Reference: HYPERBOLE
Watsons
HYPERBOLE. This figure, in its representation of things or objects, either magnifies or diminishes them beyond or below their proper limits: it is common in all languages, and is of frequent occurrence in the Scriptures. Thus, things which are lofty are said to reach up to heaven, De 1:28; 9:1; Ps 107:26. So things which are beyond the reach or capacity of man are said to be in "heaven," in the "deep," or "beyond the sea," De 30:12; Ro 10:6-7. So a great quantity or number is commonly expressed by the "sand of the sea," the "dust of the earth," and the "stars of heaven," Ge 13:16; 41:49; Jg 7:12; 1Sa 13:5; 1Ki 4:29; 2Ch 1:9; Jer 15:8; Heb 11:12. In like manner we meet with "smaller than grasshoppers," Nu 13:33, to denote extreme diminutiveness; "swifter than eagles," 2Sa 1:23, to intimate extreme celerity; the "earth trembled," the "mountains melted," Jg 5:4-5; the "earth rent," 1Ki 1:40. "I make my bed to swim;" "rivers of tears run down mine eyes." So we read of "angels' food," Ps 6:6; 119:136; 78:25; the "face of an angel," Ac 6:15; and the "tongue of an angel," 1Co 13:1. See also Ga 1:8; 4:14. We read "sigh with the breaking of thy loins," Eze 21:6, that is, most deeply. So we read that "the stones would cry out," and "they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another," Lu 19:40,44; that is, there shall be a total desolation.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.
And Joseph laid up corn in store, like unto the sand of the sea in multitude out of measure, until he left numbering: For it was without number.
And there we saw also giants, the children of Anak which are of the giants. And we seemed in our sight as it were grasshoppers and so we did in their sight."
How shall we go up? Our brethren have discouraged our hearts, saying the people is greater and taller than we, and the cities are great and walled even up to heaven, and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there.'
Hear, Israel: thou goest over Jordan this day, to go and conquer nations greater and mightier than thyself: and cities great and walled up to heaven,
It is not in heaven, that thou needest to say, 'Who shall go up for us into heaven, and fetch it us, that we may hear it and do it?'
LORD, when thou departedest out of Seir and camest from the fields of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heaven rained, and the clouds dropped water: the mountains melted before the LORD, even mount Sinai before the LORD God of Israel.
And the Midianites, the Amalekites, and all they of the east, lay along in the valley, like unto grasshoppers in multitude, and their camels were without number, even as the sand by the seaside in multitude.
Saul and Jonathan lovely and pleasant in their lives, were in their deaths not divided; men swifter than Eagles and stronger than Lions.
And all the people came up after him piping with pipes and rejoicing greatly, so that the earth rang with the sound of them.
I am weary of my groaning; every night wash I my bed, and water my couch with my tears.
Then ate they angels' food, for he sent them meat enough.
They are carried up to the heaven, and down again to the deep; their soul melteth away in the trouble.
With my lips will I be telling out all the judgments of thy mouth.
I will make their widows more in number than the sands of the sea. Upon the mothers of their children, I shall bring a destroyer in the noonday. Suddenly and unawares, shall I send a fear upon their cities.
Mourn therefore, O thou son of man, that thy loins crack withal; yea mourn bitterly for them.
He answered, and said unto them, "I tell you, if these should hold their peace, the stones would cry."
And make thee even with the ground, with thy children which are in thee. And they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another, because thou knowest not the time of thy visitation."
And all that sat in the council looked steadfastly on him, and saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.
But the righteousness which cometh of faith, speaketh on this wise, "Say not in thine heart, 'who shall ascend into heaven?'" That is nothing else than to fetch Christ down. Or, "Who shall descend into the deep?" That is nothing else but to fetch up Christ from death.
Though I spake with the tongues of men and angels, and yet had no love, I were even as sounding brass: or as a tinkling cymbal.
Nevertheless, though we ourselves, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, hold him as accursed.
And my temptation which I suffered by reason of my flesh, ye despised not, neither abhorred, but received me as an angel of God: yea as Christ Jesus.
And therefore sprang thereof one - and of one which was as good as dead - so many in multitude, as the stars of the sky, and as the sand of the sea shore which is innumerable.