VersePhraseExplanation
Mat 5:18until heaven and earth pass awayHere "heaven" and "earth" refer to the entire universe. Alternate Translation: "as long as the universe lasts"
Mat 8:11from the east and the westUsing the opposites "east" and "west" is a way of saying "everywhere." Alternate Translation: "from everywhere" or "from far away in every direction"
Mat 11:25Lord of heaven and earthLord who rules over heaven and earth. The phrase "heaven and earth" is a merism that refers to all people and things in the universe. Alternate Translation: "Lord who rules over the whole universe"
Mat 12:40three days and three nightsHere "day" and "night" mean complete 24-hour periods. Alternate Translation: "three complete days"
Mat 23:35Abel ... ZechariahAbel was the first righteous victim of murder, and Zechariah, who was murdered by Jews in the temple, was probably thought to be the last. These two men represent all the righteous people who have been murdered.
Mat 28:18in heaven and on earthHere "heaven" and "earth" are used together to mean everyone and everything in heaven and earth.
Mrk 13:27from the ends of the earth to the ends of the skyThese two extremes are given to emphasize that the elect will be gathered from the entire earth. Alternate Translation: "from every place on earth"
Mrk 13:31Heaven and earthThe two extremes are given to refer to all of the sky, including the sun, moon, stars, and planets, and all of the earth. Alternate Translation: "The sky, the earth, and everything in them"
Luk 10:21Lord of heaven and earthheaven and "earth" represent everything that exists. Alternate Translation: "Master over everyone and everything in heaven and earth"
Luk 12:46in a day when he does not expect, and in an hour that he does not knowThe words "day" and "hour" form a merism of time that refers to any time, and the words "expect" and "know" have similar meanings, so the two phrases here are parallel to emphasize that the coming of the lord will be a total surprise to the servant. However, the phrases should not be combined unless your language has no different words for "know" and "expect" or "day" and "hour." Alternate Translation: "at a time when the servant is not expecting him"
Luk 13:29from the east, west, north, and southThis means "from every direction."
Act 8:10from the least to the greatestThese two phrases refer to everyone from one extreme to the other. Alternate Translation: "no matter how important they were"
Act 17:24of heaven and earthThe words "heaven" and "earth" are used together to mean all beings and things in heaven and earth.
Act 26:7worshiped God night and dayThe extremes "night" and "day" mean they "worshiped God continually."
1Co 4:8to the world—to angels, and to human beingsPossible meanings are 1) "the world" consists of both supernatural ("angels") and natural ("human beings") or 2) the list consists of three items: "to the world, to angels, and to human beings."
1Co 4:9to the world—to angels, and to human beingsPossible meanings are 1) "the world" consists of both supernatural ("angels") and natural ("human beings") or 2) the list consists of three items: "to the world, to angels, and to human beings."
1Co 6:9male prostitutes, those who practice homosexualityPossible meanings are 1) this is a merism for all homosexual activity or 2) Paul is naming two different activities.
2Co 6:8General Information:Paul lists several extremes of how people think about him and his ministry.
Eph 5:19psalms and hymns and spiritual songsPossible meanings are that 1) Paul is using these words as a merism for "all sorts of songs to praise God" or 2) Paul is listing specific forms of music.
2Th 3:8we worked night and daywe worked during the night and during the day. Here "night" and "day" are a merism and they mean "all the time." Alternate Translation: "we worked all the time"
1Ti 5:5both night and dayThe words "night" and "day" are used together to mean "at all times." Alternate Translation: "all the time"
2Ti 1:3night and dayHere "night and day" are used together to mean "always." Alternate Translation: "Always" or "Constantly"
2Ti 4:1the living and the deadHere "the living" and "the dead" are used together to mean all people. Alternate Translation: "all people who have ever lived"
1Pe 4:5the living and the deadThis means all people, whether they are still alive or have died. Alternate Translation: "every person"
Rev 1:17I am the first and the lastThis refers to the eternal nature of Jesus.
Rev 2:8the first and the lastThis refers to the eternal nature of Jesus. See how you translated this in [Revelation 1:17](../01/17.md).
Rev 5:3in heaven or on the earth or under the earthThis means everywhere: the place where God and the angels live, the place where people and animals live, and the place where those who have died are. Alternate Translation: "anywhere in heaven or on the earth or under the earth"
Rev 5:13in heaven and on the earth and under the earthThis means everywhere: the place where God and the angels live, the place where people and animals live, and the place where those who have died are. See how you translated this in [Revelation 5:3](./03.md).
Rev 7:15day and nightThese two parts of the day are used together to mean "all the time" or "without stopping"
Rev 12:10day and nightThese two parts of the day are used together to mean "all the time" or "without stopping"
Rev 19:5both the unimportant and the powerfulThe speaker uses these words together to mean all of God's people.
Rev 19:18both free and slave, the unimportant and the powerfulThe angel uses these two sets of opposite-meaning words together to mean all people.
Rev 22:13the first and the lastThis refers to the eternal nature of Jesus. See how you translated this in [Revelation 1:17](../01/17.md).