Preface
The original biblical words using rarely in everyday English language and unknown to a reader may be used in this research work. In case of difficulty look "Glossary".
Phraseological units of biblical origin
For a practice I decided to take the most popular phraseological units that we use often and find an original history of each one in the Bible.
Doubting Thomas
Have you ever heard the phrase "Doubting Thomas", or been called a Doubting Thomas? Let's explore the history and meaning of the popular phrase "Doubting Thomas". The origins of this commonly used phrase trace back thousands of years.
While there are many popular phrases and sayings with unknown origins. It is clear which historical event sparked the meaning behind the phrase "Doubting Thomas," which is often used to explain a person of skepticism. The phrase "Doubting Thomas" describes someone who won't accept an explanation of an idea or concept without actual physical proofs, refuses to believe without personal experience.
Definition of "Doubting Thomas" in English
In the English usage "Doubting Thomas" is a person who has doubts or refuses to believe something without a proof.
Definition of "Doubting Thomas" in Russian
In the Russian usage the bibleism "Doubting Thomas" sounds like "Фома неверующий" (origin. "Томас", interpretation in Russian language - "Фома"). This also means a person who refuses to believe in something without personal experience.
Origin
The saying "Doubting Thomas" is originally derived from the skeptical Saint Thomas, one of Jesus Christ's 12 apostles. Saint Thomas was famously known for refusing to believe proof of Jesus' resurrection following his crucifixion. Thomas refused to be believe until he had seen the marks on Jesus' body. He said: “I refuse to believe this unless I see the nail marks in his hands, put my fingers into them, and put my hand into his side.”(John 20:25, New Testament, God's Word translation). However, once Jesus presented him with the opportunity to feel his wounds, Thomas accepted it as truth. This account is found in the biblical reference John 20:24-29. Thomas then professed his faith in Jesus, and was the first person who actually voiced his belief in Jesus' as a divine ruler calling him, "My Lord and my God". This is why he has also been referred to as Thomas the Believer.
To wash one's hands off
This expression means «taking away of responsibility, declaring one's non-participation in case». This phraseological unit is used in situations when someone doesn't want to take part in some action, so he "washes his hands off".
In a modern usage an expression is known as a part of a plot of Pilate's judgment, described in the Book of Matthew.
Definition of " To wash one's hands off" in English
In the English usage " To wash one's hands off" means one's taking away of responsibility.
Definition of " To wash one's hands off" in Russian
In the Russian usage this expression sounds like "Умывать руки" also means taking away of responsibility.
Origin
At the time of the judgment on Jesus Christ roman governor Pontius Pilate did not want to be involved in the death of Jesus, an innocent person, so Pilate washed his hands (that was ritual hand's washing which is a traditional Jewish ceremony) before everyone, as a sign of disassociating himself from the decision. According to the New Testament: "Pilate saw that he was not getting anywhere. Instead, a riot was breaking out. So Pilate took some water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. He said, “I won’t be guilty of killing this man. Do what you want!” (Matthew 27:24, New Testament, God's Word Translation).
It comes from the Jewish religious ceremony of cleaning hands. If the murderer was unknown, Torah ordered to immolate a heifer, "All the leaders from the city which was nearest the murder victim must wash their hands over the dead heifer. Then they must make this formal statement: “We didn’t commit this murder, and we didn’t witness it." (Deuteronomy 21:6-7, Old Testament, God's Word Translation).
Global flood (worldwide flood)
Sometimes people who have forgotten to turn off the tap and the water flooded the floor, they say that they had "a flood". This expression has come to us from the Bible. We usually use an expression "Global flood" or "Worldwide flood", when it's flooding (that's not about only apartments but also about the weather, a strong and long-lasting heavy rain).
Definition of "Global flood" in English
In the English usage this bibleism means a flooding (that's not about only apartments but also about the weather, a strong and long-lasting heavy rain).
Definition of "Global flood" in Russian
In the Russian usage this expression sounds like "Всемирный потоп". Russian speaking people usually say "Всемирный потоп" in such situations when the water is everywhere (in apartments, outside).
