BEN F. VICK, JR.
After defining the word “hyperbole” from several sources, I want to consider some examples. Then, I want to consider if the New International Version’s and Holman Christian Standard Bible’s rendering of Psalm 51:5 is a hyperbole.
“Hyperbole” comes from a Greek compound word (huper, above, over, beyond; and bolee, from bolein), to throw (Dungan, Hermeneutics, p. 320). It is a highly exaggerated statement. Webster defines the word as, “A figure of speech in which the expression is an exaggeration of a meaning intended to be conveyed, or by which things are represented as much greater or less, better or worse, than they really are; a statement which exaggerates through passion or intense excitement.” (Ibid, p. 320.)
Milton S. Terry’s Biblical Hermeneutics reads, “Hyperbole is a rhetorical figure which consists in exaggeration or magnifying an object beyond reality.” (p. 165.) Another source says, “Hyperbole means that some idea or event is stated in an exaggerated manner to indicate its importance or its quantity” (Ramm, Barnard, Protestant Biblical Interpretation, p. 143, 1970.) Lockhart says, “A Hyperbole is an exaggeration for emphasis…. A hyperbole differs from a falsehood by having no intention to deceive; and if it is properly composed, it furnishes no occasion to deceive an intelligent reader.” (Principles of Interpretation, p. 182.)
Please consider some examples of hyperboles. Joseph “laid up corn as the sand of the sea, very much” (Gen. 41:49). I doubt grain laid up was as much as the sand of the sea. This is a highly exaggerated statement, a hyperbole. The expression means he saved a great deal of grain
For seven years the Midianites had oppressed Israel. God raised up a judge by the name of Gideon. We are told, “And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the sea side for multitude.” (Judges 7:12.) Common sense tells us that “like grasshoppers for multitude” and “camels were without number, as the sand by the sea side for multitude” are highly exaggerated expressions. They are hyperboles.
There are many hyperboles in Psalms that express great sorrow or suffering. David cried, “I am weary with my groaning; All the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears. Mine eye is consumed because of grief; It waxeth old because of all mine enemies.” (Psa. 6:6-7.) There are several hyperboles in Psalm 22: “But I am a worm, and no man; A reproach of men, and despised of the people.” (Psa. 22:6.) Again: “I am poured out like water, And all my bones are out of joint: My heart is like wax; It is melted in the midst of my bowels. My strength is dried up like a potsherd; And my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; And thou hast brought me into the dust of death.” (Psa. 22:14-15.)
Notice these two exaggerations in the New Testament: “And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.” (John 21:25.) Another example in the New Testament is Paul’s statement which reads: “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.” (Eph. 3:8.)
I have heard it said by some who try to defend Psalm 51:5 as rendered in the New International Version is a hyperbole. It reads: “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” (2011 edition.) The Holman Christian Standard Bible does not render the verse any better, “Indeed, I was guilty [when I] was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.” (What is in brackets in the rendering is the work of the translators of HCSB.) However, the King James Version renders the verse: “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; And in sin did my mother conceive me.” (Psalm 51:5).
The Hebrew Old Testament supports the KJV’s rendering of it. The Septuagint (a translation of the Hebrew scriptures into Greek), reads: “For behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother conceive me.”
There is a world of difference between the rendering of the NIV and HCSB with that of the King James Version. The former ones refer to David and his sin at conception and birth, but the KJV refers to David’s mother. The NIV and HCSB are wrong.
Children are not sinners. They are not sinners at conception or birth. Ezekiel wrote, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.” (Ezek. 18:20.) Sin is not inherited. We become sinners when we transgress God’s law (1 John 3:4). What transgression has a child committed? None.
Jesus said, “Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 19:14.) If children are sinners, and the kingdom of heaven is made up of such, then the kingdom of heaven would be made up of sinners. Who can swallow that? Preachers who preach from the NIV need to be consistent. If babies and children be sinners, preachers need to baptize them. Consistency is a rare jewel. Either preach what your Bible teaches or get a reliable Bible.
Edwin H. Palmer was a dyed-in-the-wool Calvinist. He was the Executive Secretary of the New International Version of the Bible and General Editor of the NIV Study Bible. I have the twenty-first printing (May 2001) of his book, The Five Points of Calvinism, in which he attempts to defend that false doctrine. The first printing came out in 1972.
What are the five points of Calvinism? They are total depravity (that is that one is born totally depraved), unconditional election (there are no conditions to be saved), limited atonement (Jesus died for the elect only), irresistible grace (if one is of the elect, chosen by God before the foundation of the world, then he cannot resist God’s grace), perseverance of the saints (once saved – always saved). Insofar as salvation for the Calvinist is concerned, if one has it, he cannot lose it; if he loses it, he never had it. This false doctrine permeates the denominational world and is even in the church. It makes God a respecter of person insofar as salvation is concerned. It perverts the plan of salvation. It rejects the free will agency of man. So, why preach or teach from it? The answer is beyond me.