Isaiah 11:4.-"He shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked."

Isaiah 30:27.-"His lips are full of indignation, and his tongue as a devouring fire."

Isaiah 55:11.-"So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth."

A Voice is attributed to God.

Isaiah 30:30.-"Jehovah shall cause the glory of His voice to be heard": i.e., as in A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] and R.V. [Note: The Revised Version, 1881.] , "his glorious voice," thus interpreting and rendering the Hypallage (q.v. [Note: Which see.] ). See Psalms 29:1-11

Arms are attributed to God, to indicate His strength and power, which in men lies so largely in the arms.

Exodus 15:16. Job 40:9.-"Hast thou an arm like God?"

Psalms 77:15 (16).-"Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people." (So Exodus 6:6. Deuteronomy 9:29. Psalms 136:12).

Psalms 79:11.-"According to the greatness of thine arm." Here, the A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] and R.V. [Note: The Revised Version, 1881.] both actually render it "thy power" (marg. [Note: arg. Margin.] thine arm).

Psalms 89:10 (11).-"Thou hast scattered thine enemies with the arm of thy strength." So R.V. [Note: The Revised Version, 1881.] But A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] , "with thy strong arm" (see margin).

Isaiah 51:9.-"Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord." See also under Epizeuxis.

Isaiah 62:8.-"Jehovah hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength": i.e., by His strong arm, or, His strength.

Luke 1:51.-"He hath shewed strength with his arm."

Psalms 89:13 (14).-"Thou hast an arm with might" (see A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] and R.V. [Note: The Revised Version, 1881.] margin).

Here A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] and R.V. [Note: The Revised Version, 1881.] both render it "a mighty arm."

Isaiah 30:30.-Jehovah "shall shew the lighting down of his arm." Here His voice is used of thunder, and His arm denotes His lightning.

The Arm of the Lord not only denotes power, but power executed in judgment.

The Arm of the Lord is also used of the making known of His grace in wondrous power.

Isaiah 52:10.-"Jehovah hath made bare His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations." Verses 7, 8 clearly show that this was His power manifested in grace to Israel.

Isaiah 53:1.-"Who hath believed our report (see Metonymy of Adjunct)? and to whom is the arm of Jehovah revealed?"

A Hand is attributed to God, by which various powers and actions are indicated Power and Miraculous Operation.

Job 10:8.-"Thine hands have made me and fashioned me."

Job 12:9.-"The hand of Jehovah hath wrought this."

Job 12:10.-"In whose hand is the life of every living thing."

Psalms 8:6 (7).-"Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands."

Psalms 95:5.-"His hands formed the dry land."

Isaiah 11:11.-"The Lord (Adonai) shall set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His People."

Purpose.

Acts 4:28.-"To do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done."

Protection, gracious deliverance, and security.

Psalms 31:5 (6).-"Into thine hand I commit my spirit."

Psalms 144:7.-"Send thine hand from above: rid me, and deliver me out of great waters." See under Heterosis.

John 10:28.-"Neither shall any pluck them out of my hand."

John 10:29.-"None can pluck them out of my Father’s hand."

Acts 4:30.-"By stretching forth thine hand to heal."

Providence.

Psalms 104:28.-"Thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good."

Psalms 145:16.-"Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing."

Prospering.

Nehemiah 2:8.-"The king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me."

Nehemiah 2:18.-"Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me."

Preservation.

John 10:28.-"Neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." And verse 29: "No man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand."

Punishment.

Exodus 9:3.-"Behold the hand of the Lord is upon thy cattle," etc.

Job 19:21.-"The hand of God (Eloah) hath touched me." (See under Tapeinosis).

Psalms 21:8 (9).-"Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies," etc.

Psalms 17:14.-"From men which are thy hand, O Jehovah" (marg. [Note: arg. Margin.] , from men by thine hand. Compare R.V. [Note: The Revised Version, 1881.] ): i.e., "from the men who are instruments in Thy hand, O Jehovah."

Psalms 38:2 (3).-"Thy hand presseth me sore."

Acts 13:11.-"And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee."

Ezekiel 39:21.-"All the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them."

So Job (23:2) uses the word "hand," by Metonymy, for his punishment. "My hand (i.e., punishment) is heavier than my groaning." (See A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] marg. [Note: arg. Margin.] ).

See 27:11. Hence the

Idiomatic Expressions.

Jehovah asks why this should be in verse 5.

"To open the hand": i.e., to bestow or give bountifully. See Psalms 104:28; Psalms 145:16 above.

