Expressions & Familiar Quotes From The Bible

Common Sayings from the Bible

• Nothing but skin and bones
  Job 19:19-20 All my intimate friends detest me; those I love have turned against me. I am nothing but skin and bones Job 19:19-20  

• I escaped by the skin of my teeth
  All my intimate friends detest me; those I love have turned against me. I am nothing but skin and bones; I have escaped with only the skin of my teeth. Job 19:19-20 

• There's a time and a place for everything
  There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.  Eccl 3:1 

• Going the extra mile
  If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Matthew 5:41 

• United we stand, "divided we fall"
  Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand". Matthew 12:25 

• Scapegoat
  Aaron shall bring the goat whose lot falls to the LORD and sacrifice it for a sin offering. But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the LORD to be used for making atonement by sending it into the desert as a scapegoat. Leviticus 16:9-10

• Red Sky at Night
  Jesus said: It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,' 3 and in the morning, 'Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. Matthew 16:2 

• The writing on the wall
  In the same hour came forth the fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king's palace Daniel 5:5-6 

• The Gifted must Give More
  From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. Luke 12:14
  

Apparently Modern Expressions from the Bible

Expressions that you might have thought came from Shakespeare or more recent authors

Twinkling of an eye
We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed- in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. 1 Corinthians 15 

A man after his own heart
But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart 1 Samuel 13:14

Drop in the bucket
Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket. Isaiah 4-:15
Powers that Be
The powers that be are ordeyned of God. Whosoever therfore resysteth power resisteth the ordinaunce of God.  Romans 13:2

The Greater the Knowledge the Greater the Pain
For in the abundance of wisdom there is an abundance of vexation, so that he that increases knowledge increases pain.  Ecclesiastes 1:18

Even More Sayings from the Bible

• A little bird told me
  Do not revile the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird of the air may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say. Matthew 16:23 

• Stumbling Block
  Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.  Matthew 16:23 

• Gentle answer turns away wrath
  A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1 1
  Defuse someone's anger with a considered answer, almost always the best policy

• Time to be born and a time to die
  here is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven-- 2* A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 This is also quoted in the film Blade Runner 

• Rise and shine
  "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.  Isaiah 60:1 

• Spare the rod, spoil the child
  He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him. Prov 13:24
  (Do not misread this to mean that you should harm a child or literally beat a child) 

• A leopard cannot change its spots
  Can the Ethiopian change his skin Or the leopard his spots? Then you also can do good Who are accustomed to doing evil Jeremiah 13:23 

• Pride comes before a fall
  Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18 

• Every day is miserable for the depressed, but a lighthearted man has a continual feast
  All the days of the afflicted are evil, but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.  Proverbs 15:15 

• By the sweat of your brow
  In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.  Gen 3:19 

• Out of the mouths of babes
  Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger Psalm 8:2 

• Bite the Dust
  They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust. Psalm 72 

• The Blind Leading the Blind
  He replied, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. Leave them; they are blind guides . If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit."  Matthew 15:13-14

Popular Sayings That Come From The Bible

• Eat Drink and Be Merry
  And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.  Luke 12:19
  
  
• The blind leading the blind
  Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.  Matthew 15:14
  
  
• Straight and narrow
  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.  Matthew 7:14 

• It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God  Matt. 19:24
  
• No man is a prophet in his own town
  Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and among his own relatives, and in his own house." He could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people, and healed them. He marveled because of their unbelief.
  Mark 6:1-6 

• Head on a Platter
  This refers to the unfortunate John the Baptist. And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou forthwith give me on a platter the head of John the Baptist
  Mark 6:25 

• Tearing Your Hair Out
  This news made me so angry that I ripped my clothes and tore hair from my head and beard. Then I just sat in shock
  Ezra 9:3

 

Biblical Quotes

Many Bible quotes have become so common that most people no longer associate them with the Bible. Whether in old or modern English, Biblical quotes offer easily understood words of wisdom.

• The truth shall set you free John 8:3

• How are the mighty fallen 2 Samuel 1:19

More Sayings from the Bible

He sold his birthright for a mess of pottage.  Genesis 25:31-34

A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.  Proverbs 12:16

Pride comes before a fall
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.  Proverbs 16:18

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free
John 8:32

Let he who has never sinned cast the first stone.   John 8:7

Apple of his Eye
In a desert land he found him, in a barren and howling waste. He shielded him and cared for him; he guarded him as the apple of his eye
It appears twice!   Deuteronomy 32:10   and   Zechariah 2:8

Can the Leopard Change his Spots  Jeremiah 13:23

East of Eden
So Cain went out from the LORD's presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.  Genesis 4:16

A man after his own heart
But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD's command. 1 Samuel 13:14

