How did the Bible influence the English Language?

Answer 1

The Bible was written in Hebrew, Aramaic (similar to ) and Greek. Therefore, from a purely lexical and grammatical point of view, the Bible as originally written had little or no influence on the English language.

However, when the Bible was translated into the common tongue of the English people, many bible words, phrases, expressions and references quickly became assimilated into the English langauge and are still in use today.

Some examples

* the apple of my eye - Psalm 17:8

* the salt of the earth - Matt 5:13

* the sun shines on the righteous - Matt 5:45

* seek and you shall find - Matt 7:7 * a little bird told me - Eccl 10:20 * eat, drink and be merry - Luke 12:19

* Armageddon - Rev 16:16

* a doubting Thomas - John 20:27 * a (painted) Jezebel - 2Kings 9:30-37, Rev 2:20

* a Judas (goat) - Luke 6:16

* old wives' tales- 1Tim 4:7

* returning like the prodigal son - Luke 15:11-24 * wolf in sheep's clothing - Matt 7:15

* a leopard can't change its spots - Jer 13:23

* to escape by the skin of your teeth - Job 19:19-20

* scapegoat - Lev 16:9-10

* the sweat of your brow - Gen 3:17,19

* red sky at night, shepherd's delight; red sky in the morning, shepherd's warning - Matt 16:1-3

* pride goes before a fall - Prov 16:18

* money is the root of all evil - 1Tim 6:10

* the blind leading the blind - Matt 15:14

* spare the rod, spoil the child - Prov 13:24

* there's a time and place for everything - Eccl 3:1

* going the extra mile - Matt 5:41

* their left hand doesn't know what their right hand is doing - Matt 5:3-4

* practice what you preach - Matt 23:2-3 * the writing's on the wall - Dan 5:5-6

Answer 2

Well, in Genesis chapter 11 verses 1-9 it tells you. Have you ever heard of the city Babylon or the tower of Babel?? People were coming together to build a city and a tower who's top may reach unto heaven. God said, "People all have one language; and this they begin to do; shall keep them from speaking the same language." and he scattered the people abroad the face of all the earth.