Heterosis; or, Exchange of Accidence
Heterosis; or, Exchange of Accidence
Exchange of one Voice, Mood, Tense, Person, Number, Degree, or Gender, for another
Het-e-r-sis, (heteros), another, different. It is the name given to that form of Enallage which consists of an exchange, not of actual parts of speech, but of the accidence of a part of speech.
It includes an exchange of one Form of the Verb for another (e.g., intransitive for transitive); one Mood or Tense for another; one Person for another; one Degree of comparison for another; one Number or Gender for another.
When the exchange is of one Case for another, it has a separate name-Antiptsis (see above), and when the exchange is of one Part of Speech for another, it is called Antimereia (see above).
The following are the various forms of Heterosis:-
HETEROSIS.
I.Of FORMS and VOICES.
1.Intransitive for Transitive.
2.Active for Passive.
3.Middle for Passive.
II.Of Moods.
1.Indicative for Subjunctive.
2.Subjunctive for Indicative.
3.Imperative for Indicative.
4.Imperative for Subjunctive.
5.Infinitive for Indicative.
6.Infinitive for Imperative.
III.Of Tenses.
1.Past for Present.
2.Past for Future.
3.Aorist (Indefinite) for Past.
4.Aorist (Indefinite) for Present.
5.Present for Past.
6.Present for Future.
7.Present for Paulo post futurum (i.e., a little after [Future).
8.Future for Past.
9.Future for Present.
10.Future for Imperative.
IV.Of Persons.
1.First Person for Third.
2.Second for Third.
3.Third for First or Second.
4.Plural for Singular.
5.Singular for Plural.
V.Of Adjectives (Degree) and Adverbs.
1.Positive for Comparative.
2.Positive for Superlative.
3.Comparative for Positive.
4.Comparative for Superlative.
5.Superlative for Comparative.
VI.Of Nouns (Number), Adjectives, and Pronouns.
1.Singular for Plural.
2.Plural for Singular.
3.Plural for Indefinite Number or one of many.
VII.Of Gender.
1.Masculine for Feminine.
2.Masculine for Neuter.
3.Feminine for Neuter.
4.Neuter for Masculine or Feminine.
Heterosis of the Verb
I. Of Forms and Voices
1. Intransitive for Transitive
Mat 5:29.-If thy right eye offend thee: (, skandaliz), to make to stumble: i.e., make thee stumble. So Mat 18:6. 1Co 8:13.
Mat 5:45.-He maketh his sun to rise (, anatell), to rise up.
1Co 2:2.-I determined not to know anything among you: i.e., to make known, preach.
1Co 3:6.-God gave the increase, and verse 7: God that giveth the increase. So 2Co 9:10. In all other places the verb (auxan), to increase, is intransitive.
1Co 13:12.-Then shall I know, even as I also am known: i.e., I shall be made to know or taught.
2Co 2:14.-Now, thanks be to the God that always causeth us to triumph. Here the A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] recognises the figure of exchange; as also in
2Co 9:8.-God is able to make all grace abound in you.
Gal 4:9.-But now after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God: i.e., been made to know, or been instructed by God.
Eph 1:8.-According to the riches (or wealth) of His grace which (grace) he hath made to overflow into us.
2Ti 2:19.-The Lord knoweth them that are his: i.e., the Lord maketh known who are His; as in Num 16:5.
2. Active for Passive
1Pe 2:6.-Wherefore also it is contained in the Scriptures, lit., it contains: i.e., there is a passage in the Scripture.
3. Middle for Passive
Luk 2:5.-To be taxed with Mary: lit., to enrol himself.
1Co 10:2.-And were all baptized into Moses: lit., baptized themselves.
II. Heterosis of Moods
1. Indicative for Subjunctive
As the Hebrew language has no subjunctive mood, the indicative is often put instead of that mood; and this is done in the New Testament, as well as in the Old Testament, inasmuch as, though the language is Greek, the thoughts and idioms are Hebrew.
1Co 15:12.-Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you, etc.: i.e., how is it that some among you say.
Verse 35. But some men wilt say: i.e., may say.
Verse 50. Neither doth corruption inherit incorruption: i.e., neither can corruption, etc.
2. Subjunctive for Indicative
Mat 11:6.-Blessed is he who may not be made to stumble: i.e., who is not made to stumble or seeth nothing to stumble at in me.
Joh 15:8.-By this is my Father glorified, that ye may bear much fruit: i.e., that ye bear or when ye bear, etc.
1Co 6:4.-If, then, ye may have matters of judgment (cases for the judge): i.e., if ye have.
Jam 4:13.-To-day or to-morrow we may go into such a city: i.e., we will go.
Verse 15: If the Lord should will, and we should live: i.e., if He willeth, and we live.
Some Christians say, If the Lord should tarry; not perceiving that He may tarry, and yet not will that we should live, or do this or that. Tarrying and willing are two very different things.
3. Imperative for Indicative
Gen 20:7.-For he (Abraham) is a prophet, and let him pray for thee: i.e., (as in A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] ), he shall pray for thee.
Gen 42:18.-This do ye and live: i.e., and ye shall live.
Gen 45:18.-I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and eat ye the fat of the land: i.e., ye shall eat (as in A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] ).
Deu 32:50.-And be gathered unto thy people: i.e., thou shalt be gathered.
Psa 22:8 (9).-Roll thyself on, or trust thou in the Lord.
Whatever part of the verb (gl) may be, it must be-put for the indicative, for it is so rendered in the Septuagint (He trusted in the Lord), and is so quoted in the New Testament (Mat 27:43).
