Common phrases that misquote or misrepresent Bible verses

After a recent conversation with a friend of mine, I wanted to right about many misquoted Bible verses as well as sayings that are not in the Biblical. I found some phrases which were taken out of verses but removed portions of the verse that it doesn’t give the full message of what the verse is trying to convey. Some verses aren’t Biblical at all but since the phrase references God, many people are lead to believe that they appear in the Bible. I have chosen a few out of the many I found online. These are the most common verses or phrases that I found across the board.

• The Lion shall lay down with the lamb. This phrase doesn’t not actually appear in the Bible. The closet verse is Isaiah 11:6 which says “The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.” Despite the misquotation, the image is still the same. While saying the lion will lay down with the lamb is technically wrong, the image is still powerful and conveys the same message as Isaiah 11:6. The once predators will be at peace and live in harmony with the once prey. It is a time when nature will return to its intended balance and harmony. The time of Christ’s second coming and his established earthly kingdom.
• Money is the root of all evil. This is a bad misquotation of 1 Timothy 6:10 which says “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” When this verse is quoting many people leave out certain key words: love, a, and kinds. Greed can lead to all kinds of trouble. However, money itself is not the root of all evil. Money is a necessity of life. We need it to live, eat, pay for our homes and clothes. If you go to the previous verse, verse 9 states “People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction {emphasis mine).” Money should be handled respectfully and carefully.
• Spare the rod, spoil the child. This is a paraphrase of Proverbs 13:24 which says “Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who lives their children is careful to discipline them.” This phrase has been the justification for physical discipline. However, the verse is not stating that a parent has the right to beat their child into submission. The verse states that discipline is a nurturing guidance for child. Without correction, children grow up to be adults without a sense of right or wrong. The phrase was actually coined by Samuel Butler, a 17^th century British poet in a satirical poem Hudibras: “What medicine else can cure the fits/ Of lovers when they lose their wits?/ Love is a boy by poets styled/Then spare the rod and spoil the child.” In the poem, a love affair is compared to a child, and spanking is mockingly applauded as a way to make the love grow stronger.
• All things work together for good. This phrase is taken from Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” God works in all things for our good, not just isolated occurrences. When evil occurs in our lives, God is able to turn every situation into a good. We may not see the good until much later. God is not working to make us happy or make all things right. He does it to fulfill his purpose and for those who love him. Also this promise isn’t for everyone, the verse specifically states it is for those who are called according to his purpose. Those who have received Jesus and been touched by the Holy Spirit. Those who love him and trust in him.

• God works in mysterious ways. There is no actual verse which states this and there are several verses that allude to this idea. For example, Isaiah 55:8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.” Another example is Romans 11:33-34 “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” In both verses, the authors are telling believers that we cannot know why events happen the way they do for we do not think the way he does. Where this phrase originated from has been debated; however, one source is thought to be a hymn written by William Cowper in 19^th century "God moves in a mysterious ways; His wonders to perform; He plans His footsteps in the sea, and rides upon the storm."
• Pride comes before the fall. This phrase is taken from Proverbs 16:18. However, it is a bad paraphrase as it takes out the middle of the verse. The verse actually says “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” Destruction is the end result of pride. A haughty spirit is the sense of arrogance, superiority and being disdainful. Pride and a haughty spirit leads to an over sense of self-confidence and the feeling that one does not need God. This attitude leads to carelessness and eventual destruction and fall. In contrast, Proverbs 15:33 states “The fear of the Lord teaches a man wisdom and humility comes before honor.” So it is not just pride which leads to the fall, it is a haughty spirit. Pride isn’t necessarily a bad thing; however, when pride is boastful, self-centered, and blinds you to your own faults and limitations can lead to very bad results.
• God helps those who help themselves. It is a phrase that emphasizes the importance of self-initiative and action. This phrase doesn’t appear in the Bible at all. The phrase originated in Ancient Greece and is illustrated in the fable Hercules and the Waggoner as well as Ancient Greek drama. However, there are verses which have been used to support the claim that the idea of this phrase is in the Bible. One example is 2 Thessalonians 3:10, Paul writes “For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: ‘If a man will not work, he shall not eat.’” Paul is speaking against laziness and skirting responsibility. Paul is telling them and us to be responsible and get back to work. I think using this verse to support the phrase is a bit of a stretch.
• Cleanliness is next to godliness. This phrase does not originate from the Bible. In my research, I found claims that the phrase originated from an ancient Babylonian and Hebrew proverb; however, I’ve been unable to find proof to this claim. It was first used in English by Sir Francis Bacon in Advancement of Leaning (1605) where he said “Cleanliness of body was ever deemed to proceed from due reverence to God.” It was further popularized by John Wesley in a 1778 sermon. The Bible does not speak to outward cleanliness with a connection to godliness. In Matthew 7:18-23, Jesus makes it clear that it is man’s hearts that are unclean. Many of the online responses and comments I came across seem to interpret the phrase as cleansing in the body, mind and in spirit through physical washing, meditation and confession. It’s not a bad phrase to live by; but it’s not in the Bible.

