Welcome to the King’s English

In 2011 there were many celebrations to mark the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible.

This blog was just one attempt to raise awareness about the impact of this translation on the English speaking world.  Throughout 2011 I blogged on a phrase each day that has passed into common parlance: popular phrases like “labour of love”, “beast of burden”, “wits’ end” and “scapegoat”; but also phrases that should be more popular, like “filthy lucre” and “gird up thy loins”.

Each day I’ve tried to draw us to the centre of the Scriptures – the Lord Jesus.  These are not daily pep-talks aimed at the will.  They are daily doses of the grace of Christ to warm our hearts and establish us in the truths of the gospel.

Purchase the devotional here as either a quarterly or an all-year version. Paperback, hardback and eBook versions are all available.

Below is a full list of all devotions with their associated Scriptures.

 

OT Phrases

In the beginning – Genesis 1:1

Let there be light – Genesis 1:3

Let us make man in our own image – Genesis 1:26

Be fruitful and multiply – Genesis 1:28

And Behold, it was very good – Genesis 1:31

God rested – Genesis 2:3

The breath of life – Genesis 2:7

The Garden of Eden – Genesis 2:8

Adam – Genesis 2:19

Spare Rib – Genesis 2:21

Bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh – Genesis 2:23

To leave and cleave – Genesis 2:24

One flesh – Genesis 2:24

They were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed – Genesis 2:25

Forbidden fruit – Genesis 2:17

Pride goeth before a fall – Proverbs 16:18

Fig leaves – Genesis 3:7

Dust to Dust – Genesis 3:19

The sweat of your brow – Genesis 3:19

Eve – Genesis 3:20

East of Eden – Genesis 3:24

Cherubim – Genesis 3:24

How are the mighty fallen – 2 Samuel 1:27

Knowing… In the biblical sense (Carnal knowledge) – Genesis 4:1

Am I my brother’s keeper? – Genesis 4:9

The Land of Nod – Genesis 4:16

Begat – Genesis 5:3

Methuselah – Genesis 5:22

Noah – Genesis 5:29

Two by Two – Genesis 7:9

Forty days and forty nights – Genesis 7:12

Olive branch – Genesis 8:11

Rainbow – Genesis 9:13

Tower of Babel – Genesis 11:9

Abraham – Genesis 12:1

Fear not – Genesis 15:1

Covenant – Genesis 15:18

Circumcision – Genesis 17:10

Sodom and Gomorrah – Genesis 18:20

Fire and brimstone – Genesis 19:24

Test of faith – Genesis 22:1

Coat of many colours – Genesis 37:3

The fat of the land – Genesis 45:18

A stranger in a strange land – Exodus 2:22

Burning bush – Exodus 3:2

I AM WHO I AM – Exodus 3:14

A land flowing with milk and honey – Exodus 3:8

Putting words in his mouth – Exodus 4:15

Let my people go – Exodus 5:1

Taskmasters – Exodus 5:6

Plagues (of biblical proportions) – Exodus 11:1

Hard hearted – Exodus 4:21 (Ezekiel 3:7)

Passover – Exodus 12:11

Red sea – Exodus 13:18

Fleshpots – Exodus 16:3

Bread of heaven (Manna) – Exodus 16:4

On eagle’s wings – Exodus 19:4

Thou shalt – Exodus 20:3

Graven images – Exodus 20:4

I am a jealous God – Exodus 20:5

Taking the LORD’s name in vain – Exodus 20:7

Remember the Sabbath day – Exodus 20:8

Honour thy father and thy mother – Exodus 20:12

Thou shalt not covet – Exodus 20:17

Eye for eye, tooth for tooth – Exodus 21:24

Golden Calf – Exodus 32:4

Stiffnecked – Exodus 32:9

Face to face – Exodus 33:11

Longsuffering – Exodus 34:6

High Priest – Exodus 28:1 (Leviticus 21:10)

