{"id":168,"date":"2014-02-09T11:06:01","date_gmt":"2014-02-09T16:06:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/figuresofspeechinthebible.net\/?page_id=168"},"modified":"2022-01-30T07:46:57","modified_gmt":"2022-01-30T11:46:57","slug":"apostrophe-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/figuresofspeechinthebible.net\/?page_id=168","title":{"rendered":"Apostrophe"},"content":{"rendered":"

.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

.<\/span> A Turning Aside from the direct Subject Matter to address others.<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

.<\/span>
\n .<\/span> A-pos -tro-phe<\/i>. Greek, <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u1f00\u03c0\u03bf\u03c3\u03c4\u03c1\u03bf\u03c6\u03ae<\/span><\/span>, a turning away from<\/i>; from \u1f00\u03c0\u03cc,<\/span> (apo<\/i>), <\/span><\/span>away from<\/i>, and \u03c3\u03c4\u03c1\u03ad\u03c6\u03b5\u03b9\u03bd,<\/span> (strephein<\/i>), to turn<\/i>.<\/span><\/span>
\n .<\/span>
\n .<\/span> The figure is so called when the speaker turns away from the real auditory whom he is addressing, and speaks to an imaginary one. It is a sudden breaking off in the course of speech, diverting it to some new person or thing.<\/span>
\n .<\/span>
\n .<\/span> It is called also PROSPHONESIS<\/b> \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03c3\u03c6\u03ce\u03bd\u03b7\u03c3\u03b9\u03c2<\/span>; (pros-pho-nee’-sis<\/i>),<\/span> <\/span><\/span>an addressing one’s self to: from \u03c0\u03c1\u03cc\u03c2<\/span> (pros<\/i>), to<\/i>, and \u03c6\u03c9\u03bd\u03b5\u1fd6\u03bd<\/span> (phonein<\/i>), to speak<\/i>.<\/span><\/span>
\n.<\/span>
\n .<\/span> Also by the Latins, AVERSIO<\/b>, aversion<\/i>, or a turning from<\/i>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>
\n.<\/span>
\n.<\/span> The examples of the use of this figure may be arranged as follows: \u2014<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n


\n\u2026..<\/span>APOSTROPHE\u00a0 ADDRESSED<\/span>
\n.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2026<\/span>…..<\/span>I. To God.<\/span>
\n.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2026<\/span>….<\/span>II. To Men.<\/span>
\n.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2026<\/span>………<\/span>1. Definite.<\/span>
\n.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2026<\/span>………<\/span>2. One’s self.<\/span>
\n.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2026<\/span>………<\/span>3. Indefinite.<\/span>
\n.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2026<\/span>………<\/span>4. In prophecies.
\n.<\/span><\/span>
\n \u2026…<\/span>III. To Animals.<\/span>
\n.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

……<\/span>IV. To Inanimate Things.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
\n .<\/span>
\n \u2026…..<\/span>I. Apostrophe to GOD.<\/span>
\n.<\/span><\/span>
\n .<\/span> Neh. 4:4 \u2014<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Nehemiah turns from his description of the opposition of his enemies to address God
\n(by Apostrophe<\/i>) in prayer: <\/b>\u201cHear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head,\u201d<\/span> <\/b><\/i>etc<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/span>
\n.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

.<\/span> There is another beautiful and sudden Apostrophe<\/em> in Neh. 6:9\u2014\u201cFor they all made us afraid, saying. Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now, therefore, <\/span>O <\/span><\/i>God,<\/span><\/i> strengthen my hands.\u201d<\/span> <\/b><\/span>
\n.<\/span>
\n .<\/span> Psa. 33 \u2014After addressing us concerning God in the third person, the Psalmist suddenly turns away, and concludes (verse 22) with a brief Apostrophe<\/i> addressed to God, \u201cLet thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.\u201d<\/span> <\/b><\/span>
\n.<\/span>
\n .<\/span> Psa. 82 \u2014After speaking of God (verse 8) and the wickedness of man (verses 1-7),
\nhe suddenly concludes with the Apostrophe<\/i>, \u201cArise, O God, judge the earth; for thou shalt inherit all nations.\u201d <\/span><\/span>
\n.<\/span>
\n .<\/span> Psa. 104:24\u2014After enlarging on the wonderful works of God, he exclaims,<\/span>
\n \u201cO Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all:
\nthe earth is full of thy riches.\u201d<\/span>
\n.<\/span>
\n .<\/span> Psa. 109 \u2014After describing how his enemies had rewarded him evil for good, and spoken evil against him (verses 6-20), he suddenly turns aside in verse 21, and prays, \u201cBut do thou for me, O God the Lord (Jehovah Adonai), for thy name’s sake: because thy mercy is good, deliver thou me,\u201d<\/span> <\/b>etc<\/i>.<\/span>
\n .<\/span>
\n…\u2026.<\/span>II. Apostrophe to MEN: either Living; or Dead.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