Filthy Lucre
Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous (phrase occurs in two other verses)
1 Timothy 3:3

Let us eat and drink for tomorrow we will die.  Isaiah 22:13

I'll pin him to the wall
The next day an evil [a] spirit from God came forcefully upon Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the harp, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand 11 and he hurled it, saying to himself, "I'll pin David to the wall" But David eluded him twice.  1 Sam 18:10-11

Stranger in a strange land
And Moses was content to dwell with the man and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter. And she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land.  Exodus 2: 21-22

Flesh Pots
Flesh Pots in the Bible literally means "pots of meat" it is today used as a simile for "luxurious living"
And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.  EXOD 16:3

Quo Vadis Simon Peter asked him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus replied, "Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later."
Quo vadis? is a Latin phrase meaning "Where are you going?"
John 13:36

Envy and wrath shorten the life
Envy and wrath shorten the life, and carefulness bringeth age before the time.  Ecclesiastics 30:24

Seek and Ye Shall Find    Matthew 7:7

A law unto himself    Romans 2:14
Absent in body, but present in spirit.  Colossians 2:5

 

Bet You Didn't Know That Came from The Bible!

At my wit's end
They reeled and staggered like drunken men; they were at their wits' end.
Psalm 107:27

Listen to advice and accept correction, then in the end you will be wise.
Proverbs 19:20

You Don't Know the Half of It
When the Queen of Sheba visited Solomon.
Indeed, not even half was told me; in wisdom and wealth you have far exceeded the report I heard
1 Kings 10: 7

Nothing new under the sun
What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun
ECC 1:9

Writing On the Wall
In the same hour came forth the fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote
Daniel 5:5

Knees Knocking Together
Then the king's face grew pale and his thoughts alarmed him, and his hip joints went slack and his knees began knocking together
Daniel 5:6

United We Stand, Divided We Fall
And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: Matthew 12:25

Inspirational Sayings from The Bible

Motivational Quotes from the Bible

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom; and with all thy getting get understanding.
Proverbs, 4. 7

Wisdom is better than rubies.
Proverbs, 8. 11.

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.
Proverbs, 17. 22

A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches.
Proverbs, 22. 1

Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old he will not depart from it.
Proverbs, 22. 6

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Matthew 7:7

Sayings People Incorrectly Think Came from The Bible

Cleanliness is next to Godliness
Apparently of Hebrew origins but not from The Bible, possibly also John Wesley.
God helps those that help themselves
by Benjamin Franklin.
God works in mysterious ways.
English poet William Cowper

The Sayings Often Used and Recognizable

The ones people usually know come from the Bible

A thorn in the flesh
To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. St Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:7

A voice crying in the Wilderness
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Isaiah 40:3 also Matthew 4:1-11

Turn the Other Cheek
If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also!
This is one of the statements from Jesus which was a revolutionary change from previous religions and existing cultures
Matthew 5:39 and Luke 6:29

No man can serve two masters
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon
Matthew 6:24

Reap What You Sow
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows Galatians 6:7

Thou Shalt Love thy Neighbor as Thyself
Matthew 22:39 and in many other passages

And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
Matthew 7:3

I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me
Philippians 4:13

What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
Matthew 19:6

Get thee behind me, Satan
Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men. Matthew 16:23

Sayings still to research & add

Rain on the Just and the Unjust
I am Alpha and Omega
Armageddon
The Root of all evil
Cast the first stone
Fight the Good Fight
The weaker Vessel
A thorn in the flesh
Fallen from Grace
Cast the First Stone
Through a Glass Darkly
Beat their Swords into Plowshares
Get Thee Behind me Satan
Can the Leopard Change his Spots  

Set thine house in order
Be fruitful and multiply
A mess of pottage
east of Eden
The Mark of Cain
As old as Methuselah
Sold his Birthright
The fat of the land
Stranger in a strange land
A land flowing with Milk and Honey
flesh Pots
An eye for an eye a tooth for a tooth
Be sure your sin will find you out
Out of the strong came the sweetness
How are the mighty fallen
The price of wisdom is above rubies
let us eat and drink for tomorrow we will die
A voice crying in the Wilderness
they have sown the wind they shall reap the whirlwind
no peace for the wicked
a law unto himself

Famous Quotes from the Bible

Bible Quotations

"A merry heart does good like a medicine; but a broken spirit dries the bones."
Proverbs 17:22

"Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity."
Ecclesiastes 1:2

"For in much wisdom is much grief, and increase of knowledge is increase of sorrow."
Ecclesiastes 1:18

No one can serve two masters.
Matthew 6: 24

Do not judge, so that you may not be judged.
Matthew 7:1

But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
Matthew 16:23 

I have not read these books but would love to know if you have:

 

84,000 Novenas for Pope Benedict XVI's Birthday

Will you join me in giving the Pope a huge gift for his birthday? Pope Benedict XVI is celebrating his birthday on April 16th and I'm joining up with praymorenovenas.com to get 84,000 people to pray a novena for the Pope's 84th birthday.