In conclusion, it is very easy to take a verse from the Bible and turn it into a catchy, feel good phrase that makes everyone warm and fuzzy. As we’ve seen with a few of the phrases I’ve highlighted, taking key words or phrases from the verse removes the whole picture of the main message. People misquote phrases all the time, especially with a certain phrase being repeated for centuries, it becomes a part of our lexicon. However, what astonishes me is that many of these phrases are quoted by people who claim to have Biblical knowledge. If you are going to quote anything, the Bible or another’s work, make sure you understand the context in which it is given. It makes a world of difference in some cases. 

Proverbs: the book of wisdom

Proverbs. The book of wisdom. There are so many wise sayings in this book which cover every aspect of life. From moral behavior to life values to correct conduct. The proverbs are instructions to live a godly and wisdom filled life. Many of them we are very familiar with like “spare the rod, spoil the child” (Proverbs 13:24) and “pride goes before the destruction” (Proverbs 16:18). The Hebrew word for proverbs is mashal which translates as a parable with a moral lesson. The proverbs are often written in couplets and constructed in three ways: contrasting, comparison, and complementary.

First, contrasting proverbs use the keyword “but,” to give meaning and an application between the different statements. For examples, Proverbs 12:4 says “A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.” The word “but” gives distinction to a wife of noble character versus a disgraceful wife. To be noble is to have or show fine personal qualities or high moral principles and ideals. To be virtuous, strong, and diligent is bring honor to her husband. Thus, to be a crown is to be an honor and beautify her husband. The contrast or opposite of a noble wife is a disgraceful wife who essentially poisons his life. She deprives him of his strength, honor and by not being a helpmate, his life. Another example of a contrasting proverb is Proverb 15:28 “The heart of the righteous man weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.” This proverb speaks of the important of thinking about what you want to say before actually saying it. A righteous man will think about the impact of his words while a wicked man would just say them without regard to the damage it may cause.

Second, comparison proverbs express the meaning and application of two similar statements. The keywords to look for here is “as/so” and “better/than.” For example, Proverbs 15:17 states “Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred.” Having a meal with meat was a symbol of your wealth and social standing. Here God is saying it is better to eat a simple meal and be surrounded by love than eating a complex meal and be surrounded by not so loving feelings. A meal surrounded by love also sits better in the stomach and digests well. Imagine eating a complex meal surrounded by negative feelings, the body will react and the food doesn’t sit well in the body as it digests. Another example, Proverbs 27:19, “As water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man.” When I read this proverb, I see it as just like water, a nature’s mirror, reflects, a man’s heart is reflected in his face. So if the heart is loving and caring, you will be able to see it in the face. If the heart is cold and cruel, the face will reflect such a heart.

