English Phrases and Idioms with Biblical Origins
Numerous phrases used in every day speech have their origin in the Bible.聽 The Word Wheel in聽 the Dunham Bible Museum features a few of these phrases, but many more are found below.
| PHRASE | MEANING | SCRIPTURE |
|---|---|---|
| 鈥渕an after my own heart鈥� | kindred spirit | I Sam. 13:14 |
| 鈥渢horn in the flesh鈥� | annoying, persistent difficulty | I Cor. 12:7 |
| 鈥淎m I my brother鈥檚 keeper?鈥� | Should I be responsible if something happens to someone else? | Gen. 4:9 |
| 鈥淎n eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth鈥� | a compensating justice for every wrong | Matt. 5:38 |
| 鈥渁s old as Methusalah鈥� | very old | Gen. 5:27 |
| 鈥渁s old as the hills鈥� | very old | Job 15:7 |
| 鈥減atience of Job鈥� | patience under extreme suffering | Book of Job |
| 鈥渁s you sow so shall you reap鈥� | your deeds will repay you in kind | Gal. 6: 7 |
| 鈥渁t his wits end鈥� | perplexed; doesn鈥檛 know what to do | Psalm 107:27 |
| 鈥渄oubting Thomas鈥� | skeptic; must have hard evidence before believing | John 20:24-29 |
| 鈥渨ritten in stone鈥� | unchangeable truth | Ex. 31:18 |
| Babel | confusion | Genesis 11 |
| 鈥渂eat swords into ploughshares鈥� | turn away from war to peace | Isa. 2:4; Micah 4:3; Joel 3:10 |
| 鈥渂ite the dust鈥� | fall wounded or dead | Psalm 72:9 |
| 鈥渉andwriting on the wall鈥� | disaster or danger is near | Dan. 5:5-6 |
| 鈥渇aith will move mountains鈥� | faith is very powerful | Matt. 21:21 |
| 鈥渇all from grace鈥� | fall from position of esteem | Gal. 5:4 |
| Goliath | a large, overbearing obstacle or problem | I Samuel 17 |
| Delilah | seductress | Judges 16 |
| 鈥渇lesh and blood鈥� | all mankind; family | Matt. 16:17 |
| 鈥渂y the skin of your teeth鈥� | a close miss from disaster | Job |
| 鈥淐an a leopard change its spots?鈥� | can鈥檛 change your nature | Jer. 13:323 |
| 鈥淔or everything there is a season鈥� | there鈥檚 a right time for everything | Eccl. 3:1-8 |
| Samson | strong man with a tragic flaw | Judges 17 |
| Jezebel | wicked, selfish, powerful, evil woman | I Kings 19 |
| 鈥渁pple of my eye鈥� | very precious and dear | Zech. 2:8; Deut. 32:10 |
| 鈥渇orbidden fruit鈥� | prohibited item | Gen. 2:9 |
| 鈥渇rom strength to strength鈥� | progress from one success to another | Psalm 89:7 |
| 鈥済ive up the ghost鈥� | die or cease working | Acts |
| 鈥淛udas kiss鈥� | deceptive show of affection with evil intent | Matthew 26:49 |
| 鈥渂lind leading the blind鈥� | incompetent people leading incompetent people | Matt. 15:19 |
| 鈥渇ly in the ointment鈥� | small, irritating problem that spoils everything | Eccl. 10:1 |
| 鈥渃ast the first stone鈥� | be the first to attack a someone | John 8:7 |
| 鈥渟alt of the earth鈥� | those of great worth and reliability | Matt. 5:12 |
| 鈥減owers that be鈥� | government authority | Romans 13:1 |
| 鈥渟our grapes鈥� | acting meanly after a disappointment | Ezek. 18:2 |
| 鈥減hysician heal thyself鈥� | attend to your own faults more than the faults of others | Luke 4:23 |
| 鈥渘o rest for the wicked鈥� | wicked will be tormented | Isa. 57:20-21 |
| 鈥渕y cup runneth over鈥� | I have more than enough for my needs | Psalm 23:5 |
| 鈥渢urn the other cheek鈥� | don鈥檛 retaliate for wrong done | Matt. 5:39 |
| 鈥済uilty flee when no man pursues鈥� | guilty fear discovery | Proverbs 28:1 |
| 鈥済o the extra mile鈥� | do more than is required | Matt. 5:41 |
| 鈥淧rodigal Son鈥� | someone rebelling and living a dissolute life, then returning to home and right living | Luke 15:11-32 |
| 鈥淕ood Samaritan鈥� | someone who helps others from compassion with no thought of reward | Luke 10:30-33 |
| 鈥淗ow are the mighty fallen鈥� | those previously powerful are weakened | II Sam. 1:19 |
| 鈥淟amb to the slaughter鈥� | unaware of impending danger | Jer. 11:18 |
| 鈥淢an does not live by bread alone鈥� | man has spiritual as well as physical needs | Deut. 8:3 |
| 鈥渓iving off the fat of the land鈥� | living well | Gen. 45:18 |