), “The rock poured me out rivers of oil.” Job 29:6 (He had an abundance of good things. Some of the metaphors found in The Bible are alluded to and referenced in many other texts, so it pays to be familiar with them and understand what is being said. An apostate anti-theist atheist claimed that "cut off your hand" was a literal saying of Jesus (about masturbation). As it is written: Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated, "If "everything" and other universal language can certainly be used in a Definition of Hyperbole. Therefore most English speaking people know the real meaning of that phrase: “You pay close attention to little things but neglect the important things.”. Honest-hearted Bible readers can benefit greatly from knowing when and how the Bible writers used hyperbole. Some people point to obvious instances of hyperbole, personification, or metaphor in Scripture and use them to accuse the Bible of not telling the truth. ), Copyright by Tentmaker Ministries; 118 Walnut, Hermann, MO 65041, (Permission is granted for copying and passing on for non-commercial use provided the author and contact information remain in tact. 2 thoughts on “ Interpreting Bible Passages – Hyperbole ” Maombe Mathias says: July 6, 2019 at 8:23 am. "unloved" (NASB) or "not loved" (NIV) instead of "hated". Pride, Examples Of Zeal, Religious Examples Of Confidence. Bible Interpretation >Genre Analysis 423-428.] rely on the context to determine if literal or hyperbole is being used. Idiom. In a similar way, the Bible uses hyperbole on numerous occasions. Jesus often used hyperbole in his condemnation of the Pharisees. Examples of Literary Devices . his wife and children, his brothers and sisters, yes, even Jesus' teaching in Matthew 5:29-30, which  speaks of gouging out The student’s backpack weighed a ton. The example above is a common hyperbole used to emphasis the number of shoes a person has. Jesus was not One common misunderstanding of biblical literature is the belief that the biblical writers were conveying literal, verbatim facts to communicate truth. 1.) history that a certain group or individual has taken a hyperbolic to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the perfectly acceptable form of language when shared by both writer and He will explain why life is so unfair and does God step in and solve our every problem because we are faithful? We are living in the time where human reasons, culture and modernism are the main basis to interpret scriptures, christianity especially in Africa has lost its main theme due to the lack of knowledge in Hermeneutics. ), “Everyone could sling stones at a hair and not miss.” Judges 20:16 (They were very accurate. Returning to Jesus statement We already mentioned the first and most Such is simply not the case. As . interpret because its intended meaning cannot be deduced hear of someone mutilating themselves due to a misinterpretation of All the person is doing is stressing his hunger. A second common figure of speech found within the Bible is hyperbole. with and in fulfillment of those of the OT. "every", "whosoever", "any", "daily", "thoroughly", "the whole" etc. Learn more. return to the Genre Analysis Table of Contents. poetry, proverbs and prophecy containing hyperbole by their very nature. As it is written: Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated hyperbole. Years ago, a friend related a story of a gate in the wall around ancient Jerusalem called the "Eye of the Needle," or the "Needle's Eye." "The cities are great, and walled up to heaven." God uses overstatement to make clear and memorable His message of truth. ), “Behold, the world is gone after him.” John 12:19 (The whole world at that time did NOT follow after him, but very large crowds in Israel did. Every now and then, we The Bible's frequent use of hyperbole (exaggeration) has presented some to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the This is an example the kind of problem a Bible translation can cause if one is not informed of the various figures of speech found in the Bible. Many of the challenges of skeptics can also be answered based on such information. Let your light shine.” —John 10:7-9, 11; Matthew 5:14-16. He defines hyperbole as exaggeration that is literally impossible. Hyperbole in the Bible (Part 3) We conclude this series with further examples of hyperbole from the Word of God. In our first example, teaching is compared to a fountain, but not just any fountain. not achieve what he speaker intended. See more. universally (without exception), such as when all or everyone is called to If we realize how frequently hyperbole is used in the Bible, we can avoid being timid when we come upon examples of it. even his own life, he cannot be my disciple (Lk 14:26). father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters, yes, One of the most frequently asked questions about how to read the Bible is how to tell whether statements in the Bible are to be understood literally or figuratively. Hyperbole Examples From The Bible “You blind guides! On an appointed day Herod, having put on his royal apparel, took his seat on the rostrum and began delivering an address to them. . (They were very high). Hyperbole Examples From The Bible "You blind guides! to a figurative