From my youth, I have been fascinated with words, phrases and cliches. I was just thinking about some familiar clichés that many may not realize came from the Bible. Here are just a few:
• The Skin of Your Teeth — Used today to describe the experience of a narrow escape from a situation, this cliché comes from the oldest book of the Bible. As Job responded to God about the painful ordeal he was enduring, he said, “I have escaped with only the skin of my teeth” (Job 19:20 NIV1984). That is a rather unique description, especially when our teeth have no skin.
• Writing on the Wall — So often, people who feel a sense of impending trouble have reacted by saying, “I can see the handwriting on the wall.” This comes from the account in the Book of Daniel regarding King Belshazzar. He had given a great banquet with fine food and wine. But the fine dining turned into frustrating distress. “Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace…” (Dan. 5:5).Although we do not see a hand like Belshazzar did, we acknowledge that we recognize the gravity of a situation and state, “I have seen the writing on the wall.”
• A Leopard Cannot Change Its Spots — People use this cliché to describe in a judgmental way the actions of another who refuses to submit to authority, especially God’s. This one comes from a proverb in the Book of Jeremiah. The prophet spoke of the unchanging nature of people, emphasizing their penchant to live in sin continually. “Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots…” (Jer. 13:23).
• A House Divided Cannot Stand — I recently heard a politician use this cliché last week. He, of course, was referring to the great division in our country. It is a statement also used by couples who just cannot get along with each other and end up divorcing. This cliché originated with the comments by Jesus as He responded to the insults and accusations from the Pharisees. He said, “…Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand” (Matt. 12:25).
• A Drop in the Bucket — If someone refers to a small amount of money compared to the coffers of the rich, the cliché states, “it is just a drop in the bucket.” It is used to describe just how vast the creation of God is, and the reach of nations appears as so much less. “Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on scales; he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust” (Isa. 40:15).
• Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing — Satan has so many emissaries standing in pulpits, speaking on television and the internet or writing books. They are false prophets, twisting the Word. “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves” (Matt. 7:15).
• A Little Bird Told Me — During a conversation, a person may divulge information that was to be kept secret. Whenasked how that individual knew about the secret, the response might be “a little bird told me.” The origin of this cliché is found in the Book of Ecclesiastes. “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” (Eccl. 10:20).