Psa 37:27.-Depart from evil and do good: and dwell for evermore: i.e., thou shalt dwell.
Pro 3:4.-So shalt thou find favour.
Here the A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] recognizes the figure, for the Heb. is imperative, find. But the A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] misses it in 4:4. Keep my commandments and live: i.e., and thou shalt live.
Rom 5:1.-Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God.
Here the reading, according to the R.V. [Note: The Revised Version, 1881.] and the Textual critics, should be (imperative), instead of (indicative), as in the T.R. and A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] Alford, though he recognizes the reading, and puts it in the text, yet bows to the overwhelming evidence of the sense, and the context, and contends for the Indicative. The simple solution is that this is one of the instances, if the critics are right, in which the Imperative is used for the Indicative, and though the text may say let us have, the meaning is we have.
1Co 16:22.-If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maran-atha: i.e., he is or will be Anathema (or accursed) when the Lord shall come.
In prophetic utterances the future indicative is very often declared by the imperative; for Whatsoever the Lord willeth, that doeth he.
Isa 8:10.-Take counsel together speak the word: i.e., ye shall take counsel together, and it will come to naught: and ye shall speak the word, but it will not stand. So also 29:9; 37:30; 54:1, etc.
Joh 2:19.-Destroy this temple. This was not a command for the Jews to destroy Him, but a prophesy that they would do so. When they perverted His words, they did not do so by taking the figure literally, but by declaring that He said I will destroy this temple.
Gal 6:2.-And so fulfil (i.e., so ye will fulfil) the law of Christ.
Jam 5:1.-Weep and howl: i.e., ye shall weep and howl.
4. Imperative for Subjunctive
Num 24:21.-Strong be thy dwelling place, and build in the flint-rock thy nest. Nevertheless: i.e., thou mayest put, but, etc. A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] : Thou puttest (Ind. [Note: The Indicative Mood.] ), but the sense is subjunctive.
Psa 4:4 (5).-Stand in awe, and sin not: i.e., if ye stand in awe ye will not sin.
Nah 3:14.-Here, all the imperative commands are conditional declarations, as is shown by verse 15: i.e., the people might do all these things, nevertheless, it would be all in vain.
Luk 10:28.-This do, and thou shalt live: i.e., if thou do this. Hence the Imperative very often implies only permission:-
2Sa 18:23.-Run: i.e., thou mayest run.
1Ki 22:22.-Go forth, and do so: i.e., thou mayest go, and do it.
2Ki 2:17.-Send: i.e., ye may send.
Mat 8:32.-Go: i.e., ye may go.
1Co 7:15.-Let him depart: i.e., he may depart.
1Co 11:6.-Let her also be shorn: i.e., she may be shorn.
5. Infinitive for Indicative
Gen 8:5.-And the waters were in going and returning: i.e., as in A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] , decreased continually.
Exo 8:15 (11).-But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, and to harden his heart, and hearkened not unto them: i.e., hardening of his heart followed, or took place.
2Sa 3:18.-By the hand of my servant David to save my people Israel: i.e., I shall save.
1Ki 22:30 and 2Ch 18:29.-And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat: To disguise myself and to enter into the battle: I will disguise myself; or as in margin [when he was] to disguise, etc.
2Ch 31:10.-Since the People began to bring the offerings into the House of the Lord, to eat, to be satisfied, and to have left plenty: i.e., we have eaten, and had enough, and have left plenty.
Psa 8:1 (2).-Who to set thy glory above the heavens: who hast set. The Targum and the Syriac have the Indicative (Num 27:20).* [Note: See the note in Dr. Ginsburgs edition of the Hebrew Bible.]
Psa 32:9.-Not to understand: i.e., having no understanding.
Psa 77:1 (2).-Even unto God with my voice, and to hear me: i.e., and He gave ear to me, or He will hear me; or, by Ellipsis, and He [will condescend] to hear me.
Pro 12:6.-The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: i.e., lie in wait.
Isa 5:5.-Here, the Infinitive is correctly rendered by the Indicative future: I will take away, and break down, etc.
Isa 38:16.-So wilt thou recover me, and to make me to live: i.e., and vivify me, or preserve my life.
Isa 49:7.-To him to despise in soul: i.e., to him who is despised by man.
Jer 7:9.-Will ye to steal, to murder, etc. Some interpret the letter (He) as interogative, but others as intensive, Will ye steal, etc. (with emphasis on the verbs).
Jer 14:5.-Yea, the hind also calved in the field, and to forsake it: i.e., and forsook it, because there was no grass; or, the sense may be supplied by Ellipsis, and [was obliged] to forsake it, etc.
Eze 1:14.-And the living creatures to run and to return: i.e., ran and returned.
Eze 11:7.-To bring you forth: i.e., I will bring you forth. I shall bring is actually the reading according to the Sevir, and indeed it is the Textual reading in some MSS., as well as the Editio princeps of the Hebrew Bible (Soncino, 1488), and the marginal reading of the first edition of the Rabbinic Bible by Felix Pratensis (Venice, 1517), as may be seen from the note in Dr. Ginsburgs Edition of the Hebrew Bible.
Hab 2:15.-To make him drunk: i.e., and makest him drunken also (as in A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] ).
6. Infinitive for Imperative
Exo 20:8.-To remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy: i.e., remember thou. So Deu 5:12.
Luk 9:3.-Neither to have two coats: i.e., neither have ye.
Rom 12:15.-To rejoice with them that rejoice: i.e., rejoice ye. See under Homoteleuton.
