How did the Bible influence the English Language?

Answers.com > Wiki Answers > Categories > History, Politics & Society > History > US History > How did the Bible influence the English Language?
Answer:
The Bible was written in Hebrew, Aramaic (similar to ) and Greek. Therefore, from a purely lexical and grammatical point of view, the Bible as originally written had little or no influence on the English language.
However, when the Bible was translated into the common tongue of the English people, many bible words, phrases, expressions and references quickly became assimilated into the English langauge and are still in use today.

Some examples

  • the apple of my eye - Psalm 17:8
  • the salt of the earth - Matt 5:13
  • the sun shines on the righteous - Matt 5:45
  • seek and you shall find - Matt 7:7
  • a little bird told me - Eccl 10:20
  • eat, drink and be merry - Luke 12:19
  • Armageddon - Rev 16:16
  • a doubting Thomas - John 20:27
  • a (painted) Jezebel - 2Kings 9:30-37, Rev 2:20
  • a Judas (goat) - Luke 6:16
  • old wives' tales- 1Tim 4:7
  • returning like the prodigal son - Luke 15:11-24
  • wolf in sheep's clothing - Matt 7:15
  • a leopard can't change its spots - Jer 13:23
  • to escape by the skin of your teeth - Job 19:19-20
  • scapegoat - Lev 16:9-10
  • the sweat of your brow - Gen 3:17,19
  • red sky at night, shepherd's delight; red sky in the morning, shepherd's warning - Matt 16:1-3
  • pride goes before a fall - Prov 16:18
  • money is the root of all evil - 1Tim 6:10
  • the blind leading the blind - Matt 15:14
  • spare the rod, spoil the child - Prov 13:24
  • there's a time and place for everything - Eccl 3:1
  • going the extra mile - Matt 5:41
  • their left hand doesn't know what their right hand is doing - Matt 5:3-4
  • practice what you preach - Matt 23:2-3
  • the writing's on the wall - Dan 5:5-6
First answer by BrainBlocked. Last edit by BrainBlocked. Contributor trust: 441 [recommend contributorrecommended]. Question popularity: 1 [recommend question].

Can you answer these US History questions?

Relevant answers:

Shopping for US History deals?

Find Coupons and Promo Codes on Coupons by Answers.com
FIND MORE COUPONS AND PROMO CODES

Related Ads:

Related ads:

Sign in using:

Answers.com members:




Create account
Join using:

Join Answers.com:





Already a member?
Sign in
Why join?
Joining is free and easy. You can still be anonymous; just choose any username and password.

  • Get notified about updated answers
  • Follow your favorite categories
  • Get credit for your contributions
  • Customize your profile
  • Answer questions more easily
Not convinced? Read more.
Lost your password?

You may already have an Answers.com account.
Click here to connect your accounts.  
If you don't want to connect accounts, you can start a new one from scratch.
Minor details...


  

Connect your accounts...




Lost password?
Why do we need your email address?
We will use your email address to send you updates (if you request them) about questions you ask, answer or track, and to help you retrieve your password if you forget it.

Your email address will not be used for any other purpose without your permission.
Already have an Answers.com account? Connect your accounts!
By doing so, you include all of your history (contributions, messages, profile) from your Answers.com account in your Facebook account.

If you don't connect accounts, your new account will be starting from scratch.

Home

Welcome
Help center
Browse categories
Random question
Community forum