Paronomasia: how a play on words teaches us about suffering in Heb 5:8

He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. (Heb 5:8 NAS)

The literary use of Paronomasia, a play on words, or "pun," helps teach the value of suffering in Heb 5:8.  In ancient Greek, a pun often included a derivative relationship that was emphasized through the rhyming of words in order to create a poetic sound that would cause reader to pause and reflect on the meaning.

 “he learned  (ema-then)…through what he suffered (epa-then)”

Astute listeners in the original audience would hardly miss the rich resonances of the latter, since “learning through suffering”  (pathei - mathos) had proverbial status in Greek antiquity.  Aesop’s form was:

“path–emata  -   math–emata”,   “sufferings are teachings”

The author of Hebrews, makes use of this well known adage (learning through suffering) to create a familiar base to teach the profound truth that: obedience is learned through suffering.  

This truth would help the Hebrews find the strength to stand firm in forthcoming persecutions. They needed to know that they too, would learn obedience as they drew close to Christ in their sufferings. 

This teaching parallels Phil 2:8 where Paul encourages the Philippians to follow Christ’s example in humility to become obedient to the point of death...even death on a cross. 

There you have it, the author’s use of paronomasia as a teaching tool is used to not only catch the attention of the original audience, but uses a familiar proverb (found outside of Scripture)  to teach the profound truth that suffering is necessary for learning obedience. This also provides a theological ground related to the value of suffering.