The article presents some biblical phraseological units - both well-known, and those whose meanings can explain far from everything. The Bible is by far one of the greatest books of all time. Her comprehension is an endless process that has been going on for centuries. Today there are many schools whose representatives study this book and explain its contents.
The Bible as a Monument to Literature
I must say that the Bible is not only the banner of Christianity, the “Holy Scripture”, the code of life rules. It is also a historical record and a great monument of literature. The Bible (its ancient Greek text) in translation into the Old Slavonic language was known to our distant ancestors. The modern reader gets acquainted with the text already in the Russian translation. However, both Russian and Old Slavonic variants are sources of stable combinations and aphorisms of the modern language.
Mythological and biblical phraseological units are firmly entrenched in our lives. Today in the Russian language there are more than 200 stable expressions that are associated with the text of the holy book of Christians. Many biblical phraseological units were borrowed from the New Testament, mainly from the Gospel. The worship of the Magi, the parable of stupid and clever virgins, the prodigal son, the beheading of the head of I. Baptist, Judas kiss, the Last Supper, the abdication of Peter, the resurrection of Christ - this is not a complete list of fragments from the main holy book of Christians. Biblical phraseological units associated with these subjects are widespread; and their meaning and origin are known even to people far from religion. After all, these stories have been rethought by many writers, poets, artists, directors, etc. They left a big mark in world culture.
Let's look at some biblical phraseological units. You will find out what is the meaning and origin of each of them.
Throw beads
Biblical phraseological units, examples of which are presented in the article, are used not only in oral speech. Quotations from the works of writers and poets are often sent to them, and sometimes the names of the works themselves. For example, one of Hermann Hesse’s novels is The Bead Game. This work was first published in 1943, and in 1946 the author received the Nobel Prize for it and other achievements in literature.
Surely the name of the novel makes you associate with the expression "throw beads." It means "to pay attention to unworthy people, to be humiliated." If you dream of beads in front of pigs, you show intimate feelings and thoughts to those who are not able to appreciate, accept and understand them. The origin of this phraseology is biblical. We meet him in the Gospel of Matthew when we speak of the conversations of Christ with his followers. The Sermon on the Mount, which is considered “programmatic” in Christianity, says that you should not give “shrines to the dogs,” and you should not throw pearls before the pigs, otherwise they will trample it underfoot and tear you to pieces.
You may ask: "Why beads and not pearls?" The fact is that small river pearls were called beads in Russia . It was mined by our ancestors in the northern rivers. After some time, any small bone, glass and metal beads that were used for embroidery began to be called beads. Pearls were drilled, then strung on threads and used to decorate clothes. So another expression appeared (not biblical) - “beaded pattern”.
To participate
So they say, in particular, about a person who took an active part in any business. By its origin, this expression is gospel. One parable speaks of a poor widow who put in only 2 small coins during the collection of donations. The word "coins" in Greek sounds like "mites." Despite the apparent modesty, her donation was more important and more than many rich gifts. After all, it was made from a pure heart. The one who contributes to the common cause is one who, without committing visible and grandiose acts to everyone, acts honestly and sincerely.
Other biblical phraseological units are also very curious. Examples and their significance will certainly interest many. We offer you to get acquainted with another expression.
Voice in the wilderness
From ancient times this expression came to us, denoting appeals that turned out to be in vain and remained unanswered. The Bible speaks of the prophet Isaiah. He cried out (cried out) to the Israelites from the wilderness, warning that God was coming, so we must prepare his way. His words were then repeated by John the Baptist. He told them just before the arrival of Jesus Christ. In the Bible, therefore, this expression had a slightly different meaning than now. It was a call to listen to the voice of truth, to listen.
People do not often do this. Therefore, the emphasis in circulation over time began to be placed on the futility and hopelessness of the appeal addressed to someone.