Atonement – Leviticus 1:4

Peace offering – Leviticus 3:1

Unclean, unclean – Leviticus 13:45

Scapegoat – Leviticus 16:8

Love thy neighbour – Leviticus 19:18

God bless – Numbers 6:24

Spy out the land – Numbers 13:16

Wilderness wanderings – Numbers 14:13

Brazen serpent – Numbers 21:9

Balaam’s Ass – Numbers 22:21

Fell flat on his face – Numbers 22:31

What hath God wrought – Numbers 23:23

Thou shalt love the LORD thy God – Deuteronomy 6:5

Man does not live by bread alone – Deuteronomy 8:3

The apple of his eye – Deuteronomy 32:10

Kiss of death – Deuteronomy 34:5

Our hearts did melt – Joshua 2:11

Jordan – Joshua 3:1

Shibboleth – Judges 12:6

Samson and Delilah – Judges 16:4

Doing what is right in your own eyes – Judges 21:25

Shelter under his wings – Ruth 2:12

Messiah – 1 Samuel 2:10

God save the king – 1 Samuel 10:24

A man after his own heart – 1 Samuel 13:14

David and Goliath – 1 Samuel 17:4

David and Bathsheba – 2 Samuel 11:2

The way of all the earth – 1 Kings 2:2

Wisdom of Solomon – 1 Kings 4:29

The Queen of Sheba – 1 Kings 10:1

Put your house in order – 2 Kings 20:1

Carried away – 2 Kings 25:21

The LORD gave and the LORD hath taken away – Job 1:21

Miserable comforters – Job 16:2

Man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upwards – Job 5:7

Escaped by the skin of my teeth – Job 19:20

I know that my Redeemer liveth – Job 19:25

Gird up thy loins – Job 38:3

I repent in dust and ashes – Job 42:6

Old and full of days – Job 42:17

Blessed – Psalm 1:1

The heavens declare the glory of God – Psalm 19:1

My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken me – Psalm 22:1

Laughed to scorn – Psalm 22:7

The LORD is my Shepherd – Psalm 23:1

The valley of the shadow – Psalm 23:4

My cup runneth over – Psalm 23:5

The ends of the earth – Psalm 72:8

Bite the dust – Psalm 72:9

Strength to strength – Psalm 84:7

Three score year and ten – Psalm 90:10

As the flower of the field, so he flourisheth – Psalm 103:15

At their wits’ end – Psalm 107:27

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy – Psalm 126:5

Praise the LORD – Psalm 150:1

The words of the wise – Proverbs 1:6

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart – Proverbs 3:5

Spare the rod and spoil the child – Proverbs 13:24

Soft answer turns away wrath – Proverbs 15:1

Vanity of vanities, all is vanity – Ecclesiastes 1:2

There is nothing new under the sun – Ecclesiastes 1:9

To everything there is a season… – Ecclesiastes 3:1

Eat, drink and be merry – Ecclesiastes 8:15

Two are better than one – Ecclesiastes 4:9

A fly in the ointment – Ecclesiastes 10:1

A little bird told me – Ecclesiastes 10:20

Cast thy bread upon the waters – Ecclesiastes 11:1

Of making many books there is no end – Ecclesiastes 12:12

My beloved is mine and I am his – Song of Songs 2:16

White as snow – Isaiah 1:18

It shall come to pass – Isaiah 2:2

Swords into ploughshares – Isaiah 2:4

Woe is me – Isaiah 6:5

Immanuel – Isaiah 7:14

Unto us a child is born – Isaiah 9:6

The lion shall lie down with the lamb – Isaiah 11:6

Take root – Isaiah 37:31

A drop in the bucket – Isaiah 40:15

They shall mount up with wings as eagles – Isaiah 40:31

Seeing eye to eye – Isaiah 52:8

Led like a lamb to the slaughter – Isaiah 53:7

Rise and shine – Isaiah 60:1

Bind up the broken-hearted – Isaiah 61:1

No rest for the wicked – Isaiah 57:21

Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard – Isaiah 64:4

Holier than thou – Isaiah 65:5

A new heavens and a new earth – Isaiah 65:17

Be horribly afraid – Jeremiah 2:12

Can a leopard change its spots? – Jeremiah 13:23

Great is thy faithfulness – Lamentations 3:23

Sour grapes – Ezekiel 18:2

Thus saith the LORD – Ezekiel 37:5

Feet of clay – Daniel 2:33

The writing is on the wall – Daniel 5:5

Daniel in the lion’s den – Daniel 6:7

For ever and ever – Daniel 7:18

Play the harlot – Hosea 3:3

Reap the whirlwind – Hosea 8:7

Jonah and the whale – Jonah 1:17

Sackcloth and ashes – Jonah 3:8

From of old, from everlasting – Micah 5:2

The desire of all nations – Haggai 2:7

Prisoners of hope – Zechariah 9:12

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Christmas Phrases

Thou shalt call his name JESUS: (for he shall save his people from their sins.) – Matthew 1:21