Origin
It comes from Genesis, Charters 6-7, when God offended by the human race "The Lord saw how evil humans had become on the earth. All day long their deepest thoughts were nothing but evil." (Genesis 6:5, Old Testament, God's Word Translation), decided to punish all men, except the good man Noah. "But the Lord was pleased with Noah. This is the account of Noah and his descendants. Noah had God’s approval and was a man of integrity among the people of his time. He walked with God." (Genesis 6:8-9, Old Testament, God's Word Translation) and found that the surest way for this is to fill the whole earth with water and destroy all life. But before that, He commanded Noah to build the ark (a huge ship) and put the family there, as well as various animals, pair of every creature. Forty days and nights without stopping there was a rain which flooded the whole earth. Saved only occupants of the ship.
Prodigal (lost) son
The word "prodigal" is mysterious to us. Almost the only time we ever hear it is in the title of biblical parable about Lost (Prodigal) son.
Its basic meaning is "wasteful" - especially about money.
It comes from Latin base that means "forth" (pro-) and "to drive" (agere). That's about such a kind of a person who drives forth his money (who wastes it by spending with foolish abandon). "Prodigal" literally means someone who is wasteful and extravagant, but it is often used to refer to someone who has gone away and came back again.
Definition of "Prodigal son" in English
In the English usage ''Prodigal son'' is someone who's too wasteful and ''lost son'' is such a man who became complicated in life, has lost its purpose.
Definition of "Prodigal son" in Russian
In the Russian usage this expression sounds like "Блудный сын" and usually means someone who became complicated in life and went far away from something of someone (from parents, for example) but still realized his' foolishness and came back.
Origin
The prodigal son - this popular expression comes from the biblical story, the one of parables of Jesus. In tells about a son, who left his father's home and wasted his fortune. Returning back to his family with nothing, he falls to the father's knees. Father shows compassion and kindness and forgives the careless son.
The story appears in the Gospel of Luke, New Testament. According to the Luke 15:11-32, a father gives the younger of his two sons a part of his property before he dies. The younger son, after wasting his fortune (the word 'prodigal' means 'wastefully extravagant'), goes hungry during a travel. He then repents and returns home, where the father holds a feast to celebrate his return. The older son refuses to participate because of anger to father "Then the older son became angry and wouldn’t go into the house. His father came out and begged him to come in. But he answered his father, ‘All these years I’ve worked like a slave for you. I’ve never disobeyed one of your commands. Yet, you’ve never given me so much as a little goat for a celebration with my friends. But this son of yours spent your money on prostitutes, and when he came home, you killed the fattened calf for him." (Luke 15:28-30, New Testament, God's Word Translation). Thenhis father reminds the older son that everything the father has is the older son's, but that they should still celebrate the return of the younger son as he has come back to them.
Voice crying in the wilderness
Definition of "Voice crying in the wilderness'' in English
In the English usage this expression means a person expressing a particular opinion, although later other people understand that she/he was right.
Definition of "Voice crying in the wilderness'' in Russian
In the Russian usage this bibleism sounds like "Глас вопиющего в пустыне" and means useless appeals to do certain actions that no one is listening and which is fated to failure.
When we say "the voice of one crying in the wilderness", we mean someone's call stays unheard. But why is this lonely man cries it in the desert, but not in the woods, for example, or in the mountains?
Origin
Expression of "the voice in the wilderness" comes from the Bible story of how a prophet Isaiah spoke to the Israelite people out of the desert, saying them: "A voice cries out in the desert: “Clear a way for the Lord. Make a straight highway in the wilderness for our God." (Isaiah 40:3, Old Testament, God's Word Translation). But the call of the prophet remained unanswered: the Israelites did not listen to him.
Since then, this expression was used to show the uselessness of one's calling, left without attention.
Stumbling block
That expression means a difficulty that produces mistakes or stops progress. A phrase "Stumbling block" uses in the Old and the New Testaments as a behavior or attitude that leads another to sin.
Definition of ''Stumbling block" in English
In the English usage this expression means something that prevents or obstructs a progress.
Definition of ''Stumbling block'' in Russian
In the Russian usage this expression sounds like "Камень преткновения" and means something that seduces and doesn't allow to move forth.
Origin
Originally, the expression "stumbling block" appears in the Old Testament in the Book of Isaiah where God says of himself: "He will be a place of safety for you. But he will be a rock that makes people trip and a stumbling block for both kingdoms of Israel. He will be a trap and a snare for those who live in Jerusalem." (Isaiah 8:14, Old Testament, God's Word Translation).
" This honor belongs to those who believe. But to those who don’t believe: “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone, a stone that people trip over, a large rock that people find offensive.” The people tripped over the word because they refused to believe it. Therefore, this is how they ended up." (1 Peter 2:7-8, New Testament, God's Word Translation).
