FIGURES OF SPEECH
Figures of Speech
Meiosis (Belittling)
by John W. Schoenheit
The ability to communicate with words is one thing that sets mankind apart from all other creatures. God is the Author of language, and no one has ever used language as precisely as God does in the Bible, including His use of figures of speech, of which there are more than 200 varieties in Scripture.[1] When most people say, “a figure of speech,” they are speaking in general terms of something that is not true to fact. However, genuine “figures of speech” are legitimate grammatical and lexical forms that add emphasis and feeling to what we say and write. In the Bible, God uses figures of speech to emphasize things that He wants us to see as important. Many people who read the Bible never think to ask themselves, “How do we know what God wants emphasized in His Word?” God uses figures of speech to put emphasis where He wants emphasis, so it is important that we recognize and properly interpret the figures of speech in the Bible. Knowing the figures of speech God uses in the Bible helps us to understand the true meaning of Scripture and enables us to more fully enjoy its richness.
The figure of speech we are going to study in this article is Meiosis. In English, “meiosis” is a homonym, which means that another word is spelled the same but has a completely different meaning. In biology, “meiosis” is a type of cell division. However, in grammar, “meiosis” refers to a purposeful belittling of something. Bullinger notes that meiosis was at one time also referred to as litotes, but in modern grammar litotes has been separated from meiosis and is defined as the figure of speech in which something is expressed by negating or denying its opposite. For example, instead of saying a person is a good singer, we might say that he or she is “not bad.” Or, if we are familiar with something we might say, “I am not unfamiliar with that.” Or, if we feel that two things are similar, we might say, “That is not unlike…”
One of the places the fallen nature of the world is clearly demonstrated is in language. Words degrade over time, from honorable to dishonorable meanings. A book could be filled with examples, but a few will suffice. The word “story” was originally short for “history,” but because so many “histories” are embellished or even entirely untrue, the word has come to mean an account that has been invented or a tale or fable such as Goldilocks and the Three Bears. The word “cunning” once meant “knowing,” but because knowledge has often been used for selfish or evil purposes, it has come to mean “knowledge characterized by trickery, craft, or wiliness.” A “villain” used to mean a servant in a villa or country house, but so many of those servants were dishonest, it has taken on its current meaning. Given the downward and worldly trend in language, it is not surprising that we often see the figures of speech in the Bible used in an elevated sense compared with how they are used today, and meiosis is no exception.
In modern grammar, meiosis is a belittling of something to achieve an effect that catches our attention. Thus, for example, a psychiatrist is intelligent and well educated, but is often called a “shrink.” An auto mechanic is someone who is mechanically inclined and competent (if he wants to be in business long), but we refer to him as a “grease monkey.” This belittling catches our attention but can be ungodly and hurtful. In contrast to the belittling of the world, E. W. Bullinger points out that when meiosis is used in the Bible, the belittling always serves to lift someone or something else up. In other words, the purpose of the belittling is not just to put one thing down, as often happens today, but rather to lift something else up.
Genesis 18:27 (ESV)
Abraham answered [God] and said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes.
In this meiosis, Abraham calls himself “dust and ashes,” making himself smaller in order to magnify God.
Numbers 13:33 (ESV)
[The spies said], And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them.”
Moses had sent spies into the land of Israel, but when they came back they lost their courage to fight, comparing themselves to the Canaanites in a belittling way by referring to themselves as “grasshoppers,” which they did to elevate the strength of the enemy.
1 Samuel 24:14 (ESV)
After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog! After a flea!
King Saul of Israel took his army and tried to capture David, who was in the territory of Judah. When David had the chance to safely speak with Saul, he magnified Saul by referring to him as the King of Israel while referring to himself as a dead dog and as a flea.
Isaiah 40:15a (ESV)
Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are accounted as the dust on the scales;…
The prophet Isaiah compares the greatness of God to the people of this earth. Compared to God, the people are only a drop from a bucket, or the dust on the scales. The scales were the balances used in buying and selling, and were of the kind that we often see being held by the statue of “Justice” that is in many courthouses—a blindfolded woman holding a set of scales. On those scales, the dust does not even cause the scale to move.
1 Corinthians 15:9 (ESV)
For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
Paul belittles himself, calling himself the least of the apostles, but why he does that is not clear in the verse. However, if we continue to read, we see that Paul’s purpose was to magnify God’s grace: “But by the grace of God I am what I am…” (1 Cor. 15:10a).
IN DEFENCE OF THE CLEVELAND BUS DRIVER NOT BEING FIRED
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1Likes In defense of Cleveland RTA Driver not being fired
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Support Grows for RTA Driver Who Threw Punch | FOX8.com – Cleveland news & weather from WJW Television FOX 8
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http://fox8.com/2012/10/12/support-grows-for-rta-driver-who-threw-punch/
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I do not condone violence as a norm, but after seeing more of the video and that the driver attempted to ‘follow the appropriate’ steps and was not able to, I’d say that he should be allowed to defend himself WITHOUT threat of losing his job. I would not fire him.
7 minutes ago
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This video is very sad! This person I would not call her a lady because she’s not one. If anyone was to spit or violate you like this chic did the bus driver while you were doing your job, could you said you would have not reacted the same way!,! This man should not lose his job, he was provoked. Many may not agree with me, ladies we have to stop acting like bullies and fools and thinking your going to get away with it.
about an hour ago
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I feel that he did the right thing I was told thats the most desrespectful thing u can do to some 1 she got what she was lookin 4.
2 hours ago
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I’m a female who is TOTALLY against a man putting his hands on a female! I feel some people are losing sight of the fact this man was being ATTACKED with passengers on the bus as well as motorist & pedestrians in the vacinity of this transit! Honestly & LORD forgive me if I’m wrong but if that was my brother, son or grandson I would have expected them to do the same thing and they were & are being raised to know not to put their hands on a female but in this case it was neccesary, PROTECT YOURSELF & THE OTHERS that are in your care!!! Artis Hughes I would want you as my bus driver if I rode the bus! NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST YOU SHALL PROPER!!! God bless! I’m SUPPORTING HIM ALL THE WAY!!! And by the way Baj Lbc said he wants to buy you lunch & said you are his best new buddy!!!
11 · 2 hours ago
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