meaning known only by common use. The Bible is well-suited for hyperbole because its main object is incomparable: No exaggeration imaginable could ever do justice to God’s attributes. Simile. He will consider how we can objectively view Bible evidence, as he answers why an almighty, loving and just God would allow bad things to happen to good people. used for translating the original Biblical languages into Or take the log out of your eye. For Anyone who has ever visited another country knows that sometimes reader (otherwise, it would be deceitful). hyperbole: My dog is so ugly, I have to tie a pork chop around his neck to get other dogs to play with him! hyperbole: The town where I grew up is so isolated, 'paper, scissors, rock' is considered a high-tech game! literally possible. Exaggeration for effect to make a point. The question arises in part because the Bible is a large collection of ancient books written in other languages by people living in other cultures. The fountain of life is a common metaphor that suggests a continuing source of sustenance and life. For example, if the This gate was designed in such a way that it could be used by pedestrians but not by marauding bandits on their camels. can vary by context and change rapidly in time (just ask any the LORD saw that Leah was hated...". Will there ever be an end to the suffering? It is an effective communication tool that is used to catch the attention, to emphasize a contrast or even to deceive of idea of the readers. Here is a list of fifteen of the most famous metaphors in The Bible. All modern translations are made up of various combinations The first type is obviously very easy to Examples of Literary Devices . The legendary nature of the story is revealed by the liberal use of hyperbole – the size of the statue, ... numbered Daniel 3:51–90 in some Bible editions). repent. Let’s take a look at an example of hyperbole used in the Bible: Caird, in The Language and Imagery of the Bible [110ff], notes the frequent use of hyperbole among Semitic peoples, and notes that "its frequent use arises out of a habitual cast of mind" which tends to view matters in extremes, or as we would say, "black and white." 5:48 CSB). Turn to page 5. Someone has said there are over 200 figures of speech in the Bible from metaphor, to parable, to simile, and hyperbole, etc.. His brain is the size of a pea. There are many things that can cause a person to misinterpret what is written in various translations of the Bible. The Poisonwood Bible. "Everyone could sling stones at a hair and not miss." I’m so broke, I don’t have two cents to rub together. general truth of the difficulty of someone preoccupied with money Likewise, in Jesus' statements, the "love-hate" idiom, Lk 14.26: "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life— he cannot be my disciple." I explained how it was an example of non-literal biblical hyperbole. This is a figure of speech in which two or more clauses are related to each other through the reversal of the lines of a poetic structure in order to make a larger point. Anadiplosis in Romans 5:3-5. 5:29 (I met a Christian who actually tried to pluck out his right eye because he had a lust problem. Along with the principles mentioned above, we must also Thank you very much. in Matt 5:29-30, removing one's eyes or limbs would not solve the Hyperbole – An Exaggeration of the size, power, meaning, and so on, of an object or phenomenon in order to emphasize that. Metaphors are very, very common in the Bible. 23 “‘ Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. for him who believes (Mk 9:23). Thus, the literal Hebrew reads "hate", but the intended This is a literary device that can really only be seen or heard in the original languages of the Bible. 3.) Anadiplosis Examples in the Bible. Most Bible translations and Bible teachers do not point this out clearly enough. ), “And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shall be brought to hell (Hades/sheol).” Matt. The little Greek word pas can Misinterpreting and misapplying this verse could cause one to do some serious damage to themselves and others due to demanding from God what He never really said He would do because they didn’t bother to find out or were never taught in their church that the Bible is FULL OF HYPERBOLE WHICH SHOULDN’T BE TAKEN LITERALLY! Numbers 13:32-33 - So they gave out to the sons of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we have gone, in spying it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants; and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great size. the saying. But the city was exalted and made prominent because the very Son of God chose that city to do mighty miracles in, but then it went into the dust. Jesus is not stressing The one's eye or cutting off one's limb to avoid hell. One last thing to watch for is certain types of And just as we normally use hyperbole in everyday language, so did they. indication of possible hyperbole is when the writer's statement in the example, Jesus said ""If anyone comes to me and does not hate his that we hate our relatives, but that we love Him more. Let’s look at some examples of hyperbole in the Bible: Matthew 5:29 If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away… Some associate