Figures of speech play a huge part in Scripture--far more than most Christians realize. Fortunately, the Bible itself indicates that this is so, when the disciples say to the Lord, "Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech." John 16:29. If we don't take this into account, we can think, like unbelievers, that the Bible is making mistakes.
Hyperbole [hi-PER-buh-lee] is probably the most likely figure to be taken wrongly. A dictionary meaning is "exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally." Another definition is "extravagant exaggeration."
A few Old Testament examples might be, "their hearts sank" Gen.42:28; "I carried you on eagles' wings" Ex.19:4; "a land flowing with milk and honey" Ex.13:5, and the waves "mounted up to the heavens." Psalm 107:26. Examples from both His enemies and the Lord are, "the whole world has gone after him!" John 12:19, and "If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away." Matt.5:2.
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