. <\/span>
\n<\/b><\/span>\u2026………<\/span>1. <\/span><\/span>To certain definite persons<\/span><\/i>. <\/span><\/span>
\n.<\/span>
\n .<\/span> 2 Sam. 1:24, 25 \u2014In David’s lament over Saul and Jonathan, he suddenly turns, and,
\n(in verse 24), addresses the daughters of Israel. And in verse 25 he turns from these to dead Jonathan.<\/span>
\n.<\/span>
\n .<\/span> 2 Sam. 7:23 \u2014In the midst of David’s beautiful prayer, he suddenly turns from addressing Jehovah as to what He had done, and speaks to the people <\/b>\u201cto do for you great things and terrible.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

.<\/span>
\n .<\/span> Psa. 2:10-12 \u2014 After speaking of what God will do, the Psalmist <\/span><\/span><\/span>suddenly turns, and addresses the kings and judges of the earth (10-12).<\/span>
\n.<\/span>
\n .<\/span> Psa. 6:8 (9)\u2014 He turns from his prayer in trouble to address those who had brought the trouble upon him. \u201cDepart from me, all ye workers of iniquity,\u201d <\/span>etc<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

.<\/span>
\n .<\/span> Isa. 1:4, 5\u2014The prophet turns from the third person to the second,
\n\u201cthey have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.\u201d
\n<\/b>\u201cWhy should ye be stricken any more?\u201d <\/span>etc<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/span>
\n.<\/span>
\n .<\/span> Jer. 5:10 is an Apostrophe<\/em>, addressed to the enemy who should fulfill the prophecy which was being delivered.<\/span>
\n.<\/span>
\n .<\/span> Jer. 11 \u2014After prophesying the evils to come upon the houses of Israel and Judah,
\nhe breaks off in verse 18, and speaks of himself. \u201cAnd the Lord hath given me knowledge of it, and I know it: then thou shewedst me their doings.\u201d <\/span><\/span>
\n.<\/span>
\n .<\/span> Acts 15:10 \u2014After speaking to the apostles and elders as to what God had been doing, Peter suddenly turns and addresses them as to what they proposed to do.<\/span>
\n.<\/span>
\n .<\/span> Rom. 11:13, 14 \u2014He turns and addresses \u201cyou Gentiles\u201d<\/span> <\/b>in the midst of his revelation concerning the past and future of Israel.<\/span>
\n.<\/span>
\n .<\/span> Jas. 4 \u2014He has been addressing the poor and oppressed: but, in verses 1-6 he turns away, and apostrophizes<\/i> the rich oppressors, returning to his former subject in
\nverse 7.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
\n.<\/span>
\n\u2026………<\/span>2. <\/span>To one’s own self<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

.<\/span> This is done by the common Hebrew idiom, by which one’s \u201csoul\u201d is put
\n(by Synecdoche<\/i>) for one’s self<\/i>.<\/span>
\n.<\/span>
\n .<\/span> Psa. 42:5, 11 \u2014\u201cWhy art thou cast down, O my soul.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

See also under Cycloides<\/i>, Heterosis<\/i>, and Synecdoche<\/i>.<\/span>
\n.<\/span>
\n .<\/span> Psa. 103:1, 22 \u2014\u201cBless the Lord, O my soul.\u201d<\/span> So Psa. 104:1; 146:1, etc<\/i>.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
\n.<\/span>
\n\u2026………<\/span>3. <\/span>To some second person or persons indefinite<\/span><\/i>
\n……………<\/span> (put, by Synecdoche<\/i>, for anyone).
\n.<\/span>
\n. <\/span>Psa. 27:14 \u2014After prayer to God for himself, David turns and addresses anyone who is in like circumstances, and exhorts him. \u201cWait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

