Antonomasia; or, Name-Change
Antonomasia; or, Name-Change
Change of proper name for appellative; or vice versa
An -to-no-m-si-a. Greek, , a different name, from , to name instead; and this from (anti), instead, and (onomazein), to name (from (onoma), a name).
This figure is so called because a proper name is put for a common or appellative noun; or because, on the contrary, an appellation derived from some attribute is put for a proper name. As when a name of some office, dignity, profession, science, or trade, is used instead of the proper name of the person: e.g., when we speak of the Queen as Her Majesty, or of a nobleman as his lordship; or when a wise man is called a Solon, or a Solomon, etc.
When we speak of David as the Psalmist, or of Paul as the Apostle, we use the figure Antonomasia.
Gen 31:21.-The Euphrates is called the river on account of its greatness. See also Jos 24:2. Psa 72:8; Psa 80:11 (12), where also the sea is put for the Great Sea, which is another Antonomasia for the Mediterranean. See also Mic 7:12.
1Sa 4:21.-And she named the child In-glorious (i.e., I-chabd), saying, The glory is departed, I-chabd meaning there is no glory. The name occurs once more, in chap. 14:3.
Isa 62:4.-
Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken;
Neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate:
But thou shalt be called Hephzi-bah (i.e., my delight is in her),
And thy land Beulah (i.e., married).
Here note that the four lines are alternate: the subject of the first and third being the People, while that of the second and fourth is the Land.
Hos 1:6.-And He said unto him, Call her name Not-having- obtained-mercy (i.e., Lo-ruhamah).
Hos 12:13 (14).-Moses is called a Prophet, because he was par excellence the prophet. See Deu 34:10-12.
Mar 8:20.-And when [I brake] the seven among four thousand: i.e., the seven loaves.
Act 3:14.-But ye denied the Holy One and the Just: i.e., the Lord Jesus Christ. See Hendiadys.
Act 22:14.-The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just (or Righteous) One: i.e., the Lord Jesus. Thus was Paul led of the Spirit to avoid the use of any word which would excite and inflame them. By this means he obtained audience, until, in verse 21, he had to use the word Gentiles (I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles), when we read: And they gave him audience unto this word.
Act 25:26.-The Roman Emperor is called my lord.
The Divine Names and Titles are sometimes the attributes of God used as proper names:-
God is called the Strong One (El); or, the Most High (Elyn). Psa 5:4 (5); 22:1 (2), etc.
Christ is in the same way called the Lord. Mat 21:3. Joh 11:3; Joh 11:12, etc.
The Teacher or Master. Mat 26:18. Joh 11:28.
The Son of man (see under Synecdoche). Mat 8:20; Mat 9:6; Mat 10:23; Mat 11:19; Mat 12:8, etc.
The Angel. Gen 48:16. Exo 23:20.
The Angel of the Lord. Exo 3:2. Jdg 6:11
So also other appellatives are used: e.g., The Seed of the woman, The Messiah, The Servant of Jehovah, The Messenger of the Covenant, The Prophet, etc.