Most people don't know it, but the Bible inhabits a lot of the corners of our lives without us even knowing it. We have a lot of idioms and sayings that are biblically sourced.
Take, for instance, "the skin of your teeth." It comes from Job 19:20, where Job "escaped with the skin of my teeth." I'm sure we've all heard that a leopard can't change its spots, which comes from Jeremiah 13:23. "A fly in the ointment" comes from Ecclesiastes 10:1. "No rest for the wicked" (which has been thoroughly butchered since then) comes from Isaiah 57:20-21. The idea of "putting words in my mouth" comes from 2 Samuel 14:3. "Seeing eye to eye" comes from Isaiah 52:8. There are some you probably know, like "the writing on the wall" from Daniel 5 and "cast the first stone" (John 8:7). Lincoln said, "A house divided against itself cannot stand" as a direct quote from Jesus (Mark 3:25). "Going the extra mile" was from Jesus's Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5:41) and being a "good Samaritan" was from Jesus's parable (Luke 10:30-37). "A wolf in sheep's clothing" was from the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 7:15) and to "wash your hands of something" is from Pilate's actions when he sent Jesus to be crucified (Matt 27:24).
That's a sampling. I've found quite a few. I just think it's funny that God's Word has worked its way into our daily conversations even as our nation tries to push it out.
Try as we might, the truth cannot be suppressed forever.
ReplyDeleteYou are right, there are dozens of Bible-based idioms used in common speech (even anti-Bible people do this without realizing it--and they must hate that!).
ReplyDeleteSome other very common phrases:
a drop in the bucket
a millstone around your neck
a thorn in the flesh
Am I my brother's keeper?
an eye for an eye
at your wits' end
bite the dust
Eat, drink, and be merry
fall by the wayside
fall from grace
feet of clay
forbidden fruit
like a lamb to the slaughter
manna from heaven
reap what you sow
the apple of my eye
the blind leading the blind
the salt of the earth
there is nothing new under the sun
to cast pearls before swine
to move mountains
I knew I could count on Lorna to add to the list. (I was hoping.)
DeleteI’m glad to oblige; it’s “Word-play” at its best :). You will note, however, that I did not provide Bible references/explanations for each of those, like you did. If so, I might have warranted post co-authoring credits! :-D
DeleteDespite lots of effort, scripture does continue to permeate our language. This doesn't include the fact that there are plenty of bible stories (Daniel, Noah, Jonah, Samson...) which most people have at least a passing knowledge of.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, that so many of us don't know that these phrases come from the Bible, even Christians, speaks to the tragic state of biblical literacy, which I would argue hasn't this bad since the Reformation.
ReplyDelete