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DMS_GL_en_ta/translate/figs-hyperbole/01.md

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Description

Hyperbole is a figure of speech in which the speaker describes it as larger or more extreme than it really is. There are two kinds of hyperbole:

Exaggeration: This is when a speaker deliberately describes something by an extreme or even unreal statement, usually to show his strong feeling or opinion about it.

They will not leave one stone upon another (Luke 19:44 ULB)

  • This is an exaggeration. It means that the enemies will completely destroy Jerusalem.

Generalization: This is when a speaker makes a statement, but does not mean that it is true in every situation that it could apply to.

The one who ignores instruction will have poverty and shame, but honor will come to him who learns from correction. (Proverbs 13:18)

  • These generalizations tell about what normally happens to people who ignore instruction and what normally happens to people who learn from correction.

And when you pray, do not make useless repetitions as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. (Matthew 6:7)

  • This generalization tells about what most Gentiles did.

Even though a generalization may have a strong-sounding word like "all," "always," "none," or "never," it does not necessarliy mean exactly "all," "always," "none," or "never." It could simply mean "most, "most of the time," "hardly any" or "rarely."

Moses was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians (Acts 7:22 ULB)

  • This generalization means that he had learned much of what the Egyptians knew and taught.

Reason this is a translation issue

Not all languages use hyperbole for the same reasons. If readers do not understand that a statement is a hyperbole, they may either think that something happened that did not happen, or they may think that the speaker or writer was saying something that is not true.

Examples from the Bible

Examples of Exaggeration

If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed… (Mark 9:43 ULB)

When Jesus said to cut off your hand, he meant that we should do whatever extreme things we need to do in order not to sin. He used this hyperbole to show how extremely important it is to try to stop sinning.

The Philistines gathered together to fight against Israel: thirty thousand chariots, six thousand men to drive the chariots, and troops as numerous as the sand on the seashore. (1 Samuel 13:5 ULB)

The underlined phrase is an exaggeration. It means that there were many, many soldiers in the Philistine army.

Examples of Generalization

They found him, and they said to him, "Everyone is looking for you." (Mark 1:37 ULB)

The disciples told Jesus that everyone was looking looking for him. They probably did not mean that everyone in the city was looking for him, but that many people were looking for him, or that all of Jesus' closest friends there were looking for him.

But as his anointing teaches you about all things and is true and is not a lie, and even as it has taught you, remain in him. (1 John 2:27 ULB)

This is a generalization. God's Spirit teaches us about all things that we need to know, not about everything that is possible to know.

Caution

Do not assume that something is hyperbole just because it seems to be impossible. God does miraculous things.

… they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat … (John 6:19 ULB)

This is not hyperbole. Jesus really walked on the water. It is a literal statement.

… for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23 ULB)

The word "all" here is not hyperbole. All humans have sinned. The only human who has never sinned is Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Translation Strategies

If the exaggeration or generalization would be natural and people would understand it and not think that it is a lie, consider using it. If not, here are other options.

  1. Express the meaning without the exaggeration.
  2. For a generalization, show that it is a generalization by using a phrase like "in general" or "in most cases."
  3. For a generalization, add a word like "most" or "almost" to show that the generalization is not exact.
  4. For a generalization that has a word like "all," always," "none," or "never," consider deleting that word.

Examples of Translation Strategies Applied

  1. Express the meaning without the exaggeration.
  • If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers and sisters–yes, and his own life also–he cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:26 ULB)
    • "If anyone comes to me and does not love me much more than he loves his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers and sisters–yes, and his own life also–he cannot be my disciple."
  • The Philistines gathered together to fight against Israel: thirty thousand chariots, six thousand men to drive the chariots, and troops as numerous as the sand on the seashore. (1 Samuel 13:5 ULB)
    • "The Philistines gathered together to fight against Israel: thirty thousand chariots, six thousand men to drive the chariots, and a great number of troops."
  1. For a generalization, show that it is a generalization by using a phrase like "in general" or "in most cases."
  • The one who ignores instruction will have poverty and shame ... (Proverbs 13:18 ULB)
    • In general, the one who ignores instruction will have poverty and shame
  • And when you pray, do not make useless repetitions as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. (Matthew 6:7)
    • "And when you pray, do not make useless repetitions as the Gentiles generally do, for they think that they will be heard because of their many words."
  1. For a generalization, add a word like "most" or "almost" to show that the generalization is not exact. 
  • The whole country of Judea and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. (Mark 1:5 ULB)
    • Almost all the country of Judea and almost all the people of Jerusalem went out to him."
    • Most of the country of Judea and most of the people of Jerusalem went out to him."
  1. For a generalization that has a word like "all," always," "none," or "never," consider deleting that word.
  • The whole country of Judea and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. (Mark 1:5 ULB)
    • The country of Judea and the people of Jerusalem went out to him.