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
I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth. If anyone could count the dust, your offspring could be counted.
Thus Joseph stored up grain in great abundance, like the sand of the sea. He finally stopped measuring it, for it was beyond measure.
We saw Nephilim there. The descendants of Anak are Nephilim. We felt as small as grasshoppers. That is no doubt how we must have looked to them.
Where can we go up? Our brothers caused us to lose heart. They said: The people are stronger and taller than we are. The cities are large and the walls go up to the sky. Moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there.'
Hear, O Israel, you are about to cross the Jordan River. You will force out nations that are larger and mightier than you, with big cities that have sky-high walls.
It is not in heaven, that you should say: Who will go up to heaven for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may obey it?
Jehovah, when you left the mountains of Seir, when you came out of Edom, the earth shook, and rain fell from the sky. Yes, water poured out of the clouds. The mountains shook before Jehovah of Sinai, before Jehovah, the God of Israel.
The Midianites, the Amalekites, and the desert tribesmen were spread out in the valley like a swarm of locusts. They had so many camels they could not be counted. They were as plentiful as there are grains of sand on the seashore.
It was easy to love Saul and Jonathan. Together in life, together in death, they were faster than eagles and stronger than lions.
All the people followed him. They blew flutes and celebrated so loudly that their voices shook the ground.
I am worn out from groaning. All night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears.
Man did eat the bread of angels. He sent them food in abundance.
The sailors aboard ship rose toward the sky. They plunged into the depths. Their courage failed in the face of disaster.
With my lips I have told of all the ordinances of your mouth.
Their widows will be more numerous than the grains of sand on the seashore. At noontime I will send a destroyer against the mothers of young men. I will suddenly bring anguish and terror to them.
So, son of man, groan with a breaking heart and with bitter crying while the people watch you.
He answered: I tell you if these remain quiet the stones will cry out!
They will knock you and your children down to the ground. They will not leave one stone upon another. What's more you do not know when this visit will take place.
All who sat in the council looked intently at him and saw his face was like the face of an angel.
But the righteousness of faith speaks this way: Do not say in your heart: 'who will ascend to heaven? That is, to bring Christ down; or 'who will descend into the abyss? That is, to bring up Christ from among the dead.'
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and do not have love, I have become like loud sounding brass, or a clashing cymbal.
If we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you any message other than that which we preached to you, let him be accursed (condemned) (expelled).
That which was a temptation to you in my flesh, you did not despise or reject. You received me like an angel (messenger) of God, even like Christ Jesus.
This was to come from one man and him as good as dead. There were born children, as many as the stars of heaven in multitude, and as uncountable as the sand by the seashore.