Figures of comparison are a part of our everyday
language, just as they were for men and women of the Bible. Although
their forms are easily recognizable, they are so common place
that they sometimes go undetected. When we read the Word of God
and notice these figures, we are on our way to a deeper, more
vivid understanding of the emphasis God places in His Word.
Figures of speech intensify and add color and strength
to a simple statement of fact. In our vernacular, for example,
"The news spread like wildfire" paints a more vivid
picture than "The news spread rapidly." Or the expression
"That's as plain as the nose on your face" is certainly
more emphatic than "That's very obvious or clear." These
are two examples of similes, figures of comparison using
the words "like" or "as.''
Perhaps you've heard someone share at the completion of Living in God’s Power, "Now I know God’s Word is
like a gold mine!" Not only are they sharing their excitement
of learning, but also they are using a figure of comparison called
a metaphor to compare God’s Word to a gold mine. They
have repeatedly mined some nuggets of truth from God’s Word and
expect to return to it and acquire many more
While similes use the words "like" or
"as" in their comparison, metaphors use a form
of the verb "to be." Saying "God’s Word is like
a gold mine" is a simile. Saying "God’s Word
is a gold mine" is a metaphor, and the intensity
of the comparison is stronger.
Now suppose our same excited student stands to share at
the close of Growing in God’s Power. This time, savoring
the further learning he's received, he stands up attempting to
speak but finding words difficult to express his heart. He then
places his Bible over his heart hugging it with his other hand
and says, "What a gold mine!"
He has not stated that God’s Word is "like a gold
mine" or that it "is a gold mine." Instead, he
has implied from the surrounding context of his actions
that he treasures God’s Word a gold mine. This figure of comparison
is called hypocatastasis, and it is the strongest of
these three simple figures.
Now let's see some of these great figures in action. as
God uses them so precisely and accurately in His Word.
Simile
When God instructed Gideon regarding whom to take
into battle, He used a comparison to a dog, saying in Judges 7:5,
"... Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue,
as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself " The comparison
is stated: "Every one.., as a dog." Psalms 59:6 uses
a similar simile, introducing it with "like":
"they make a noise like a dog." Again the comparison
is stated: "They... like a dog."
The comparison in these records brings a picture to our
mind of a dog drinking or barking. These people were to be identified
by their resemblance to certain characteristics of a dog. The
addition or presence of "like" or ''as'' identifies
these figures as similes.
Metaphor Metaphors are stronger than similes.
Their representations show stronger intensity or force with the
comparison. When David confronted Goliath with a sling and a staff,
the Philistine giant responded with the question, “Am I a dog?"
(I Samuel 17:43).
Certainly Goliath was not literally a dog. He was a man.
He was a warrior. He was the Philistine champion.
He was a giant. Any of those statements are literally true. However,
when we substitute the figurative "dog" for the literal
item-man, warrior, champion, or giant-we have the figure of speech metaphor.
Goliath was insulted when David approached with a sling
and a staff. That's how a shepherd would run off wild dogs. Goliath
was a champion, and David's actions were seen as a reproach. Therefore
his response, “Am I a dog?" showed that he felt
David's contempt and disdain.
Hypocatastasis
Stronger yet is the figure of comparison hypocatastasis.
The psalmist spoke of his wicked enemies in Psalms 22:16, saying,
"For dogs have compassed me.” Here he does not describe his
enemies as being "like dogs." Neither does he use the
verb "to be," saying they "were dogs." I nstead,
we find that only one item of comparison is named: "dogs."
The "wicked enemies" are not specifically mentioned-only
implied. The surrounding context supplies the missing item of comparison,
and this is how we see that the "dogs" of which he is
speaking are his wicked enemies.
Clearly Jesus was speaking of people when he said in Matthew
7:6, "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs." Likewise,
Paul warns the believers in Philippians 3:2, "Beware of dogs
" These comparisons do not use "like" or "as"
as a simile would. They do not restate the subject in a
figurative way using a form of the verb "to be." That
would be a metaphor. Rather we identify these figurative
statements as hypo-catastases because one of the two items
of comparison is omitted (in these cases "people"). They
require that an implication be made. We are to gather from the context
that Jesus and Paul were talking about people.
The force of the comparison increases with each figure. In
Philippians 3:2, for example, instead of saying, "Beware of
people who act like dogs" or "Beware of people who are
dogs," the first point of comparison is omitted and the force
is increased by saying "Beware of dogs!" This hypocatastasis communicates the contempt to the greatest degree. They were too
despicable to even be worthy of mention.
As you read God's Word these figures will become easier to
recognize. "Like" and ''as'' alert you to look for similes.
A comparison using the verb "to be" identifies metaphors.
A comparison in which one of the items is missing is indicative
of a hypocatastasis. The force or strength of the comparisons
will also be helpful in determining the proper emphasis that God
wants placed on certain aspects of His Word. The force increases
as one progresses from "He is like a dog" to "He
is a dog" to "Dog!"
In your study time, why not select a section of scripture-perhaps
some favorite psalms or chapters—and read it again. How many figures
of comparison can you find? In our next installment March 2nd we will look at three other figures of comparison.