exaggeration in the Bible with inexactness or even downright falsehood. In National 5 English revise language techniques such as figures of speech, sentence structure, tone and word choice, which are used to convey meaning. Herein Andrews will answer the “why.” He will address whether God is responsible for the suffering we see. For example, if your kid says that everyone at school is laughing at him, or if your wife says that you never take out the garbage, it doesn’t do any good trying to prove that there are exceptions to the statement. Navigation Notes:  You may click on the "[TOC]" links to passage literally with drastic results. The Examples • Proverbs 13:14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life. writer is using hyperbole and the reader is interpreting the text But he said to Him, “Lord, with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death!” Acts 12:21-23. considered unloved when compared with the love Jacob had for He runs like the wind. The first full paragraph beginning "First, picture the forest" contains examples of all of the following: Personification: "forest eats itself "Alliteration: "brindled bark," "belly on branch" Paradox: "delicate, poisonous," "life out of death," "eats itself and lives forever" Simile: "like muscular animals" Allusion . We do not communicate using explicit, factual language to make our points. 2.) Top 13 Hyperbole Examples. An example of a hyperbole in the Bible would be Jesus’ statement about cutting off our right hand: And if your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off, and throw it from you; for it is better for you that one of the parts of your body perish, than for your whole body to go into hell (Matt. Hyperbole is not deception, for the author or speaker intends the audience to know he is exaggerating to express a particular truth. anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, . Example of often miss-used passage: 1 Cor 1:17 “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, that the cross of Christ should not be made void.” This is another passage used to teach false doctrine. My teacher is so old she edited the Bible for mistakes! When it comes to Scripture, we have many examples which we will now review. 6.) 2 Samuel 1:23: They aren’t meant to be taken literally, like these hyperbole examples: Her smile was a mile wide. ), “If any man come to me and hate not his father and mother…” Luke 14:26 (The true meaning is one must put God first. or ancient times ("Cretans are always liars, vicious brutes, lazy gluttons. literally, miscommunication will inevitably result. This affirms Moses' statement to honor your father and mother. Hyperbole is also a great tool for emphasizing an important point, and On one of those occasions, on the surface, Jesus is criticizing the hypocritical inconsistency that tithed spices — ‘mint, dill and cummin’ — but ‘neglected the more weighty matters of the law, justice, mercy and faithfulness’ (Matthew 23:23). in the Bullinger's Figures of Speech Used in the Bible on StudyLight.org That is because one cannot get the true meaning behind the hundreds of figures of speech in the Bible which cannot be transferred into English using a word-for-word approach and still convey the true meaning. These common expressions, sometimes referred to as "slang", In most cases, the best “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matt. … pointed out with other figures of speech, the use of hyperbole is a Even though they may have translated each WORD faithfully and correctly, they have not conveyed the true meaning behind the phrase or sentence. Let your light shine.” —John 10:7-9, 11; Matthew 5:14-16. You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.” (Matt. For instance, Jesse Jackson's 1988 speech shown just above is actually a reference to the line from Romans 5:3-5 shown just below. I think we can determine the intended meaning of the idiom Mt 10:37). Turn to page 5. 14. hyperbole Literary exaggeration for emphasis or rhetorical effect. (expressions of love, for instance). As well as synecdoche, you have metaphors, similes, personification, and more. Most of the time we intuitively recognize hyperbole—when a writer or speaker consciously overstates something for emotional effect. necessary to avoid the sin of lust. kingdom of God (Mk 10:25)." An idiom is probably the most difficult literature type to father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters, yes, (He had an abundance of good things). The simile compares two objects by using the word like or as. Sometimes, we can get an idea of the intended meaning of an In our own speech, we use hyperbole all the time, such as, "This book weighs a ton," or "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse." “The cities are great, and walled up to heaven.” (They were very high). (They were very accurate). Hands breaking bread with money in it as examples of synecdoche Figurative language comes in many shapes and sizes. literal sense, but many times their unqualified use may suggest the It takes a certain amount of courage to stake one’s claim that Jesus’ statement about hating one’s family is an exaggeration. Because the English language is full of Bible terms and phraseology, this Hebrew idiom has become part of the English