The interpretation of this verse is in the Romans: "The people of Israel tried to gain God’s approval by obeying the laws in Moses’ Teachings, but they did not reach their goal. Why? They didn’t rely on faith to gain God’s approval, but they relied on their own efforts. They stumbled over the rock that trips people. As Scripture says, “I am placing a rock in Zion that people trip over, a large rock that people find offensive. Whoever believes in him will not be ashamed." (Rom. 9:31-33, New Testament, God's Word Translation). Here, "a stumbling block" means a symbolic stone set in Zion (a mountain), which stumbled all the non-believers and not following the laws. The meaning of the stumbling block here refers to Jesus Christ.
Nowadays we usually say: "a stumbling block" about any barrier on which we will come across as soon as it comes to us.In other words, that's a main problem which doesn't let us go forth.
Scapegoat
In modern usage "a scapegoat" is a person who is blamed for the wrongdoings, mistakes, or faults of others, especially for reasons of someone's benefit. This will usually carry on until the scapegoat has gone, or has managed to successfully defend itself against the arguments presented to it.
Definition of "Scapegoat'' in English
In the English usage this bibleism means a person who is unfairly blamed for something that others have done. A whipping boy, "fall guy" or "patsy" is a form of "scapegoat", a modern version of the expression.
Definition of "Scapegoat'' in Russian
In the Russian usage this bibleism sounds like "Козел отпущения" and means also someone who is blamed for others' mistakes and faults for reasons of someone's benefit.
Origin
The word comes from Judaism. In the Old Testament a goat that was symbolically burdened with the sins of the people and then killed on Hebrew holiday called "Yom Kippur" to Jerusalem of its iniquities. (Leviticus 16). During mass repentance the priest would bring a goat to the alter. The sins of the people would be put into the goat, and it would then be killed, its' blood staining the alter until cleansed. This is what Jesus Christ reflected in his crucifixion, being a scapegoat.
In Christian thought this process is beforehand with the sacrifice of Christ on the cross through which God has been reconciled and sins can be redeemed. Christians believe that sinners who own their guilt and confess their sins, exercising faith and trust in the person and the sacrifice of Jesus, are forgiven of their sins.
Not of this world
We usually say so (''not of this world'') with irony about people who are out of touch with reality, strange, eccentric people, who live in their little world of the isolated with their concerns, thoughts and dreams.
Definition of ''Not of this world'' in English
In the English usage this expression means such cases of someone's isolation from the world and strange behavior of a person.
Definition of ''Not of this world'' in Russian
In the Russian usage an expression sounds like "Не от мира сего (этого)" and means the same as in English usage. Russian speaking people usually say ironically about a person that she/he is ''not of this world'' if his/her behavior seems too strange to others.
Origin
The phrase "Not of this World" comes from The Gospel of John. According to John, before Jesus was arrested, he prayed for his disciples, and in that prayer he said: "I have given them your message. But the world has hated them because they don’t belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. I’m not asking you to take them out of the world but to protect them from the evil one. They don’t belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. “Use the truth to make them holy. Your words are truth." (John 17:14-17, New Testament, God's Word Translation).
In the Gospel of John 18:36 quoted the words of Jesus, said to the Roman governor of Judea, Pontius Pilate: "Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world..." In other words, it is not subject to earthly laws and traditions.
Vanity of vanities (The thousand and one small worries of life)
"Vanity of vanities, all is vanity" - famous words of one Preacher whose name is Ecclesiastes, "The words of the spokesman, the son of David and the king in Jerusalem. “Absolutely pointless!” says the spokesman. “Absolutely pointless! Everything is pointless.” What do people gain from all their hard work under the sun? Generations come, and generations go, but the earth lasts forever." (Ecclesiastes 1:1-4, Old Testament, God's Word Translation).
Definition of ''Vanity of vanities'' in English
In the English usage this expression means someone's tries to do everything to achieve a purpose, put all the resources to and he gains much but doesn't enjoy the result.
Definition of ''Vanity of vanities'' in Russian
In the Russian usage this expression sounds like "Суета сует" and means the same as in English usage.
In our everyday English usage, the word vanity means an image of pride in oneself or in one's appearance, a picture of conceit and perhaps even arrogance. But what did the author of the book of Ecclesiastes actually have in mind?
