Figures used in the Word
by Don Treadway, February 2000
Parable
Comparison that is always possible
Matthew 13:10
II Samuel 12:1-6
Luke 20-19:9
Fable
A story attributing human traits to non humans to teach a truth
Judges 9:6-21
II Kings14:8-10
Simile
Something is like something else
Isaiah 29:8
Luke 7:32
Similitude
A drawn out simile that is made up of similes not woven into a
story and contains it's own
explanation
Matthew 7:24-27
Psalms 90:4-6
Metaphor
A simile without a comparison (not like but is)
Luke 13:31-32
Matthew 26:26–28
Allegory
A figurative story with an implied meaning (neither like or is but
implied)
Eccl. 12:2-6
Ephesians 6:11–17
Metonymy of the cause
(Using one name for another) cause stands for the
effect
Ephesians 4:20
Luke2:27
Metonymy of the effect
Cause is stated but the effect is meant
Matthew 13:37, 38
Deut. 30:15
Metonymy of the subject
The subject is named but some property or
circumstance is intended
Luke
2:19
Genesis 4:11
Matthew 25:31-40
Acts 1:18
Metonymy of the adjunct
The abstract of something is mentioned when the
subject itself is meant
Job 32:7
Romans 3:30
Synecdoche
Either the whole is used for a part or a part is mentioned for
the whole
Acts 24:5
Luke 2:1
Proverb
A concise sentence containing a often repeated valuable lesson
Matthew 24:32
II Peter 2:22
Irony
One thing is said while another is meant
I Kings 18:27
Acts 2:13
Sarcasm
A taunt or cutting jest
Matthew 28:29
Mark 15:31, 32
Hyperbole
An exaggeration for emphasis sake
Numbers 13:33
Ephesians 3:8
Personification
Objects or animals are said to act like or feel like a
human
Matthew 6:34
Jeremiah 46:9,10
Antithesis
Opposites in the same sentence
Matthew 5:21, 27, 33, etc.
Matthew 25:46
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