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Worldwide, about 100 million copies of the Bible are sold each year (the Gideons, and other similar organizations, give away an additional 70 million Bibles each year!) The Bible is the best-selling book of all time, according to Guinness World Records, with nearly seven billion Bibles sold. But that figure obscures another interesting fact: the Bible is the best-selling book of the year, every year!
For those of you wondering why the Bible never appears on best seller lists, here’s why: First, those lists typically only include new releases. Secondly, the Bible has many publishers and many translations, and it is only by combining the data that it soars to the top.
And while God’s Word has transformed our lives, the Bible has also influenced much of our English language in ways that might surprise us. Here’s some Bible trivia for you. The following seven phrases that are frequently used in our culture. Which one of these phrases came from the Bible?
“The writing is on the wall.”
“The eleventh hour.”
“As smooth as butter.”
“A little birdie told me.”
“By the skin of your teeth.”
“Nothing but skin and bones.”
“The fly in the ointment.”
Which of those phrases originated in the Bible?
The answer: All of them.
“The writing is on the wall” comes from chapter five of the Old Testament book of Daniel, where a disembodied hand mysteriously wrote cryptic words on the wall of King Belshazzar's palace, foretelling his immediate downfall. In our culture, the phrase means that the answer is quite easy or is in plain sight. Yet the origin of the term meant the exact opposite: In the Biblical story, only Daniel was able to interpret what was written on the wall.
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells a parable about a landowner who hired laborers at different times throughout the day, including the eleventh hour, which was the final hour of the workday. The phrase is now used to mean "just in time" or "at the last possible moment."
The phrase "smooth as butter" is a simile used to describe something that is effortless, seamless, and without any issues. It’s a quote taken directly from Psalm 55:21 – “His words are as smooth as butter, but in his heart is war. His words are as soothing as lotion, but underneath are daggers!”
We often say, “A little birdie told me,” when we don’t want to name the source of our information. This idiom originated from Ecclesiastes 10:20 – “Don't let yourself think about cursing the king… for a little bird might deliver your message and tell him what you said.”
The phrase "by the skin of one's teeth" means to narrowly escape a situation, often by a very thin margin. This comes from Job 19:20, which is a verse that contains two common phrases we use today: “I am nothing but skin and bones and have escaped death by the skin of my teeth.”
“The fly in the ointment” refers to a small imperfection or flaw that diminishes the entire quality of something. It comes from Ecclesiastes 10:1 – "Dead flies in the ointment (perfume) give it a stench: and a little bit of foolishness outweighs a lot of wisdom.”
These common expressions are a quiet, persistent testament to the Bible’s pervasive influence, proving it is not merely a historical document, but a living, active Word that has fundamentally shaped the very language of our culture. The term “broken heart” comes from the Bible. The image of David and Goliath is often used to describe sporting events. Jesus first used the term “good Samaritan,” in a parable, and it is now steeped into the lexicon of our culture, even if fewer and fewer people realize the original context. Same with the “prodigal son.” And here are some more popular phrases that have seeped from the pages of Scripture into our daily speech (and because of space, I had to dramatically condense this list):
“A drop in the bucket”
“A house divided against itself cannot stand”
“A leopard can’t change his spots”
“As old as the hills”
“At their wit’s end”
“Eat, drink and be merry!”
“Fall by the wayside”
“Fight the good fight”
“Flesh and blood”
"Forbidden Fruit"
“Go the extra mile”
"How the Mighty Have Fallen"
“In the blink of an eye”
“Let there be light”
“Letter of the law”
“No rest for the weary”
“Out of the mouths of babes”
“Put words in someone’s mouth.”
“Rise and shine”
"Salt of the earth"
"Scapegoat"
"See eye to eye"
“Sour grapes”
“The Powers that be”
The enduring presence of these biblical expressions in our secular vocabulary is a silent challenge to us: If the words of the Bible are so powerful that they have unconsciously shaped our culture, how much more should the principles of the Bible consciously shape our character?
When we allow Scripture to dwell deeply within us, our thinking, our speech, our attitudes, and our actions begin to reflect His truth in ways that will make a difference. As the Holy Spirit continues to work within us, our words will reflect God’s words. That’s because God's Word is not just something we read or hear or absorb or consume, but something that overflows from within us. Matthew 12:34-35 teaches: "For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him."
This mirrors the idea that, over time, the phrases we use reflect deeper truths or values that are stored in our hearts. If God’s truth is at the core of our lives, it will naturally seep into our speech, guiding us to speak life, encouragement, wisdom, and Truth, just as His Word intended.
After all, if even the words we use daily have roots in the Bible, how much more should the principles and commands of Scripture shape our attitudes, decisions, and relationships?
Friends, I look forward to worshiping with you on Sunday. Until then, know that you are loved.
Joe
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