Dear Colleagues, I am writing a paper for eventual publication (hopefully), but I need to know the correct term for the literary phenomenon I am describing in the Hebrew Scriptures.
The concept I am describing is when the same lexical root is repeated in a sentence to provide emphasis. For example, note the repetition of QCP (֗קצף) in Zechariah 1:2 - "The L-rd was angry with anger" (i.e., the L-rd was very angry). In this instance, the lexical root has the same basic meaning in both occurrences. Many commentators incorrectly call this "paranomasia" (or "paronomasia"), which is when a single lexical root is used with different meanings in the same text. (An example would be the use of GENNAO ANOTHEN in John 4, where Jesus is apparently using the expression to mean "born from above," while Nicodemus misunderstands him to mean "born again.") In other words, paranomasia is a pun. However, I need the correct term for the use of a repeated lexical root with the SAME meaning, not a word play. For an example in Greek, see the expression "PARANGELIA PARENGEILAMEN" IN Acts 5:28 - "We STRICTLY commanded." I suspect that the repetition of the same lexical root for emphasis here reflects Semitic usage. In other words, the author of Acts may be translating this expression directly from the Aramaic or Hebrew injunction issued by the Sanhedrin in this account. What is the correct label for this phenomenon in Hebrew literature? Sincerely, Christopher Lovelace
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