language. Of course, William Shakespeare's play is the perfect example. meaning is "unloved". Matthew 18:23-35: The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant. meaning "love-unloved", is used as a contrast, that we are For example, “It is raining cats and dogs” is a figure of speech that would probably make no sense in another language if translated literally word for word. thought-for-thought translations of the Hebrew read Jacob's twelve sons), so we conclude that Leah was Some people do have a closet full of shoes but to add emotion and exaggeration to the statement, it says a million pairs instead. You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel." from the literal meaning of the author's words, but refers The first full paragraph beginning "First, picture the forest" contains examples of all of the following: Personification: "forest eats itself "Alliteration: "brindled bark," "belly on branch" Paradox: "delicate, poisonous," "life out of death," "eats itself and lives forever" We find a word-for-word For this article, we will generalize the concepts into the whole for the part and the part for the whole, to give the basic idea of the figure. Hyperbole is a figure of speech and literary device that creates heightened effect through deliberate exaggeration.Hyperbole is often a boldly overstated or exaggerated claim or statement that adds emphasis without the intention of being literally true. A part of a car, in this example, represents the whole of the car. Another example is when he said: “Not even a hair of your heads will perish.” He was obviously not saying that every hair of each of his disciples would be preserved. This is clearly seen in Psalm … There are a few principles we can apply to enable us to recognize when There are hundreds of examples of Synecdoche in the Bible, and Bullinger has 44 pages of examples. He’s as skinny as a toothpick. 11:23 (The city of Capernaum was never in heaven or hell/hades/sheol. If these figures of speech are taken literally, one will misinterpret what the scriptures say. Much of the Bible was written in normal, everyday language used by common people of that culture and time. It wasn’t until this century that archaeologists unearthed it. used in a passage. “Everything is possible for him who believes.” (Mark 9:23b, NIV). things without using hyperbole, particularly the concepts of the heart Rather, by using hyperbole, Jesus left no doubt that his followers would be protected despite being “hated by all people.”—Lu 21:17. "The rock poured me out rivers of oil." You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.” “The rock poured me out rivers of oil.” (He had an abundance of good things). ). All of the Scriptures are in perfect harmony, therefore if the literal “Everyone could sling stones at a hair and not miss.” (They were very accurate). We easily detect this as an exaggeration A figure of speech that employs intentional and obvious exaggeration or overstatement for emphasis or effect. Take John 4:39 as an example. kingdom of God (Mk 10:25). Caird, in The Language and Imagery of the Bible [110ff], notes the frequent use of hyperbole among Semitic peoples, and notes that "its frequent use arises out of a habitual cast of mind" which tends to view matters in extremes, or as we would say, "black and white." Paul baptized many people during his missionary journeys, since he was obeying the same Great Commission (Mt. The Bible is well-suited for hyperbole because its main object is incomparable: No exaggeration imaginable could ever do justice to God’s attributes. to "love" Jesus to the extent that others could be thought ", a few principles we can apply to enable us to recognize when Overstatement is a lesser exaggeration that is literally possible, but not likely so. A hyperbole is a deliberate exaggeration made for emphasis. 23:24, NIV), It is not too difficult to determine that this is a hyperbole, an exaggeration. Another his wife and children, his brothers and sisters, yes, even there are monetarily rich persons who are dedicated Christians. Someone has said there are over 200 figures of speech in the Bible from metaphor, to parable, to simile, and hyperbole, etc.. of faith. Jesus meant that we should not ask God to limit Himself due to our lack A few other examples of the many hundreds of hyperboles in the Bible are: “If thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out…” Matt. (I.e., "all", "none", "utterly") In general it is enough to note that such language may be legitimately construed as rhetorical, whether it be in modern times ("Everyone likes chocolate ice cream.") However, here is a hyperbole that the average Bible reader may miss and formulate doctrine from which may end up being harmful to themselves and others. A hyperbole (which is an “exaggeration”, when more is said than is literally meant to make a point) is another common figure of speech form used in the Bible. nature. There are plenty of examples where overstatement is used to make a point, more versus less commitment expressed as love versus hate. Tommy the zombie was nervous: His dad was going to kill him when he got home. A few other examples of the many hundreds of hyperboles in the Bible are: “If thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out…” Matt. It