"To lift up the hand": i.e., to swear solemnly.

Exodus 6:8 (margin). Deuteronomy 32:40. Ezekiel 20:5-6; Ezekiel 36:7, etc. (See also Genesis 14:22). This explains the difficult verse Exodus 17:16. See the Text and margins of A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] and R.V. [Note: The Revised Version, 1881.] There is the Ellipsis of the verb which is clearly understood from the idiom, thus "Surely the hand is [lifted up] on the banner of Jehovah." So that the A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] is quite correct in sense: "The Lord hath sworn." (See Ginsburg’s Introduction to the Hebrew Bible, page 382, 383).

"The hand of the Lord upon" a man denoted also the power of the prophetic spirit.

A Right Hand is attributed to God; to denote the highest power, and most Divine authority.

It denotes also His grace and mercy in delivering and saving His people.

Psalms 18:35 (36); 20:6 (7) (margin); 44:3 (4); 63:8 (9); 80:15, 17 (16, 18).

It is used also of the place accorded to Christ in His human nature as now exalted.

So Christ’s dignity is further described by the figure THEOPREPÔS, worthy of a god. 1 Corinthians 15:25. Ephesians 4:10, etc.

A Finger is attributed to God, to denote the putting forth of His formative power, and the direct and immediate act of God.

Exodus 8:19; Exodus 31:18. Psalms 8:3 (4). So Luke 11:20, by which, according to Matthew 12:28, the Spirit of God is meant.

Isaiah 40:12 (a span of the fingers). See 48:13.

A Heart is attributed to God.

Bowels are attributed to God; to denote His mercies and His pity.

All these figures of Anthropopatheia are figures of Metonomy, by which one thing is put for another. Here, because, when a person is much moved by deep feeling, there is a movement of the bowels, so they are put, by Metonymy, for the feeling itself.

Luke 1:78.-"Through the bowels of the mercy of our God." (See A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] margin). Here it is translated, "through the tender mercy of our God."

A Bosom is attributed to God; to denote comfort and rest.

Psalms 74:11 (the hand in the bosom denoting ease, according to Proverbs 19:24; Proverbs 26:15).

Feet are attributed to God; to denote His presence in the earth, in power, in universal dominion.

Isaiah 66:1. Psalms 74:3; Psalms 110:1. Isaiah 60:13. In this respect the earth is spoken of as His "footstool."

Footsteps are also attributed to God.

Psalms 77:19 (20); 89:51 (52).

2. Human Affections and Feelings are attributed to God

Human affections and feelings are attributed to God: not that He has such feelings; but, in infinite condescension, He is thus spoken of in order to enable us to comprehend Him.

Rejoicing is attributed to God.

Psalms 104:31.-"The Lord shall rejoice in his works." So Isaiah 62:5. Deuteronomy 28:63; Deuteronomy 30:9. Jeremiah 32:41, etc.

Sorrow and Grief are attributed to God.

Genesis 6:6.-"It grieved him at his heart."

Judges 10:16.-"His soul was grieved for the misery of Israel."

Psalms 78:40.-"How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve Him in the desert!"

Repentance is attributed to God.

Genesis 6:6.-"It repented Jehovah that he had made man on the earth."

Anger, Vengeance, and Hatred are attributed to God.

Exodus 15:7.-"Thou sentest forth thy wrath."

Psalms 5:5 (6).-"Thou hatest all workers of iniquity."

Isaiah 1:14.-"Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth."

Isaiah 1:24.-"I will … avenge me of mine enemies."

Jeremiah 9:9.-"Shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?"

Nahum 1:2.-"God (El) is jealous, and Jehovah revengeth; the Lord revengeth, and is furious: the Lord will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies."

Comfort is spoken of God.

Isaiah 57:6.-"Should I receive comfort in these?"

Ezekiel 5:13.-"And I will be comforted."

Jealousy.

Exodus 20:5.-"For I the Lord thy God am a jealous*[Note: It is noteworthy that קַבָּא (kabah) out of its six occurrences, is, in five, connected with אֵל (El), God.] God (El)."

Numbers 25:11.-"That I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy."

Zechariah 1:14.-"I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy." See also under Polyptoton.

Zeal.

Isaiah 9:7 (6).-"The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this."

Displeasure.

Zechariah 1:15.-"I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction."

Pity.

Joel 2:18.-"Then will Jehovah … pity His People."

3. Human Actions are attributed to God.

Knowing. Not actual knowledge as such, but the acquiring of knowledge as though before ignorant.

