simplified英语习语典故来自圣经

2021年1月21日发(作者：organic)
Idioms and Allusions from the Bible

1.

A tree is known by its fruit:

A man is known by the company he keeps

Matthew 12:33
Either make the tree good, and its fruit good, or make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt; for the
tree is known by its fruit.
2.

Aaron
’
s serpent: the power conquering everything

Exodus 7:10
Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh, and they did so, as Yahweh had commanded: and Aaron cast
down his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants, and it became a serpent. 7:11Then Pharaoh also called for the
wise men and the sorcerers. They also, the magicians of Egypt, did in like manner with their enchantments. 7:12For
they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods. 7:13Pharaoh's
heart was hardened, and he didn't listen to them; as Yahweh had spoken.

e.g. Thus Prussia was the Aaron's serpent that swallowed up the lesser German States between 1866 and 1870.
3.

Absalom hair: a handsome or pretty person is ruined critically by his or her appearance
4.

Adam: the symbol of being old, obsolete and primitive
e.g. That joke you told is as old as Adam, but I still think it
’
s very funny.

5.

Adam
’
s ale: water
6.

Adam
’
s apple: the protruding part in a man
’
s throat
According to the Bible, when deceived by the serpent, Eve and Adam ate the apple and the latter was choked by
the forbidden fruit. Since then, there has been a protruding part in men
’
s throat, which is one of the primary
physical differences between males and females.
7.

Adam
’
s profession: agriculture, gardening
8.

Adam
’
s son: men or human beings
9.

after one
’
s (own) heart[13:14]: satisfying
I Samuel13:13
Samuel said to Saul, You have done foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of Yahweh your
God, which he commanded you: for now would Yahweh have established your kingdom on Israel forever. 13:14But
now your kingdom shall not continue: Yahweh has sought him a man after his own heart, and Yahweh has appointed
him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept that which Yahweh commanded you.
e.g. She was engaged to a man after her own heart.
10.

Ahab: insatiably avaricious, extremely greedy man

Ahab
was
the
king
of
Israel
(869-850
BC).
He
married
Jezebel,
a
Tyrian
princess,
and
through
her
influence
the
Phoenician
worship
of
the
god
Baal
was
introduced
into
Israel.
Ahab
coveted
a
farmer
Naboth
’
s
vineyard,
and
wanted to use it to grow herbs. When Naboth refused to give the vineyard
—
the inheritance from his father, Ahab
complained to his evil wife Jezebel who then comforted him, and soon managed to have Naboth stoned to death after
accusing him of cursing God and the king. Thus, they took the possession of the vineyard of Naboth.

11.

Aholah and Aholibah: licentious women
In the book of
Ezekial
There were two sisters who played the prostitute in Egypt. The name of them were Aholah the
elder, and Aholibah her sister. Yahweh thought they had committed adultery and defiled His sanctuary and profaned
Sabbaths. Yahweh punished them by making a company of people stone them, dispatch them with their swords, kill
their sons and their daughters, and burn up their houses with fire. Thus all women were taught not to do lewdness.

12.

（
be
）
all things to all men: to try to please everyone, even when it is impossible to do this.
I Corinthians
9
:
20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews; to those who are under the law, as under
the law, that I might gain those who are under the law; 9:21to those who are without law, as without law(not being
without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law. 9:22 To the weak
I became as weak, that I might gain the weak, I have become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some.

e.g. Though she is quite young, she is very all things to all men in making social connections.

13.

alpha and omega: wholeness or the most important part
Revelation
1:8
“
I
am
Alpha
and
the
Omega,
”

says
the
Lord
God,
“
who
is
and
who
was
and
who
is
to
come,
the
Almighty.
”


1
e.g. Rice is the alpha and omega of their diet.
14.

Am I my brother
’
s keeper? It
’
s none of my business
Genesis
4:9Yahweh said to Cain,
15.

anchor:
spiritual pillar, backer or patron, comforting man or object
16.

answer a fool according to his folly: teeth to teeth, arm to arm
Proverbs 26:4-5
David said, Don't answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you also be like him. Answer a fool
according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes.
17.

apple of Sodom: superficially clever or good but without practical use
Sodom
and
Gomorrah
were
two
cities
destroyed
by
God
for
people
there
were
sinful.
After
the
big
fire
that
had
destroyed everything, there appeared many trees on this land, which yielded pretty fruits. But if you taste these apples,
they became ashes immediately.
e.g. The bed he bought yesterday turned out to be an apple of Sodom.
18.

apples and oranges: things so different from each other in types of nature
19.

(The) ark rested on Mt. Ararat: out-of-date news
20.

Armageddon: large scale wars or destructive accidents

This word appears in
Revelation
. Armageddon is the battlefield of the war between the good and the evil.
21.

as poor as Lazarus


The Gospel According to Luke

A beggar named Lazarus was laid at his gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the
rich man's table.
e.g. He spent all his parents' money within two years, and now he's as poor as Lazarus.

22.

as the sparks fly upward: inevitable truth
Job
5:6 For hardship does not spring from the soil, nor does trouble sprout from the ground. 5:7 Yet man is born to
trouble, as surely as sparks fly upward. Things unreasonable are never durable, as the sparks fly upward.

23.

ask for bread and be given a stone: what is given is not what is asked, be fooled or cold shouldered
24.

at one
’
s wit
’
s end: without effective ways to solve problem
The Psalms 107:27They reel back and forth, and stagger like a drunken man, And are at their wits' end.

25.

at the eleventh hour: at the last crucial moment
The Gospel according to Matthew


hire laborers for his vineyard. 20:2When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his
vineyard. 20:3He went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace. 20:4To them he said,
'You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.' So they went their way. 20:5Again he went out
about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. 20:6 About the eleventh hour he went out, and found
others
standing idle. He said to them, 'Why do you stand here all day idle?' 20:7
hired us.'
had come, the lord of the vineyard said to his steward, 'Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning from
the last to the first.' 20:9
20:10When the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise each received a denarius.
20:11When they received it, they murmured against the master of the household, 20:12 saying, 'These last have spent
one
hour,
and
you
have
made
them
equal
to
us,
who
have
borne
the
burden
of
the
day
and
the
scorching
heat!'
20:13
20:14Take that which is yours, and go your way. It is my desire to give to this last just as much as to you. 20:15Isn't it
lawful for me to do what I want to with what I own? Or is your eye evil, because I am good?' 20:16So the last will be
first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen.

26.

Babel: noisy place or castles in the air
27.

Balaam
’
s ass: a person who is usually silent and tamed but revolted suddenly
Numbers

The children of Israel traveled, and encamped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho. Moab was sore

2
afraid of the people, because they were many. Moab said to the elders of Midian, Now will this multitude lick up all
that is round about us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field. Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time.
He sent messengers for twice to Balaam to curse this people and promised to give Balaam great honor and wealth.
Balaam saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab. God's anger was kindled because he went; and the
angel of Yahweh placed himself in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey, and his
two servants were with him. The donkey saw the angel of Yahweh standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his
hand; and the donkey turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her
into the way. Then the angel of Yahweh stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a
wall on that side. The donkey saw the angel of Yahweh, and she thrust herself to the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot
against the wall: and he struck her again. The angel of Yahweh went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was
no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. The donkey saw the angel of Yahweh, and she lay down under
Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff. Yahweh opened the mouth of the
donkey, and she said to Balaam, What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times? Balaam said to
the donkey, Because you have mocked me, I would there were a sword in my hand, for now I had killed you. The
donkey said to Balaam, Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? was I ever
wont
to
do
so
to
you?
He
said,
No.
Then
Yahweh
opened
the
eyes
of
Balaam,
and
he
saw
the
angel
of
Yahweh
standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face.
The
angel
of
Yahweh
said
to
him,
Why
have
you
struck
your
donkey
these
three
times?
I
am
come
forth
for
an
adversary, because your way is perverse before me: and the donkey saw me, and turned aside before me these three
times: unless she had turned aside from me, surely now I had even slain you, and saved her alive. Balaam said to the
angel of Yahweh, I have sinned; for I didn't know that you stood in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease
you, I will get me back again.

28.

be condemned out of one
’
s own mouth: criticize and confess one
’
s own faults
e.g.
By admitting that excessive drinking does more harm than good, the man who indulged in the practice was
condemned out of his own mouth.