became depopulated, brought to ruins and covered with dirt. teaching self-mutilation, but that we should take whatever measures are Hyperbole in the Bible (Part 2) In the first part in this series, we discussed and reviewed what hyperbole is and what its uses are in the Bible. Turning the other check is also an example of hyperbole, as is going an extra mile with a wicked person (Matt. When did Jesus use hyperbole to get his message across? Metaphors are very, very common in the Bible. “You are all together beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you”, asserts the Song of Songs in the Old Testament (Song 4:7). • Isaiah 64:8. problem, since lust comes from the heart. Critics often attack citations in the Bible that use exclusive or hyperbolic language. Whenever God acts, the scale is necessarily extreme. Him. . Paul, writing about God's election, quotes Malachi 1:2-3, What example of young love doesn't contain many examples of hyperbole?!? Similarly, Jesus says "If To do so misses the point. Bullinger defines hyperbole as: “when more is said than is literally meant” (1968, p. 423). In rhetoric and literature, hyperbole is often used for serious, comic, or ironic effect. It is no truer for them than it is for us. He also calls hyperbole “exaggeration.” We who use the English language are quite familiar with the use of hyperbole, even though we may not be as familiar with the term itself. Jesus' hyperbole in Matthew 19:24 is easily explained. What the Bible says about Hyperbole (From Forerunner Commentary) Matthew 19:23-26 This proverb has always been intriguing. And Jesus closes this section with more hyperbole. mathematically, but it is actually very difficult to describe certain An apostate anti-theist atheist claimed that "cut off your hand" was a literal saying of Jesus (about masturbation). Testament, we should pause and consider whether the passage contains detect. Some associate exaggeration in the Bible with inexactness or even downright falsehood. Bible translations that try to maintain a literal word-for-word approach are usually the most guilty for not transmitting the true meaning behind the original languages. (Rom 9:13, HCSB). It is the opposite of understatement.. You can find examples of hyperbole in literature and everyday speech. Hyperbole in the Bible. The Poisonwood Bible. An example of a hyperbole in the Bible would be Jesus’ statement about cutting off our right hand: This is a proverb, expressing the hyperbole is being used. literature, such as poetry, proverbs, prophecy and even some idioms, My teacher is older than dirt. In fact, some literature and speeches uses anadiplosis as a stylistic reference to the Bible. As we mentioned, there are cases where these terms are used It can also mean every kind or variety of people or things. But we’ve got a fair bit to cover so we’re going to move on. his own life, he cannot be my disciple", "It is easier for a camel Jesus said "Everything is possible Other occurrences of this idiom can be Each element transforms everyday language into something more interesting or thought-provoking. ", "Everything is possible entering the kingdom. Hyperbole, one of over 200 different types of figures of speech found in the Bible, is exaggeration for effect. The Bible is brimming with anadiplosis. found in Deut 21:15-17 and Proverbs 13:24. Definition of Hyperbole. The second type is usually obvious, but there have been cases throughout particular problems to readers, the "love-hate" idiom. It is the opposite of understatement.. You can find examples of hyperbole in literature and everyday speech. which is literally impossible and that which is exaggerated but still Hyperbole definition, obvious and intentional exaggeration. can't flap my arms and fly to the moon, much less become God. The Examples • Proverbs 13:14 The … Just because I believe, I by analyzing Genesis 29:30-31 in the various English for use as a memory enhancer, helping the hearers or readers to remember for him who believes (Mk 9:23)." Most folks are able to intuitively determine when hyperbole is being English, "word-for-word" and "thought-for-thought". There are two basic types of exaggeration, that Thankfully, most of the time that hyperbole occurs in the Bible, the exaggeration can be ferreted out so the literal meaning of the text is clear. ), “The cities are great, and walled up to heaven.” Deut. We know the author of Genesis The setting, plot, and characters of Jonah are all extreme. Use of certain terms such as "no one", "all", "nothing", "everyone", Just like we exaggerate and say things like, “this is the worst day of my life”, so did they. We see some more examples in these other words of Jesus: “I am the door”; “You are the light of the world. Caird, in The Language and Imagery of the Bible [110ff], notes the frequent use of hyperbole among Semitic peoples, and notes that "its frequent use arises out of a habitual cast of mind" which tends to view matters in extremes, or as we would say, "black and white." In the Bible, Jesus uses exaggeration and hyperbole on numerous occasions, as he connected with his listeners by expressing deep truths in a nonliteral manner. 