ridicule irony is called sarcasm.

Figures of SPEECH Judges 10:14

Figures of Comparison 2 Sam. 6:20
1 Kings 22:15
1. Simile - The likening of one thing to
Job 12:1-2
another (usually translated using the English
Matt. 22:15-16
words "like" or "as".
Matt. 27:29
Psalm 90:4
1 Cor. 4:8
Prov. 1:27
Matt. 23:27
2. Litotes or Meiosis - A phrase that
Rev. 1:14
understates or lessens one thing in order to
magnify another.
2. Metaphor - An implied comparison
Gen. 18:27
between two objects without the use of
Num. 13:33
"like" or "as".
Isa 41:14
Psalm 3:3
Acts 21:39
Matt. 5:13
1 Cor. 15:9-10
1 Cor. 11:3
1 Peter 2:10
Col. 1:18

3. Euphemism - The substitution of a

Figures of Overstatement
cultured or less offensive term for a harsh
1. Hyperbole - An exaggeration to make or one. Monty Python's famous "Parrot Sketch"
reinforce a point. utilises English euphemisms concerning
Luke 14:26 death, e.g. "it's snuffed it", "it's pushing up
Matt. 5:29 the daisies", "it's popped its clogs", "it's
Mark 4:31 shuffled off this mortal coil", etc. The Bible
contains many similar expressions,
2. Hendiadys - The combination of two or particularly in subjects concerning death,
three things to express the same meaning. bodily functions and reproduction.
Psalm 27:1 Gen. 4:1
Psalm 107:10 Gen. 15:15
1 Thess. 2:12 Judges 3:24
1 Thess. 5:23 1 Kings 2:6
Tit. 2:13 John 11:11

Figures of Understatement 4. Antithesis - A direct contrast in which

1. Irony - Stating one thing while meaning
the exact opposite. When used to taunt and
two sets if figures are set in opposition to
one another. Perhaps the best example of
this in the New Testament is found in
Romans 5:12, where Adam and Christ are
the two figure being contrasted. whole for the part.
Isa. 59:9 Psalm 24:4
Rom. 5:12 Psalm 109:27
Gal 5:16 Matt 16:17)
1 John 1:5
Phil. 3:7 2.a Eponymy is a sub-division of
synecdoche in which an individual stands
Figures Involving Omission for the whole nation.
Psalm 24:6
1. Ellipsis - A grammatically incomplete
Hosea 11:12
expression that requires the reader to add
concepts in order to finish the thought. Most
of these omissions are already supplied by 2.b Merismus is a combination of parts of
the translators of our Bibles. the whole to express totality.
Psalm 12:3 Exod. 12:29
1 Cor. 9:4) Psalm 72:8
Psalm 121:2

Figures of Association or
Figures Stressing the Personal
Relationship
Dimension
1. Metonymy - The substitution of a noun
for another closely associated noun. The 1. Personification - The representation of
substituted noun derives its meaning in the an object or concept as if it were a person.
context its is used by the association Prov. 1:20-21
produced in the reader’s mind. Prov. 8:22-23
1 Chron. 17:12 Rev. 12:1
Isa. 51:19
Rom. 13:4 2. Apostrophe - A development of
Isa. 22:22 personification in which the writer addresses
Matt. 16:19 the object or concept that he has personified.
Psalm 7:10 Psalm 68:15-16
Psalm 22:16 1 Cor. 15:55
Luke 16:29
2 Cor. 5:21 3. Anthropomorphism - The attribution
Acts 10:45 of human features or actions to God.
Eph. 3:10; 6:12 Isaiah 59:1
Isaiah 29:1

2. Synecdoche - A figure of speech in

which the part stands for the whole or the