The Metaphors, Images, Similes and Allegories in the
Psalms
Introduction
In the Book of
psalm in the Bible, We find some similes, images, metaphors, allegories. It is
very clear to us that if we do not understand what are these or what does it
refers to, that time we will unable to understand the real meaning of psalms.
Especially we will loose the real message of the psalms, what God wants say to
us. Other wise it will be just reading or speaking words with out understanding
like parrot. In this lession we tried to show some images, similes, metaphors,
allegories, which are refers to God or indicate God indirectly.
Image
The English word
“image” means ‘likeness’ or picture which derived from the Latin term “imago. It
is interesting to say that an image is a picture made of word.
By our sense perception we can understand in
our mind by reading a text. We can bring many examples images such as ‘Tigers are ferocious
animal’ reflects in our mind that of an animal picture which is not a dog or a
cat or a lion or any other four footed animal but the small animal which is
named as tiger. And the character is
also known to us that are image which reflects in our mind. The ferocious picture is reflected in our mind
as images of this sentence. The elements, which make up an image,
are the qualities of the martial objects as such: visual, auditory, tactile,
thermal, olfactory, gustatory and kinesthetic. It does not mean that images
need not to be exact likeness, but may differ actual photographs to
conventional. For understanding the divine-human relationship image is a key
term in the biblical thought.
Images in the Psalms
1. King
: Pss. 5:2, 10:16, 24:7,9,10, 44:4, 45:1,2,11,16, 47: 6,7,8, 68:24, 74:12, 84:3, 93: 1, 95:2, 97:1,6, 98:6, 99:1,4,
105:20, 118:14, 145: 1.
2. Rock:
Pss. 18:2, 46, 19:14, 28:1, 31: 2,3, 42:9, 62:2,6,7, 71: 3, 78:35, 89::26, 92:
15, 94:22, 95:1, 144::1,2.
3. Refuge:
Pss. 14:6, 28: 8, 31: 4, 43: 2, 46:1, 7,11,, 59: 16, 61: 3, 62: 7,8, 71:3,
91:2,9,
142: 5.
4. Shield:
Pss. 3:3, 7:10,, 18:2, 28:7, 33: 20, 59:11, 84:11, 89: 18, 119:114.
5. Hosts:
Pss. 24: 10, 26: 7, 11, 69:6, 80: 7, 44,
84: 1,3, 8,12,, 48:8, 59:5, 89:8.
6. Most
high: Pss. 9:2, 47:2, 56:2, 57: 3, 83:18, 91:9,, 92:1, 97:9.
7. Fortress:
Pss. 18:2, 31:2,3, 59:9,,16,17, 62:2,6,, 71:3, 91:2, 144:2.
8. Deliverer:
Pss. 18:2, 40:17, 70:5, 140:7, 144:2.
9. Judge:
Pss. 7:11, 17, 50:6, 75:7, 82:8, 94:2.
10. Maker:
Pss. 95:6, 134:4, 149:2.
11. Helper: Pss. 54:4, 86:17.
12. Hope:
Pss. 65:5, 71:5.
13. Redeemer:
Pss. 19:14, 78:36.
14. Shepherd:
Pss. 23:1, 80:1.
15. Hiding
Place: Pss. 32:7, 119:114.
16. Cup:
Pss. 16:5.
17. Companion:
Ps. 55:13.
18. Defense:
Ps. 48:3.
19. Delight:
Ps. 37:7.
20. Forgiver:
Ps. 86:5.
21. Father:
Ps. 89:26.
22. Father
of Orphans: Ps. 68:5.
23. Friend:
Ps. 55:13.
24. Great
King: 47:2.
25. God
of salvation: Ps. 41:14.
26. God
of Israel: Pss. 41:13, 59:5, 71:18.
27. God
of Jacob: Pss. 46:7,11, 75:9, 76:6, 81: 1,4, 84:8, 94:7, 147:5.
28. Guide:
Ps. 48:14.
29. God
of Sinai: Ps. 68:8.
30. Keeper:
Ps. 121:5.
31. Light:
Ps. 27:1.
32. My
Glory: Ps. 3:3.
33. My
right: Ps. 4:1.
34. Mountains:
36:6.
35. Protector
of windows: Ps. 68:5.
36. Ruler:
Ps. 59:13.
37. Sun:
Ps. 84:11.
38. Savior:
Ps. 106: 21.
39. Shade:
Ps. 121:5.
