From the Biblical to the Vernacular Quiz

Answer: Bush

This saying means that it is better to appreciate what you actually have in your possession than to go chasing after unrealistic goals that may never be achieved. It can be found in the KJV of the Bible in Ecclesiastes 6:9-11, where it states, most sensibly, that "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush; mere dreaming of nice things is foolish; it's chasing the wind".

Unfortunately, human beings being what they are, full of rather endearing foibles and faults, have taken this wise quote, and, in England during the Middle Ages, called several pubs after it instead.

Answer: Drop

This saying means that any contribution or achievement or solution of any kind is only a small part of what is really necessary to bring something to a satisfactory conclusion - a very small part of an overall whole, in other words. It can be found in the KJV of the Bible in Isaiah 40:15, where it actually states that "Behold, the nations are as a drop *OF* a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing". Over time, however, the saying has gradually evolved to slightly alter that original wording.

Answer: Love

This saying means that any work that is very hard, but which is done out of love, is not really work at all, or simply that it is a reward in itself. It can be found in the KJV of the Bible in Hebrews 6:10-20, where it states that "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister".

Answer: Spots

This saying suggests that one's innate nature cannot really change, unless of course by a conscious effort to make it so. A quick-tempered person, for example, could always possess the propensity to act that way, but may be aware of that character flaw and endeavour to consciously keep it under control.

It can be found in the KJV of the Bible in Jeremiah 13:23, which says, "Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil".

Answer: Heart

This saying refers to anyone with whom you are completely comfortable, and in perfect harmony. Some people call this a kindred spirit or a soul mate, which is just a little bit too flowery for my taste. It really just means harmonious compatibility with someone else. For humans, at any rate. When God refers to it, it takes on a more specific meaning. It can be found in the KJV of the Bible in Acts 13:22, where it states that "And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will".

Sad to say, though, poor old David had feet of clay, and was penalised rather thoroughly for his fall from grace.

Answer: Times

This saying means, as we use it in the everyday vernacular, that some event or starting development that has taken place on a global scale, is particular to our current era in history. It can be found in the KJV of the Bible in Matthew 16 where it states that "The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the *SIGNS* of the times?".

It would be wise not to apply this too literally to the disasters that appear to be sweeping our world today, for this passage goes on to warn that "A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed". To take many expressions from the bible and apply them too literally is asking for trouble, for much of that holy work is written on several levels, and in parable or even esoteric form, revealed only to us as our own level of understanding increases.

Answer: Flesh

This saying means that someone or some thing is a persistent source of trouble to you. A teacher could have a chronically disruptive student in her class, for example, or a constantly barking dog belonging to your neighbour could be driving you insane.

It can be found in the KJV of the Bible in 2 Corinithians 12, where it states, "And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure". Sometimes, indeed, a thorn in the flesh could perhaps even be a means of learning a lesson that needs to be learned for one's own good.

Answer: Hills

This saying simply means that some concept or entity is very old indeed, so old that it seems to have been around forever. This is one biblical term that has been almost rewritten as we use it in our everyday vernacular, for the original from KJV's Job 15 states, "Art thou the first man, that ever was borne? Or, wast thou made before the hylles?"

This is another pertinent reminder that we should not be too literal on our interpretation of that great work. It has indeed been translated so many times that it is hard to ferret out the original saying on many occasions, and, even if we could, the language and associated meaning in which it was originally written may not translate easily into our particular language and understanding today. Instead, let it speak to your heart.

Answer: Dust

This saying means for us today to hit the ground hard after a fall, or to drop dead, or to be attacked so hard that you're knocked flat on your back. It's been done to death in woeful old western movies where the baddie is justifiably shot by the goody and "bites the dust" as he falls to the ground.

The biblical term, however, which is found in KJV Psalms 72, states that "They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him and his enemies shall lick the dust." In this instance, the saying implies, rather than being killed, your enemies (if you are a righteous person) will be so humiliated that they will grovel in the dust before you.

Answer: Teeth

This saying means to have averted some disaster by only a very, very narrow margin. This could be avoiding a potential car accident perhaps, or a narrow win by the smallest margin possible, such as one politician just scraping in ahead of another after the votes have been counted, and can be found in the KJV of the Bible in Job 19:20 where it states that "My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth".

The fact that teeth don't have skin is an indication of how very narrow a margin was that escape indeed. Over time, this saying has evolved to "BY the skin of my teeth".