Genesis 18:21.-"I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it,† [Note: The Severus Codex reads ם for ה: i.e., their cry, instead of "the cry of it." See Ginsburg’s Introduction to the Hebrew Bible, page 412.] which is come unto me; and if not, I will know."

Genesis 22:12.-"Now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me."

God, of course, knew it already; but, in wondrous condescension, He stoops to make Abraham understand.

Deuteronomy 8:2.-"The Lord thy God led thee, etc. … to know what was in thine heart." So Deuteronomy 13:3 (4). The Lord knew already: "For He knoweth the way of the righteous" (Psalms 1:6; Psalms 31:7 (8). 2 Timothy 2:19).

Psalms 14:2.-"The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see (i.e., to know) if there were any that did understand," etc.

So Psalms 53:2 (3). (See also this verse under Epanadiplosis).

Not Knowing, the opposite of knowledge, is attributed to God.

Genesis 3:9.-"The Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?" This implies ignorance. The Lord knew; but the question is put to make Adam know and realise his changed condition.

Genesis 4:9.-"Where is Abel thy brother?"

These first two Divine questions in the Bible are very significant. See under Erotesis.

Numbers 22:9.-"What men are these with thee?"

1 Kings 19:9; 1 Kings 19:13.-"What doest thou here, Elijah?"

To this figure must be referred the passages which represent God as doubting, or having to wait to see certain results.

Also when God tries, or proves, or searches, it is not that He does not know, but that He may make others know.

Psalms 7:9 (10).-"The righteous God trieth the hearts and reins." (See Metonymy of subject).

So Christ declares that He will say:

The questions of Christ in the New Testament are to be referred to the same Figure.

Matthew 22:20.-"Whose is this image and superscription?"

Also verse 45: "If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?"

Luke 8:45.-"Who touched me?"

Remembering.

Genesis 9:15-16, and Exodus 6:5, where God speaks of remembering His covenant. So Psalms 105:8; Psalms 105:42* [Note: See the Structure of this Psalm in A Key to the Psalms, by the same author and publisher.] ; 106:45: "He remembered for them His covenant," though "they (verse 13) soon forgat His works," and (verse 21) "they forgat God their saviour."

Exodus 2:24.-"And God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob." See this passage under the figures Synonymia, Anaphora, Polysyndeton, and Metonymy (of the Cause).

1 Samuel 1:11.-"If thou wilt … remember me and not forget thine handmaid." See under Pleonasm.

1 Samuel 1:19.-"And the Lord remembered her." There is Hypocatastasis here; for it is implied that He heard Hannah’s prayer (verse 9), and did according to her request.

Psalms 78:39.-"He remembered that they were but flesh." This stands in solemn contrast with verse 42: "They remembered not His hand."

Psalms 103:14.-"He knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust." This is the one thing that man will not do: he will not remember our infirmities. Man will remember our sins; but these are the very things that God will not remember (Isaiah 43:25). Infinite in power, He remembers our weakness. Perfect in holiness, He will not remember our sins.

This remembrance, though in mercy to His people, involves the punishment of their enemies.

Forgetting and Not Forgetting is also attributed to God.

Psalms 9:18 (19).-"For the needy shall not alway be forgotten."

Psalms 13:1 (2).-"How long wilt thou forget me, O Jehovah."

Psalms 42:9 (10).-"I will say unto God (El) my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me?"

Isaiah 49:15.-"Yet will I not forget thee."

Jeremiah 23:39.-"I, even I, will utterly forget you, and I will forsake you": i.e., the false prophets, who would say "the burden of the Lord."

Hosea 4:6.-"I will also forget thy children." (See under Metonymy of Cause.)

Luke 12:6.-"Not one of them is forgotten before God."

When God says He will not forget His enemies, it means that their punishment is certain, and will not be indefinitely deferred.

Job 11:6.-"Know therefore that God causeth to be forgotten for thee of thine iniquity."

The A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] and R.V. [Note: The Revised Version, 1881.] both render this "God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth": where two words have to be supplied through not seeing the Figure, which denotes that "God (Eloah) causeth the punishment of thine iniquity to be deferred." The Heb. is: "He constantly lendeth to thee": i.e., crediteth thee like a lenient creditor.

Psalms 74:23.-"Forget not the voice of thine enemies": i.e., do not defer their punishment.

Amos 8:7.-"I will never forget any of their works": i.e., I will surely remember them and punish them for them.

Thinking.

