SOUNDING OUT:
Asyndeton and Polysyndeton

  There are two complimentary figures of speech that concern themselves with how things appear in series.  Normally items in a series take the form “item 1, item 2… and the last item.”  The “and” announces the end of the series.  However, the form often varies. 

  When no “and” occurs before the last item we should recognize the form.  This is the figure, asyndeton, literally meaning without conjunctions.  It is known commonly as it is identified, “no ands.”  There is no “and” to announce the end of the series.  Without the “and” we hurry over the items to reach what follows.  Asyndeton emphasizes what follows the list.  It does not mean that the items in series are not important for all scripture is God breathed and therefore important.  “However, when the figure asyndeton is used we are not detained over the separate statements, and asked to consider each in detail, but we are hurried on over the various matters that are mentioned, as though they were of no account, in comparison with the great climax to which they lead up, and which alone we are thus asked by this figure to emphasize.”1

  When “and” occurs between each item in the list we should recognize the form.  This is the figure known as polysyndeton, literally meaning many conjunctions.  It is known commonly as it is identified, “many ands.”  The “ands” act like speed bumps.  They slow us down directing our attention to each item in the series.  The emphasis in this figure is not what follows, but rather each of the items so listed.

  The normal laws of grammar direct us to place a “conjunction” before the last item in a series.  This rule may be broken in two legitimate ways.  In asyndeton, no ands are used, and in polysyndeton, an “and” is place before each item. When the former is used we are hasten to an grand climax, and when the latter is used we consider each matter’s importance.  We find an example of both in Luke 14. 

Luke 14:13,14:
But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:
¹⁴ And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just. 

  Here the listing of “the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind” occur without the proper series ending “and.”  The emphasis in these verses is that which follows the series:  “And thou shalt be blessed….”  We are hurried over the different classes of people to get to the blessing attached to making a feast.  The emphasis is that when we give to those who cannot return the blessing, God will see to it that we get blessed and recompensed.  Later in the chapter we find the same series of items appearing in a different form. 

Luke 14:21:
So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. 

  The many ands here direct us to consider each of the classes of people.  The servant was obedient to do as his master directed.  It was obvious the master was angry with the response of those initially invited.  Their refusal to come and the excuses they gave prompted the master to direct his servant to those four classes of people.  We are encouraged to pause on each one and consider why.  The context leads us to the importance of the listing.  The poor would not use the excuse given in verses 18 “to buy a piece of ground” and in verse 19 of buying five yoke of oxen.  The maimed would be most unlikely to use the excuse of verse 20 of just having married.  The halt or lame as in verse 13 would not be likely to use or prove the oxen at the plow.  The blind would be the most unlikely to go and see a field he had just purchased.  “Instead of being hurried forward to a weighty conclusion we are led gently backward by each “and” to think of these four classes, and to contrast them with those whom the Lord had just described in the preceding parable as making excuses.”2

  In the listing of the fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22,23) we find an asyndeton hurrying us through each fruit to the grand climax that against such there is no law.  In the listing of the characteristics of what men shall be in the last days we are hurried through the list to the grand climax at the end that from such turn away.

  A polysyndeton directs us to pause to consider each of the three objectives of the thief in John 10:10.  His objectives are to steal and to kill and to destroy.  When the forgiving father welcomes home his prodigal son, polysyndeton directs us to consider each of the five gracious actions he takes to show the divine grace in receiving the lost son home again (Luke 15:20).  It is also a polysyndeton that directs us to the new beginning the father gives to his son upon his return (Luke 15:22,23).  The father’s forgiveness brings a new beginning as the father confirms his love toward his son with eight actions.

  Although men may use these figures haphazardly, there is always a divine design when God uses them.  Now when reading a series pay particular attention to their forms.  As you identify asyndeton and polysyndeton you will see the emphasis to which the Holy Spirit directs our attention.