Php 3:16.-To walk by the same rule: i.e., let us walk, or walk ye.
Other examples may be seen in Jos 1:13. Job 32:10 (11). Psa 17:5; Psa 22:8 (9). Isa 32:11. Jer 2:2.
III. Heterosis of the Tenses
As the Hebrew verb has only two principal tenses, the past and the future, these two with the participles supply all the other tenses. Hence, in the New Testament, where the thought and idiom are Hebrew, though the tenses are Greek they consequently have all the variety which these tenses have in Hebrew.
1. The Past for the Present
The Past not only serves to express what is finished or past, but what is present: regarding it, and also the future, as actually done. The past tense expresses what is either imperfect or perfect, or what is a gentle imperative, or a fixed determination, or a continuation of the action or state. The exact sense can be known only from the context.
Gen 4:1.-I have gotten a man from the Lord: i.e., I have got, or, possess.
Verse 9: I have not known: i.e. (as in A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] ), I know not, or, I do not know.
Gen 23:11; Gen 23:13.-I have given thee the field: i.e., I give to thee the field.
Gen 32:10 (11).-I have been unworthy of all the mercies: i.e., I am unworthy.
2Sa 1:5.-How hast thou known (i.e., how dost thou know) that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?
2Ki 3:11.-Here is Elisha, son of Shaphat, who hath poured (i.e., poureth) water on the hands of Elijah. Elijahs servant is described by part of his service (this is by the figure of Synecdoche (q.v. [Note: Which see.] ).
Psa 1:1.-O the happiness of that one who hath not walked (i.e., doth not (and never did) walk), etc.
Psa 14:1.-The fool hath said (i.e., sayeth) in his heart, There is no God. If this Psalm refers to Nabal (a fool), we may render it: Nabal said or A fool sayeth.
Psa 25:2.-My God, in thee I have trusted: i.e., do I trust. So Psa 31:1 (2). Pro 17:5; and in many other places: the sense being, I have trusted, and still do trust, in Thee.
Psa 31:6.-Thou hast delivered (i.e., thou deliverest) me, O Jehovah.
Isa 9:2 (1).-The People who walk in darkness have seen (i.e., see) a great light.
Joh 1:4.-In him was (i.e., is) life, and the life was (i.e., is) the light of men.
Verse 15: This was (i.e., is) he of whom I spake.
Joh 3:16.-God so loved (i.e., loveth) the world, that he gave (i.e., giveth) his only begotten Son.
Joh 9:36.-Who is he, Lord, that I shall have believed (i.e., may believe) on him.
Joh 20:17.-Hold me not, for I have not yet ascended: i.e., I do not yet ascend, or am not yet ascended.
Act 12:14.-Rhoda told Peter to be standing before the porch: i.e., how Peter is standing.
Rom 5:2.-This grace wherein ye have stood: i.e., and continue to stand.
1Co 1:10.-In whom we have hoped (and continue to hope).
Heb 10:11.-And every high priest stood (i.e., standeth) daily (as in A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] ).
Jam 1:24.-He beheld himself, and has gone away: i.e., he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way.
1Jn 3:6.-Whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him: i.e., seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him.
Other examples may be seen in Joh 5:45; Joh 11:27; Joh 16:27. 1Ti 4:10; 1Ti 5:5.
2. The Past for the Future
This is put when the speaker views the action as being as good as done. This is very common in the Divine prophetic utterances: where, though the sense is literally future, it is regarded and spoken of as though it were already accomplished in the Divine purpose and determination: the figure is to show the absolute certainty of the things spoken of.
Gen 45:9-10.-Haste ye and go up to my father, then ye have said (i.e., will say) to him and thou hast dwelt (i.e., wilt dwell) in the land of Goshen.
Exo 17:4.-They have stoned me: i.e., they will stone me.
1Sa 2:31.-Lo, the days are coming, and I have cut off thine arm: i.e., shall cut off, etc.
1Sa 10:2.-Thou hast found: i.e., wilt find.
1Sa 6:7-8.-And ye have bound (i.e., will bind), etc.
Job 19:27.-And mine eyes have beheld (i.e., will have seen).
Psa 23:5.-Thou hast anointed: i.e., wilt anoint.
Psa 107:42.-And all iniquity hath shut (i.e., will have shut) her mouth.
Pro 1:22.-The scorners have delighted (i.e., will delight) in their scorning.
Pro 11:7; Pro 11:21.-The hope of the unjust men hath perished: i.e., will perish: but just ones seed hath escaped: i.e., will escape.
Pro 12:21.-And the wicked have been (i.e., will be) full of evil.
Jer 21:9.-Whosoever goeth forth and hath fallen unto the Chaldeans: i.e., shall fall, etc.
As we have said above, nearly all the prophecies are thus written. See Isa 11:1-16 : And a rod hath come out of the stock of Jesse, and often through the chapter.
Joh 3:13.-No man hath ascended up into the heaven: i.e. ascend up, or can ascend.
Joh 4:38.-Other men laboured, and ye have entered (i.e. shall enter, or are entered) into their labours.
Rom 8:30.-The called are spoken of as already (in the Divine purpose) in Christ, justified, yea, even glorified.
Eph 2:6.-Believers are regarded as already raised from the dead and seated in the heavenly places.
Heb 2:7.-Thou hast made (i.e., Thou wilt make) Him for a little while less than the angels. For this was a prophecy spoken of Christ long before, in Psa 8:1-9
Heb 3:14.-We have been made (i.e., we shall become) partakers of Christ, if we hold, etc.
Heb 12:22.-But ye have come (i.e., shall come) unto Mount Zion, etc.
