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, Ex 9:6, "And all the cattle of Egypt died;" that is, all that was in the field, as Ex 9:3, and some were left, as Ex 9:19; 14:26,28; 9:29. Ex 32:3, "All the people;" that is, the greatest part, as verse 26. Hence Paul uses a particular word, 1Co 10:7, viz., some. See more sxamples, Ex 32:26, with verse 29, and De 32:9; Isa 2:2-3; De 28:64; 2Sa 16:22; Ho 7:4,16. In the New Testament, Mt 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, Mr 9:23; Joh 10:8, with verse 7, Ac 2:5; Eph 1:11; Php 2:21; 4:13.

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

    2. The word all or every, is put for the kinds of singulars, as Ge 2:16, "Of every tree of the garden thou shalt eat," that is, of every kind of fruity Ge 24:10, "All the goods of his master were in his hands," that is, some of every sort;; see Ge 24:52-53, so 2Ki 8:9; Joe 2:8, with 1Pe 2:9, and Ac 2:17; Zep 2:14; Mt 4:23; Lu 11:42; Ac 10:12; Heb 13:4.

    An universal negative is also sometimes to be restrained and understood by a particular negative, as Ex 20:10, "No work to be done on the Sabbath," that is servile or mechanic: as appears, Le 23:7-8; Nu 28:18, see 1Sa 20:26, with 1Ki 19:11-12; Jer 7:6; Mt 5:34, "Ye shall not swear at all;" that is, rashly and lightly, Mt 10:26; Lu 7:28; Joh 1:31; 3:32-33; 15:5; 18:20; Ac 27:33; 2Th 2:11. Always is put for often, Lu 18:1; 24:53, and every where for here and there. Ac 28:22; 1Co 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, Ge 6:12; Ps 145:21; Isa 40:5; 66:23; Mt 24:22; Lu 3:6; Ro 3:20. A creature is put for a man, Mr 16:15; Col 1:23; see Ac 12:7; Lu 11:51; Job 14:14; Ac 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, Ge 14:22, andxxi. 33. So Christ is called Lord, Mt 21:3; Joh 11:3; 12; and Master, Joh 11:28; the "Son of Man," Mt 8:20; "the angel," Ge 48:16, the "Angel of the Lord," Ex 3:2; Jg 6:11; so "the Seed of the woman," "Messiah," "Servant of God," "Prophet," &c. Moses is called a prophet, Ho 12:13.

    The plural number is sometimes put for the singular, as Ge 20:7, "Who would have said unto Abraham, Sarah shall give children suck?" that is, one child, as in the next verse. Ge 46:7, it is said that there went down with Jacob into Egypt, all his daughters and all his sons 5 daughters, whereas, as verse 15, 17, appears, he had but one daughter, and one niece, or son's daughter.

    See Ac 13:40-41, with Hab 1:5; Mt 2:23.

    Some general verbs are put for special, as to say for to command or admonish; Ro 12:3; to open is put for to plough, Isa 28:24, to be is put for to live, Mt 2:18; and to dwell, Ru 1:2. To speak, for stipulation or promise, De 26:17,19.