See also under Epanadiplosis<\/i>.<\/span>
\n.<\/span>
\n .<\/span> Psa. 34:12(<\/span>13<\/b><\/a>) \u2014He suddenly turns from the plural to the singular, and addresses some undefined individual: \u201cKeep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile,\u201d<\/span> etc<\/i>.<\/span>
\n.<\/span>
\n .<\/span> Gal. 6:1 \u2014\u201cBrethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual restore such an one in the spirit of meekness;
\n<\/span><\/span><\/span>[now comes the Apostrophe<\/i>, to some, or rather each, individual]
\n\u201c<\/span>considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.\u201d<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/span>[See also Rom. 2:17 (\u201cthou\u201d<\/span>); 9:19 (\u201cThou\u201d<\/span>), 20 (\u201cO man\u201d<\/span>); 12:20 (\u201cthine\u201d<\/span>);
\n13:3 (\u201cthou\u201d<\/span>); 14:4 (\u201cthou\u201d<\/span>), 10 (\u201cthou\u201d<\/span>). 1 Cor. 7:16 (\u201cO wife,\u201d<\/span> <\/b>\u201cO man”<\/span>).
\nSee under Antimetathesis<\/i> and Metonymy<\/i>. Gal. 4:7 (\u201cthou\u201d<\/span>).]<\/span><\/span>
\n.<\/span>
\n\u2026………<\/span>4. <\/span>In Prophecies<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

.<\/span> <\/span>In certain solemn prophecies, the Prophet is told what to say directly
\n(instead of indirectly or obliquely).<\/span>
\n.<\/span>
\n .<\/span> Isa. 6:9 \u2014\u201cAnd he said. Go, and tell this people,<\/span> <\/b>Hear ye indeed, but understand not,\u201d<\/span> etc<\/i>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

(See under Polyptoton<\/i>, and compare Matt. 13:14. Acts 28:26, 27, etc<\/i>.)<\/span>
\n.<\/span>
\n .<\/span> Isa. 23:16 \u2014Tyre is addressed as a person, after a prophecy concerning the city.
\nSee also Isa. 47:1.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
\n .<\/span>
\n \u2026…<\/span>III. Apostrophe to ANIMALS.<\/span>
\n.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

.<\/span> Psa. 148:7 (dragons<\/span>), 10 (beasts<\/span>).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

.<\/span>
\n .<\/span> Joel 2:22 \u2014\u201c<\/b>Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field,\u201d<\/span> etc<\/i>.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
\n.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>
\n<\/b><\/span>\u2026….<\/span>IV. Apostrophe to INANIMATE THINGS.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

.<\/span> Deut. 32:1 \u2014\u201cGive ear. O ye heavens, and I will speak:<\/span> <\/b>and hear, O earth,<\/span> <\/b>the<\/span> <\/b>words of my mouth.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>
\n.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

.<\/span> Thus solemnly and emphatically opens this \u201cSong of Moses\u201d
\n(which describes the whole history of Israel from the beginning to the end) and call us to give our attention to it and to consider it. As every Israelite was expected to learn and study it (see verses 44-47) its importance to the interpreter of prophecy must be very great indeed. It is the key to Israel’s history\u2014past, present, and future.
\nIts structure may be seen under Correspondence<\/i>
\n(page 375).<\/span>
\n.<\/span>
\n .<\/span> 2 Sam. 1:21 \u2014\u201cYe mountains of Gilboa.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n.<\/span>
\n .<\/span> 1 Kings 13:2 \u2014\u201cAnd he cried against the altar in the word of the Lord and said,
\nO altar, altar, thus saith the Lord,<\/span> etc<\/i>.\u201d<\/span>
\n.<\/span>
\n .<\/span> Psa. 114:5 \u2014\u201cWhat ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest? thou Jordan,
\nthat thou wast driven back? Ye mountains that ye skipped like rams? and ye little hills, like lambs? Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord (Adon), at the presence of the God (Eloah) of Jacob.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n.<\/span>
\n .<\/span> Psa. 148:3-5 \u2014\u201cPraise ye him, sun and moon; praise him, all ye stars of light.
\nPraise Him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens,\u201d<\/span> etc<\/i>.<\/span>
\n.<\/span>
\n .<\/span> Isa. 1:2\u2014\u201cHear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the Lord hath spoken.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

