The Bible contains countless wise sayings that tell us how to live and help us understand how God works. However, many famous phrases that people claim to be in the Bible actually are not! Here are 17 such statements, along with where they’re from and what they truly mean.
“God Helps Those Who Help Themselves”
This phrase has topped many polls as the most popular Bible verse known to mankind, yet it isn’t even from the Bible! It was first written by Algernon Sidney in his “Discourses Concerning the Government” in 1698 and later popularized by Benjamin Franklin in 1736. How interesting!
“Cleanliness Is Next to Godliness”
Although rituals of purification are laid out in the Book of Leviticus, the phrase “cleanliness is next to godliness” exists because John Wesley said so. John Wesley is a co-founder of Methodism who emphasized cleanliness in his 18th-century preachings, and the phrase has stuck with us ever since.
“The Seven Deadly Sins”
The concept of the “seven deadly sins” looks like something out of the books of Moses, but it’s only a product of early Christian theologians. Brittanica attributes the “seven deadly sins” to Evagrius Ponticus, a Christian ascetic from the 4th Century AD, which is four whole centuries after the Bible was written!
“This too Shall Pass”
Yes, it sounds like a promise from God of a brighter future, but we can trace its roots to ancient Persian and medieval poetry passed down across generations. The phrase was only made popular in 1852 by Edward Fitzgerald’s book, “Solomon’s Seal,” but it wasn’t present in the Bible.
“Spare the Rod and Spoil the Child”
Proverbs 13:24 relates sparing the rod to indiscipline, but this is different from the phrase “Spare the rod, spoil the child,” which actually originates from a 17th-century poem called “Hudibras.” The poem doesn’t even have a subject matter related to parenting or children at all!
“God Works in Mysterious Ways”
We reflect on remarkable events or express our hope for a miracle by alluding to the wonderful ways God works, but the phrase “God works in mysterious ways” isn’t in the Bible. It’s actually an adaptation from the first line of William Cowper’s 19th-century hymn, which reads, “God moves in a mysterious way.”
“Money is the Root of All Evil”
Some people claim that “Money is the root of all evil” was first stated in the Bible–that’s nonsense. Looking at 1 Timothy 6:10, we read that “For the love of money is the root of all evils”, and whilst the wording is similar, this focuses on avarice, not money.
“The Lion Shall Lie Down With the Lamb”
The phrase “The lion shall lie down with the lamb” once again misrepresents the Bible’s actual words. Bible Gateway shows that in Isaiah 11:6, the following sentence can be found: “The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat.” You can see where the confusion came from!
“Hate the Sin, Love the Sinner”
While “Hate the sin, love the sinner” is a true reflection of Christian principles around sin and sinners, the phrase doesn’t come from the Bible. It’s from St. Augustine’s Letter 211, where he says, “Cum dilectione hominum et odio vitiorum,” which directly translates to “with love for mankind and hatred of sins.”
“To Thine Own Self Be True”
There’s also good reason to believe that “to thine own self be true” comes from the Bible, given its language and the message of self-awareness it conveys. Nonetheless, it is actually a statement made by the King’s Advisor, Polonius, in Act I, Scene 3 of Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
“Pride Comes Before a Fall”
Again, we have a phrase that’s only adapted from what the Bible truly says: “Pride comes before a fall.” In reality, Proverbs 16:18 reads, “Pride goes before destruction.” Once again, you can see where the misunderstanding came from, and the famous phrase is likely to be at least inspired by the Bible.
“The Eye Is the Window to the Soul”
Bible.com transcribes Matthew 6:22–23 to read, “Your eyes are the windows into your body,” but the phrase “The eye is the window to the soul” is actually Shakespeare. In fact, Shakespeare goes further to say that the eyes are the soul itself, which, while similar, is different from what Matthew said.
“Hell Hath No Fury Like a Woman Scorned”
Rather than being a warning from the Bible, this phrase has only been adapted from “The Mourning Bride by the English,” a 17th-century tragedy play written by William Congreve. The full statement reads, “Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned. Nor hell a fury, like a woman scorned.”
“Eat, Drink, and Be Merry, for Tomorrow We Die”
This next phrase has roots in the Bible, but it doesn’t read exactly the same. Instead, it’s a merger of Bible verses 1 Corinthians 15:32, Ecclesiastes 8:15, and Isaiah 22:13. These make reference to slaying oxen, drinking wine, and being glad “if we will never live again after we die.”
“Moderation in All Things”
According to Oxford’s University Press reference, “Moderation in all things” can be attributed to two people, and they’re not God and Jesus. Plautus famously said, “Moderation in all things is the best policy,” whereas Hesiod said, “Observe due measure; moderation is best in all things.” These were merged far after the Bible!
“A Fool and His Money Are Soon Parted”
“A fool and his money are soon parted” comes from Dr. John Bridges’ “Defence of the Government of the Church of England,” which became a popular English proverb after the 16th century. It’s a push for people to donate to churches rather than whittling it away, which was never requested in the Bible.
“An Eye for an Eye, a Tooth for a Tooth”
Finally, “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” is yet another Bible passage that has been taken out of context. Matthew 5:38, which many people cite, reads, “Whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also”, and while these phrases ultimately mean the same thing, it’s still a paraphrase!
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