A Key to Open Scripture Metaphors, Book 1 · Chapter 14
CHAP. XIV. Of a Synecdoche.
HAving largely gone through the most frequent and most eminent Tropes in the Scripture, principally Metaphors, we will be more Concise in what follows, and illustrate each, with a few Scripture Examples, by which the rest of chat kind may be easily understood.
A Synecdoche is a Trope, by which the whole is put for part, or part for the whole. And whereas the whole, is either the Genus or Intire thing; And part is a Species, or Member: we will treat of the 4 kinds of Synecdoche's in order.
A Synecdoche of the Genus, is when the Genus is put for the Species, or an Ʋniversal for a Particular, as when,
1. The Term (All) is put for the greatest part or many, as that Rule of Law in the Pandects. § quod Major. *Omnes videntur facere, quod facit Major pars.All seem to do that, which the greater part does. In doing this, there must be great heed taken to the Scope and right meaning of the Text, take a few Examples out of the Old Testament, Exod. 9.6. And All the Cattle of Egypt Died, that is, all that is in the field, as ver. 3. and some were left as ver. 19. Chap. 14.26, 28. and cap. 9.29. Exod. 32.3. All the People, that is the greatest part, as ver. 26. Hence Paul uses a particular word, 1 Cor. 10.7. viz. Some. See more Examples, Exod. 32.26. with ver. 29. and Deut. 33.9. Isa. 2.2, 3. Deut. 28.64. 2 Sam 16.22. Hos. 7.4. &c. In the New Testament, Matth. 3.5. Jerusalem and all Judea, and all the Region about Jordan went to be baptized, that is, many men of those places. More examples are Mark 9.23. Joh. 10.8. with ver. 7. Acts 2.5. Eph. 1.11. Phil. 2.21. —4.13.
2. The word All or every, is put for the kinds of singulars as Gen. 2.16. Of every tree of the garden thou shalt eat, that is of every kind of fruit, Gen. 24.10. All the goods of his Master were in his hands, that is some of every sort. See ver. 52, 53. so 2 Kings 8.9. Joel 2.8. with 1 Pet. 2.9. and Acts 2.17. Zeph. 2.14. Matth. 4.23. Luk. 11.42. Acts 10.12. Heb. 13.4.
An Ʋniversal Negative is also sometimes to be restrained and understood by a particular Negative as Exod 20.10. No work to be done on the Sabbath, that is servile or Mechanick: as appears, Lev. 23.7, 8. Num. 28.18. See 1 Sam. 20.26. with 1 Kings 19.11, 12. Jer. 8.6. Matth. 5.34. Ye shall not swear at all, that is rashly and lightly; Matth. 10.26. Luk. 7.28. John 1.31. —3.32, 33. —15.5. —18.20. Acts 27.33. 2 Thes. 3.11. (Always) is put for (often) Luk. 18.1. and 24.53. and (every where) for (here and there) Matth. 16.20. Acts 28.22. 1 Cor. 4.17.
Names of a larger signification are put for those which are of a narrower as Flesh, is put for man, all flesh, that is every man, Gen. 6.12. Psal. 145.21. Isa. 40.5. —66.33. Matth. 24.22. Luke 3.6. Rom. 3.20. A Creature is put for a Man, Mark 16.15. Col. 1.23. &c. See Acts 12.7. Luk. 11.51. Job 14.14. Acts 10.12. &c. A Common name is put for a proper, hence God is often called foreign (El) which signifies strong and powerful, and that (foreign) by way of eminency, Gen. 14.22. and 21.33. &c. So Christ is called Lord, Matth. 21 3. John 11.3.12. &c. and Master, John 11.28. &c. the Son of man, Matth. 8.20. &c. the Angel, Gen. 48.16 &c. the Angel of the Lord, Exod. 3.2. Judg. 6.11. so the seed of the Woman, Messiah, Servant of God, Prophet, &c. Moses is called a Prophet, Hos. 12.14. &c.
The Plural Number is sometimes put for the singular, as Gen. 21.7. Who would have said unto Abraham, Sarah shall give Children suck? that is, one child, as in the next verse, Gen. 46.7. It is said, that there went down with Jacob into Egypt, all his daughters and all his sons daughters, whereas as ver. 15, 17. appears he had but one daugher, and one Neece, or Sons Daughter.
See Acts 13.40. with Hab. 1.5. Matth. 2.23. &c.
Some General Verbs are put for special, as To say for to command or admonish; Rom. 12.3. to open is put for to plow, Isa. 28.24. to be, is put for to live, Matth. 2.18. and to Dwell, Ruth 1.2. To speak, for Stipulation or Promise, Deut. 26.17. &c.