Coined by God: Words and Phrases That First Appear in English Translations of the Bible
From "appetite" to "liberty," the Bible has been one of the richest sources for introducing words and concepts into the English language. Even the names of the biblical books, from "Genesis" to "Revelation," have enlarged the English vocabulary. Not only did hundreds of words come into English when biblical translators used them, but so did dozens of now common phrases, from "blood money" to "salt of the earth." The authors cite chapter and verse and trace the words right up to today's...
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A word lover's delight: 150 entries, with meanings and sources, first published in English translations of the Bible. Publishers Weekly Salt of the earth. Peace offering. Scapegoat. Holier than thou. These English expressions all made their debut in the Good Book. In Coined by God: Words and Phrases That First Appear in the English Translations of the Bible, Stanley Malless and Jeffrey McQuain trace the origins of 131 words and phrases that were first published in English translations of the Bible. Some entries are quite surprising; the word "female," for example, first appeared in the printed English language in Wycliffe's 1382 translation of the Bible, and the now-hackneyed adjective "beautiful" debuted in Tyndale's 1526 New Testament. Other expressions are clearly tied to their biblical roots, such as "no man can serve two masters," "two-edged sword," and "eat, drink, and be merry." This book, conveniently arranged from A to Z, is a treasure trove of lexicographical information. As Shakespeare said in Hamlet, "sweet religion makes a rhapsody of words." Copyright 2003 Cahners Business Information.
\ Publishers WeeklySalt of the earth. Peace offering. Scapegoat. Holier than thou. These English expressions all made their debut in the Good Book. In Coined by God: Words and Phrases That First Appear in the English Translations of the Bible, Stanley Malless and Jeffrey McQuain trace the origins of 131 words and phrases that were first published in English translations of the Bible. Some entries are quite surprising; the word "female," for example, first appeared in the printed English language in Wycliffe's 1382 translation of the Bible, and the now-hackneyed adjective "beautiful" debuted in Tyndale's 1526 New Testament. Other expressions are clearly tied to their biblical roots, such as "no man can serve two masters," "two-edged sword," and "eat, drink, and be merry." This book, conveniently arranged from A to Z, is a treasure trove of lexicographical information. As Shakespeare said in Hamlet, "sweet religion makes a rhapsody of words." Copyright 2003 Cahners Business Information.\ \ \ \ \ Library JournalAn account of 150 locutions from genesis to salt of the earth that debuted in English translations of the Bible; from a professor of education and a researcher for the New York Times Magazine's "On Language" column, respectively. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.\ \