29.

beam in one
’
s own eye: one
’
s own serious mistake (See Mathew 7:1-5)
e.g.
He is always quick to point out other peoples' faults, but can't see the beam in his own eyes.

30.

beat swords into plowshares [Isaiah: 2:4]: bury the hatchet, turn hostility to friendship
The prophet Isaiah received the prophecy, which predicted that God's enemy would be destroyed while His faithful
servants would be saved. At the end of the world, 2:4He will judge between the nations, And will decide concerning
many peoples; And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning-hooks.

e.g.
Peace will not come until the swords are beaten into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks.

31.

beat the air: futile efforts
32.

before the flood: a long time ago
33.

Benjamin
’
s mess: the dominant portion
Joseph forgave his brothers and reunited with them. Before they went back to get their father Jacob to Egypt, he gave
his brothers wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way. To all of them
he gave each man changes of clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of
clothing.

e.g.
In the joint venture, Benjamin's mess of the benefit goes to him.

34.

blind leading the blind: layman instructs layman, misleading guider
35.

bone of the bone and flesh of the flesh: very closely linked
36.

brand from the burning: a survivor of a disaster
37.

break bread with somebody: dinner with somebody
38.

broken reed: unreliable person or object


[See Isaiah 36:6]
e.g. I asked him to speak at the meeting, but he didn't even attend; what a broken reed!
39.

build on sand: build on not solid foundation

[See Matthew
7:24-27
]
e.g.


His plan, like a house built on sand, has no solid foundation.
40.

bull of Bashan [Psalms 22:12]: a person with a loud voice or a very strong man; ferocious enemy or great

3
obstacles
41.

by the skin of one
’
s teeth [Job]: almost fail in something or fortunate escape
God wanted to test Job and made him lose his wealth, children and suffer from illness. Job didn't make any complaint.
When his friends came to see him, he said to them:
verily estranged from me. My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me. They that dwell in
mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight. I called my servant, and he gave me
no answer; I intreated him with my mouth. My breath is strange to my wife, though I intreated for the children's sake
of
mine
own
body.
Yea,
young
children
despised
me;
I
arose,
and
they
spake
against
me.
All
my
inward
friends
abhorred me: and they whom I loved are turned against me. My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am
escaped with the skin of my teeth.
e.g.


We drove to the station at full speed and caught the train by the skin of our teeth.
42.

Cain: killer (especially a person who kills his brother), destitute and homeless persons
43.

Can
the
leopard
change
his
spots
[Jeremiah
13:23-24]:
It
’
s
impossible
or
uneasy
to
change
a
person
’
s
nature
44.

Canaan: paradise, land of hope
45.

cast one
’
s bread upon the waters: without hope to be reciprocated
Ecclesiastes
11:1Cast your bread on the waters;/For you shall find it after many days

e.g. I suspect this man. He doesn't seem to be a person who could cast his bread upon the waters.
46.

cast pearls before swine: choose the wrong audience
Matthew
7:6
trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

e.g.
Giving
them
advice
is
only
to
cast
pearls
before
swine.
They
are
incapable
of
understanding
good
taste
and
manners.
47.

cast/throw the first stone [John]: be the first attacker or accuser
The
scribes
and
the
Pharisees
brought
a
woman
taken
in
adultery.
Having
set
her
in
the
midst,
8:4they
told
him,

What then do you say about her?
But Jesus stooped down, and wrote on the ground with his finger. 8:7But when they continued asking him, he looked
up and said to them,
down, and with his finger wrote on the ground. 8:9They, when they heard it, being convicted by their conscience,
went out one by one, beginning from the oldest, even to the last. Jesus was left alone with the woman where she was,
in the middle. 8:10Jesus, standing up, saw her and said,
you?
8:11She
said,

one,
Lord.
Jesus
said,

do
I
condemn
you.
Go
your
way.
From
now
on,
sin
no
more.
48.

change from Saul to Paul: change one
’
s ideas completely
Saul didn't believe in Jesus, on the contrary, he persecuted those Christians. One day, on his way to send a document
to persecute Christians, God presented Himself before him and persuade him stop his evil activity. After that, Saul
converted to be a very pious disciple of Jesus. He changed his name to be Paul and accompanied Jesus to preach
Christianity everywhere.
49.

