The Bible contains many idiomatic expressions that were common in the languages and cultures in which it was written. An idiom is a phrase or expression that has a figurative meaning separate from the literal meaning of the individual words. Some examples of idioms found in the Bible include:
Idioms about righteousness and wickedness
- “Bad company corrupts good character” (1 Corinthians 15:33) – Associating with unrighteous people can negatively influence even righteous people.
- “White as snow” (Isaiah 1:18, Psalm 51:7) – Perfect purity, righteousness, and forgiveness from sin.
- “Blackened pot” (Matthew 23:27) – A person appears righteous on the outside but is wicked within.
- “Wolf in sheep’s clothing” (Matthew 7:15) – A dangerous person disguising their true evil intentions.
- “Rotten apple” (Matthew 7:17-18) – A person or group that spreads negativity, sin, or corruption.
Idioms about speech and truth
- “A little bird told me” (Ecclesiastes 10:20) – I heard some news indirectly.
- “Ears itching” (2 Timothy 4:3) – Wanting to hear things that confirm your own views.
- “Crocodile tears” (2 Corinthians 7:10) – Pretending sadness or regret when you don’t mean it.
- “Blowing hot and cold” (James 1:6-8) – Speaking positively one time and negatively another time on the same issue.
- “Strain at a gnat and swallow a camel” (Matthew 23:24) – Making a big issue over a small matter while ignoring more important issues.
Idioms about obedience and disobedience
- “Stiff-necked” (Exodus 32:9, Acts 7:51) – Stubbornly disobedient.
- “Kicking against the goads” (Acts 26:14) – Fighting against authority and hurting yourself in the process.
- “Fall by the wayside” (Matthew 13:4-7) – Fail in your commitment and devotion.
- “Cast pearls before swine” (Matthew 7:6) – Wasting something precious on those who won’t appreciate it.
- “Lukewarm” (Revelation 3:16) – Indifferent, apathetic, mediocre in your faith.
Idioms about behavior and relationships
- “Fly off the handle” (Proverbs 14:17, 29) – React suddenly or angrily.
- “Drop someone like a hot potato” – Distance yourself from a person or situation quickly.
- “See eye to eye” (Isaiah 52:8) – Be in agreement.
- “Salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13) – A very good, dependable person.
- “Thorn in my flesh” (2 Corinthians 12:7) – An irritation or hindrance.
Idioms about difficulty and persecution
- “Through the fire” (Isaiah 43:2) – Experiencing a challenging trial.
- “Weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 13:42) – Experiencing terrible anguish and misery.
- “Drink the cup” (Mark 10:38) – Undergo an unpleasant inevitable experience.
- “Fell by the wayside” (Luke 8:5-7) – Fail or give up.
- “Take up your cross” (Matthew 16:24) – Embrace whatever difficult things God calls you to do or endure.
Idioms about wisdom and foolishness
- “Wisdom of Solomon” (1 Kings 3:12) – Great wisdom.
- “The blind leading the blind” (Matthew 15:14) – Those without wisdom guiding others who are also unwise.
- “Drop of wisdom” (Proverbs 2:10) – A small piece of wise advice.
- “Go the extra mile” (Matthew 5:41) – Do even more than required.
- “Bury your talents” (Matthew 25:24-30) – Waste skills, resources, and opportunities.
Idioms about wealth and poverty
- “Rich as Croesus” (Luke 12:16-21) – Extremely wealthy.
- “Widow’s mite” (Mark 12:41-44) – A small amount of money given sacrificially.
- “Man cannot live on bread alone” (Matthew 4:4) – People need spiritual nourishment as well as physical.
- “Eye of a needle” (Mark 10:25) – A seemingly impossible task.
- “Reap what you sow” (Galatians 6:7-8) – Your actions have inevitable consequences.
Idioms about the heart and mind
- “Hardness of heart” (Mark 3:5) – Stubbornness and lack of understanding.
- “Take it to heart” (Luke 2:19) – Think deeply and seriously about something.
- “Out of the heart” (Luke 6:45) – Comes deep inner thoughts and attitudes.
- “Set your heart on pilgrimage” (Psalm 84:5) – Have focus, desire, devotion for something.
- “My heart within me is broken” (Psalm 69:20) – Feeling extremely sad and grief-stricken.
Idioms about time and timing
- “Eleventh hour” (Matthew 20:6) – At the latest possible time before it is too late.
- “One day is like a thousand years” (Psalm 90:4) – God’s perspective on time is very different than humans’.
- “Seven times a day I praise you” (Psalm 119:164) – Praising God frequently throughout the day.
- “Many moons” (Deuteronomy 33:14) – Many months.
- “Time and tide wait for no one” (Psalm 90:12) – No one can stop the passage of time.
Idioms about God’s care and provision
- “Apple of His eye” (Psalm 17:8) – Someone cherished and protected.
- “A table in the wilderness” (Psalm 78:19) – God’s miraculous provision and care.
- “Morning by morning” (Isaiah 50:4) – God faithfully gives strength and wisdom every day.
- “Under His wings” (Psalm 91:4) – Being under God’s loving protection.
- “Living water” (Jeremiah 2:13) – God as the source of spiritual life and refreshment.
The Bible uses many vivid idioms to communicate important truths. Paying attention to these figures of speech can give us deeper insight into the rich metaphors and imagery used by the biblical authors. The idioms encapsulate wise principles and profound ideas in colorful packages that stick in the mind and are easier to remember. When we take the time to unpack their meanings, idioms help us grasp big concepts about spiritual realities. They paint word pictures that reflect everyday experiences to open our eyes to God’s perspective. The idioms in God’s Word have stood the test of time because they impart timeless wisdom in unforgettable terms.