On April 8th, we will begin praying for nine days leading up to and ending on the Papa Benedict's birthday. The Pope prays for us everyday so it is time to return the gift to him on the anniversary of his birth.

84,000 Novenas is a lot! So, I'm going to need your help. I hope everyone who reads this blog will to do the following to help with this birthday gift!

+ Sign up here: http://bit.ly/h0052O
+ Join the facebook event and invite your friends here: http://on.fb.me/eE2Xs7
+ If you have a website, post about it there!
+ Email your friends and family and get them praying too!

I'm sure the Pope will love that we are all praying for him! Please help us reach our goal of 84,000 novenas for the Pope!

Remember to sign up to pray here: http://bit.ly/h0052O

Look for the Books of the Bible Within This Post

There are thirty books of the Bible in this paragraph. Can you find them? This is a most remarkable puzzle. It was found by a gentleman in an airplane seat pocket, on a flight from Los Angeles to Honolulu, keeping him occupied for hours. He enjoyed it so much, that he passed it on to some friends. One friend from Illinois worked on this while fishing from his john-boat. Another friend studied it while playing his banjo. Elaine Taylor, a columnist friend, was so intrigued by it she mentioned it in her weekly newspaper column. Another friend judges the job of solving this puzzle so involving, that she brews a cup of tea to help her nerves. There will be some names that are really easy to spot. That's a fact. Some people, however, will soon find themselves in a jam, especially since the books are not necessarily capitalized. Truthfully, from answers we get, we are forced to admit it usually takes a priest or scholar to see some of them at the worst. Research has shown that something in our genes is responsible for the difficulty we have in seeing the books in this paragraph. During a recent fund-raising event, which featured this puzzle, the Alpha Delta Phi-Lemonade booth set a new sales record. The local paper, The Chronicle, surveyed over 200 patrons who reported that this puzzle was one of the most difficult they had ever seen. As Daniel Humana humbly puts it, 'the books are all right here in plain view hidden from sight'. Those able to find all of them will hear great lamentations from those who have to be shown. One revelation that may help is that books called Timothy and Samuel may occur without their numbers. Also, keep in mind, that punctuation and spaces in the middle are normal. A chipper attitude will help you compete really well against those who claim to know the answers. Remember, there is no need for a mad exodus, there really are 30 books of the Bible lurking somewhere in this paragraph waiting to be found.

7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit

How about a wonderful gift idea? This is especially appropriate as a Confirmation gift!

OR

Perhaps you are thinking ahead towards Christmas gifts! :-)
Find 7 books, each one with a theme representing the 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Be sure to include a note explaining your gift. :-)

These wonderful gift ideas by: Catholic Teacher Musings:

• Wisdom in order to see God at work in our lives and in the world. - Old Man in the Sea by Ernest Hemingway OR Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom

• Understanding to know how we need to live as follower of Christ. - Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

• Right Judgement to know the difference between right and wrong. - A Separate Peace by John Knowles OR Night by Ellie Wiesel

• Courage/Fortitude to stand up for what is right in the eyes of God. - Night by Ellie Weisel OR To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

• Knowledge to know oneself and to know God. - Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury OR The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

• Piety/Reverence for a deep sense of respect for God and the Church.
  - The Power and Glory by Graham Greene OR A Man For All Seasons by Robert Bolt

• Fear of the Lord /Wonder and Awe to recognize our all powerful God. - Siddhartha by Herman Hesse OR The Holy Bible

H/T to La Dolce Vita for passing on this great idea!

Remember the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit ' are gifts God gives to people to further their sanctification and help "complete and perfect the virtues of those who receive them."^[1]

These should not be confused with the charismatic gifts of the Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12:8-13, nor with the fruits of the Spirit described in Galatians 5:22-23.

In this image of the Tree of Jesse the seven gifts, represented as doves, encircle a bust of Christ. Capuchin Bible, c. 1180, BnF, Paris

The seven gifts are enumerated (approximately) in Isaiah 11:2-3.

Here are the names of the seven gifts, as given^[2] in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, along with a description of each gift, as defined^[3] by St. Thomas Aquinas in the Summa Theologica:

• Wisdom - With the gift of wisdom, we see God at work in our lives and in the world. For the wise person, the wonders of nature, historical events, and the ups and downs of our lives take on deeper meaning. The matters of judgment about the truth, and being able to see the whole image of God.

