Issue 97 Examples from the Bible - Hyperbole

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Susan Quigley 2019-01-11 22:05:10 +00:00
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@ -12,26 +12,7 @@ A speaker or writer can use exactly the same words to say something he means as
**Hyperbole**: This is a figure of speech that uses **exaggeration**. A speaker deliberately describes something by an extreme or even unreal statement, usually to show his strong feeling or opinion about it. He expects people to understand that he is exaggerating.
>They will not leave <u>one stone upon another</u> ... (Luke 19:44 ULB)
* This is an exaggeration. It means that the enemies will completely destroy Jerusalem.
**Generalization:** This is a statement that is true most of the time or in most situations that it could apply to.
>The one who ignores instruction <u>will have poverty and shame,</u>
>but <u>honor will come</u> 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.
>When you pray, do not make useless repetitions as <u>the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard because of their many words.</u> (Matthew 6:7)
* This generalization tells about what Gentiles were known for doing. Many Gentiles may have done this.
Sometimes when people use strong-sounding words like "all," "always," "none," or "never," they mean exactly "all," "always," "none," or "never." But when people use these words in a generalization, they simply mean "most, "most of the time," "hardly any" or "rarely."
>Moses was educated in <u>all the wisdom of the Egyptians</u> ... (Acts 7:22 ULB)
* This generalization means that he had learned much of what the Egyptians knew and taught.
**Generalization:** This is a statement that is true most of the time or in most situations that it could apply to. Sometimes when people use strong-sounding words like "all," "always," "none," or "never," they mean exactly "all," "always," "none," or "never." But when people use these words in a generalization, they simply mean "most, "most of the time," "hardly any" or "rarely."
### Reasons this is a translation issue
@ -42,37 +23,42 @@ Sometimes when people use strong-sounding words like "all," "always," "none," or
#### Examples of Exaggeration
Jesus used a hyperbole to show how extremely important it is to stop sinning. He did not mean that people should actually cut off their hand, but that we should <u>do whatever extreme things</u> we need to do in order not to sin.
>If your hand causes you to stumble, <u>cut it off</u>. 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 <u>do whatever extreme things</u> 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 author of 1 Samuel used hyperbole to show that there were <u>many, many</u> soldiers in the Philistine army. It showed the great danger that the Israelites were in.
>The Philistines gathered together to fight against Israel, with thirty thousand chariots, six thousand men to drive the chariots, and troops <u>as numerous as the sand on the seashore</u>. (1 Samuel 13:5 ULB)
The underlined phrase is an exaggeration. It means that there were <u>many, many</u> soldiers in the Philistine army.
When Jesus spoke about how Israel's enemies would destroy Jerusalem, he used hyperbole to show that Jerusalem would be terribly destroyed.
>They will not leave <u>one stone upon another</u> ... (Luke 19:44 ULB)
#### Examples of Generalization
Stephen used the word "all" in a generalization about Moses' education. It means that Moses learned much of what the Egyptians knew and taught, not every single thing.
> Moses was educated in <u>all the wisdom of the Egyptians</u> ... (Acts 7:22 ULB)
Jesus' disciples used the word "everyone" in a generalization about who was looking for him. They did not mean that every person in the city was looking for him, but that <u>many people</u> were looking for him, or that all of Jesus' closest friends there were looking for him.
>They found him, and they said to him, "<u>Everyone</u> 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 <u>many people</u> were looking for him, or that all of Jesus' closest friends there were looking for him.
John used the word "everything" in a generalization about what God teaches his people. God teaches us about <u>all things that we need to know</u>, not about absolutely everything.
>But as his anointing teaches you <u>everything</u> and is true and is not a lie ... (1 John 2:27 ULB)
This is a generalization. God's Spirit teaches us about <u>all things that we need to know</u>, not about everything that is possible to know.
#### Caution
Do not assume that something is an exaggeration just because it seems to be impossible. God does miraculous things.
Do not assume that something is an exaggeration just because it seems to be impossible. God does miraculous things. Jesus really walked on the water.
>... they saw Jesus <u>walking on the sea</u> ... (John 6:19 ULB)
This is not hyperbole. Jesus really walked on the water. It is a literal statement.
Do not assume that the word "all" is always a generalization that means "most." Yahweh is always righteous.
Do not assume that the word "all" is always a generalization that means "most."
>Yahweh is righteous in <u>all his ways</u> ... (Psalm 145:17 ULB)
>Yahweh is righteous in all his ways ... (Psalm 145:17 ULB)
Yahweh is always righteous. This is a completely true statement.
### Translation Strategies
@ -103,4 +89,3 @@ If the exaggeration or generalization would be natural and people would understa
1. For a generalization that has a word like "all," always," "none," or "never," consider deleting that word.
* **The <u>whole</u> country of Judea and <u>all</u> 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.