Everyday Common Expressions With Bible Origins

 

Did you know that hundreds, maybe even thousands of expressions used in normal, every day conversation originated from The Holy Bible? Even the most adamantly atheist or agnostic individual has used at least one or two of these common phrases in the last month. Some may even recognize one they’ve used today.

Since no one wants to be on here reading for days, I will limit the number of expressions & phrases in this post to 18. I’ll label this one Part I (1–18) and if you want more, I’ll write Part II (19–36), Part III (37–54) and so on. I’ll keep each part limited to just 18 idioms, phrases, expressions and metaphors to make it easier to read. I’ll also provide a link in each new part to the previous ones. You can also subscribe to our newsletter for special announcements.

Why specifically eighteen? Because that is a number that has special meaning for my Kingdom Queen Claudia and I, so I figured it would be a nice, little, not-so-secret tribute to our God romance. I’ll let my wife, #TheFeistyColombian tell you more about the number 18, specifically the number 218 and how it has blessed us in our lives.

Getting back to the topic here; let’s get started on the first 18 Bible-Based sayings you probably didn’t know originated from Holy Judeo-Christian Scripture.

1. I am writing this in December of 2021. We had a very difficult year last year because of the Coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic and many people are still trying to recuperate from it. Optimistic people who are aware the world has gone through many plagues and pandemics in the past may have said, “all things must pass” or “this too must pass” when trying to comfort those who are struggling. Did you know this comes from the New Testament; Matthew 24:6–8? Is there anything you are going through right now that you would like to talk about? Feel free to contact us here.
2. Do you remember the first time you saw a couple in love and heard it described that she is the “apple of his eye”? There’s an elderly couple in my church that has been married for 1,000 years (obviously exaggerating). Bob describes his wife as “the apple of my eye.” I think it’s the cutest thing ever. They are in their 80’s and more in love than ever. Well, the next time you hear this expression, tell the people around you that it comes from two places in the Bible, Deuteronomy 2:10 and Zechariah 2:8.
3. Those people who come through for you at the last minute are usually described as coming through “at the eleventh hour.” This is an expression I’ve heard in movies, in public, and even in the workplace. I can almost guarantee that most of the people who use it are not aware that the expression comes from Matthew 20:1–16. It’s about work ethic, delivering on what you agree to do, not comparing yourselves to others, and having a serving heart rather than a prideful heart. It’s also where “the last shall be first” and where “many are called but few chosen” comes from (Matthew 20:16). The “at the eleventh hour” part is found in Matthew 20:6,9. Go read this passage in the Bible and tell me if there are any other in it that are commonly used in daily speech.
4. There are probably 100+ movies and TV shows, 1,000+ printed works, and 1,000,000+ YouTube videos that talk about the “land of milk and honey” when describing a place that is considered desirable. There are 4 spots in The Bible that such places as gifts from God to His people. These are Exodus 3:8, Leviticus 20:24, Numbers 13:27, and Deuteronomy 6:3.
5. Have you ever been used by a scapegoat by someone? Have you ever used someone as a scapegoat to get the attention off yourself? I remember when one of my classmates in junior high school (Ziggy) got in trouble and blamed the incident on my friend Hank. That’s the first time I heard this. Hank told our teacher that Ziggy was using him as a scapegoat. At lunch time I asked Hank what this meant and he said it’s when you are punished for something someone else did and they get away with it. Go to Leviticus 16:10 and read where this expression actually comes from.
6. In recent years, with all the division in our governments (Federal and local), in our society, in our families, in our schools, in our Churches, we’ve been bombarded with reasons to focus on our differences and go up against each other. Conservatives vs. Liberals, Republicans vs. Democrats, Black vs. White, Men vs. Women, Christians vs. Others, Rich vs. Poor, Pro-life vs. Pro-Choice, Anti-Abortion vs. Pro-Abortion, Believers vs. Non-Believers, Old vs. Young, Fathers vs. Sons, Mothers vs. Daughters, Two Genders vs. Unlimited Genders, Pro-America vs. Anti-America, Legal Citizens vs. Illegal Immigrants, Bible-Driven vs. Media-Driven, Peaceful Protesters vs. Rioters/Looters, etc., there are plenty of reasons for us to rise up against each other. You don’t have to be a news analyst to recognize that the news currently portrays us as a divided people or a kingdom divided! That phrase, “a kingdom divided” comes from Matthew 12:25.
7. So one day I was with a friend who was very prosperous at work. He had struggled his whole life and was now being blessed with more than just provisions for his life, but with prosperity in his business, his home, and in every aspect of his life. He asked to meet with me to speak about some goals he was setting for himself in the upcoming year. We went out to dinner and he picked a very good restaurant called Mythos on Northern Blvd in Queens New York, and ordered us a delicious steak dinner. The check never came to the table. Instead, they brought his card to him for him to sign. I didn’t know how much the dinner cost, and when I asked him why he didn’t let me pay he said, this is just a “drop in the bucket.” God is pouring blessings upon us. I’ve heard that “drop in the bucket” phrase used in so many different ways but this is my favorite story related to it. Well, this phrase comes from Isaiah 40:15.