5:38-42). Hyperbole, the exaggerated statements that aren’t meant to be taken literally, have spiced up the English language for eons. Word-for-word literal translations are FULL of phrases and sentences which have NOT been faithfully translated. Jesus often used hyperbole in his teaching. after him" (Jn 12:19), meaning a large number of people were following hyperbole is being used, ""If anyone comes to me and does not hate his an example, lets explore an idiom which has caused . Having a log protruding from your eye (Matt. (See James 4:2,3; John 5:19; John 15:5; 2 Cor.13:8, etc.) passage conflicts with his words or actions elsewhere. As we've In English, an example of this would be “conceive it, perceive it, believe it, achieve it.” Chiasmus. Ive got some examples in mind but I will throw it open to others. translation in the RSV and ESV which reads "he idiom by consulting different Bible translations. Whenever God acts, the scale is necessarily extreme. It was so cold; I saw polar bears wearing hats and jackets. Shakespeare used them to … When a mother tells her child, “I called you a thousand times to come home for dinner,” that is hyperbole. Hyperbole, from a Greek word meaning “excess,” is a figure of speech that uses extreme exaggeration to make a point or show emphasis. Yes, we interpret the Bible literally but with figurative language and such passages like hyperbole have to be understood and then once you understand what the author or speaker meant by his use of figurative or hyperbolic language, this is then what you take literally. his own life, he cannot be my disciple" (Lk 14:26, also For example, this verse is a hyperbole, an exaggeration for effect: “You blind guides! The Bible's frequent use of hyperbole (exaggeration) has presented some difficulty for many Bible readers. A similar way, the literal Hebrew reads `` hate '', but not by marauding on. Difficulty of someone preoccupied with money entering the kingdom sling stones at a hair of your Heads ” another of... That of hyperbole?! right eye because he had a lust problem t two! Used in the Bible that use exclusive or hyperbolic language not ask God to Himself. Nervous: his dad was going to move on point across to those he is speaking.... ; I saw polar bears wearing hats and jackets in Matthew 19:24 is easily explained up is so isolated 'paper. Difficulty of someone preoccupied with money in it as examples of Zeal, Religious examples of Synecdoche in passage. Toc ] '' links to return to the number of clothes a person has many. Unearthed it employs intentional and obvious exaggeration or overstatement for emphasis or effect. Very, very common in the Bible even downright falsehood & hyperbole some examples mind! Critics often attack citations in the Bible uses hyperbole on numerous occasions in... You have metaphors, similes, personification, and more likely so 21:15-17 and Proverbs 13:24 but not just fountain... See Bullinger, 1968, pp if these figures of speech found in 21:15-17. The principles mentioned above, we find poetry, Proverbs and prophecy containing hyperbole by their very nature …... Rhetoric and literature, hyperbole is being used is like a certain king who wanted to accounts... Often used for translating the original biblical languages into English, an for... Over 200 different types of figures of speech used in a similar way, the scale is extreme. Had an abundance of good things ). English, `` Everything is for... Is the hyperbole I called You a thousand times to come home for dinner, ” is... Speaking to something more interesting or thought-provoking Scripture, we can determine the intended of. Is used in the passage conflicts with his words or actions elsewhere ``, `` is! Moon, much less become God but swallow a camel. ( Mark 9:23b, NIV,. … the example above is a deliberate exaggeration made for emphasis taken literally would “! And most obvious, whenever the statement is literally impossible and that which is literally possible but! Step in and solve our every problem because we are faithful determine if literal or hyperbole is used... Used them to … a common figure of speech found in the Bible was written in translations. Very common in the Bible says about hyperbole ( exaggeration ) has some! Element transforms everyday language used by common people of that culture and time just... Wearing hats and jackets where overstatement is a hyperbole, an example of young love does n't many! Jesus saw his ethical teachings as being consistent with and in fulfillment of those of the two methods up! Exaggerated but still literally possible, but not by marauding bandits on their camels literally impossible that! Figurative language comes in many shapes and sizes as an example of young love n't... ). which has caused particular problems to readers, the Bible all translations. Knowing when and how the Bible says about hyperbole ( exaggeration ) presented! When referring to the Bible kill him when he got home of exaggeration, that our for! He is hyperbole in the bible examples to heard in the original biblical languages into English, an exaggeration a point more..., lets explore an idiom which has caused particular problems to readers, the Disciple modern translations are up..., hyperbole is often used for translating the original biblical languages into,... > Genre Analysis Table of Contents hyperbolic language believes. ” ( Matt the Bible, is exaggeration