Biblical Idioms and Metaphors Trivia Quiz

Answer: Adam

"Forbidden fruit" refers to something that is extremely desirable but is not allowed or accessible. For example, if a man was attracted to a woman, but she was another man's wife and therefore not available, the woman could be described as "forbidden fruit". The expression comes from the story of Adam and Eve who ate the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, after God specifically instructed them not to. The Bible does not identify what type of fruit they ate, but it is traditionally depicted as an apple. As a result of their disobedience in eating the forbidden fruit, Adam and Eve were driven out of the Garden of Eden.

Biblical reference: Genesis 2:16-17 and Genesis 3.

Answer: Salome

Salome pleased her stepfather, Herod Antipas, by dancing for him on his birthday and he told her that she could ask for anything, even up to half his kingdom, as a reward. Her mother, Herodias, had a grudge against John the Baptist, so she urged Salome to ask for the head of John the Baptist. Herod regretted his impulsive promise but he kept it. He had John executed and his head brought to Salome on a platter.

To call for someone's head on a platter (or plate) usually refers to a harsh punishment or threat of retribution. For example, "When I find out who did it, I'll have their head on a plate".

Salome's story gives rise to a related expression, of having something handed (to a person) on a silver platter. For example, "Suzy wants to have it handed to her on a silver platter". This means that Suzy expects to receive something without having to work for it, similar to the way Herodias achieved her goal of killing John the Baptist without having to lift a finger.

Biblical reference: Mark 6:18-28.

Answer: Judas Iscariot

The "kiss of death" idiom is used to describe something that will certainly cause something else to go wrong or be ruined. For example, "The bad review was the kiss of death for his latest play".

Movies typically portray the kiss of death being administered by a Mafia don to someone whom they have marked for execution as punishment for betrayal. Allegedly, in the Mafia, a kiss on the hands indicates subservience, a kiss on the cheek indicates respect and friendship, but beware of the kiss on the lips!

The idiom refers to the kiss of betrayal that Judas Iscariot gave to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, which identified Jesus to the Roman soldiers who arrested him and ultimately led to his crucifixion.

Biblical reference: Matthew 26:46-49.

Answer: Pilate

To wash one's hands of something means to have nothing to do with a matter after having been involved in it, or to refuse to take responsibility for it. For example, "If you continue with this behaviour, I will wash my hands of you".

The allusion is to Pontius Pilate's literal washing of his hands at the trial of Jesus. Pilate indicated to the crowd that he did not want to sentence Jesus to death but caved under pressure and ordered Jesus' crucifixion to satisfy them. In an attempt to publicly absolve himself of responsibility, he said, "I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it".

Biblical reference Matthew 27:24

Answer: The Ethiopian

"A leopard cannot change its spots" is an expression which asserts that people cannot change their fundamental nature.

The full biblical quote is, "Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil". In this passage, the prophet Jeremiah is conveying the message to the people of Judah that they are sinners by nature and they cannot change without God's help.

In the modern idiom, the phrase is used to convey doubt that a person can change. For example, "Sally said Roger promised never to cheat again, but I don't believe it - a leopard cannot change its spots"; that is, I believe that Roger will be very likely to cheat again because it is in his fundamental nature to do so.

Biblical reference: Jeremiah 13:23

Answer: Jesus

"Walk on water" is a fairly straightforward reference to the miracle of Jesus walking on water. After the feeding of the 5,000 near Bethsaida, Jesus directed his disciples to set sail across the Sea of Galilee without him. A storm arose and the boat was being buffeted around by huge waves. The disciples were exhausted trying to row against the wind. Shortly before dawn, Jesus walked on water to join them and the wind died down. The disciples were afraid at first, thinking him to be a ghost or spirit.

To say that someone "walks on water" indicates that they are capable of accomplishing the impossible, or that they are considered to have no faults. For example, "Mary is so besotted with him that she thinks he walks on water", or, "I'm not asking you to walk on water, I just need you to have the report ready on time". It is often used sarcastically to imply that the person, or the task, isn't really that extraordinary.

Biblical references: Matthew 14:22-36, Mark 6:45-52 and John 6:16-21.

Answer: Job

The origin of the phrase "by the skin of one's teeth" is in the book of Job. Job's trust in God was tested by Satan but his faith never wavered. As part of his ordeal, Job was afflicted by a skin disease over his entire body except for his mouth. Job states, "My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth". Scholars continue to debate over the exact meaning of this verse and whether the "skin" of the teeth refers to the lips, the gums, or tooth enamel.

In modern usage, "by the skin of one's teeth" suggests that something was accomplished by a very narrow margin. For example, "He passed his chemistry exam by the skin of his teeth"; that is, he barely passed.

Biblical reference: Job 19:20

Answer: Daniel

In the book of Daniel, while king Belshazzar was feasting, a mysterious disembodied hand appeared and wrote the words "mene, mene, tekel, upharsin" on the wall. This troubled the king and he called upon his astrologers, soothsayers, and wise men to interpret the words, but none were able to do so. The queen recommended Daniel be summoned. Daniel interpreted the words and told the king that they prophesied the downfall of Belshazzar and his kingdom. That very night the king was slain.

The expression "the writing is on the wall" means that there are obvious signs that something is doomed to failure or that some misfortune will happen soon. For example, "After a disastrous season, the football coach saw the writing on the wall and began looking for another job".

Biblical reference: Daniel 5:5-31

Answer: Moses

Moses led the Israelites out of their slavery in Egypt to the land of Canaan (the Promised Land). Manna was the food provided by God to feed and sustain them on their 40-year journey. The expression "manna from heaven" may be used to refer to something happening which was unexpected and happened at a time when it was really needed. For example, "With the pressure of mounting debts, his lottery win was like manna from heaven".

The Israelites' journey is called the Exodus, which comes from the Greek "exodos" meaning "the way out". This gives rise to another idiom in which we use the word exodus to refer to sudden departure of a large number of people. For example, "The owner's harsh treatment of his employees led to an exodus of staff from the business"; that is, quite a few members of staff quit in a short period of time.

Biblical reference: Exodus 16:15-35

Answer: Cain

In the book of Genesis, Adam's son, Cain, was banished from Eden and exiled to the land of Nod for the crime of fratricide. He murdered his brother Abel. In "A Complete Collection of Genteel and Ingenious Conversation" (1738), the author Jonathan Swift used the expression "going into the land of Nod" to mean that he was going to sleep. So one might say "I'm off to the land of Nod" to indicate that one is going to bed. It does seem to be a bit strange to associate sleep, a relatively peaceful state, with a place of exile and punishment. One would assume that the land of Nod was not likely to be a peaceful or pleasant place conducive to sleep.

Cain's murder of Abel also gives rise to another idiom - "my brother's keeper". It is derived from Cain's answer to God when God enquired, "Where is Abel, thy brother?" Cain replied, "I know not. Am I my brother's keeper?" A typical example of modern usage is the negative "I am not my brother's keeper" to indicate that one is not responsible for the actions of another or for their welfare.

Another example is Barack Obama's speech during the 2004 DNC Keynote Address when he said, "It is that fundamental belief - I am my brother's keeper, I am my sister's keeper - that makes this country work. It's what allows us to pursue our individual dreams and yet still come together as one American family. E pluribus unum. Out of many, one".

Biblical reference: Genesis 4:8-16