40. Tower:
Ps. 613.
41. Soul:
146: 1.
Metaphor
The word “metaphor” means beyond or ‘I carry’
which comes from Greek words ‘meta’ and ‘phero. It is an implicit comparison between two different things, when
something is something else. It is a compressed form of simile. For example,
Liza is a rose is a metaphor as there is an implied comparison between the
color, softness, fragrance, etc. of the rose and those of Liza. It becomes a
simile if the comparison is made explicit: Liza is like a rose. Donald Davison
claims metaphor as mean what the word, in their most literal interpretation,
mean, and, nothing more.
Metaphors
in the Psalms
You are my Lord (16: 2) The Lord is my
Chosen portion and my cup (16:5),
Lord is worthy (18:3), He is a shield (18:31),
The Lord was my
support (18:18). Great is the Lord (145: 3).
The Lord is gracious
and merciful (145: 8), The Lord is good (145: 9),
The Lord is Just
(145: 17), Great
is our Lord (147:5),
You are my
refuge (142:5),
Simile
Through simile we
can understand an explicit comparison between two different things in which
“as” and “like” are used. When something is comparing with something else, it
dearly states the similarity or likeness existing between two things different
in kind. For example:
We die
As your hours do, and dry
Away
Like to the summer’s rain;
Here in this
lines human life has been compared to the summer’s rain to suggest that a man’s
life is as brief as a drop of summer’s rain frequently as these help them
illustrate their meanings. Imagery the collective use of images.[1]
Similes
in the Psalms
1. As
for the holy ones in the land, they are the noble (16:3),
2. Gourd
me as the apple of the eye; (17:8),
3. They
are like a lion eager to tear, like a young lion lurking in ambush (17:12),
4. He
made my feet like the feet of a deer (18: 33),
5. I
beat them fine, like dust before the wind; I cast them out like the mire of the
streets (18:41),
6. Like a bridegroom, like a strong man (19:5),
7. Like
a Breath, like a passing shadow (144: 4),
8. He
gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes (147:16),
9. Like
crumbs (147:17),
10. The
lifting up hands as an evening sacrifice (141: 2),
11. Like
a rock that one breaks apart and shatters
12. on
the land (141:7),
Allegory
The word
“allegory” means “speaking otherwise,” it is derived from Greek word “allegory”
which means one story is told in the guise of another story. In other words, an
allegory is a story of double meanings. Its author comments upon some persons
or event of his age under disguised names. It may be both in prose and in
verse. An allegorical reading usually involves moral and spiritual concepts
that they may be more significant than the actual, literal events described in
a narrative. Typically, an allegory involves the interaction of multiple
symbols. An allegory is an act of interpretation, a way of understanding,
rather than a genre in and of itself.[2]
We can
distinguish allegory into two types:
a. Historical Allegory and Political
Allegory: In which the characters and actions that are
signified literally in their turn represent or allegorize, historical
personages and events.
b. The allegory of Ideas:
In which literal characters represents abstract concepts and the plot
exemplifies a doctrine or thesis.
Allegory
in the Psalms
1. Table
(feast): 23: 5a
2. Shadow
of Wings: 17: 8
3. Horns
of the Wild Oxen (enemy): 22:21b
4. Furnace:
12: 6
5. Door
of Lips: 141: 3
6. Power
of the Dog (enemy): 22: 20
7. Mouth
of the Lion (enemy): 22: 21a
8. Dust
(mortality): 22: 29
9. Mouth
of Sheol: 141: 7
10. Still
Water (grace): 23: 2b
11. Darkest
Valley (danger): 23: 4
12. My
Cup (heart): 23: 5b
13. House
of the Lord (heaven): 23: 6b
14. Punishment
for the Kings: 149: 8a
15. Glory for the Humble: 145: 14, 19; 149: 4b
Conclusion
In a short we can say that some how now we know that
the similes, metaphors, allegories and images. It will help us to pray with
good understanding of psalms and it will help us to describe to others also
where we can help others to pray properly to God. Finally we can say that we
can help others and own self to make good relationship with God.
Bibliography
1. BORUA,
Suronjit: English Literature. A class note. Notre Dame College, Dhaka, 2007.
2. The
Holy Bible.
3. Rywejx evB‡ej
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ReplyDeletea ready help for a researcher who is looking out for the similes, metaphors and other poetic devices employed by the psalmist. Thanks to the contributor.
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