3. The Aorist for the Past
The Aorist, or indefinite past tense, is used to denote an action definitely past and completed some time ago.
Mat 14:3.-Now Herod, having laid hold of John, bound him: i.e., had bound him.
Joh 18:24.-New Annas sent him (i.e., had sent him) bound unto Caiaphas.
4. The Aorist for the Present
The Aorist is sometimes put for a past action or state continued up to the present time.
Mat 3:17.-This is my beloved son, in whom I was (i.e., was and am) well pleased. So Mar 1:11, and Luk 3:22.
Mat 23:2.-The Scribes and Pharisees sat (i.e., and continue to sit) in Moses seat.
Mar 16:19.-Was taken up into heaven, and sat (i.e., sat and continues to sit) on the right hand of God.
Luk 1:47.-My spirit rejoiced: i.e., hath rejoiced and doth rejoice. A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] , hath rejoiced.
Luk 15:16.-And he was longing to have filled: i.e., to fill.
Joh 1:12.-To them gave he authority to have become (i.e., to become, or that they might be) sons of God.
1Jn 4:8.-He that loveth not, knew not (i.e., knoweth not, or never knew) God.
Joh 11:56.-What think ye, that he will not have come (i.e., there is no hope of his coming) to the feast?
Joh 15:6.-Except anyone abide in me he was cast out (i.e., will be cast out), and was (i.e., will be) burned. See under Ellipsis.
5. The Present for the Past
Mat 2:13.-And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth (i.e., appeared).
Mar 2:4.-They are letting down the bed: i.e., they did let down. See also chaps, Mar 3:19-20, Mar 3:31 and Mar 16:2.
Joh 3:13.-No man hath ascended into heaven, but the Son of man who is (i.e., who was) in heaven. Note that the perfect of the first verb is used for the future, as already observed above.
Act 9:26.-They were all afraid of him, not believing (or refusing to believe) that he is (i.e., was. So the A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] ) a disciple.
Gal 2:14.-But when I saw that they do (i.e., did) not walk uprightly.
Heb 2:16.-For not, indeed, of angels nature He taketh (i.e., took) hold, but of Abrahams seed He taketh (i.e., took) hold.
Heb 7:3.-He remaineth (i.e., remained) a priest all his life.
Heb 7:8.-One testified of that he liveth (i.e., that he lived, viz., a priest) all his life. See above.
6. The Present for the Future
This is put when the design is to show that some thing will certainly come to pass, and is spoken of as though it were already present.
Mat 2:4.-Demanded of then where Christ should be (i.e., is to be) born.
Mat 3:10.-Every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down: i.e., will be hewn down.
Mat 5:46.-What reward have ye? i.e., will ye have?
Mat 17:11.-Elias indeed cometh (i.e., will come) first.
Mat 26:29.-Until the day when I drink (i.e., shall be drinking) it with you new, etc.
Mar 9:31.-The Son of man is delivered (i.e., will be delivered) unto the hands of men.
Luk 13:32.-And the third day I am (i.e., shall be) perfected.
1Co 15:2.-By which also ye are (i.e., will be) saved.
1Co 15:12.-How say some among you that there is (i.e., will or can be) no resurrection of the dead?
2Pe 3:11.-Seeing that all these things are (i.e., shall be) dissolved.
2Pe 3:12.-And the elements are (i.e., shall be) melted.
Other examples may be seen in Mat 11:3. Joh 7:27; Joh 7:33-34; Joh 8:58; Joh 10:17-18; Joh 12:26; Joh 12:34; Joh 13:6; Joh 13:27; Joh 16:16. Act 1:6. 1Co 15:35; 1Co 16:5. Rev 11:5, etc., etc.
7. The Present for the Paulo post futurum*
[Note: This tense differs from the simple or perfect future by denoting and referring to something which will soon be past.]
Mat 26:24.-The Son of man indeed goeth (i.e., will soon be gone, or given over), as it is written of Him.
So verse 45. Mar 14:41. Luk 22:22; Luk 22:37. Joh 13:3; Joh 14:3; Joh 14:18-19; Joh 17:11, etc.
Luk 22:19.-Which is given (i.e., which will soon have been given) for you.
So also Mat 26:28. Mar 14:24. 1Co 11:24.
Luk 24:49.-Behold, I send (i.e., I shall soon have sent) the promise of my Father, etc. So also Joh 20:17.
2Ti 4:6.-For I already am being poured (or offered): i.e., I shall soon have been offered up.
8. The Future for the Past
The future is used for the past when it is understood that the thing or matter was future at the time of writing or speaking.
Exo 15:5.-The depths will cover (i.e., have covered and will continue to cover) them.
Jdg 2:1.-I shall make (i.e., I made) you to go up out of Egypt and shall bring (i.e., have brought) you into the land which I sware unto your fathers. When the angel spake this it was past: when Jehovah said it, it was future.
Jdg 5:8.-He (i.e., Israel) will choose (i.e., he chose) new Gods. For Deborah is speaking of the cause of the affliction which had fallen upon the People: viz., idolatry.
Jdg 21:25.-Each man will do (i.e., did) what was right in his own eyes.
2Sa 3:33.-And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Will Abner die as a fool dieth? (i.e., as in A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] , Died Abner, etc.).
2Sa 12:3.-She will (i.e., did) eat of his own meat, and will drink (i.e., drank) of his own cup, and will lie (i.e., lay) in his bosom, and so she became unto him as a daughter.
Isa 63:3.-I shall tread (i.e., I have trodden) as in the rest of the verse.
