April 16, 2018

12 Common Phrases That Are Shockingly From the Bible

‘TO CAST PEARLS BEFORE SWINE’

This famous phrase is a quote from Matthew’s Gospel: ‘Give not that which is holy unto the dogs,’ writes the Evangelist, ‘neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.’

This dramatic image—which of course gains extra power from the fact that pigs are considered unclean animals by orthodox Jews—became a favorite in the Middle Ages, first mentioned in English by William Langland in Piers Plowman in the fourteenth century. Charles Dickens used the phrase in his 1848 novel Dombey and Son, to mean ‘doing a thankless thing.’

But the most famous occurrence, which gives a twist to the ancient meaning, is in a story about Dorothy Parker, the great American humorist of the 1920s. ‘Age before beauty,’ said a cheeky young woman while holding a door open for Parker to pass. Quick as a flash Parker replied: ‘Pearls before swine.’

Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Next

Pages ( 7 of 12 ): « Previous1 ... 56 7 89 ... 12Next »

Click Here to Leave a Comment Below

Leave a Reply: