“I will open my mouth in a parable”: “History” and “metaphor” in the Psalms

Metaphorical expression is profoundly transformative, both cognitively and theologically. However, not all metaphors are created equal, nor simplistically metaphorical in the strictest sense. Wheelwright (1962) identified two distinctive semantic movements in metaphor: epiphor and diaphor. Epiphor...

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Main Author: K. Jacobson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of the Free State 2021-12-01
Series:Acta Theologica
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/at/article/view/5850
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author K. Jacobson
author_facet K. Jacobson
author_sort K. Jacobson
collection DOAJ
description Metaphorical expression is profoundly transformative, both cognitively and theologically. However, not all metaphors are created equal, nor simplistically metaphorical in the strictest sense. Wheelwright (1962) identified two distinctive semantic movements in metaphor: epiphor and diaphor. Epiphor is the transference of a name to some other object, while diaphor works differently, creating meaning by juxtaposing the particulars of an old experience with new experiences, in order to transform despair to hope, lament to praise, complaint to trust. This article explores the semantic depth of the two ways in which metaphor functions, by investigating several historical references in the psalms with a view to understanding when history is history, when history is plainly metaphorical, and when history is best understood diaphorically.
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record_format Article
series Acta Theologica
spelling doaj-art-f4e071bf6bbc4a429843d9aa99e74b762025-02-11T09:35:48ZengUniversity of the Free StateActa Theologica1015-87582309-90892021-12-0110.38140/at.vi.5850“I will open my mouth in a parable”: “History” and “metaphor” in the PsalmsK. Jacobson0Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd Metaphorical expression is profoundly transformative, both cognitively and theologically. However, not all metaphors are created equal, nor simplistically metaphorical in the strictest sense. Wheelwright (1962) identified two distinctive semantic movements in metaphor: epiphor and diaphor. Epiphor is the transference of a name to some other object, while diaphor works differently, creating meaning by juxtaposing the particulars of an old experience with new experiences, in order to transform despair to hope, lament to praise, complaint to trust. This article explores the semantic depth of the two ways in which metaphor functions, by investigating several historical references in the psalms with a view to understanding when history is history, when history is plainly metaphorical, and when history is best understood diaphorically. https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/at/article/view/5850MetaphorEpiphorDiaphorPsalms
spellingShingle K. Jacobson
“I will open my mouth in a parable”: “History” and “metaphor” in the Psalms
Acta Theologica
Metaphor
Epiphor
Diaphor
Psalms
title “I will open my mouth in a parable”: “History” and “metaphor” in the Psalms
title_full “I will open my mouth in a parable”: “History” and “metaphor” in the Psalms
title_fullStr “I will open my mouth in a parable”: “History” and “metaphor” in the Psalms
title_full_unstemmed “I will open my mouth in a parable”: “History” and “metaphor” in the Psalms
title_short “I will open my mouth in a parable”: “History” and “metaphor” in the Psalms
title_sort i will open my mouth in a parable history and metaphor in the psalms
topic Metaphor
Epiphor
Diaphor
Psalms
url https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/at/article/view/5850
work_keys_str_mv AT kjacobson iwillopenmymouthinaparablehistoryandmetaphorinthepsalms