9. The Future for the Present
This is a case in which what was then future at the time of speaking, remained, or remains, as a present fact. The present in this case is often in the subjunctive or reflexive mood.
Gen 2:10.-And thence it will part (i.e., gets parted, or parts itself) and becomes four heads.
Num 18:7.-I shall give (i.e., I do give) your priests office unto you as a service of gift: i.e., the gift at the time of speaking was future; but, ministry remains an ever present gift.
Job 3:20.-Wherefore will light be given to him that is in misery? (i.e., is light given).
Psa 1:2.-And in His Law he will (i.e., doth) meditate. So Psa 3:5 (6); 22:2 (3); 25:1; 31:5 (6). Hos 1:2, etc.
Mat 12:31.-Every sin and blasphemy will be (i.e., may be) forgiven to men.
Luk 6:7.-Whether he will heal (i.e., whether he does heal) on the sabbath day. Here the Critical Texts actually read the present tense, as in the next passage (Luk 23:46).
Luk 23:46.-Father, into thy hands I shall commend (i.e., I commend) my spirit.
Rom 3:30.-Seeing it is one God which shall (i.e., doth) justify.
10. The Future for the Imperative
The Future of the Indicative is by Hebrew idiom frequently used for the Imperative. When this is the case, the Imperative is very forcible and emphatic; not being so much a mere command as the assertion of a fact which could hardly be otherwise. All the ten commandments are in this form.
Thou wilt not not merely shalt not.
Jdg 5:21.-O my soul, thou wilt tread down strength: i.e., tread thou down (not, as in A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] , hast trodden down); or, R.V. [Note: The Revised Version, 1881.] : march on.
So Psa 5:11 (12).
1Co 5:13.-Ye will put away (i.e., put away) from among yourselves that wicked person.
1Ti 6:8.-We shall be content: i.e., let us be content.
IV. Heterosis of Person and Number (Verbs)
In order to make what is said more emphatic, Hebrew idiom sometimes changes the number and person of the verb. In most of these cases the figure is correctly rendered in the A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] , so that we need only give a few examples which are there passed over.
1. The First Person for the Third
Ecc 3:18.-I said in my heart according to the reasoning of the sons of men: i.e., according to the reasoning of man, or human reasoning: i.e., man says in his heart.
In Rom 7:1-25, Paul, though speaking in the first person, is saying what is true of all who share his experience: and not merely speaking of his own case as being peculiar or different from others.
Rom 10:18.-But I say. Who says it? David! But by the Holy Spirit what David said is now repeated by Paul in the first person.
2. The Second Person for the Third
Isa 1:29.-They shall be ashamed for the oaks which ye (i.e., they) have desired, etc.
For they desired them, of course: yet the persons addressed were equally guilty and are thus by the sudden change of persons charged with the same sin.
Isa 42:20.-Seeing many things, but thou observest not: (i.e., he observes not) as in the rest of the verse.
Jer 29:19.-But ye (i.e., they) would not hear.
Gal 6:1.-Ye that are spiritual restore such an one, in the spirit of meekness, considering thyself (instead of yourselves). This is in order to emphasize the fact that those who are thus addressed stand each in the same individual danger.
3. The Third person for the First or Second
Gen 49:4.-Because thou wentest up to thy fathers bed; then defiledst thou it: he went (i.e., thou wentest) up to my couch.
Isa 54:1.-Here the third person is rendered correctly in A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] by the second.
Lam 3:1.-I am the man, he hath (i.e., I have) seen affliction.
Mic 7:18.-Here we have his inheritance, after the address like thee.
4. The Plural for the Singular
Gen 29:27.-Fulfil her week, and we (i.e., I) will give thee this also for thy service.
Num 22:6.-Peradventure I shall prevail, that we (i.e., I) may smite them.
2Sa 16:20.-Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you What shall we (i.e., I) do?
Job 18:2.-How long will it be ere ye (i.e., thou) make an end of words? mark, and afterwards we (i.e., I) will speak.
Dan 2:36.-This is the dream; and we (i.e., I) will tell the interpretation thereof.
Mar 4:30.-Whereunto shall we (i.e., I) liken the kingdom of God?
Joh 3:11.-We (i.e., I) speak that we (i.e., I) know, and testify that we (i.e., I) have seen; and ye receive not our (i.e., my) witness.
Joh 21:24.-And we (i.e., I) know that his testimony is true.
Rom 1:5.-By whom we (i.e., I, Paul) have received grace and apostleship. (See also Hendiadys).
1Ti 2:15.-She will be saved through the child-bearing if they (i.e., Eve and all her daughters) abide in faith, etc.
5. The Singular for the Plural
Num 32:25.-Spake is (sing) he spake: i.e., the tribe as composed of the children of Gad, etc. It is put for the plural, they spake; and it should really be they spake (viz., the children of Gad and the children of Reuben), according to the Sevir. This extra-official reading is the Textual reading in several MSS.; in the Samaritan Text, in the Targums of Jonathan and Onkelos, the Septuagint, the Syriac, and the Vulgate. See the note in Dr. Ginsburgs Hebrew Bible. So 1Sa 16:4 : i.e., one particular elder spoke for all. But the sing. [Note: The Singular Number.] is put for the plural: for here, again, according to the note in Dr. Ginsburgs Text, the verb should be in the plural. This is not only the reading according to the Sevir, but it is in the Text of many MSS., the Editio princeps of the Prophets (Soncino, 1485-6), the first edition of the Hebrew Bible (1488), the Targum, the LXX. [Note: The Septuagint Version (325 b.c.).] Syriac, and the Vulgate.
