SOUNDING OUT:
Synonymia, Parallelism, and an Ancient Hebrew Idiom
by Ren Manetti

   Synonymia and parallelism are two ancient figures of speech that not only occur in great abundance in God’s Word but are a tremendous blessing to students of God’s Word. Therefore, recognizing the Heavenly Father’s intended emphasis for each of the two figures of speech helps reveal a tremendous truth: the meaning of the Hebrew idiom ‘to call upon the name of the LORD.’ This is especially edifying because it calls our attention to the Heavenly Father’s work for every man through His wonderful Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

  Dr. Bullinger writes in Figures of Speech Used in the Bible that, “Synonymia, … when used by the Holy Spirit,… causes the mind to look again and again at the subject….” (324). This is certainly the case in
Exodus 1:7:

  Although increased abundantly is translated from a single Hebrew word, waxed exceedingly mighty is translated from two Hebrew words. The use of two words ends the synonymia and begins the summary and concluding aspect of this verse . Here the combination of polysyndeton and synonymia emphasizes the great increase of the children of Israel from patriarchal tribes to the size of a nation. The common meaning of the synonymous words is emphasized by this figure. Three synonyms are used to emphasize the completeness of the work of God in blessing His people (see also Deuteronomy 10:22).

  In many respects synonymous parallelism is so similar to synonymia that the two figures are sometimes confused. However, synonymia is the repetition of synonymous words while synonymous parallelism is the repetition of phrases and clauses that are the same in meaning. Sometimes a student of God’s word may talk of parallelism as a repeated “subject,” but for clarity this study will talk of parallelism as only a repeated thought, judgment, or consideration. One may have many thoughts on a single subject or topic, but parallel thoughts, emphasized with synonymous phrases or clauses, is the essence of parallelism. Being very attentive to these biblical details will allow the greatness of God’s word to really speak to us. Although some teach that parallelism is biblical poetry found primarily in Psalms and Proverbs, notice this combination of synonymia and synonymous parallelism found in the Law of Moses, in Deuteronomy 13:4:

  When we separate the synonymia in the a members from the synonymous parallelism in the I and the b members, three Hebrew idioms and two very important biblical usages are defined and emphasized as the Holy Spirit intended. The synonymia clarifies with an emphasis the absolute need for Israel to worship the LORD by showing to fear and to serve (the LORD) means to reverence Him, not only in the outward law but in worship (see also: 1 Samuel 12:14; 2 Kings 17:35; Exodus 23:24-25). The parallelism in the b members emphasizes the only way available for Old Testament believers to do this. The parallelism in the I members shows that to walk after the LORD is equal in meaning to cleaving unto Him. God uses parallelism in conjunction with parallel structure (the repetition of subjects) to emphasize His wisdom, power, or purpose.

  In Isaiah 64:7: a repeated grammatical structure sets two thoughts as parallel:

  With this beautiful use of synonymous parallelism God emphasizes that to call upon the name of the LORD means to stir oneself up to take hold of Him. The beautiful Old Testament idiom of permission is also here made plain. God has hidden His face from Israel because no one had stirred themselves up to take hold of Him! Isn’t God’s word wonderful? He never really hid Himself, but in His foreknowledge He knew none would seek Him. If men want the blessing of the Almighty God all they ever need to do is to seek Him, to stir themselves up to take hold on Him. With this simple use of parallelism the Heavenly Father’s Word opens to us in all its mighty splendor.

  There is no reason that any man or woman should feel that God has hidden his face from him or her. Romans 10:13 proclaims:

  Romans 10:13 is, itself, a reference to Joel 2:32:

  Christ has come even as Joel foretold by the spirit of the Living God, and he is in the remnant, and in even as many as the LORD our God has called. So states Acts 2:38-39:

  Thanks to God’s wonderful Son, all who call upon the name of Jehovah God for deliverance shall be saved. The word of this deliverance is available today to everyone. It has been committed to the saints along with the ability to carry His message over the world (II Corinthians 5:17-20) Now, anyone who so desires can receive God’s salvation, even as the Psalmist in Psalm 116:13 sings:

  All of God’s salvation, His deliverance, is currently available. We stir ourselves up to take hold of God and receive, dechomai (receive before God: be born-again) and lambano (receive into evidence), the cup of God’s wholeness. How is this done? Romans 10:9-10,13 tells us:

  When we say with our mouth what we believe in our heart concerning the Son of God, our risen Lord and savior Jesus Christ, we will absolutely be saved. This great cup of His salvation runs over into our lives according to these same principles. Colossians 2:6 commands

  The Colossians boldly received into evidence the Lord Christ Jesus. If we walk in believing boldness in this way, we will reign in life as Romans 5:17 says:

  In Genesis 13:3-4, Abraham, the father of all who believe, sets the example for accepting the word of God’s deliverance by calling on the name of the LORD.

  Abraham calls on the name of the LORD and drinks the cup of His wholeness. He accepts the God’s deliverance. He obeys God’s voice in Genesis 13:17:

  Today our deliverance has been given to us, guaranteed to us, in Christ by the word of the LORD. However, before Christ came, God’s deliverance was not guaranteed. It is not until the Word of God came, that Abraham, like the centurion’s servant in the gospels, was made whole. From this occasion, until the third and final occasion Abraham calls on the name of the LORD, Abraham sets about receiving the land of promise. Abraham defeats armies, makes treaties, is blessed by the high priest of God in Salem, gives tithes and has faith to receive Isaac his son. This is the meaning of taking His cup of salvation and calling on the name of the LORD. Yes, this means that we accept salvation and eternal life through Christ, even as Abraham’s believing was counted unto him for righteousness. However, we are also to stir ourselves up to take hold of the will of God, His promises and commands for this life. To drink the cup of God’s wholeness includes walking in the promises, to walk through the lands of His promises to us, to walk in the length of them and in the breadth of them. It is to evidence all He has given us in Christ. To do this we must, like Abraham, and like the Psalmist, stir ourselves up take hold on God our Father.

  Today, then, whosever will may come, as it is written in Romans 10:13:

  The precision of the Isaiah 64:7 parallelism that defines calling on the name of the LORD as stirring oneself up to take hold on God Himself is emphasized exactly by the figures of speech employed in the phrase itself. When the name of Jehovah is substituted for Jehovah this it called the metonymy of the adjunct. A part of who He is is substituted for all of who He is. This metonymy emphasizes that we call on God Himself, His true innermost being and self. In His innermost heart is His love for us made known in His beloved Son Jesus Christ. Our Father will never hide his face from any man. All who seek Him may come boldly to him through the name of His only begotten Son Jesus Christ. Recognizing the Father’s use of figures of speech such as synonymia and parallelism allows God’s Word to open the Father’s heart of grace to us with inspiring power.

by Ren Manetti