chastise with scorpions:
punish severely
I Kings
After
Solomn
died,
his
son
Rehoboam

succeeded
his
throne.
Jeroboam
and
all
the
assembly
of
Israel
came
and
spoke to Rehoboam, Your father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make you the grievous service of your father,
and his heavy yoke which he put on us, lighter, and we will serve you. He said to them, Depart yet for three days,
then
come
again
to
me.
The
people
departed.
Rehoboam
took
counsel
with
the
old
men,
who
had
stood
before
Solomon his father while he yet lived. They spoke to him, saying, If you will be a servant to this people this day, and
will serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever. But he
forsook the counsel of the old men and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him, who stood
before him. The young men spoke to him, saying, thus shall you speak to them, My little finger is thicker than my

4
father's loins. Now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father chastised
you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third
day, as the king bade, saying, Come to me again the third day. The king answered the people roughly, and spoke to
them after the counsel of the young men. When all Israel saw that the king didn't listen to them, the people answered
the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, Israel:
now see to your own house, David. So Israel departed to their tents and rebelled against the house of David to this
day. Thus Israel was separated into two parts.
e.g.


He was chastised for his crime with scorpions.
50.

choose that good part: the best strategy
51.

clean hands: innocence
Psalm 24 The earth is Yahweh's, with its fullness; /The world, and those who dwell therein./For he has founded it on
the seas,/And established it on the floods./Who may ascend to Yahweh's hill?/Who may stand in his holy place? /He
who has clean hands and a pure heart;/Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood,/And has not sworn deceitfully.

e.g.


He retired from office with clean hands.
52.

come to light: be exposed to the public
John3:20For everyone who does evil hates the light, and doesn't come to the light, lest his works would be exposed.
3:21But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God.
e.g.


New facts about ancient Egypt have recently come to light.
53.

corn in Egypt:

something of abundant quality



e.g. I say, here is unopened tin of tobacco. Corn in Egypt.
54.

cornerstone: foundation
Isaiah
28:16therefore
thus
says
the
Lord
Yahweh,
Behold,
I
lay
in
Zion
for
a
foundation
a
stone,
a
tried
stone,
a
precious corner -stone of sure foundation: he who believes shall not be in haste.
e.g.


It is a cornerstone of foreign policy.
55.

countenance fell:

be angry or disappointed (See Cain
’
s story in Genesis )

e.g.
not getting into bad company.
56.

covenant of salt: contracts never betrayed
Numbers
18:19All the heave-offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer to Yahweh, have I given
you, and your sons and your daughters with you, as a portion forever: it is a covenant of salt forever before Yahweh
to you and to your seed with you.
e.g.


Once you have made a covenant of salt, you should keep to it.
57.

crown of thorns: humiliation and torture
Matthew27:26Then he released to them Barabbas, but
Jesus
he flogged and delivered to be crucified. 27:27Then the
governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium, and gathered the whole garrison together against him. 27:28They
stripped him, and put a scarlet robe on him. 27:29They braided a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and a reed in
his right hand; and they kneeled down before him, and mocked him, saying,
spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. 27:31When they had mocked him, they took the robe off
of him, and put his clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him.
58.

curious as Lot
’
s wife: be too curious

(as the consequence of her curiosity, she was turned into a pillar of salt)
59.

cut the coat according to the cloth: act according to present conditions
e.g.
You must cut your coat according to your cloth and be content with a smaller house. You know quite well you
can't afford that large one on your salary.
60.

daily bread: daily necessities

61.

Daniel in the den of lions: a person of integrity stand severe tests or a fortunate survivor
Daniel
Daniel
was
a
prophet
and
was
set
in
higher
position
than
satraps.
Then
this
Daniel
was
distinguished
above
the
presidents and the satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole
realm. Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find occasion against Daniel as touching the kingdom; but they