See also Est 9:23. Job 12:7. Psa 73:7. Pro 14:1; Pro 14:9.
V. Heterosis of Degree
The Hebrew has no degrees of comparison in the Adjective: hence other methods are adopted to express them.
In the New Testament, while the language is Greek, the thoughts and idioms are Hebrew; so that the Hebrew methods of comparison are frequently adopted; and thus we have, by the use of Enallage, several examples of exchange in the expression of Degree. (See under Idiom).
1. The Positive for the Comparative
Where the positive is used with the comparative particle (ee), than, it implies that, though there may be in one sense a comparison, yet, in another and true sense, there is really no comparison at all; for the use of the positive declares that the one case is so, rather than the other, which is not so.
Psa 118:8-9.-It is good to trust in the Lord, rather than to put confidence in man: i.e., the one is good, the other is not; yea, it is accursed (see Jer 17:5; Jer 17:7).
Mat 12:7.-I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: i.e., rather than sacrifice.
Mat 18:8.-It is good for thee: i.e., (as in A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] ) it is better for thee, etc. But the meaning is that the one condition is good, and not the other. Hence it is expressed rather than the other.
Mar 3:4.-Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath-days or to do evil?: i.e., more lawful to do good than to do evil. The evil His enemies did on the sabbath was in watching Him.
Luk 18:14.-I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other.
Here, the A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] has translated it not as a comparative, but as positive; supplying the word rather, which is quite correct. The thought being that, while there must be a comparison between the two men, the one was justified and the other was not.
The whole parable is concerning justification and not about prayer. See verse 9.
Joh 6:27.-Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for the meat that endureth to eternal life: i.e., labour more for the latter than for the former, or rather than.
Joh 15:22.-If I had not come and spoken to them, they had not had sin: i.e., so much sin.
1Co 3:7.-So neither is the planter anything, nor the waterer; but God that maketh grow: i.e., they were nothing in comparison with God.
2. The Positive for the Superlative
1Sa 17:14.-And David was the small one (i.e., the smallest): and the three great ones (i.e., the greater or greatest three) followed Saul.
2Ch 21:17.-The small one (i.e., the smallest) of his sons.
Jon 3:5.-From their great one (i.e., the greatest one among them) to their small (i.e., smallest) one.
Mat 5:19.-Whosoever therefore shall break one of these shortest commandments and shall teach men so, he shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. See under Synceiosis.
Heb 10:21.-And having a great (i.e., highest) priest over the house of God.So Heb 13:20.
3. The Comparative for the Positive
1Ti 3:14.-Hoping to come unto thee more quickly: i.e., soon; or, as in A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] , shortly.
2Ti 1:18.-And in how many things he ministered to me in Ephesus thou knowest better: i.e., well; or (as in A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] ), very well: i.e., to well to need reminding of.
4. The Comparative for the Superlative
Mat 13:32.-Which indeed is less than (or least of) all the seeds (which men sow in the fields).
Mat 18:1.-Who then is greater in the kingdom of heaven: or (as in A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] ), greatest.
Joh 10:29.-My Father, which gave them me, is greater than (i.e., greatest of) all.
1Co 13:13.-But the greater (i.e., the greatest) of these is charity.
1Co 15:19.-If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men more (i.e., most, as in A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] ) miserable.
5. The Superlative for the Comparative
Joh 1:15.-For he was first of me: i.e., prior to me (A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] before me). So the word first is used in Mar 6:21; Luk 19:47; Act 25:2; Rev 13:12; and perhaps Rev 21:1 : the former heaven and earth; and Rev 20:6 : the former resurrection of the two foretold in the Old Testament and in the Gospels. Not necessarily the special resurrection of the Church of God revealed in 1Th 4:16.
Joh 15:18.-If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me first of you: i.e., before you. So 1Co 14:30. 1Ti 5:12.
2Th 2:3.-Except there come the apostacy first: i.e., before it.
1Jn 4:19.-We love Him because He first loved us: i.e., before we loved Him.
VI. Heterosis of Number
1. The Singular for the Plural
Gen 3:8.-Hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the tree (i.e., trees) of the garden; or, perhaps, tree in the sense of tree-growth or a wood as we speak of a collection of trees.
Gen 49:6.-In their anger they slew a man (i.e., men) and in their self-will they houghed an ox (i.e., oxen).
Exo 14:17.-Here, the A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] has taken the singular chariot as though put for the plural. But it is a question whether it be so in this case, owing to the alternate structure.
aPharaoh.
bHis host.
aPharaohs chariot.
bHis horsemen.
Exo 15:1; Exo 15:21.-The horse and his rider: i.e., horses and their riders.
Exo 23:28.-I shall send the hornet before thee: i.e., hornets (without the article).
Lev 11:2.-This is the beast which ye shall eat: i.e., these are the beasts, as in A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.]
2Co 11:26.-Dangers in the city (i.e., cities, or city-dangers), dangers in the wilderness (i.e., wildernesses, or wilderness-dangers).
1Co 6:5.-One who shall be able to judge between his brother: i.e., his brethren.
See also Num 21:7; Num 21:31. Deu 20:19. 2Sa 19:41 (42). Pro 17:22; Hos 5:6. Jon 2:3 (4), etc. And in New Testament, Rev 21:21, street for streets. Also often demon and wicked ones means all the demons and evil spirits. See Joh 8:44, and Eph 6:16.
In Pronouns the singular is frequently put for the plural. See Deu 21:10. Jos 2:4. 2Ki 3:3. Psa 35:8. Php 3:20.
