Figures of Speech - It Figures

Quote: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given… ” Isaiah 9:6, King James Bible.

Figure of Speech: prophetic perfect, the it’s- as- good- as- done figure.

In baseball, it’s called “selling the call.” Much of an umpire’s authority comes from his appearance of absolute certainty as he sweeps his arm, jerks his thumb, and yells steeeeerrrike!

In the prophet line, it’s the prophetic perfect — using the past or present perfect tense to lend credibility to a prediction. “My prophecy is so real,” the figure implies, “it’s as good as done.” That’s how the prophet Isaiah could announce the birth of the Messiah at least seven centuries early (assuming, as Christians do, that the Messiah has shown up already).

“Is done” and “is given” are in the present perfect tense. But Hebrew scholars say that the past perfect — “has been born,” “has been given” — come closer to the original.

Either way, it’s perfect.

Snappy Answer: “And his name has been called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

Update on Friday, December 21, 2007 at 01:34PM by

Figaro

As you might have surmised, Figaro writes this thing in great haste, when he’s supposed to be doing useful things. This is his excuse for calling “has been” the past perfect. Of course, “is born” and “has been born” are exactly the same tense: present perfect.

Which Figaro, presently, isn’t.

Fig.