Antediluvian times
In the Russian language for the designation of prehistoric, ancient times, there are many expressions: in time immemorial, under Tsar Gorokh, a long time ago, during it . One more thing came from the Bible - in the antediluvian times .
Of course, we are talking about the flood, which God, angry with people, sent to the earth. The abyss of heaven opened, and it began to rain. It lasted for 40 days and 40 nights, as the Bible says. The earth was flooded to the highest mountains. Only Noah and his family managed to escape. This righteous man, by order of God, built Noah's ark - a special ship where he placed all the birds and animals in pairs. After the flood ended, the earth was again inhabited by them.
Burrow talent in the ground
This expression is used when talking about a person who does not develop natural abilities. He neglects what he is gifted with. Do you know that the word “talent” in this expression originally meant a monetary unit?
In the gospel parable it is said about how one person, traveling to distant lands, distributed money to his slaves. He gave one of them 5 talents, the other 3, and the last one only one talent. Returning from a trip, this man called his slaves and asked them to tell how they ordered the gifts. It turned out that the first and second made a profit by investing talent in the business. And the third slave just buried it in the ground. Of course, he saved the money, but did not increase it. Is it worth talking about whom he condemned and whom the owner praised?
Today, this expression reminds us that talents, talents should be used, disclosed. They must not perish within us without bearing fruit.
We have already considered 5 biblical phraseological units. We pass to the following.
Egyptian executions
This expression is also found in the Bible when it is told about how the Egyptian pharaoh for a long time did not agree to grant freedom to the people living in the position of slaves in his country. According to legend, God was angry with him for it. He sent 10 severe punishments, which subsequently hit the Prililian country. In Old Slavonic, “punishment” is “execution”. They were the following: turning the water of the Nile into blood, the invasion of toads and various reptiles on Egypt, a lot of midges, the arrival of "dog" flies (especially evil), the death of cattle, a terrible epidemic that covered the entire population with boils, a hail that was interrupted by fire showers. This was followed by the invasion of locusts, the darkness that continued for many days, the death of the first-born, not only in humans, but also in livestock. Pharaoh, frightened by these disasters, allowed Egypt to leave the enslaved people. Today, the "Egyptian execution" is called any torture, a serious disaster.
Manna from heaven
In modern Russian, there is another interesting expression - to wait like manna from heaven . It means passionately and long to wait, while hoping only for a miracle. Indeed, the manna of heaven was a miracle. Thanks to her, a whole nation was saved from hunger.
The Bible says that hunger came when Jews wandered through the wilderness for many years. People would be doomed to death if suddenly manna from heaven had not begun to pour in. What is it? It resembled modern semolina. The latter was named so in memory of manna, which was granted to the chosen people by God.
However, scientists today found that in the desert there is an edible lichen. When it matures, it cracks and then coils into balls. Many nomadic tribes ate this lichen. Probably the wind brought these edible balls, which were described in a legend from the Bible. Despite this explanation, the expression “manna from heaven” still means miraculous help, unexpected luck.
We continue to describe biblical phraseological units and their meanings. The origin of the following is no less interesting.
Burning bush
Most likely, this beautiful image was borrowed by our ancestors from Hebrew traditions. In the Bible, the “bush of fire” is the thorn bush that burned without burning, because God himself appeared in Moses' flame. Today we rarely use this image. One of the options for its use is when it is necessary to portray a person who is “burning” in any business (for example, at work), but who does not lose strength, becomes more active and cheerful.
Thirty pieces of silver
Judas Iscariot is considered the most despicable traitor in history. He was one of the disciples of Jesus Christ. This man betrayed the teacher for only 30 pieces of silver, that is, for 30 silver coins. That is why such an expression in our time is understood as the "price of blood", "the price of betrayal." Many other allegorical words and phraseological units of biblical origin are based on the same legend. The name "Judah" is used to denote a traitor. And the “kiss of Judah” refers to the concept of treasonable affection, hypocritical and treacherous flattery.