• Understanding - With the gift of understanding, we comprehend how we need to live as a follower of Jesus Christ. A person with understanding is not confused by all the conflicting messages in our culture about the right way to live. The gift of understanding perfects a person's speculative reason in the apprehension of truth. It is the gift whereby self-evident principles are known, Aquinas writes.^[4]

• Counsel (right judgment) - With the gift of right judgment, we know the difference between right and wrong, and we choose to do what is right. A person with right judgment avoids sin and lives out the values taught by Jesus. The gift of truth that allows the person to respond prudently, and happily to believe our Christ the Lord

• Fortitude (Courage) - With the gift of courage, we overcome our fear and are willing to take risks as a follower of Jesus. A person with courage is willing to stand up for what is right in the sight of God, even if it means accepting rejection, verbal abuse, or even physical harm and death. The gift of courage allows people the firmness of mind that is required both in doing good and in enduring evil, especially with regard to goods or evils that are difficult.

• Knowledge - With the gift of knowledge, we understand the meaning of God's Revelation, especially as expressed in the life and words of Jesus Christ. A person with knowledge is always learning more about the scriptures and tradition. The gift of knowledge is more than an accumulation of facts.

• Piety (Reverence) - With the gift of reverence, sometimes called piety, we have a deep sense of respect for God and the church. A person with reverence recognizes our total reliance on God and comes before God with humility, trust, and love. Piety is the gift whereby, at the Holy Spirit's instigation, we pay worship and duty to God as our Father, Aquinas writes.

• Fear of the Lord (awe of God) - With the gift of wonder and awe you we are aware of the glory and majesty of God. A person with wonder and awe knows that God is the perfection of all we desire: perfect knowledge, perfect goodness, perfect power, and perfect love. This gift is described by Aquinas as a fear of separating oneself from God. He describes the gift as a "filial fear," like a child's fear of offending his father, rather than a "servile fear," that is, a fear of punishment. Also known as knowing God is all powerful. Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Prov 1:7) because it puts our mindset in its correct location with respect to God: we are the finite, dependent creatures, and He is the infinite, all-powerful Creator.

Aquinas says that 4 of these gifts direct the intellect:

• wisdom
• understanding
• knowledge
• counsel
  

the other 3 gifts direct the will toward God:

• fortitude (or courage)
  
• reverence (or piety)
  
• and fear of the Lord (or wonder and awe)

In some respects, the gifts are similar to the virtues but a key distinction is that the virtues operate under the impetus of human reason (prompted by grace), whereas the gifts operate under the impetus of the Holy Spirit; the former can be used when one wishes, but the latter operate only when the Holy Spirit wishes. The former are like the oars of a boat; the latter, the sails.^{[citation needed]}

In Summa Theologica II.2, Thomas Aquinas asserts the following correspondences between the seven Capital Virtues and the seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit:^[5]

• The gift of wisdom corresponds to the virtue of charity.
• The gift of understanding corresponds to the virtue of faith.
• The gift of counsel (right judgement) corresponds to the virtue of prudence.
• The gift of fortitude corresponds to the virtue of courage.
• The gift of knowledge corresponds to the virtue of faith.
• The gift of piety corresponds to the virtue of justice.
• The gift of fear of the Lord corresponds to the virtue of hope.

The seven gifts were often represented as doves in medieval art, and especially figure in depictions of the Tree of Jesse which shows the Genealogy of Jesus. In many such depictions the doves encircle a bust of Christ.

Representations in art

The seven gifts were often represented as doves in medieval art, and they especially figure in depictions of the Tree of Jesse, which shows the genealogy of Jesus. In many such depictions the doves encircle a bust of Christ.

In The Annunciation, an oil painting by Early Netherlandish master Jan van Eyck, from around 1434-1436, the Annunciation by the Archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary that she will bear the son of God (Luke 1:26-38) depicts the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit descending to her on seven rays of light from the upper window to the left, with the dove symbolizing the Holy Spirit following the same path.^[6]

References

1. ^ Catechism of the Catholic Church - PART 3 SECTION 1 CHAPTER 1 ARTICLE 7
2. ^ Catechism of the Catholic Church - PART 3 SECTION 1 CHAPTER 1 ARTICLE 7
3. ^ SUMMA THEOLOGICA: Secunda Secundae Partis
4. ^ http://www.newadvent.org/summa/3008.htm
5. ^ SUMMA THEOLOGICA: Secunda Secundae Partis
6. ^ "Jan van Eyck, Netherlandish, c. 1390 - 1441, The Annunciation, c. 1434/1436". National Gallery of Art. http://www.nga.gov/collection/gallery/gg39/gg39-49.0.html. "The Holy Spirit descends to her on seven rays of light. This is the moment God's plan for salvation is set in motion. Through Christ's human incarnation the old era of the law is transformed into a new era of grace."