8. I grew up in a household where my Puerto Rican parents didn’t speak English to us. Not as kids anyways. So the phrase rise and shine didn’t come into my life until I got to high school. I was in geometry class. Do I really need to tell you what happened? I fell asleep. And the teacher (can’t remember his name) walks right up to my desk and says, “rise and shine Rosario.” I may have heard this phrase in a movie or a TV show before then, but this is my earliest memory of this phrase. Rise and shine comes from Isaiah 60:1.
9. Have you ever been in a situation where you clearly see what the outcome of a situation, a movie, a book, a story, an event, etc. before that outcome happens. People will often say that “the writing is on the wall” when explaining how they can accurately predict what’s going to happen before it happens. This is Biblical! It’s found in Daniel 5:5, but I recommend you read the entire story and it’s explanation found on Daniel 5:1–29.
10. Oh, woe is me. It’s a phrase that has made it into everything from a couple of movies that used it as their title, to numerous books and videos, and even a 1989 Simpsons episode where Homer says the line. I am sure you can remember hearing it at least one time and if you don’t, you will hear it soon because now you’ll be looking for it. As a matter of fact, some of you may have already paused reading this to search for the movies titled Oh, Woe is Me or that 1989 Simpsons episode. Now that you’re back to reading this, take a break and pick up a Bible and open it to Psalm 12:5; Isaiah 6:5; Jeremiah 4:31; Job 10:15. See, even the Simpsons can’t escape The Word of God. D’oh!
11. I hope if any of you reading this are Christian, you know the story about the Good Samaritan. This is so commonly used today that some of you may not even know it is a direct reference to a story in the Bible. Jesus told a story about a Good Samaritan who stepped in to help someone who was different than him, not worrying about what others would say, what it would cost him or how hard it would be. This story is found in Luke 10:25–37. Now think back to how the news uses it. There’s someone in trouble and a “Good Samaritan” steps in to help, even while others may have stood by watching, not getting involved and not taking any risk to help others. Everything about this expression is about Bible-Based principles, and about the character of Christ Jesus.
12. I have friends who are fairly good people who simply do not believe in God. One of those friends, Scott lost his brother to cancer a few years ago. His brother Mark battled cancer for 12 years. He beat it twice, forcing it into remission. Unfortunately, after years of fighting, struggling, winning some and losing some, suffering through the pain and through the treatments, Mark lost his battle. His brother, an argumentative atheist who didn’t just deny the existence of God, but who was quick to mock those who do, was asked to give the eulogy at Mark’s wake. It was then that Scott said the words, “My brother Mark fought the good fight.” I head this and immediately thought of 1 Timothy 6:12 where we are invited to “fight the good fight of faith.” So yes Scott, our brother Mark, a born again Christian who even as he lay in his death bead tried to bring you to a relationship with Jesus, fought the good fight.
13. OK, going in a bit of a different direction, I have to admit that I love a good gangster movie. I have probably watched The Godfather I, II and III, Casino, Goodfellas, and many others more than some people change their toothbrush. I love great action movies as well. My wife and I love James Bond movies. I love superhero movies, especially anything from Marvel with Wolverine in it. I love crime thrillers as well. In saying this, I can confidently say that most of these if not all of these movies share one line in common. It’s a phrase that has become a part of the English language. That phrase, which you can find in Exodus 21:23–25, Leviticus 24:19–20, Matthew 5:38–42 is “eye for an eye.”
14. My wonderful wife, #TheFeistyColombian, my Kingdom Queen Claudia is a HUGE Game of Thrones fan. Me, not so much. Don’t judge me. I was very busy when the show was out and simply didn’t have the time to sit and watch the episodes. Besides, I found G.O.T. fans who came to the office to waste a couple of hours recapping the previous night’s episode annoying. The final episode of the show aired on May 19, 2019 and I still haven’t watched more than half an hour of the very first episode. Sorry GOT fans, sue me… lol. Anyways, getting back to the topic of discussion here; there’s something I’ve heard plenty of Game of Thrones fans talk about Baptism by Fire. I read something about a character named Daenerys who had her second baptism by fire, and that was supposedly a big deal? I know the military uses it too. In the military usage, a baptism by fire refers to a soldier’s first time in battle. This expression comes from Matthew 3:11.
15. Here’s one for you. In today’s crazy world, where politics have become so divisive that people on either side of the isle are constantly trying to outdo each other in the cunningness of their insults and criticisms of the other side, you may have heard them say that the other side is like “the blind leading the blind.” This is an idiom and a metaphor used to describe a situation where an ignorant person or a group of ignorant people who lack any common sense is led by advice or help from another person or group of people who are just as ignorant, if not more ignorant. To put it into perspective, “the blind leading the blind” would be like a person who has never been a parent trying to give a new parent advice on how to be a parent. It’s like a person who has never flown a plane trying to teach a classroom full of people how to fly an airplane. It’s like someone who doesn’t speak Chinese trying to teach me (who does not speak Chinese) how to speak Chinese. It’s like a person who has never been married trying to give a new couple advice on married life. Get it? One who knows nothing should not be led or taught by someone who know nothing. References to this appear in more than 100 places in Judeo-Christian scripture, but for now just go to Matthew 15:14, or Luke 6:39.
16. In light of all the politicians, celebrities and superstars who have recently fallen, I thought it appropriate to mention this one. In recent news, the Cuomo brothers from New York (Andrew Cuomo and Chris Cuomo) have been exposed as frauds and been relieved of the public positions that had them riding high just last year. Andrew Mark Cuomo served as the 56th governor of New York (2011–2021) when he had to resign from office in shame after being accused by numerous victims of sexual misconduct. Just months later (November 2021), his younger brother Christopher Charles Cuomo was suspended indefinitely by CNN, in response to reports that Chris had assisted in using his pull as a public figure and TV personality to defend Andrew against the sexual harassment allegations. Chris Cuomo was fired by CNN the next month. These two brothers were treated like American sweethearts just last year. The were the mighty Cuomos, heroes in front of people all over the United States who were tuning in to them for direction in staying safe during the Covid-19 pandemic. Yesterday I read an article discussing “how the mighty have fallen”, which discussed the rise and fall of the Cuomo brothers. They also predicted that Dr. Anthony Fauci may be next. We see these same exact words, “how the mighty have fallen” in 2 Samuel 1:19.
17. Have you ever heard someone shake some sense into a man who is not stepping up to the plate and demanding that he “man up”? How many times have we heard a man being told to “be a man” when he isn’t taking care of his responsibilities? I remember a time in Junior High School when my dad told me it was time to stop letting a bully pic on my friends. My dad told me, sometimes we have to stand up and be a man for our friends. The next day I walked right up to the school’s bully and punched him in the neck. He went home crying like a baby. Now men, I don’t condone violence but once in a while, we have to stand up to those who are hurting the people around us and act like a man. Acting like a man can mean taking care of your children, providing for your household, loving your wife unconditionally, and leading the family with strong, ethical, humble, loving approach. The “be a man”, “act like a man” or “man up” expression can fit any situation where a man is expected to step up and do the right thing. It comes from 1 Kings 2:2.
18. For the last one of part 1, I’ve decided to combine two commonly used phrases that both come from ONE verse in the Bible. Moms will often look at their kids and say that they are nothing but skin and bones. My mother says it in Spanish when she says “estas de carne y hueso.” I find it funny because at 5'4" and 150 lbs., I am in no way skinny. But according to mom, I am never fat enough… lol, especially when I’m training. It’s not so funny when we look back in history at the atrocities committed against Jews in the Holocaust or when we see starving children in third world countries where people are a true picture of being nothing but skin and bones. This expression and the following one both come from Job 19:20. Skin and bones comes from the first part of this Bible verse. In the second part we find another common expression used daily by millions. Have you ever had a situation that you barely made it out of? Have you or anyone you know used the phrase I escaped by the skin of my teeth? Yes, this is the second part of Job 19:20.

Well there you have it; Part I (1–18) of daily expressions used by millions that originate from the Bible. Which one is your favorite? Which ones have you used? We would love your feedback.

Stay tuned for the next 18 coming soon. Also, go to our website GCRosarioGroup.com and subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date with upcoming events, giveaways, news and announcements about the GC Rosario Group network. We will also be releasing our books directly through the site as well so make sure you visit us online.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

George L. Rosario is a Brooklyn NY born & raised businessman & entrepreneur turned consultant. He started GC Rosario Group with his lovely wife Claudia. With over 30 years of service to the marketplace in NYC, George has relocated and been graciously adopted by the business community of South Florida. He now travels the country helping businesses and organizations thrive in today’s noisy environment. The post-Covid era forced many to close their doors, but also opened new doors of opportunity, growth and prosperity for innovative thinkers. George & Claudia Rosario help companies, businesses, organizations and teams develop the necessary skillset and plan of action to not just survive, but thrive in this new world. GC Rosario Group helps both secular and Christian based institutions meet their goals.