XVI. of a Synecdoche of the Whole

    A SYNECDOCHE of the whole is, when an entire or integer is put for a member, or the whole for any part. Which may be distinguished as they respect,

    (1.) A person or men.

    (2.) Certain things.

    (3.) Places.

    (4.) Times.

    1. The whole person is put for part of him, as a man for his soul, Lu 16:23 where the rich man, Lazarus, and Abraham, are put for their souls. See Lu 23:43 Man is put for the body, Ge 3:19, (see Ec 12:7,) Ge 23:19. So Jesus is pu* for his dead body, Joh 19:42; 20:2,13, see verse 12, and Lu 24:3.

    Sometimes a thing is said of all, which yet concerns not some, as Mt 19:28, "sitting upon twelve thrones," belongs not to Judas Iscariot, who yet was included because of the number twelve. It is said of the church of Corinth, that they were "sanctified by faith in Christ Jesus, called saints, enriched in all utterance and knowledge," 1Co 1:2,5, when yet the following chapters evidence, that there were many hypocrites and notorious sinners among them, &c.

    2. Part of a. thing is put for the whole; flesh is put for the skin, Ps 102:5, which text describes extreme leanness, (see La 4:8.) Hence the common proverb is, he is but skin and bone.

    3. A place is put for part of a place; as the world for the earth, which is a part of the world, 2Pe 3:6; Joh 12:19; Ro 1:8; 1Jo 5:19. See chap. 3. sect. 2. It is put for the land of Canaan, Ro 4:13, with Numb, xxiii. 13. The whole earth is put for a great part thereof, Isa 13:11. For Chaldea, Isa 13:5. The land is put for Judea, Ho 1:2; 4:1; Joe 1:2. For a certain city, Mt 2:6, "And thou Bethlem (gh) the land of Juda," that is, a city of Judea.

    The east is put for the" Medes and Persians, and other Oriental countries, Eze 25:4; 1Ki 4:30; Isa 2:6; Mt 2:1. The south of Egypt, with respect to Judea, Jer 13:19; Da 11:5. Sometimes Judea is so called with respect to Babylon, Eze 20:46-47. The north, for Chaldea, and Babylon, with respect to Judea, Jer. 1:13 15, xiii. 20, and xlvii. 2, Zep 2:13. The temple is put for the prime synagogue, Lu 2:46, see Joh 18:20.

    4. Time is put for part of time, Ge 6:4, "The giants from the age (so the Hebrew) were men of renown;" that is, of old, Ge 17:8, "I will give unto thee, and thy seed after thee, the land of Canaan for an everlasting possession," that is, whilst the Jewish state remains, viz., to the coming of the Messiah, Ge 49:10,33; Ex 21:6, "He shall serve him for ever," that is, to the year of jubilee, as the learned expound it See 2Sa 12:10; Da 2:4, "King, live for ever," that is, we wish you a long life. See chap. vi. 21, xronov, which signifies time, is put for a year, or some years, as Casauban thinks, Lu 20:8.