These words were chosen for, and invariably put in, the title-page of the early printed editions of the English Bible.<\/span>
\n.<\/span>
\n .<\/span> Jer. 2:12 \u2014\u201cBe astonished, O ye heavens, at this,\u201d <\/span>etc<\/span><\/i><\/span>.<\/span>
\n.<\/span>
\n .<\/span> Jer.\u00a022:29 \u2014\u201cO earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the Lord.\u201d<\/span><\/span> See Epizeuxis<\/i>.<\/span>
\n.<\/span>
\n .<\/span> Jer. 47:6 \u2014\u201cO thou sword of the Lord, how long will it be ere thou be quiet?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n See Ezek. 21:16.<\/span>
\n.<\/span>
\n .<\/span> Ezek. 13:11 \u2014 After saying that an overflowing storm shall burst upon the work
\nof the false prophets, he turns away and addresses the hailstones. \u201cAnd ye, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend it<\/span>.\u201d<\/span>
\n.<\/span>
\n .<\/span> Ezek. 36:4, 8 \u2014\u201cYe mountains of Israel<\/span>,\u201d compare verse 1.<\/span>
\n.<\/span>
\n.<\/span> Hos. 13:14 \u2014\u201cO death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy<\/span> <\/b>destruction.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n See 1 Cor. 15:55.<\/span>
\n.<\/span>
\n .<\/span> Joel 2 \u2014After prophesying concerning the land, he turns away and addresses it in verse 21. \u201cFear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the Lord will do great things.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n.<\/span>
\n .<\/span> Micah 6:2 \u2014\u201cHear ye, O mountains, the Lord’s controversy<\/span>,\u201d etc<\/i>.<\/span>
\n.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

.<\/span> Zech. 11:1 \u2014\u201c<\/span><\/span>Open thy doors, O Lebanon<\/span><\/span>,\u201d <\/span>etc<\/i><\/span><\/span>.<\/span>
\n.<\/span>Verse 2.\u2014 <\/span><\/span>\u201cHowl, fir-tree\u201d<\/span><\/span>; <\/span>etc<\/i><\/span>. \u201c<\/span>howl, O ye oaks of Bashan.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n.<\/span>
\n.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

.<\/span>
\n
\nFrom \u201cFigures Of Speech Used In The Bible\u201d by E. W. Bullinger,
\n(Public Domain) pages 901-905. Adapted for website compatibility.
\nSee original at link. \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 Stream<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Download<\/a>.
\n.<\/span>
\n
\nfiguresofspeechinthebible.net \u00a9 2013-2022. All rights reserved. Material in public domain may be freely copied and distributed without charge for educational, non-commercial purposes. This website, and those referenced by this site as sources of public domain material, are to be referenced. Material that is not in public domain, and indicated as such, is the property of its rightful owner(s), and\/or originator.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n


\n.<\/span>
\n .<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

. . A Turning Aside from the direct Subject Matter to address others. . . A-pos -tro-phe. Greek, \u1f00\u03c0\u03bf\u03c3\u03c4\u03c1\u03bf\u03c6\u03ae, a turning away from; from \u1f00\u03c0\u03cc, (apo), away from, and \u03c3\u03c4\u03c1\u03ad\u03c6\u03b5\u03b9\u03bd, (strephein), to turn. . . The figure is so called when the speaker turns away from the real auditory whom […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":270,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-168","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/figuresofspeechinthebible.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/168","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/figuresofspeechinthebible.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/figuresofspeechinthebible.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/figuresofspeechinthebible.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/figuresofspeechinthebible.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=168"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/figuresofspeechinthebible.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/168\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2597,"href":"https:\/\/figuresofspeechinthebible.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/168\/revisions\/2597"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/figuresofspeechinthebible.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/270"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/figuresofspeechinthebible.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=168"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}