Phraseologisms - stable combinations of words - appear due to historical events and persons, fiction, folk sayings and other factors. Many such expressions came to our speech from the Bible. For example, "the voice of one crying in the wilderness."
The meaning of phraseology, its origin and use, we will consider in this article. We learn its interpretation with the help of reliable sources - explanatory and phraseological dictionaries of famous linguists.
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness”: the meaning of phraseology
In the explanatory dictionary of S. I. Ozhegov, the following definition is given to this expression: "unrequited appeal, unheard prayer." There is a stylistic mark “book”.
In the phraseological dictionary edited by M. I. Stepanova, such an interpretation of the expression is given: "a passionate appeal to something that has remained unanswered due to the indifference or misunderstanding of people." Also worth mentioning is "book".
In the dictionary of steady revolutions, Rosa T.V. also has a definition of the expression “the voice of one crying in the wilderness”. The meaning of phraseology in it concerns useless appeals that are ignored.
Next, consider how this combination of words appeared.
The origin of the expression "the voice of one crying in the wilderness"
For the etymological review, we also use the dictionaries indicated by us. It is sensibly noted that the expression came from the gospel parable of John the Baptist, who in the desert before the people who did not understand him, called for Jesus Christ to open the ways and souls.
Rosa T.V. also gives the history of the origin of phraseological units in her dictionary. She tells readers the following.
There is a biblical legend about a Hebrew prophet who called from the desert of the Israelites to prepare for a meeting with God. To do this, he writes in his dictionary, Rosa T.V., proposed paving roads in the steppe, lowering the mountains, leveling the earth's surface and doing many other works. But the hermit prophet was not heard.
From that moment on, the “voice of one crying in the wilderness” has such a meaning as vain persuasion and appeals that are not taken seriously by anyone.
The biblical meaning of phraseology
The definitions given in the dictionaries are not entirely correct. The biblical meaning of this expression is different. John the Baptist called for repentance. His voice was heard on the banks of the Jordan. People who heard him spread the word about him, and others came to listen to him. Crowds gathered near him. John baptized people with Jordanian water to wash them from sins, and preached.
The path of Jesus was laid along human hearts, which were stone, nesting within themselves snakes. It was difficult for Christ to walk along such a road. Therefore, the angel of God John prepared this path, tried to make it straight. He corrected the curvature of human hearts. Therefore, the expression under consideration should also be interpreted as a call to repentance and correction.
Use
The expression we are considering is not outdated. It was actively used and used by writers, publicists, journalists, and all those who resort to steady turns to express their thoughts.
N.P. Ogarev, in the preface to the periodical Herzen’s Bell, writes: “One cry in the wilderness sounded alone in a foreign land.” This newspaper was published in London and was directed against censorship and serfdom. The stable expression used by Ogarev , which we are considering, conveyed the author’s thoughts capaciously.
Often they use the headline “voice crying in the wilderness” in the headings. The meaning of phraseology helps convey to readers information that someone cannot reach someone’s hearts and does not find the desired response.