Origin
"Vanity" in Ecclesiastes, and usually in Scripture, means not foolish pride, but the emptiness in final result of all life apart from God. In Romans 8:20-22 "Vanity of Vanities, says the Preacher - All is vanity", here the preacher condemns the opinions of all men who happiness in anything, but in God alone, seeing that in this world all things are as vanity and nothing.
Kiss of Judas (Kiss of death)
An expression ''Kiss of Judas'' or ''Kiss of death'' means an unwelcome support from an unpopular source, invented by the opposition. The phrase is derived from the kiss of Judas and the betrayal of Christ. Judas' kiss was a terribly hypocritical kiss.
Definition of ''Kiss of Judas (Kiss of death)'' in English
In the English usage this bibleism means an act appearing to be an act of friendship, which is in fact harmful to the recipient.
Definition of ''Kiss of Judas (Kiss of death)'' in Russian
In the Russian usage this bibleism sounds like ''Иудин поцелуй (поцелуй смерти)" and means someone's hypocritical actions.
Origin
According to the New Testament, Judas who's the one of the followers of Jesus Christ identified Jesus to the soldiers by means of a kiss: "While he was still speaking to the disciples, a crowd arrived. The man called Judas, one of the twelve apostles, was leading them. He came close to Jesus to kiss him. Jesus said to him, “Judas, do you intend to betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” (Luke 22:47-48, New Testament, God's Word Translation). This is the kiss of Judas, also known (especially in art) as the Betrayal of Christ, which occurs in the Garden of Gethsemane after the Last Supper, and leads directly to the arrest of Jesus by the police force.
We use the expression "Kiss of Judas" in situations when someone has evil-minded plans about you but he behaves as your friend. So his acts lead to the betrayal.
The golden calf
Definition of "The golden calf'' in English
In the English usage this expression means money as an object of worship.
Definition of "The golden calf'' in Russian
In the Russian usage this expression sounds like "Золотой телец" and means the same as in English.
Origin
According to the Old Testament the golden calf was an idol (a cult image) made by Aaron to satisfy the Israelites during Moses' absence, when he went up to Mount Sinai. It is first mentioned in Exodus 32:4: "After he had worked on the gold with a tool, he made it into a statue of a calf. Then they said, “Israel, here are your gods who brought you out of Egypt.” (Old Testament, God's Word Translation).
The reason of worshiping the golden calf is a long living of Israelites in Egypt being slaves among people who worshiped idols in the image of animals.
In the modern usage "The golden calf" means money as an object of worship.
Instigating beast
"The instigating beast" is an expression which literally means a frightful animal or a monster, the Bible's serpent, which has become a negative hero because " You come from your father, the devil, and you desire to do what your father wants you to do. The devil was a murderer from the beginning. He has never been truthful. He doesn’t know what the truth is. Whenever he tells a lie, he’s doing what comes naturally to him. He’s a liar and the father of lies." (John 8:44, New Testament, God's Word Translation).
Definition of ''Instigating beast'' in English
In the English usage this expression means a person who provokes someone to do forbidden things.
Definition of ''Instigating beast'' in Russian
In the Russian usage this expression sounds like "Змей-искуситель" and means almost the same as in English. Russian speaking people usually say ''Instigating beast'' about such a person who seduces someone and provokes to do forbidden things.
Origin
In the Book of Genesis, the Serpent is portrayed as a deceptive creature or trickster, who promotes as good what God had forbidden, and shows particular cunning in its deception. (Gen. 3:4–5 and 3:22) The serpent appears in the Garden of Eden who tempts Eve to eat the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and denies that death will be a result. The Serpent has the ability to speak and to reason: "The snake was more clever than all the wild animals the Lord God had made." (Genesis 3:1, Old Testament, God's Word Translation). There is no indication in the Book of Genesis that the Serpent was a deity in its own right.
Nowadays we use that phrase for describing a person who seduces and instigates someone to do forbidden things.
To breathe life into
"To breathe life onto" means to bring ideas, energy and enthusiasm to something.
Definition of ''To breathe life into '' in English
In the English usage this expression means to make something that was boring seem interesting again; to bring ideas, energy and enthusiasm to something.
Definition of ''To breathe life into '' in Russian
In the Russian usage this expression sounds like "Вдохнуть жизнь" and means to bring ideas, energy and enthusiasm to something.
Origin
That expression goes from the story of world's creation, when God made a man on the seventh day of his work. A plot of that is described in the book of Genesis: "Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the earth and blew the breath of life into his nostrils. The man became a living being." (Genesis 2:7, Old Testament, God's Word Translation).
So God literally breathed life into human flesh.