Genesis 50:20.-"Ye thought (i.e., devised) evil against me: but God thought it for good."

Psalms 40:5 (6).-"The thoughts which are to usward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee."

Psalms 92:5 (6).-"O Lord, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep."

Psalms 139:17.-"How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God" (El).

Isaiah 55:8.-These words may be presented according to their structure. (See under Epanodos).

a For my thoughts are not

b your thoughts, neither are

b your ways

a My ways, saith the Lord (Jehovah).

Jeremiah 29:11.-"I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith Jehovah, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." (See this verse also under Metonymy of Adjunct and Hendiadys).

So Jeremiah 51:12; Jeremiah 4:28, etc.

Hissing.

Isaiah 5:26.-"He will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss unto them from the end of the earth." (See under Hypotyposis).

Isaiah 7:18.-"Jehovah shall hiss for the fly that is in the uttermost parts of the rivers of Egypt," etc.

Zechariah 10:8.-"I will hiss for them; and gather them, for I have redeemed them."

Breathing.

Genesis 2:7.-"The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul."* [Note: Or "living creature," as in chap. 1:20, 21, 24, 30.]

Laughing.

Psalms 2:4.-"He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord (Adonai† [Note: Or "Jehovah," according to another reading.] ) shall have them in derision."

Psalms 37:13.-"Adonai† [Note: Or "Jehovah," according to another reading.] shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming." (See under Metonymy of Adjunct).

Crying Out.

Isaiah 42:13.-"He shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies." And verse 14: "Now will I cry like a travailing woman."

Speaking, by way of discourse or command.

See Genesis 1:3; Genesis 2:16; Genesis 3:9; Genesis 6:13, to Noah. Genesis 12:1; Genesis 13:14; Genesis 15:1-21; Genesis 16:1-16; Genesis 17:1-27; Genesis 18:1-33, to Abraham. Exodus 3:4-5, etc., to Moses.

These instances occur so frequently that a great part of the Bible would have to be transcribed if we gave them all.

Standing.

Genesis 18:22.-"But the Lord stood yet before Abraham."

This was the primitive Text; but it is one of the eighteen passages altered by the Sopherim to remove the harshness of the Anthropopatheia. (See Appendix E).

Sitting.

Seeing.

Hearing.

Smelling.

Tasting and Touching.

Walking.

Riding.

Meeting.

Returning.

Rising up.

Passing through.

Begetting.

Psalms 2:7. Hebrews 1:5. So, those who believe, are said to be begotten by God. Psalms 22:31 (32); 87:4-6. See especially 1 John 2:29; 1 John 3:9, etc.

Washing.

Hiding,

for protection and defence. Psalms 31:20 (21) (See Metonymy); 64:2 (3); 91:1.

Wiping,

Girding.

Psalms 18:32 (33); 30:11 (12); 45:3 (4).

Building.

Genesis 2:22 (marg. [Note: arg. Margin.] ). Psalms 28:5 : "Because they regard not the works (פֹעַל poal = contrivance) of Jehovah, nor the operation (מַעֲשֵׂה ma’aseh = the actual execution) of his hands."

Binding up.

Job 5:18. Psalms 147:3. Isaiah 61:1. Hosea 6:1-11 I.

Opening doors, windows, etc.

Proving and Trying.

Psalms 17:3; Psalms 66:10. Zechariah 13:9. Malachi 3:3 (compare Ezekiel 22:18-22).

Breaking.

Psalms 2:9; Psalms 3:7 (8). Isaiah 38:13 (compare Psalms 22:16 (17) under Paronomasia); 45:2.

Sifting.

Blotting out.

Exodus 32:32-33 (compare under Aposiopesis). Psalms 51:1 (3).

Eating, or Swallowing.

Exodus 15:7. Isaiah 25:7-8 (compare 1 Corinthians 15:54).

Enlarging.

Genesis 26:22. Psalms 4:1 (2).

Making a straight way.

Psalms 5:8 (9). Isaiah 45:2; Isaiah 45:13 (marg. [Note: arg. Margin.] ).

Pouring out.

Loosening the loins.

Wounding the head.

Breaking forth.

Shooting with arrows.

Psalms 64:7 (8) (compare verses 3, 4 (4, 5)).

Writing.

Fanning.

Sweeping.

Cutting off the Spirit.

Psalms 76:12 (13).

Anointing.

4. Circumstances are attributed to God

Circumstances are attributed to God, and may be divided into five classes:-

a. Negative (when, by Anthropopatheia, He is represented as not being able to do anything),

b. Positive,

c. As to place,

d. As to time, and

e. As to person.