2. The Plural for the Singular
This is so put when great excellence or magnitude is denoted.
Our attention is thus called to the importance of the thing or matter concerning which the statement is made.
Gen 4:10.-Bloods: i.e., much blood.
Lev 19:24.-It shall be holy to praise the Lord withal. Heb. (margin), it shall be holiness of praises to the Lord: i.e., the fruit of a young tree was not to be eaten for three years, but in the fourth year it was to be counted as holy to the great praise and glory of Jehovah. See under Prosopopia.
Gen 19:11.-And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with the blindnesses: i.e., with intense blindness (as in 2Ki 6:18, the only occurrences of this word).
2Sa 3:28.-Bloods: i.e., much blood.
1Ch 28:3.-Bloods: i.e., much blood.
Psa 22:3 (4).-O Thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel: i.e., the loud or perfect praise.
Psa 28:8.-The Lord is their strength, and he is the strength of salvations: i.e., great saving strength or strength of great and mighty salvation. The margin has his strength, but stands for written defective for plene, as is shown and preserved in some ancient versions and noted in R.V. [Note: The Revised Version, 1881.] margin.* [Note: See Dr. Ginsburgs edition of the Hebrew Bible.] The meaning thus is:-
Jehovah is the strength of his people,
And He is the strength of great salvation of His anointed.
Psa 42:5 (6), 11 (12); 43:5.-I shall yet praise him for the helps or healths: i.e., the wonderful help, great deliverance, or great salvation.
Psa 45:15 (16).-With gladnesses and rejoicing shall they be brought: i.e., with great gladness and rejoicing.
Psa 47:6 (7).-Praises: i.e., great or loudest praise.
Psa 49:3 (4).-My mouth shall speak wise things: i.e., great wisdom.
Psa 51:17 (19).-The sacrifices of God: the great sacrifice of God is a broken spirit.
Psa 89:1 (2).-I will sing of the mercies: i.e., the great and wondrous mercy. So often in N.T., Rom 12:1. 2Co 1:3.
Psa 90:10.-And if by reason of strengths (or excellencies): i.e., of great strength.
Psa 139:14.-I will confess thee, because that (with) wonders (i.e., with great wonder) I have been distinguished, and wonderful are thy works.
Psa 144:7.-Send thine hands from above; rid me and deliver me: i.e., send thy gracious protection and great delivering power.
The singular is actually the Textual reading, not only in some Manuscripts, but in the Editio princeps of the Hagiographa (Naples, 1486-7), the Targum, the LXX [Note: XX The Septuagint Version (325 b.c.).] , the Syriac, and the Vulgate. See Dr. Ginsburgs note on this passage in his edition of the Hebrew Bible.
See under Anthropopatheia.
Ecc 5:6 (7).-Vanities: i.e., great vanity.
Isa 26:2.-Which keepeth truths: i.e., the great and important truth of God.
Isa 58:11.-In droughts: i.e., in great drought.
Jer 22:21.-I spake unto thee in thy prosperities (i.e., in thy great prosperity), but thou saidst, I will not hear.
Lam 1:9.-Wonders: i.e., a great wonder.
Lam 3:22.-It is of the Lords mercies: i.e., great mercy.
Eze 22:2.-The city of the bloods: i.e., the city where so much blood has been shed.
Eze 25:17.-Vengeances: i.e., great or terrible vengeance. See A.V. [Note: The Authorized Version, or current Text of our English Bible, 1611.] margin and Psa 94:1.
Eze 28:10.-Deaths: i.e., the awful death.
Dan 2:18.-Mercies: i.e., great mercy.
Mat 26:65.-Then the High Priest rent his clothes: i.e., his great robe of office.
Joh 1:13.-Not of bloods: i.e., not of the best or purest blood; or not of the very best of human parents.
Act 1:7.-Times or seasons: i.e., the great and important time and season. So 1Th 5:1. 1Ti 6:15. Tit 1:3.
Rom 12:1.-Mercies: i.e., great mercy.
1Co 15:29.-It has been suggested that in this passage we have the plural for the singular. What shall they do which are baptized for the dead? (plural) i.e., for Christ, who was put to death.
But see this passage under Ellipsis (page 41).
2Co 1:3.-Mercies: i.e., great mercy.
Heb 9:12.-Into the holies: i.e., the most holy place.
Heb 9:23.-With better sacrifices than these: i.e., one better and greater sacrifice; for Christ offered only one sacrifice.
Heb 10:28.-Without mercies: i.e., without the least mercy.
Jam 1:17.-Father of lights: i.e., true light. Hence, the Father who is the source of all true light (being the genitive of origin).
1Pe 5:3.-Not as being lords over Gods heritages: i.e., great heritage. The word God is repeated, by Ellipsis, from verse 2, and presents the same truth as Act 20:28.
The R.V. [Note: The Revised Version, 1881.] is a gloss and not a translation:-Neither as lording it over the charge allotted to you. The great point is that Gods People are His great inheritance; and that no man has a right to assume lordship or headship over it. It is Peter who says this by the Holy Spirit. The Greek is (tn kleern), the word from which we have the term clergy. So that mans thought is just the opposite of Gods. Mans thought is that the people are not to lord it over the clergy; but that the clergy are to lord it over them. This is just the opposite of what is taught us and impressed upon us by the use of this figure in 1Pe 5:3, where the truth is that the clergy are not to lord it over the laity.
2Pe 3:11.-In holy conversations and godlinesses: i.e., holy, weighty, and solemn conduct and piety.
