Are you looking for some everday idioms that are in the Bible?
If so, you are in the right place.
In this post, we are going to look at some cool idioms that you make never have realized it before, but they come directly from the Bible.
Let’s get started.
Table of Contents
27 Bible Idioms & Phrases (Meaning & Example Sentences)
1. The Writing On The Wall
- Meaning: a sign or warning that something bad is going to happen.
- Scripture: Daniel 5:5-31
- Use in a sentence: The company’s CEO refuses to see the writing on the wall, but the company is going to bankrupt.
2. There Is Nothing New Under The Sun
- Meaning: there is nothing happening now that hasn’t happened before.
- Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:9
- Use in a sentence: Did you watch the news today? Can you believe what is going on in the Middle East. I guess it just proves that there is nothing new under the sun.
3. Pride Comes Before A Fall
- Meaning: a person that is prideful tends to trust in their own abilities and it usually leads to a fall.
- Scripture: Proverbs 16:18
- Use in a sentence: Did you watch the news today? Can you believe what is going on in the Middle East? I guess it just proves that there is nothing new under the sun.
4. By The Skin Of Your Teeth
- Meaning: barely.
- Scripture: Job 19:20
- Use in a sentence: I didn’t think I was going to get work on time. I had car problems and arrived at the office by the skin of my teeth.
5. The Lion’s Den
- Meaning: A difficult situation in which you have to face people that are aggressive toward you.
- Scripture: Daniel 6:12
- Use in a sentence: Before entering the meeting room she got that vibe that she was being thrown into the lion’s den.
6. At The Eleventh Hour
- Meaning: to finish doing something at the last possible moment.
- Scripture: Matthew 20:9
- Use in a sentence: Don’t wait until the eleventh hour to finish your homework. Do it now so you will have some time to relax.
7. To Fall By The Wayside
- Meaning: to drop out. To fall behind.
- Scripture: Luke 8:5
- Use in a sentence: If he doesn’t take time to study every night it won’t be long before he falls to the wayside.
8. To Throw Your Pearls Before Swine
- Meaning: To present something of value to someone who doesn’t recognize/appreciate its true value.
- Scripture: Matthew 7:6
- Use in a sentence: I don’t think they really appreciate all that their parents had done for them Talk about throwing pearls before swine.
9. To Beard The Lion
- Meaning: to confront danger head-on. To take a risk.
- Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:35
- Use in a sentence: Bearding the lion, he walked straight into his office and told him what he really thought of him.
10. An Eye For Eye / Tooth For Tooth
- Meaning: The compensation for damage to something or injury to someone should be equal. Punishment in which the offender suffers the same degree as the victim.
- Scripture: Exodus 21:24
- Use in a sentence: Some people believe in the death penalty. They believe an eye for an eye or a tooth for tooth is true justice.
11. It Is Better To Be A Live Dog Than A Dead Lion
- Meaning: don’t try to be a hero and try to do more than you can do.
- Scripture: Ecclesiastes 9:4
- Use in a sentence: Don’t work yourself too hard, remember, a live dog is better than a dead lion.
12. To Be At Wit’s End
- Meaning: to no longer have the stamina or patience to deal with a difficult situation. To be at one’s limits.
- Scripture: Psalms 107:27
- Use in a sentence: I am at wit’s end as to how we are going to finish this project before the deadline.
13. The Blind Leading The Blind
- Meaning: People who try to teach others when they don’t have any more knowledge than the ones they are teaching.
- Scripture: Matthew 15:14
- Use in a sentence: I would love to help you with your computer, but I don’t know anything about computers. It would be like the blind leading the blind.
14. The Apple Of One’s Eye
- Meaning: a person that is treasured.
- Scripture: Deuteronomy 32:10
- Use in a sentence: His only daughter is most certainly the apple of his eye.
15. In The Twinkle Of An Eye
- Meaning: to happen immediately or very quickly.
- Scripture: 1 Cor 15:52
- Use in a sentence: Don’t worry Mom. I will have my homework done in the twinkle of an eye.
16. To Have Scales Fall From One’s Eyes
- Meaning: To suddenly be able to see a situation clearly.
- Scripture: Acts 9:18
- Use in a sentence: I used to think he was this great guy, but after talking with Jason, it is like scales fell from my eyes. I now see how he uses people for his own benefit.
17. To Have A Beam In One’s Eye
- Meaning: Oftentimes a person that tends to criticize others doesn’t notice that their flaws are much bigger than the flaws of the ones they are criticizing.
- Scripture: Matthew 7:5
- Use in a sentence: David promised me he was going to help me with this project and now he is nowhere to be found. Yes, but didn’t you do the same thing to Julie, Jason, and Rob? Be sure to check the beam in your own eye before getting mad at David.
18. To Be On The Straight And Narrow
- Meaning: To try to maintain a morally upright life.
- Scripture: Matthew 7:14
- Use in a sentence: It may not be easy, but 10 years from now you will happy you exerted yourself to stay on the straight and narrow.
19. To Have Feet Of Clay
- Meaning: To have a weakness.
- Scripture: Daniel 2:41-43
- Use in a sentence: Just remember nobody is perfect. We all have feet of clay.
20. A Fly In The Ointment
- Meaning: a small imperfection prevents something from being a success or prevents something from being enjoyed by others.
- Scripture: Ecclesiastes 10:1
- Use in a sentence: The only fly in the ointment last night was when the waiter forgot our desserts. Besides that everything else was perfect.
21. To Be A Thorn In One’s Flesh.
- Meaning: to be a constant bother to someone. A constant cause of frustration.
- Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:7
- Use in a sentence: Him calling me everyday has been a thorn in my flesh, can you do me a favor and talk to him about that?
22. A Crown Of Thorns
- Meaning: something that causes one much pain and suffering.
- Scripture: John 19:2
- Use in a sentence: This job has been a crown of thorns. No matter how hard I work, I am always behind schedule.
23. To Strain Out The Gnats, But Gulping Down The Camel
- Meaning: to criticize someone for something minor while at the same time overlooking something much more serious.
- Scripture: Matthew 23:24
- Use in a sentence: The government is doing very little to help the homeless and yet they want to tax people subletting their apartments. Talk about straining out the gnats, but gulping down the camel.
24. A Leopard Cannot Change It’s Spots
- Meaning: a person can’t change the way they truly are.
- Scripture: Jeremiah 13:23
- Use in a sentence: She told me that she has changed, but I find that hard to believe. After all, a leopard cannot it’s spots.
25. To Move Mountains
- Meaning: to do something that seems impossible or very difficult.
- Scripture: Matthew 17:20
- Use in a sentence: You aren’t going to move mountains just sitting at home. You need to get out there and work toward your goals.
26. A Camel Through The Eye Of A Needle
- Meaning: used to describe something that is very difficult if not impossible to do.
- Scripture: Luke 8:25
- Use in a sentence: You would have an easier time getting a camel through the eye of a needle than trying to convince mom and dad to let you go to that party.
27. To Have A Millstone Around One’s Neck
- Meaning: a heavy burden.
- Scripture: Matthew 18:6
- Use in a sentence: Today, I will be paying off my debt. This loan has been a millstone around my neck for 5 years.
There you have it 27 everday idioms found in the Bible.
Which one is your favorite? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
