the several words in a sentence," says Winer, "is in general
(3) Hyperbole is of frequent occurrence, and consists of a rhetorical over-statement (Gen. 22:17; Deut. 1:28; 2 Chron. 28:4).
2. THE ORDER OF WORDS IN A SENTENCE. "The arrangement of the several words in a sentence," says Winer, "is in general determined by the order in which the conceptions are formed, and by the closer relation in which certain parts of the sentence stand to one another." It frequently happens, however, that the Biblical writers, for some reason or other, depart from the usual arrangement. In some cases they do this for rhetorical effect; in others, to bring certain concepts into closer relation with each other. But there are also cases in which the desire to emphasize a certain word led to its transposition. These instances are particularly important for the interpreter. The context will usually reveal the reason for the change that was brought about.
In the Hebrew verbal sentence, the regular order is: Predicate, subject, object. If in such a sentence the object stands first, or the subject is placed at the beginning or at the end, it is highly probable that they are emphatic. The first place is the most important one in the sentence, but the emphatic word may also occupy the last place. Harper gives the following variations from the usual order:
(a) object, predicate, subject, which emphasizes the object (1 Kings 14:11);
(b) object, subject, predicate, which likewise emphasizes the object (Gen. 37:16);
(c) subject, object, predicate, which emphasizes the subject (Gen. 17:9); and
(d) predicate, object, subject, which also emphasizes the subject (1 Sam. 15:33).
In the nominal sentences, which describe a condition rather than an action, the usual order is: subject, predicate, whenever the predicate