Certain words are generally plural: e.g., (aines), ages. This may be to mark the fact that eternity is made up of successive ages: the singular referring either to one such age; or including all, as a whole. Hence we have (eis ton aina), unto the age or for ever (Mat 21:19. Joh 6:51; Joh 6:58. 1Pe 1:25 from Isa 40:8, etc.). And (eis tous ainas), unto the ages (Luk 1:33. Rom 1:25; Rom 9:5. Heb 13:8, etc.).
(ouranoi), heavens, is generally plural; a usage arising from the Hebrew idiom where the word is dual. It is always plural in the phrase kingdom of heaven, where heaven is used by Metonymy (q.v. [Note: Which see.] ) for God. The Hebrew idiom is sometimes rendered thus, literally, and sometimes idiomatically, kingdom of God.
See under Idiom.
3. Sometimes the plural is put for an indefinite number, or for one of many
In this latter case the word one is to be supplied by Ellipsis.
Gen 8:4.-The mountains: i.e., one of the mountains, or the great mountain.
Gen 19:29.-The cities in which Lot dwelt: i.e., in one of which cities.
Jdg 12:7.-Here the words one of are supplied in italics.
Neh 3:8.-Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, of the goldsmiths: i.e., of one of the goldsmiths.
Job 21:32.-Yet shall he (the wicked) be brought to the graves: i.e., to one of the graves: i.e., his grave.
Mat 2:20.-They are dead who seek, etc.: only Herod is meant (see Exo 4:19).
Mat 9:8.-Which gave such power to men (pl. [Note: The Plural Number.] ). Only one is meant, viz., Christ.
Transition or Change from the Singular to the Plural.
In these cases, it is not so much that one number or person is exchanged for another as that there is a sudden change from one to the other, calling our attention to the truth taught by this change. See under Anacoluthon.
Exo 10:2.-And that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son that ye may know how that I am the Lord.
Psa 14:1.-The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, etc.
Isa 2:20.-In that day shall a man cast his idols which they have made each one for himself to worship.
Gal 4:6-8.-Because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the spirit of His Son into your hearts Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son Howbeit, then, when ye knew not God, etc.
Gal 6:1.-Ye which are spiritual restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself.
See also 1Th 5:1-10. 1Ti 2:15. Rev 1:3, etc.
VII. Heterosis of Gender
As the Hebrew (like French) has no neuter gender, sometimes the masculine is used, and sometimes the feminine.
And this is seen in the Greek of the New Testament, notwithstanding that the Greek has the neuter gender. There are, however, other exchanges of gender besides this.
1. The Masculine for the Feminine
Act 9:37.-Whom when they had washed. Here, though (in the Greek) the masculine they is put, women are meant.
Heb 9:16-17.-The testator, (ho diatheminos): i.e., the covenant-maker, is masculine; but the word for sacrifice, to which it refers, is feminine: yet the masculine is used, because the sacrifice was Christ Himself; otherwise it would have been feminine to agree with sacrifice ( , hee thusia). Thus, though the Greek word is feminine, the Heb. is masculine, and agrees with the Heb. thought, rather than with the Greek word. (See pages 69 and 493).
2. The Masculine for the Neuter
Gen 2:18.-He is not good: i.e., it is not a good thing for him (man) to be alone. See also Psa 119:65. Isa 5:20; Isa 7:15.
Joh 16:13.-When He-the Spirit of truth-is come, He will guide you into all truth, for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear that shall He speak, and He will show you things to come. Here, though the word Spirit is neuter, the pronouns are masculine, and this is so put in order to show and impress upon us that the Holy Spirit is a Person.
3. The Feminine for the Neuter
Gen 50:20.-Ye thought evil (fem.) against me, but God meant it unto good (fem.). While the masc. is generally used for moral evil, its feminine is used for the consequence of that-viz., physical evil. So here, the feminine denotes mischief, hurt: Ye meant me harm; but God meant it (masc.) for good: i.e., meant to turn it to good. So also Job 5:9. Psa 12:3; Psa 27:4.
Also for the use of pronouns (see Gen 15:6; Gen 43:32. Exo 10:11. Num 23:23. Psa 118:23. Mat 21:42. Mar 12:11.
4. The Neuter for the Masculine or Feminine
Mat 1:20.-For that (neut.) which is conceived (or begotten) in her. So Luk 1:35 : that holy thing.
Mat 18:11.-For the Son of Man is come to save that (neut.) which was lost: i.e., lost sinners, of both sexes.
Joh 1:46 (47).-Can there any good thing (neut.) come out of Nazareth? The words were spoken with reference to Christ.
Joh 3:6.-That (neut.) which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that (neut.) which is born of the Spirit is spirit. The neuter is used to agree with the word thing, though person is meant: because that which is born of the flesh or spirit is rather the fleshly or spiritual nature, than the man as an individual: but also, because it includes men and women.
Heb 7:7.-And without all contradiction the less (neut.) is blessed of the better.
See also Luk 16:15. Joh 6:39 (compare verse 40). 1Co 1:27-28.
1Jn 1:1.-That which was from the beginning, etc.: i.e., Him who was. Compare Joh 1:1; Joh 1:14.
1Jn 5:4.-For whatsoever (neut.) is begotten of God. That this refers to persons is clear from verses 1-5: but it is put neuter both on account of the spiritual or new nature which is referred to (spirit being neuter), as well as from the fact that both men and women are included.
1Jn 5:8.-There are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit (neut.), and the water (neut.), and the blood (neut.), and these (masc.) three are one. Because persons are meant, the pronoun is masculine, though the other words are neuter.