Third, complementing proverbs is when the meaning and application comes from the way the second statement complements the first. The keyword to look for is “and.” For example, Proverbs 19:20 “Listen to advice and accept instructions, and in the end you will be wise.” This proverb tells us to be willing and open to advice and instruction and the lessons learned will be wisdom for later in life. Even if you don’t follow the advice, being open to listening to advice allows you to hear different aspects and avenues you can take. Of course, when you trust the person giving the advice helps with being open to the advice. Another example, Proverbs 17:27, “A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered.” This proverb highlights benefits of keeping quiet. Sometimes it is the best policy to keep quiet when you really don’t have anything to say. Keeping silent allows you to listen and learn. Pausing to listen and learn, before speaking, can lead to something important to say. Pausing before speaking can also help saying words you may regret in the future.

In conclusion, the book of Proverbs is a book filled with wisdom for life. Quick lessons to heed and follow. Once you understand the structure of a particular proverb, you can understand the advice it offers. Remember that contrasting proverbs use the word “but” and contrasts two opposing behaviors. Comparison proverbs use the word combinations of “as/so” and “better/than” and compare two opposing behaviors or situations. And Complementary proverbs use the word “and” and applies two behaviors or situations which are compatible. 

Spanking is not a laughing matter

Spanking is defined as the striking of the buttocks, thigh or hand of a child to cause temporary pain as punishment for unacceptable behavior. Spanking is a hot topic among parents. Some parents believe that spanking is the only way to get their children to behave. I, however, do not believe that spanking or corporal punishment works in the long run. Spanking is for the here and now and does not deter future misbehavior. The most disturbing aspect of spanking is that some parents still use corporal punishment when their children are well into their teenage years. There is a point when spanking stops being effective. I have also heard many people make jokes about the corporal punishment they received as kids especially the objects they were hit with. This is not a laughing matter. As someone who sees the effects of such punishment every day, it is not a topic you can joke about.

Studies have shown that corporal punishment has long term psychological effects on a child and on his or her brain. A recent study out of Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario has shown that corporal punishment can effect a child’s cognitive development and may reduce the grey matter of the brain. Other studies have shown a link between the use of corporal punishment and aggression in children. Long term corporal punishment has been shown to cause lasting emotional damage as well as inhibiting the learning process. It can undermine the trust between parent and child and can breed hostility toward authority figures. Despite what the picture below states, spanking doesn't teach respect for others. You can teach respect by showing respect. 

I believe that a quick smack on the thigh or hand to warn the child of danger such as getting too close to the stove or to get their attention for a bad behavior is OK. However, a parents needs to talk to their child to explain why he or she is being punished and why the behavior is unacceptable. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends, “Parents should explain calmly why they did it, the specific behavior that provoked it, and how angry they felt.” For my husband and I, we feel spanking is the last resort when punishing our two year old daughter. For instance, she has a toy broom that she likes to play with as we sweep the floor. But lately, she has been swinging it around like a sword and in danger of hitting someone or breaking something. We first take the toy away for a period of time while we let her know why the toy has been taken away. After maybe a day, we’ll get it back to her. She has continued to swing the broom that we have taken the toy away permanently. Has she learned her lesson? Maybe not but she can have the toy back when she understands that she cannot swing toys around and hit someone or something. And when she’s older, she’ll lose privileges for misbehavior.

I have spanked my daughter when I was angry and I immediately regret doing so. I hate that I may be teaching her to hit when she’s angry instead of talking it out. If I do spanking her, I immediately kneel down so we see eye to eye and I calmly talk to her about why I hit her and what she did was wrong. I also apologize for hitting her that I don’t like doing it.

Parenting is not an easy job. You have to make decision that you may not know the lasting effects. I know that parents are doing the best job they can. Some parents will quote Proverbs 13:24 (NIV) "Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them." However, this is verse is talking about careful discipline and does not give parents license to beat their child. The point is to discipline your child in a way that they learn correct behavior. I believe that spanking as the only form of punishment sends the wrong message and confuses children that they never learn what is correct behavior. People will also try and say that the Bible says, "spare the rod and spoil the child" which is not true. This phrase never appears in the Bible. It is actually from a poem by Samuel Butler called Hudibras published in 1664. 

My point is if a parent is going to use spanking or corporal punishment, please do so with careful consideration and understand what your limits and boundaries are. The last thing you want to do is go to far. Our children are the best legacy we can leave to the world.