These biblical phraseological units and their meanings have long been used in fiction. When Saltykov-Shchedrin, a well-known Russian satirist, endowed one of his characters, Golovlev Porfiry Vladimirovich, with all kinds of negative traits - a predator, a hypocrite, a saint, a rubbish, a torturer, etc. - it was clear that the prototype of this hero was Judas Iscariot. It is no coincidence that Golovlev was nicknamed Judas and his own brothers.
There is an opinion that the phrase “shakes like an aspen leaf” is associated with stories about this biblical character. Repenting, the traitor hanged himself on the bitch of this particular tree. So it was defiled. Now the aspen is supposedly destined to tremble forever.
From Pontius to Pilate
This expression is one of many ancient error-based ones. According to legend, when Jesus was captured and put on trial, neither Herod (king of the Jews) nor Pontius Pilate (Roman governor) wanted to take responsibility for the execution. Several times they directed Jesus to each other under various pretexts. One could put it this way that Christ "was persecuted from Herod to Pilate." However, our ancestors were embarrassed that Pontius Pilate was like the names of two Romans, although such names were quite natural. There were such historical characters as Julius Caesar, Septimius Severus, Sergius Catilica. In the heads of our ancestors, Pilate was divided into 2 people - Pilate and Pontius. And then the story itself was mixed up. So the idea that Christ was transferred "from Pontius to Pilate." Today, these words act as a mocking definition of red tape when people are driven from boss to boss, rather than resolving a case.
doubting Thomas
We have already described 10 phraseological units of biblical origin. Many of those that we did not talk about are worthy of attention, but only a few can be presented in the framework of one article. The following expression simply cannot be missed - it is widely used, and its origin is very interesting.
Very often you hear the phrase: “Oh, Thomas, an unbeliever!” It has become so familiar that sometimes we do not pay any attention to it when we pronounce it or hear from someone. Have you ever wondered where it came from? Do you know who Thomas is? It is believed that this is one of the 12 apostles whom Jesus Christ chose for himself. Thomas stood out because he was distrustful of everything and everyone.
However, there are not one, but two initial versions of the origin of this expression. The first of them appeared in ancient Jerusalem before Jesus chose Thomas as his apostle.
Thomas had a brother named Andrei. He once saw Jesus walking on water and told Thomas about it. As a sane person, the future apostle did not believe him. Then Andrew invited him to go with him and ask Jesus to walk on the water again. They went to Christ. He repeated his miracle. Thomas had no choice but to admit his own wrong. It was from this time that he began to be called Thomas an unbeliever.
The second version is considered more significant. After the crucifixion of Jesus and his subsequent resurrection, as the Bible says, Thomas was not there when Christ appeared to the apostles. Those who met him, told him what had happened. However, Thomas did not believe. He said that he would not believe until he himself saw the wounds from the nails in Jesus' hands and put a finger in those wounds. The second time, when the Savior appeared before his apostles in the presence of Thomas, Christ invited him to do this. You probably guessed that Thomas believed in the resurrection after that.
The Importance of Biblical Phraseologisms
Of course, these are far from all biblical phraseological units. There are a great many of them, we talked only about some of them. Phraseologisms of biblical origin, as you see, are still widely used in language. And this is not surprising, because the Bible is one of the most important books in the history of mankind. She greatly influenced the development of many areas of life. The language did not stand aside. It included numerous phraseological units of biblical origin. Examples and their meaning are still being studied by linguists. And writers and poets draw inspiration from biblical stories. For example, the collection of Maximilian Voloshin, which includes poems about revolution and war, is called "The Burning Cup."
Lermontov Mikhail, Gogol Nikolai, Chekhov Anton, Dostoevsky Fedor, Pushkin Alexander ... Mythological and biblical phraseological units are found in the works of each of them. Probably, there is no such Russian writer in whose works it would be impossible to find a single biblical turn.
What other phraseological units of biblical origin do you know? You can leave examples of them in the comments to this article.