In Front | Workbook: The Bible’s Impact on Language

Language is another topic that has been impacted by the Old Testament. Many modern phrases and references have come into usage as a result. Here are just a few:

The writing is on the wall:

Suddenly the fingers of a man’s hand emerged and began writing opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace, and the king saw the back of the hand that did the writing. Daniel 5:5 (NASB)

A land flowing with milk and honey:

Hence I have said to you, “You are to possess their land, and I Myself will give it to you to possess it, a land flowing with milk and honey.” I am the Lord your God, who has separated you from the peoples. Leviticus 20:24 (NASB)

Sacrificial lamb:

You shall also offer one male goat for a sin offering and two male lambs one year old for a sacrifice of peace offerings. Leviticus 23:19 (NASB)

Hard heart:

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is hardened; he refuses to let the people go. Exodus 7:14 (ESV)

Golden calf:

So Aaron said to them, “Take off the rings of gold that are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.” So all the people took off the rings of gold that were in their ears and brought them to Aaron. And he received the gold from their hand and fashioned it with a graving tool and made a golden calf. Exodus 32:2-4 (ESV)

Scapegoat:

But the goat on which the lot for the scapegoat fell shall be presented alive before the Lord, to make atonement upon it, to send it into the wilderness as the scapegoat. Leviticus 16:10 (NASB)

Grab your Workbook Journal!

[Record your answers in the workbook provided at the beginning of this course.]

4. Can you think of other phrases or references that come from the Old Testament? Record additional words/phrases and their Bible references: