Biblical phraseological units, their meaning and origin

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

The article presents some biblical phraseological units - both well-known and those whose meanings can not explain everything. The Bible is without a doubt one of the greatest books of all time. Its comprehension is an endless process that has been going on for many centuries. Today there are many schools whose representatives are studying this book, explaining its content.

The Bible as a monument of literature

It must be said that the Bible is not only the banner of Christianity, "Holy Scripture", a set of rules of life. It is also a historical record and a great monument of literature. The Bible (its ancient Greek text) translated into Old Slavonic was known to our distant ancestors. The modern reader gets acquainted with the text already in Russian translation. However, both Russian and Old Church Slavonic variants are sources of stable combinations and aphorisms of the modern language.

Mythological and BiblicalPhraseologisms have firmly entered our lives. Today in the Russian language there are more than 200 set 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 adoration of the Magi, the parables of the stupid and clever virgins, the prodigal son, the beheading of I. the Baptist, the Kiss of Judas, the Last Supper, the denial of Peter, the resurrection of Christ - this is not a complete list of fragments from the main holy book of Christians that are in everyday use of words. Biblical phraseological units associated with these plots are widespread; and their meaning and origin are known even to people who are far from religion. After all, these stories were rethought by many writers, poets, artists, directors, etc. They left a big mark on world culture.

Let's look at some biblical idioms. You will learn the meaning and origin of each one.

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 titles of the works themselves. For example, one of Hermann Hesse's novels is The Glass 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 title of the novel makes you associate with the expression "throwing pearls". It means "pay attentionunworthy people, to humiliate themselves. "If you throw pearls in front of pigs, you show your innermost feelings and thoughts to those who are not able to appreciate, accept and understand them. The origin of this phraseological unit is biblical. We meet it in the Gospel of Matthew when talking about the conversations of Christ with The Sermon on the Mount, which is considered "programmatic" in Christianity, says that one should not give "shrines to dogs", and one should not throw pearls in front of pigs, otherwise they will trample it under their feet 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. Our ancestors mined it in the northern rivers. After some time, beads began to be called any small bone, glass and metal beads that were used for embroidery. Pearls were drilled, then strung on threads and used to decorate clothes. So another expression (not biblical) appeared - “beaded pattern.”

Do your bit

So they say, in particular, about a person who has taken a feasible part in any business. This expression is evangelical in origin. One of the parables tells of a poor widow who put in only 2 small coins while collecting donations. The word "coins" in Greek sounds like "mite". Despite her apparent modesty, her donation turned out to be more important and larger than the many rich gifts. After all, it was made from a pure heart. He contributes to the common cause, who, without committing noticeable and grandiose deeds to everyone, acts honestly andSincerely.

Other biblical phraseological units are also very curious. The examples and their meaning will certainly interest many. We offer you to get acquainted with another expression.

A voice crying in the wilderness

From ancient times, this expression came to us, denoting calls that turned out to be in vain and remained unanswered. The Bible talks about the prophet Isaiah. He cried out (called) to the Israelites from the wilderness, warning that God was coming, so the way had to be prepared for him. His words were then repeated by John the Baptist. He said them just before the arrival of Jesus Christ to him. In the Bible, therefore, this expression had a slightly different meaning than it does now. It was a call to listen to the voice of truth, to listen.

People don't often do this. Therefore, the emphasis in circulation over time began to be placed on the futility and hopelessness of an appeal addressed to someone.

Antediluvian times

In Russian, there are many expressions to denote prehistoric, ancient times: in time immemorial, under Tsar Pea, a long time ago, during it. Another thing came from the Bible - in antediluvian times.

Of course, we are talking about the flood, which God, angry with people, sent to the earth. The abyss of heaven opened up and it began to rain. It lasted for 40 days and 40 nights, as the Bible says. The land was flooded up to the highest mountains. Only Noah and his family managed to escape. This righteous man, on the orders of God, built Noah's ark - a special ship, wherehe placed all the birds and animals in pairs. After the flood ended, the earth was repopulated by them.

Bury 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. Did you know that the word "talent" in this expression originally meant a monetary unit?

The gospel parable tells how one man, having gone to distant countries, distributed money to his slaves. He gave one of them 5 talents, another 3, and the last one only one talent. Returning from a journey, this man called his slaves and asked them to tell how they disposed of the gifts. It turned out that the first and second made a profit by investing talents 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 who was condemned and who was praised by the owner?

Today this expression reminds us to use talents, talents, to reveal them. They must not perish within us without bearing fruit.

We have already considered 5 biblical phraseological units. Let's move on to the next one.

Egyptian executions

This expression is also found in the Bible when it tells how the Egyptian pharaoh for a long time did not agree to grant freedom to the people who lived as slaves in his country. According to tradition, God was angry with him for this. He sent 10 severe punishments that successively fell upon the Nile country. In Old Church Slavonic, "punishment" is "execution". They were as follows:turning the waters of the Nile into blood, the invasion of Egypt by toads and various reptiles, a lot of midges, the arrival of "dog" flies (especially evil ones), the death of livestock, a terrible epidemic that covered the entire population with abscesses, hail, which was interrupted by fiery showers. This was followed by an invasion of locusts, darkness that lasted for many days, the death of the firstborn, not only among people, but also among livestock. Pharaoh, frightened by these disasters, allowed the enslaved people to leave Egypt. Today, the "Egyptian execution" refers to any torment, severe disaster.

Manna from heaven

In modern Russian there is another interesting expression - to wait like manna from heaven. It means waiting passionately and for a long time, while hoping only for a miracle. Indeed, the manna from heaven was a miracle. Thanks to her, an entire nation was saved from starvation.

The Bible says that the famine came when the Jews wandered in the desert for many years. People would be doomed to death if manna from heaven had not suddenly begun to fall from heaven. What is it? It resembled modern semolina. The latter was named so in memory of the manna, which was given to the chosen people by God.

However, scientists today found that there is an edible lichen in the desert. As it matures, it cracks and then rolls into balls. Many nomadic tribes used this lichen for food. Probably, the wind brought these edible balls, which were described in the legend from the Bible. Despite thisexplanation, so far the expression "manna from heaven" means miraculous help, unexpected good luck.

We continue to describe biblical phraseological units and their meanings. The origin of the next one is no less interesting.

Burning Bush

Most likely, this beautiful image was borrowed by our ancestors from Hebrew traditions. In the Bible, the “burning bush” is a thorn bush that burned without burning, since God himself appeared to Moses in its flame. Today we rarely use this image. One of the options for its use is when you need to portray a person who “burns” in any business (for example, at work), but does not lose strength, becomes more and more active and cheerful.

Thirty pieces of silver

Judas Iscariot is considered the most contemptible 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 very name "Judas" is used to designate a traitor. And the "kiss of Judas" refers to the concept of treacherous affection, hypocritical and insidious flattery.

These biblical phraseological units and their meanings have long been used in fiction. When S altykov-Shchedrin, the famous Russian satirist,endowed one of his characters, Golovlev Porfiry Vladimirovich, with all sorts of negative traits - a predator, a hypocrite, a saint, a talker, a torturer, etc. - it was clear that Judas Iscariot was the prototype of this hero. It is no coincidence that Golovlev was nicknamed Judas and his own brothers.

There is an opinion that the phrase "shaking like an aspen leaf" is associated with stories about this biblical character. Having repented, the traitor hanged himself on the bough 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 ones based on error. According to legend, when Jesus was captured and put on trial, neither Herod (the Jewish king) nor Pontius Pilate (the Roman governor) did not want to take responsibility for the execution. Several times they directed Jesus to each other under various pretexts. One could say that Christ was "driven from Herod to Pilate." However, our ancestors were confused by the fact that Pontius Pilate is like the names of two Romans, although such names were quite natural. There were such historical characters as Julius Caesar, Septimius Severus, Sergius Katilika. In the minds of our ancestors, Pilate was divided into 2 people - "Pilate" and "Pontius". And then the story itself was confused. This is how the idea appeared that Christ was being passed "from Pontius to Pilate". Today, these words act as a derisive definition of red tape, when people are driven from boss to boss, instead of solving the case.

Thomas the unbeliever

We have already described 10phraseological units of biblical origin. Many of those that we have not talked about are worthy of attention, but only a few can be presented within the framework of one article. The following expression is simply not to be missed - it is widely used and its origin is quite interesting.

Very often you have to hear the phrase: "Oh, you unbelieving Thomas!". It has become so familiar that we sometimes do not pay any attention to it when we pronounce it ourselves or hear it from someone. Have you ever wondered where it came from? Do you know who Thomas is? It is believed that we are talking about one of the 12 apostles whom Jesus Christ chose for himself. Foma was distinguished by the fact that he was distrustful of everything and everyone.

However, there are not one, but two original versions of the origin of this expression. The first of these appeared in ancient Jerusalem before Jesus chose Thomas as his apostle.

Foma 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. From that time on, he began to be called Thomas the unbeliever.

The second version is considered more significant. After the crucifixion of Jesus and his subsequent resurrection, as the Bible says, Thomas did not exist when Christ appeared to the apostles. When they met him, they told him what had happened. However, Thomas did not believe. He said he would not believe until he himself saw the nail wounds on Jesus' hands and put his finger in those wounds. The second time, when the Savior appeared before his apostles already in the presence of Thomas, Christ invited him to do so. You probably guessed that Thomas then believed in the resurrection.

Meaning of biblical phraseological units

Of course, these are not all biblical phraseological units. There are a great many of them, we talked about only a few of them. Phraseologisms of biblical origin, as you can see, are still widely used in the language. And this is not surprising, because the Bible is one of the most important books in the history of mankind. It greatly influenced the development of many areas of life. The language has not been left out. It includes 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, Maximilian Voloshin's collection, which includes poems about the revolution and war, is called "The Burning Bush".

Lermontov Mikhail, Gogol Nikolai, Chekhov Anton, Dostoevsky Fedor, Pushkin Alexander… Mythological and biblical phraseological units are found in the work of each of them. Probably, there is no such Russian writer in whose works one could not find a single biblical turn.

What other idioms of biblical origin do you know? You can leave examples of them in the comments to this article.