Bible Lexicons

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

Topographia; or Description of Place

Top´-o-graph´i-a, from τόπος (top´-os), a place, and γράφειν (graphein), to write or describe.

Hence it is used of the figure which adds something to what is said by describing a place; or any peculiarity which marks the place, and throws light on what is being treated of.

Called by the Latins LOCI DESCRIPTIO.

Topographia is such a description of a place as exhibits it to our view; as the description of Sheol, Isaiah 14:9-12; Isaiah 30:33 :

The new Heaven and Earth, Isaiah 65:17, etc.; Revelation 21:1, etc.:

In Psalms 89:12, the description shows that the points of the compass are always* [Note: Excepting perhaps parts of Ezekiel written in Babylon.] reckoned with reference to Jerusalem, "The north and the south thou hast created them: Tabor (in the west) and Hermon (in the east) shall rejoice in thy name."

Thus the description of these places completes the four points of the compass.

The names of the places in Isaiah 10:28-32 give us the course of the invasion of the land by the King of Assyria.

The "Sea" is frequently mentioned by way of description to show that the West is intended: the Mediterranean being on the West of the Land. See Numbers 2:18 (Heb.). Joshua 16:5-6. Ezekiel 42:19 (Heb.).

In Psalms 107:3, however, the Sea evidently denotes the Red Sea; and though the word "sea" is in the Hebrew, it is rendered "South." The emphasis put upon the wonderful Exodus is thus quietly but very powerfully introduced:" And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the sea!" because the deliverance from Egypt was through the sea.

Sometimes a description of place is added and thrown in to convey a lesson, e.g., John 6:10, "Now there was much grass in the place." Acts 8:26, "Which is desert," to show that it mattered not to the true servant whether he ministered in a city (verse 5), and gave joy to crowds of people (verse 8), or whether he ministered to one soul in the desert (verse 26).

When the description is confined to time, it is called