Hebrew Idioms Welcomed Into Modern English

"To put words in his mouth" comes from Exodus; "to lick the dust" from the Psalms. Learn the surprising origin of modern idioms.

BY: Compiled by Alister McGrath

Science and Spirit

Reprinted with permission from the November/December 2004 issue of Science and Spirit.



Many Hebrew idioms translated into the King James Bible have been welcomed into modern English, including:



  • "to fall flat on his face" (Numbers 22:31)

  • "the skin of my teeth" (Job 19:20)

  • "from time to time" (Ezekiel 4:10)

  • "sour grapes" (Ezekiel 18:2)

  • "under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 1:14 and at least twenty other occurrences)

  • "to lick the dust" (Psalm 72:9; Isaiah 49:23; Micah 7:17)

  • "a man after his own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14)

  • "to pour out one's heart" (Psalm 62:8; Lamentations 2:19)

  • "the land of the living" (Job 28:13; Psalm 27:13; Psalm 52:5; Isaiah 38:11; Jeremiah 11:19; Ezekiel 32:23-27)

  • "to stand in awe" (Psalm 4:4; Psalm 33:8)

  • "to put words in his mouth" (Exodus 4:15; Deuteronomy 18:18; 2 Samuel 14:3; 2 Samuel 14:19; Jeremiah 1:9)

  • "to go from strength to strength" (Psalm 84:7)

  • "like a lamb to the slaughter" (Isaiah 53:7)
  • Related Topics:

    Faiths, Bible

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