5
could find no occasion nor fault, because he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. Then said
these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his
God. Then these presidents and satraps assembled together to the king, and said thus to him, King Darius, live forever.
All
the
presidents of
the kingdom,
the
deputies
and
the
satraps,
the counselors and
the
governors, have
consulted
together to establish a royal statute, and to make a strong interdict, that whoever shall ask a petition of any god or
man for thirty days, save of you, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. Now, O king, establish the interdict,
and
sign
the
writing,
that
it
not
be changed, according to
the
law
of
the Medes and Persians,
which
doesn't
alter.
Therefore king Darius signed the writing and the interdict. When Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went
into his house and he kneeled on his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did
before. Then these men assembled together, and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God. Then
they came near, and spoke before the king concerning Daniel's violation against the king's interdict. Then the king,
when he heard these words, was sore displeased, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored until the
going down of the sun to rescue him. Then these men assembled together to the king, and said to the king, Know, O
king,
that
it
is
a
law
of
the
Medes
and
Persians,
that
no
interdict
nor
statute
which
the
king
establishes
may
be
changed.
Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spoke and
said
to
Daniel,
Your God
whom
you
serve
continually,
he
will
deliver
you.
A
stone
was
brought,
and
laid
on
the
mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that nothing might be
changed concerning Daniel. Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting; neither were instruments
of music brought before him: and his sleep fled from him. Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in
haste to the den of lions and found Daniel safe and sound because God had sent his angel to shut the lions' mouths.
Then
was
the
king
exceeding
glad,
and
commanded
that
they
should
take
Daniel
up
out
of
the
den.
The
king
commanded, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them,
their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and broke all their bones in pieces, before they
came to the bottom of the den.

62.

daughter of the horseleech:

greedy persona or parasites


Proverbs 30:15
The horseleech has two daughters, crying, give, give.

e.g. He said it with a little bow, and a face that would have taken the heart to ask favors out of the daughters of the
horseleech.
63.

David: young heroes
64.

David and Jonathan: bosom friends
65.

Delilah: seductive bad women

（
See
Samson
）

66.

depart form evil and do good [Psalms 37:27]




67.

Diana of the Ephesians [Acts]: a person who forgets all principles at the sight of profits
Ephesians worshipped Diana. Paul, one of Jesus' disciples, preached among them and persuaded them to believe in
Yahweh. He asked them abolish worshipping idols, which aroused the Ephesians' opposition because they made good
fortunes by making idols. So Paul's preach met with strong obstacles there.

68.

divide garments by casting lots: not filial children who divide property when parents are still alive
When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided his clothes among themselves by casting lots and then they sat
down there and kept watch over him.
e.g. The poor old man! Even when he was quite healthy, his three sons began dividing garments by casting lots.
69.

do as you want to be done by: treat others kindly
70.

don
’
t make any graven image: don
’
t worship anything blindly
（
See Ten Commandments
）

71.

double-edged sword [Proverbs 5:3-4]: something with both positive and negative functions
(more stress on
negative side)
e.g. The argument he used to justify his position proved to be a double-edged sword which ultimately led to his own
defeat.
72.

doubting Thomas: persons with skeptical attitude
The Gospel according to John

6
Three days after his crucifixion, Jesus resurrected and did many signs in the presence of his disciples. But Thomas,
one of the twelve, wasn't with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him,
Lord!
believe.
locked, and stood in the midst, and said,
my hands. Reach here your hand, and put it into my side. Don't be unbelieving, but believing.

have not seen, and have believed.

e.g.
You should believe what he said. Don't act like a doubting Thomas.

73.

dove of peace



74.

draw a bow at a venture [I Kings]: succeed by good fortune
The king of Israel, Ahab, disguised himself in others' robes and went into the battle to confuse the enemy. But A
certain man drew his bow at a venture, and struck the king of Israel between the joints of the armor: therefore he said
to the driver of his chariot,
Turn your hand, and carry
me
out of the host; for
I am severely wounded. The battle
increased that day: and the king was stayed up in his chariot against the Syrians, and died at even; and the blood ran
out of the wound into the bottom of the chariot.
e.g. Jack was both clumsy and careless; he always drew a bow at a venture.
75.

drive out of temple: drive away unqualified corners
The Gospel of John
Jesus went to Jerusalem with his family and disciples when the Passover of the Jews was at hand. He found in the
temple those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, and the changers of money sitting. He made a whip of cords, and
threw all out of the temple, both the sheep and the oxen; and he poured out the changers' money, and overthrew their
tables.
To
those
who
sold
the
doves,
he
said,

these
things
out
of
here!
Don't
make
my
Father's
house
a
marketplace!
e.g.
We've got too many members in our organization and we should drive some out of the temple.

