The most important and the commonest figure of speech is metaphor. Once again, my Grade 11 textbook comes in handy: ―"A metaphor states that a person or a thing is some other person or thing. 'That man is like a fox' is a simile. 'That man is a fox' is a metaphor. The metaphor is a briefer, stronger, and more vivid figure than a simile. It has become so common in speech that many ordinary expressions, originally metaphorical, have lost their metaphorical meaning, such as 'she dropped her eyes', 'fertile words', a 'harrowing experience'."
There are so many metaphors in the Bible that one hardly knows where to begin. Let‘s start with Christ, Himself—He‘s 'the bright Morning Star.' Rev.22:16. 'The Lord is my rock, my fortress…my shield.' Psa.18:2. 'The Lord is my light and my salvation.' Psa.27:1. And remember 'a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valley.' Song 2:1.
David condemns the guilty in Psa.5:9, by saying, 'Their throat is an open grave.' In Psa.40:3, he states, 'the poison of vipers is on their lips.'
The New Testament is full of metaphors as well: 'You are the salt of the earth.' Matt.5:13. 'You are the light of the world.' Matt.5:14. 'You are God‘s field, God‘s building.' 1 Cor.3:9. 'I am the bread of life.' John 6:35. 'I am the gate for the sheep.' John 10:7. 'I am the way.' John 14:6.
Jude gives a whole stream of metaphors: 'These men are…clouds without rain…autumn trees…wild waves of the sea…wandering stars. Jude 12,13.
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