01.01.01.14. CHAPTER XIV. OF A SYNECDOCHE

CHAPTER XIV. OF A SYNECDOCHE

HAVING largely gone through the most frequent and most eminent tropes in the scripture, principally metaphors, we will be more concise in what follows, and illustrate each, with a few scripture examples, by which the rest of that kind may be easily understood. A synecdoche is a trope, by which the whole is put for part, or part for the whole. And whereas the whole is either the genus or entire thing, and part is a species, or member; we will treat of the four loads of synecdoches in order. A synecdoche of the genus, is when the genus is put for species, or an universal for a particular, as when,

1. The term all, is put for the greatest part or many, as that rule of law in the pandects. quod Major. [1] "All seem to do that which the greater part does." In doing this, there must be great heed taken to the scope and right meaning of the text, take a few examples out of the Old Testament, Exodus 9:6, "And all the cattle of Egypt died;" that is, all that was in the field, as Exodus 9:3, and some were left, as Exodus 9:19; Exodus 14:26, Exodus 14:28; Exodus 9:29. Exodus 32:3, "All the people;" that is, the greatest part, as verse 26. Hence Paul uses a particular word, 1 Corinthians 10:7, viz., some. See more sxamples, Exodus 32:26, with Exodus 32:29, and Deuteronomy 32:9; Isaiah 2:2-3; Deuteronomy 28:64; 2 Samuel 16:22; Hosea 7:4, Hosea 7:16. In the New Testament, Matthew 3:5, "Jerusalem and all Judea, and all the region about Jordan, went to be baptized;" that is many men of those places. More examples are, Mark 9:23; John 10:8, with John 10:7, Acts 2:5; Ephesians 1:11; Php 2:21; Php 4:13.

[1] Omnes videntur facere, quod facit Major pars.

2. The word all or every, is put for the kinds of singulars, as Genesis 2:16, "Of every tree of the garden thou shalt eat," that is, of every kind of fruity Genesis 24:10, "All the goods of his master were in his hands," that is, some of every sort;; see Genesis 24:52-53, so 2 Kings 8:9; Joel 2:8, with 1 Peter 2:9, and Acts 2:17; Zephaniah 2:14; Matthew 4:23; Luke 11:42; Acts 10:12; Hebrews 13:4. An universal negative is also sometimes to be restrained and understood by a particular negative, as Exodus 20:10, "No work to be done on the Sabbath," that is servile or mechanic: as appears, Leviticus 23:7-8; Numbers 28:18, see 1 Samuel 20:26, with 1 Kings 19:11-12; Jeremiah 7:6; Matthew 5:34, "Ye shall not swear at all;" that is, rashly and lightly, Matthew 10:26; Luke 7:28; John 1:31; John 3:32-33; John 15:5; John 18:20; Acts 27:33; 2 Thessalonians 2:11. Always is put for often, Luke 18:1; Luke 24:53, and every where for here and there. Acts 28:22; 1 Corinthians 4:17.

Names of a larger signification are put for "those which are of a narrower, as flesh is put for man, all flesh, that is, every man, Genesis 6:12; Psalms 145:21; Isaiah 40:5; Isaiah 66:23; Matthew 24:22; Luke 3:6; Romans 3:20. A creature is put for a man, Mark 16:15; Colossians 1:23; see Acts 12:7; Luke 11:51; Job 14:14; Acts 10:12, (&c.) A common name is put for a proper, hence God is often called XXXX (El) which signifies strong and powerful, "and that (kat ezoxhn) by way of eminency, Genesis 14:22, and Genesis 21:33. So Christ is called Lord, Matthew 21:3; John 11:3; John 12:1-50; and Master, John 11:28; the "Son of Man," Matthew 8:20; "the angel," Genesis 48:16, the "Angel of the Lord," Exodus 3:2; Judges 6:11; so "the Seed of the woman," "Messiah," "Servant of God," "Prophet," &c. Moses is called a prophet, Hosea 12:13. The plural number is sometimes put for the singular, as Genesis 20:7, "Who would have said unto Abraham, Sarah shall give children suck?" that is, one child, as in the next verse. Genesis 46:7, it is said that there went down with Jacob into Egypt, all his daughters and all his sons 5 daughters, whereas, as Genesis 46:15, Genesis 46:17, appears, he had but one daughter, and one niece, or son’s daughter.

See Acts 13:40-41, with Habakkuk 1:5; Matthew 2:23.

Some general verbs are put for special, as to say for to command or admonish; Romans 12:3; to open is put for to plough, Isaiah 28:24, to be is put for to live, Matthew 2:18; and to dwell, Rth 1:2. To speak, for stipulation or promise, Deuteronomy 26:17, Deuteronomy 26:19.