76.

drop in the bucket/ocean: Something that is not important because it is very small

Isaiah
40:15Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are accounted as the small dust of the balance: Behold,
he takes up the isles as a very little thing
77.

dust and ashes: humble persons
78.

earmark: appoint a person or something for a certain purpose
Exodus
21:5But if the servant shall plainly say, 'I love my master, my wife, and my children. I will not go out free;'
21:6then his master shall bring him to God, and shall bring him to the door or to the door-post, and his master shall
bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall serve him for ever.
e.g.


I've earmarked Peter for the job.
79.

eat one
’
s own flesh:
lazy and idle persons
80.

eat the fat of the land:
enjoy high position and live in ease and comfort
Exodus
45:16The
report
of
it
was
heard
in
Pharaoh's
house,
saying,

brothers
have
come.
It
pleased
Pharaoh well, and his servants. 45:17Pharaoh said to Joseph,
travel to the land of Canaan. 45:18Take your father and your households, and come to me, and I will give you the
good of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the fat of the land.'
81.

eat the fruit of one
’
s own doings:
reap what one has sown

[See Isaiah 3:10]

e.g. You'd better stopping cheating, or you will surely eat the fruit of your own doings one day.
82.

Eden garden:
paradise
83.

eloquence of Aaron:
eloquent genius
84.

entertain angels/an angel unawares:
entertain an honored guest without knowing his identity

Hebrews
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that, some have entertained angels unawares.
85.

Eve:
women (especially curious ones)
86.

ewe lamb:
favorite child or object

(See King David
’
s story)

7
87.

eye for eye:
revenge
Exodus 2
1:22 If men fight and hurt a pregnant woman so that she gives birth prematurely, and yet no harm follows,
he
shall
be
surely
fined
as
much
as
the
woman's
husband
demands
and
the
judges
allow.
21:23But
if
any
harm
follows, then you must take life for life, 21:24eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 21:25burning
for burning, wound for wound, and bruise for bruise.

e.g.
I didn't believe in the death penalty-an eye for an eye-but how else can stop this sort of thing?
88.

fall by the wayside:
go astray or give up halfway
89.

fall from grace:
go astray, degenerate, or be out of favor
It refers to the story that Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit and were driven out of Eden, which was human beings'
original sin.
e.g.
He had assisted in extricating from the consequences of their folly several young girls of good family who had
fallen from grace and could not otherwise be secured.
90.

fall of Jericho:
impossible miracle
Joshua
After Moses' death, Joshua led Israel people wander in the wildness and they came to a city named Jericho, the only
way to Canaan. At this news, the king of this city was terrified and ordered the city to be was tightly shut up. None
went out, and none came in.
With God's instructions, Joshua arranged seven priests to bear seven trumpets of rams'
horns, and blew the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant of Yahweh followed them. The armed men went before the
priests who blew the trumpets, and the rearward went after the ark, the priests blowing the trumpets as they went.
They went about the city for six days I this way. On the seventh day, all the seven priests blew the trumpets together
and al the soldiers shout together, and the city fell.
91.

fall on stony ground:
fruitless, ineffective or (suggestions and advice) not seriously considered
92.

fall to the ground:
fail
93.

fear the Jews:
fear the authority or power
The Gospel according to John
After Jesus was crucified, Joseph, a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked of Pilate that he might
take away Jesus' body. Pilate gave him permission. He came therefore and took away his body. Nicodemus, who at
first came to Jesus by night, also came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. So they took
Jesus' body, and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury.
94.

feet of clay:
fatal shortcoming, famous persons
’
unknown defects
The
king
of
Babylon,
Nebuchadnezzar,
was
troubled
by
his
dream
in
which
he
beheld
a
great
image,
which
was
mighty, and whose brightness was excellent. As for this image, its head was of fine gold, its breast and its arms of
silver, its belly and its thighs of brass, its legs of iron, its feet part of iron, and part of clay. He saw until a stone was
cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet that were of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. Then
was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken in pieces together, and became like the chaff of the
summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that no place was found for them: and the stone that
struck the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. Daniel was invited to interpret the dream. He
said, the king was the head of gold with whom God endowed great power. After him shall arise another kingdom to
replace his. As the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly
broken. Since iron does not mingle with clay, the king's kingdom would be disintegrated. Then the king fell on his
face, worshiped Daniel, gave him many great gifts, and made him to rule over the whole province of Babylon, and to
be chief governor over all the wise men of Babylon.
e.g.
I discovered that my uncle had feet of clay; he had stolen money from my father.
95.