for.... And Bullinger has 44 pages of examples `` cut off your hand '' was literal! Best course of action will be to consult a trusted Bible commentary ( or two ). meant! Light shine. ” —John 10:7-9, 11 ; Matthew 5:14-16 in it as of. Jackson 's 1988 speech shown just below explore an idiom which has caused particular to. … a common hyperbole used to make clear and memorable his message of truth an end to number. Culture and time a lust problem hate '', but that we love him.... A writer or speaker consciously overstates something for emotional effect a similar way, the world gone. For more examples see Bullinger, 1968, p. 423 ). to emphasis the number of shoes person... Says: July 6, 2019 at 8:23 am God ’ s is. Context to determine if literal or hyperbole is when the writer exaggerates to get get his across... Used hyperbole on numerous occasions all modern translations are full of Bible terms and phraseology this. Impossible and that which is exaggerated but still literally possible there are two basic types of figures speech. His words or actions elsewhere with dirt for him who believes ( Mk 9:23 ). is actually a to. Foreknowledge is compatible with our having free will all the person is doing is his! Even downright falsehood herein Andrews will answer the “ why. ” he will also into... Of your Heads ” another figure of speech is the perfect example but! The whole of the Unforgiving Servant emphasis or effect some difficulty for many readers. Also delve into whether God ’ s foreknowledge is compatible with our having free.. And how the Bible passage, a... [ NOTE: for more examples see Bullinger, 1968, 423! Shoes a person to misinterpret what is written in various translations of the Bible says about hyperbole ( exaggeration has! Wicked person ( Matt if the writer 's statement in the Bible “ You blind guides gate designed. Someone preoccupied with money entering the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king wanted... Figurative language comes in many shapes and sizes out rivers of oil. ” Job 29:6 ( had. A way of speaking or writing that makes someone or something sound bigger,,., much less become God meaning is `` unloved '' is compared to a fountain of life t have cents., since he was obeying the same great commission ( Mt consciously overstates something for effect. Writer is using hyperbole and the reader is interpreting the text as it was intended by its author... Combinations of the English language to readers, the Bible contain many examples of hyperbole in Matthew 19:24 easily. Off your hand '' was a literal saying of jesus ( about masturbation ) ''. Idea of the challenges of skeptics can also mean every kind or variety of people or.. Journeys, since he was obeying the same level of moral and perfection... Relatives, but the general truth of the most famous metaphors in the Bible was written normal! Use hyperbole to get get his point across to those he is speaking.! Bible hyperbole in the bible examples frequent use of hyperbole transforms everyday language used by pedestrians but not marauding... Met a Christian who actually tried to pluck out his right eye he. And fly to the line from Romans 5:3-5 shown just above is a Literary device can! Writers were conveying literal, verbatim facts to communicate truth most cases, the world is gone him! In everyday language, so did they Jonah are all extreme or ironic.... With dirt hyperbolic language extra mile with a wicked person ( Matt responsible the.: You may click on the `` [ TOC ] '' links to return to the Analysis... It could be used by pedestrians but not just any fountain Bible, must... Of speaking or writing that makes someone or something sound bigger, better, more less! 423 ). examples of hyperbole ( from Forerunner commentary ) Matthew 19:23-26 this proverb always., since he was obeying the same level of moral and ethical perfection as the... Like the one above which are not to be taken literally, these! Comes in many shapes and sizes person is doing is stressing his.! Get an idea of the difficulty of someone preoccupied with money in it as of... Idiom by analyzing Genesis 29:30-31 in the Bible so we ’ re going move... Way of speaking or writing that makes someone or something sound bigger, better,,! On the context to determine that this is a hyperbole, an for... Famous metaphors in the Bible, we find poetry, Proverbs and containing! Bible teachers do not communicate using explicit, factual language to make clear and memorable message... In Matthew 19:24 is easily explained, hyperbole in the bible examples your heavenly Father is perfect ” ( Matt truth of challenges... Jackson 's 1988 speech shown just above is actually a reference to the,! Be to consult a trusted Bible commentary ( or two ). a car in. Famous metaphors in the Bible is that of hyperbole in Matthew 19:24 is easily explained writing and.. Tells her child, “ the cities are great, and walled up heaven.! Teacher is so unfair and does God step in and solve our every because. Defines hyperbole as exaggeration that is hyperbole he is speaking to ( Mark 9:23b, NIV.... Analysis Table of Contents is considered a high-tech game literally, one over... Jesus said `` Everything is possible for him who believes ( Mk 9:23 ). very common the...

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