Two contrasting words that combine to form the complete idea is called merism in rhetoric. Legally speaking, a merism represents into one part the several parts of a concept whether it be contrasting or similar.
Dr. Heiser’s example of Psalm 91:5-6 perfectly illustrates this concept, with the representation of night and day to the terror and the arrow. The writer is drawing the reader to the entire concept rather than the individual parts that make up this illustration.
Jeremiah 4:15 refers to the entire land of Israel by referencing “from Dan to Beer-sheba” by listing both the northernmost and southernmost cities. The merism is represented by bringing the two opposite cities together to create the idea of the entire land of Israel.
Revelation 1:8 also has an often recalled quotation that speaks opposites to represent the Omnipresent LORD God. “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” This speaks of time from the beginning to the future time to come, at the beginning of the creation of the world, and at the destruction of the world that concludes End Times prophecy. Revelation 1:8 is an excellent representation to explain a merism to Bible students; it should be marked within Logos Bible notes in Revelation 1:8 to remember this important example.
The term merism is also coined marasmus when spoken as a subject. It is a popular term for prose and poetry as a literary device. Jeremiah 31:34 reveals an important marasmus:
And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: For they shall all know me, From the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: For l will forgive their iniquity, And I will remember their sin no more.
When the author uses this technique, the combined comprehensive idea is much greater than the contrasts and comparisons within the marasmus. In this case, the LORD God will forgive the iniquity of man, from the least unto the greatest. Their status is classified as sinner throughout His judgment, rather than different judgments destined between the different classes in mankind.
Psalms 95:4-5 speaks two pairs of extremes with parallel stichs:
In his hand are the deep places of the earth:
The strength of the hills is his also.
The sea is his, and he made it:
And his hands formed the dry land.”
Parallel stichs produce a comprehensive effect that combines the vertical extremes of earth (depths and peaks) with the horizontal extremes of sea and dry land. All combined, these stichs’ gives the full image of God’s reign over everything on earth, capturing His greatness is just a few words.
In advanced interpretive classes, students will learn how to resolve the different merisms within Scripture passages. Merism are important to Typology in such a manner as to require their inclusion in all considerations while proving typological connections as God’s Truth.
Bibliography
Barry, John D., et al. Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2012.
Heiser, Michael S. Bi101 Lecture Introducing Biblical Interpretation: Contexts and Resources: LOGOS Bible Software.
Klein, William W., Craig L. Blomberg, Robert L. Hubbard. Introduction to Biblical Interpretation. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2004.
Footnotes
Michael S. Heiser, Bi101 Lecture Introducing Biblical Interpretation: Contexts and Resources (LOGOS Bible Software).
John D. Barry, et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2012), Je 4:15.
William W. Klein, Craig L. Blomberg, Robert L. Hubbard, Introduction to Biblical Interpretation (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2004), 302-303.
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About the Author
Kathy L. McFarland is President and Founder of Becker Bible Ministries, Inc. and the Becker Professional Theology Academy. She is also a Becker Bible Studies Teacher and author of Guided Bible Studies for Hungry Christians. She has received her Bachelor of Science degree in Religious Studies from Liberty University, is on track for the Master of Divinity (Professional Ministries Track) degree from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary & Graduate School in 2016 and will be seeking a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Theology and Apologetics beginning in the fall of 2016. She is the originator of the newest theological movement to encourage Christian leaders to minister within the modern-day marketplace as Professional Theologists. She is also the Curriculum Developer for Becker Professional Theology Academy and a teaching faculty member. Kathy's favorite studies to teach include the connections between Old Testament exegesis, Christian Apologetics, and Bible typology and mysteries.
©2014-2015 Kathy L. McFarland. All Rights Reserved.