field of blood:
ill- gotten wealth
The Gospel of Matthew
Judas betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. When he saw that Jesus was condemned, he felt remorse and brought
back
the
thirty
pieces
of
silver
to
the
chief
priests
and
elders,
saying,

have
sinned
in
that
I
betrayed
innocent
blood.
departed. He went away and hanged himself. The chief priests took the pieces of silver, and said,

8
put them into the treasury, since it is the price of blood.
to bury strangers in. Therefore that field was called
96.

fig leaf:
something to hush up one
’
s scandal or to cover up one
’
s embarrassment
After Adam and Eve ate the apple, both of their eyes were opened, and they knew that they were naked. They sewed
fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
e.g. Come straight ahead; you don't have to put your idea in fig leaves.
97.

filthy lucre:
ill-gotten wealth or money
98.

flesh-pots of Egypt:
materialistic happiness, contemptible desires


Exodus 16
Moses
led
the
children
of
Israel
out
of
Egypt
and
wandered
in
wilderness.
The
journey
was
bitter.
The
whole
congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron in the wilderness; and the children
of Israel said to them,
flesh-pots, when we ate our fill of bread, for you have brought us out into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly
with hunger.
99.

flourish like the green bay tree:
succeed or a short life success
Psalms
Wait for Yahweh, and keep his way,/And he will exalt you to inherit the land./When the wicked are cut off, you shall
see it./I have seen the wicked in great power,/Spreading himself like a green tree in its native soil. /But he passed
away, and, behold, he was not./Yes, I sought him, but he could not be found.
e.g.
Sometimes the wicked flourishes like the green bay tree, but in the end they will be punished.
100.

fly in the ointment:
a blemish in an otherwise perfect thing
Ecclesiastes
10:1Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; so does a little folly outweigh
wisdom and honor.
e.g.
I find the house wonderful but there is a fly in the ointment-it is too far from the town.
101.

forbidden fruit




102.

friends in high places:
backers or powerful and influential friends
The Second Book of Samuel
David
wrote
an
elegy
for
his
dead
good
friend
Jonathan:
How
are
the
mighty
fallen
in
the
midst
of
the
battle!
/Jonathan is slain on your high places. /I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan: /Very pleasant have you been to
me: /Your love to me was wonderful, /Passing the love of women.

e.g.
She has had a new job and three increases in her wages this month. She must have friends in high places.
103.

from Dan to Beersheba:
from one bottom to another, all over the world
Judges

Dan was the northmost city in Palestine, while Beersheba the southmost town there. So if you traveled from Dan to
Beersheba, you will travel across the whole Palestine.
e.g.
You might travel from Dan to Beersheba without finding such a beautiful vase.
104.

from the housetops:
spread everywhere or spread publicly
Luke
12:1Meanwhile, when a multitude of many thousands had gathered together, so much so that they trampled on
each
other,
he
began
to
tell
his
disciples
first
of
all,

of
the
yeast
of
the
Pharisees,
which
is
hypocrisy.
12:2But there is nothing covered up, that will not be revealed, nor hidden, that will not be known. 12:3 Therefore
whatever
you
have
said
in
the
darkness
will
be
heard
in
the
light.
What
you
have
spoken
in
the
ear
in
the
inner
chambers will be proclaimed on the housetops.

e.g.
He was so happy that he wanted to shout it from the housetops.
105.

gall and wormwood:
unhappy or detestable things
Lamentations
In
586
B.C.,
Jerusalem
was
looted
by
Babylon
army.
At
this
miserable
sight,
Jeremiah
the
prophet
lamented:
Remember my affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall. /My soul still remembers them, and is bowed
down within me.

e.g.
To see his son go over to the side of the enemy was gall and wormwood to the old man.

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