(a) Negative

Genesis 32:28 (29).-"As a prince hast thou power with God … and hast prevailed" So Hosea 12:3-4 (4, 5).

Exodus 32:10. "Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them."

Isaiah 1:13.-"I am not able to endure" (A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] ," I cannot away with.") See under Ellipsis and Idioma.

Psalms 106:23.-"He said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them."

Ezekiel 23:18.-"Like as my mind was alienated from her sister."

(b) Positive

When God or Christ is spoken of as a Husbandman (i.e., by Synecdoche), or a vinedresser. See Isaiah 5:1-9. John 15:1-27 Matthew 20:1-16, etc.

As a Warrior. Exodus 15:3. Psalms 45:3-5 (4 6); 46:8, 9 (9, 10); 76, etc.

As a Counsellor. Isaiah 9:6 (5).

As a King, Prince, etc. Isaiah 9:6 (5); 55:4; 32:1; 33:22, etc.

(c) As to Place

When God is spoken of being in circumstances which have to do with Place and Time as men are-

Also as having all enemies under His feet. Psalms 110:1. 1 Corinthians 15:25. Hebrews 1:13, denoting the completeness of their subjection. Psalms 8:6 (7). Ephesians 1:22. Hebrews 2:8, etc.

As sitting upon the Cherubim. Psalms 80:1 (2); 99:1.

As sitting upon the circle (i.e., the horizon) of the earth, and the arch of heaven, as it appears to us. Isaiah 40:22 : i.e., high above all.

(d) As to Time

Christ is said to be the "first-born" as to time. Romans 8:29. Colossians 1:15; Colossians 1:18. Hebrews 1:6.* [Note: See article, "Word," in Bullinger’s Lexicon and Concordance. Longmans.]

(e) As to Circumstances connected with the person

Shield or Buckler. Genesis 15:1. Deuteronomy 33:29. Psalms 3:3 (4); 18:2 (3); 28:7; 84:11 (12). (See under Metaphor.)

A Book is attributed to God.

A book of providence and of grace (Psalms 139:16) which may be applied to the new birth of the members of the body of Christ.

Oil or Anointing is attributed to God (Psalms 45:7 (8). Hebrews 1:9) which may apply to the Holy Spirit. Isaiah 61:1. Acts 10:38 The word "Christ" means anointed, both in its Hebrew form מָשִׁיחַ, Messiah, and its Greek form χριστός, christos. See Psalms 2:2. Daniel 9:25-26. John 1:41 (42); 4:25.

A Banner or Flag is attributed to God. Exodus 17:15 (16). Psalms 60:4 (6). Song of Solomon 2:4 Isaiah 5:26; Isaiah 11:10 (12); 59:19.

II. God is figured by an Irrational Creature

1. Animals

2. The Actions of Certain Animals are attributed to God

Thunder is called the voice of the Lord. Psalms 29:3; Psalms 29:9 : The cry of Christ is called roaring. Psalms 22:1 (2) (see Hebrews 5:7). Psalms 38:8 (9).

To fly. 2 Samuel 22:11. Psalms 18:10 (11).

3. Parts or Members of Certain Animals are attributed to God

4. Certain Plants are used as figures of God

(a) Genus

(b) Species

III. Inanimate Things are sometimes used as figures of God

1. Universals

Magnitude or greatness is attributed to God. Exodus 15:16; Exodus 18:11. Numbers 14:19. Deuteronomy 3:24. Ezra 5:8. Psalms 48:1 (2); 47:2 (3). Jeremiah 32:17-19. Daniel 2:45. Malachi 1:14, etc.

Comparison is used of God.

In spite of all this condescension, it is impossible to convey to human understanding, the greatness, vastness, illimitable perfection and infinity of God. Psalms 36:5-8 (6-9). Romans 11:33. 1 Corinthians 2:10, etc.

2. Particulars

God is spoken of as Light. 1 John 1:5. It would require a volume to investigate and carry out all that is taught by this wondrous Metaphor. First, we should have to understand what Light itself is, and science was never more baffled than to-day in defining it or explaining it. So is God incomprehensible. A little while ago they thought they knew. Professor Röntgen has now shown that they do not yet know.

Lights. James 1:17. "The Father of lights": i.e., the source, not only of light itself, but of all light producers and light-bearers and light givers: viz., the sun, moon, stars, planets, and all the fountains of light contained in earthly substances producing electricity, gas, and light of all kinds.

Ps