As soon as the instructions to use rhetoric in scripture appeared, my mind turned instantly to one of my favorite verses in all of the standard works. It is a simple scripture, yet I feast on the rich meaning within the passage:
1. Metaphor
To start off, there is the obvious use of metaphor within the passage. The trope compares sin to a rich, vibrant, unmistakable color like scarlet, then says those sins shall become white as snow. This beautifully illustrates the principle of repentance, where our sins are wiped clean when we repent and we are left pure again. Tabula rasa. Isaiah paints it so simply and understandable in our minds that even a child can understand this concept.
2. Ellipsis
In addition, one can the use of ellipsis involved. Isaiah writes two similar metaphors next to each other, and omits the second use of the word 'sins' as the metaphors clearly cover the same material and definition.
3. Antithesis
Finally, the two metaphors back to back gives us a form of parallelism, contrasting the two opposites within. Something that has been stained and streaked red becoming it's opposite, a pure and cleansing white. The contrast is blindingly strong, and gives emphasis to the power that repentance has when we choose to use it in our lives.
This is one of my favorite scriptures. Your observations on the use of ellipsis makes it even more beautiful to me.
ReplyDeleteEven the words have texture to them, which lends to the passage's aesthetic appeal.
ReplyDelete