In English, a lot of common phrases come from either the King James Bible or the Book of Common Prayer ("flat on his face", "by the skin of his teeth", "the apple of his eye", "peace in our time", "God save the King", etc.). One thing I've always wondered is whether the same is true of the languages of historically Catholic countries. Do Frenchmen unknowingly incorporate Biblical quotations into their day-to-day speech? Do Italians bandy phrases from the Liturgy of the Hours? Or did the fact that, until very recently, the liturgy was almost all in Latin, prevent this from happening?
Biblical influences on languages of the Catholic world
- Thread starter Fabius Maximus
- Start date
Well, there are some phrases in Italian language that are more or less common in the everyday usage and that's clearly have a Biblical origin:
Niente di nuovo sotto il Sole, '(fare da) Capro Espiatorio, Gigante dai piedi d’argilla, Occhio per Occhio, Dente per Dente ('Talion law'), Seminare zizzania, Passa quelle di Caino. Also, and as way of comparison their direct, (common phrases), equivalents in Spanish language (No hay) Nada nuevo bajo el sol, Chivo expiatorio, (Tener los/un Gigante con) Pies de barro, Ojo por Ojo, Diente por Diente ('ley de Talion'), 'Meter/Sembrar Cizaña', 'Pasar las de Caín'...
Translation: Nothing new under the Sun, Scapegoat, (To have/ to be like a giant with) feet of clay, An eye for an Eye, Tooth for a Tooth ('Talion law'), Sowing discord, To go through/experienced a 'Cain like experience'.
Niente di nuovo sotto il Sole, '(fare da) Capro Espiatorio, Gigante dai piedi d’argilla, Occhio per Occhio, Dente per Dente ('Talion law'), Seminare zizzania, Passa quelle di Caino. Also, and as way of comparison their direct, (common phrases), equivalents in Spanish language (No hay) Nada nuevo bajo el sol, Chivo expiatorio, (Tener los/un Gigante con) Pies de barro, Ojo por Ojo, Diente por Diente ('ley de Talion'), 'Meter/Sembrar Cizaña', 'Pasar las de Caín'...
Translation: Nothing new under the Sun, Scapegoat, (To have/ to be like a giant with) feet of clay, An eye for an Eye, Tooth for a Tooth ('Talion law'), Sowing discord, To go through/experienced a 'Cain like experience'.
Language of Bible and prayers in Poland is quite archaic (as it tend to be with many other languages).
Biblical influence I can think of is, for example:
-"od Annasza do Kajfasza" (from Annas to Caiaphas). If someone tries to settle some thing, but it is send from one institution to another and achieves nothing, we say, that they are send from Annas to Caiaphas.
-"Umywać ręce" (to wash hands) means not taking responsiblity, like Pontius Pilate.
-"kozioł ofiarny" (scapegoat), gehenna etc also entered Polish language
-"cham" in Polish means boor/cad/yokel and is derived from name of Noah's son Cham (Ham).
-"Hiobowe wieści" (Job's news) means bad news.
Biblical influence I can think of is, for example:
-"od Annasza do Kajfasza" (from Annas to Caiaphas). If someone tries to settle some thing, but it is send from one institution to another and achieves nothing, we say, that they are send from Annas to Caiaphas.
-"Umywać ręce" (to wash hands) means not taking responsiblity, like Pontius Pilate.
-"kozioł ofiarny" (scapegoat), gehenna etc also entered Polish language
-"cham" in Polish means boor/cad/yokel and is derived from name of Noah's son Cham (Ham).
-"Hiobowe wieści" (Job's news) means bad news.
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Guess, that this one is a image/phrase quite universal, at least in the Catholic nations...