We use that phrase to express the idea of someone's action of bringing new ideas to art creation and any other spheres.
To see the speck in one's eye
We use this expression often in such a meaning as "watch yourself" for edify someone if he's wrong and doesn't even notice his own mistakes, but judge others. In cases like that we say: "You don't even see the speck in your own eye!"
Definition of ''To see the speck in one's eye'' in English
In the English usage this bibleism means if someone's able to see other's small faults, while not noticing his own larger faults.
Definition of ''To see the speck in one's eye'' in Russian
In the Russian usage this bibleism sounds like "Видеть соринку в чужом глазу" and means the same as in English.
Origin
In Matthew 7:3-5 (New Testament) Jesus Christ said: "So why do you see the piece of sawdust in another believer’s eye and not notice the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to another believer, ‘Let me take the piece of sawdust out of your eye,’ when you have a beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye. Then you will see clearly to remove the piece of sawdust from another believer’s eye."(God's Word Translation). So Jesus told about people's foolishness and hypocrisy.
Also in Luke 6:41-42 (New Testament): "Why do you see the piece of sawdust in another believer’s eye and not notice the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to another believer, ‘Friend, let me take the piece of sawdust out of your eye,’ when you don’t see the beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye. Then you will see clearly to remove the piece of sawdust from another believer’s eye."(God's Word Translation).
A wolf in sheep's clothing
We usually say "a wolf in sheep's clothing" about such a person, who hides evil-minded plans under the image of kindness.
Definition of ''A wolf in sheep's clothing'' in English
In the English usage this expression means such a person, who hides the fact that he/she is evil, with a pleasant and friendly appearance.
Definition of ''A wolf in sheep's clothing'' in Russian
In the Russian usage this expression sounds like "Волк в овечьей шкуре" and means someone who hides an evil-minded plan under the image of kindness.
Origin
The Lord Jesus Christ warned His disciples, "Beware of false prophets. They come to you disguised as sheep, but in their hearts they are vicious wolves." (Matthew 7:15, New Testament, God's Word Translation). The warning was important because Jesus later said to them: "I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. So be as cunning as snakes but as innocent as doves." (Matthew 10:16). In that situation Jesus Christ meant false prophets, such people who deceive others.
Also the apostle Paul, with tears and a deeply troubled spirit, penned a similar warning: "I know that fierce wolves will come to you after I leave, and they won’t spare the flock." (Acts 20:29, New Testament, God's Word Translation). Throughout church history these warnings have seldom been taken seriously.
Glossary
1. Apostle - any one of the twelve men that Christ chose to tell people about him and his teachings. (Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary; Oxford University Press ©2013)
2. The Resurrection (in the Christian religion) - the time when Jesus Christ returned to life again after his death; the time when all dead people will become alive again, when the world ends. (Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary; Oxford University Press ©2013)
3. Crucifixion -the act of killing somebody by fastening them to a cross. (Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary; Oxford University Press ©2013)
4. The ark - a large boat which Noah built to save his family and two of every type of animal from the flood. (Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary; Oxford University Press ©2013)
5. Parable - a short story that teaches a moral or spiritual lesson, especially one of those told by Jesus as recorded in the Bible. (Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary; Oxford University Press ©2013)
6. Prophet -(in the Christian, Jewish and Muslim religions) a person sent by God to teach the people and give them messages from God. (Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary; Oxford University Press ©2013)
7. Sacrifice -1) the fact of giving up something important or valuable to you in order to get or do something that seems more important; something that you give up in this way; 2) (to somebody) the act of offering something to God, especially an animal that has been killed in a special way; an animal, etc. that is offered in this way. (Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary; Oxford University Press ©2013)
8. Redeem (somebody) - (in Christianity) to save somebody from the power of evil. (Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary; Oxford University Press ©2013)
9. The Gospel -one of the four books in the Bible about the life and teaching of Jesus. (Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary; Oxford University Press ©2013)
10. Disciple -(according to the Bible) one of the people who followed Jesus Christ and his teachings when he was living on earth, especially one of the twelve Apostles. (Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary; Oxford University Press ©2013)
11. Zion -1) the hill of Jerusalem on which the city of David was built; 2)(in Christian thought) the heavenly city or kingdom of heaven; 3) a land of future promise or return from exile. (Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary; Oxford University Press ©2013)
12. Immolate -to kill or offer as a sacrifice, especially by burning. (Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary; Oxford University Press ©2013)
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