Hail, thou that art highly favoured, (the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.) – Luke 1:28

My soul doth magnify the Lord – Luke 1:46

She wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn – Luke 2:7

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night – Luke 2:8

Mine eyes have seen thy salvation – Luke 2:30

Behold there came wise men from the east – Matthew 2:1

Gold and frankincense and myrrh – Matthew 2:11

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Other Gospel Phrases

In the beginning was the Word – John 1:1

The Word was made flesh – John 1:14

Shining light – John 5:35

Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world – John 1:29

Turning water into wine – John 2:1

Baptism of fire – Matthew 3:11

The heavens opened – Matthew 3:16

It is written – Matthew 4:4

Fishers of men – Matthew 4:19

Physician heal thyself – Luke 4:32

Verily, verily I say unto thee – John 3:3

Ye must be born again – John 3:7

Blessed are the poor in spirit – Matthew 5:3

Blessed are they that mourn – Matthew 5:4

Blessed are the meek – Matthew 5:5

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled – Matthew 5:6

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy – Matthew 5:7

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God – Matthew 5:8

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God – Matthew 5:9

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake – Matthew 5:10

The salt of the earth – Matthew 5:13

Ye are the light of the world – Matthew 5:14

Hiding your light under a bushel – Matthew 5:15

Every jot and tittle – Matthew 5:18

Hell fire – Matthew 5:22

Turn the other cheek – Matthew 5:39

Going the extra mile – Matthew 5:41

Love your enemies – Matthew 5:44

Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth – Matthew 6:3

Our Father which art in heaven – Matthew 6:9

Hallowed be thy name – Matthew 6:9

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven – Matthew 6:10

Give us this day our daily bread – Matthew 6:11

Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors – Matthew 6:12

Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil – Matthew 6:13

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen – Matthew 6:13

Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also – Matthew 6:21

Ye cannot serve God and mammon – Matthew 6:24

Take no thought – Matthew 6:25

Consider the lilies – Matthew 6:28

Seek ye first the kingdom of God – Matthew 6:33

Judge not, that ye be not judged – Matthew 7:1

The mote and the beam – Matthew 7:4

Pearls before swine – Matthew 7:6

Seek and ye shall find – Matthew 7:7

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you – Matthew 7:12

Strait and narrow – Matthew 7:13

Wolf in sheep’s clothing – Matthew 7:15

By their fruits ye shall know them – Matthew 7:16

Building on sand – Matthew 7:26

Outer darkness – Matthew 8:12

Weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth – Matthew 8:12

God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son… – John 3:16

…that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life – John 3:16

O ye of little faith – Matthew 8:26

Be of good cheer – Matthew 9:2

They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick – Luke 5:31

Wise as serpents, harmless as doves – Matthew 10:16

I send you forth as lambs among wolves – Matthew 10:16

He that findeth his life shall lose it – Matthew 10:39

The very hairs of your head are all numbered – Matthew 10:30

Shout it from the rooftops – Matthew 10:27

The friend of sinners – Luke 7:34

My name is Legion, for we are many – Mark 5:9

Good Samaritan – Luke 10:33

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest – Matthew 11:28

He that hath ears to hear, let him hear – Matthew 11:15 (Matthew 13)

Fell by the way side – Matthew 13:4

Pearl of great price – Matthew 13:46

The head of John the Baptist – Mark 6:24

The crumbs under thy table – Matthew 15:27

A man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions – Luke 12:15

Highways and hedges – Luke 14:23

Cross to bear – Luke 14:27

Lost sheep – Luke 15:4

Prodigal son – Luke 15:12

The far country – Luke 15:13

Safe and sound – Luke 15:27

Fatted calf – Luke 15:23

He was lost and is found – Luke 15:32

Dives and Lazarus – Luke 16:19-20

Feeding the Five Thousand – Mark 6:44

I am the Bread of Life – John 6:35

The keys of the kingdom – Matthew 16:19

Get thee behind me Satan – Matthew 16:23

What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? – Matthew 16:26

Transfigured – Matthew 17:2

Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief – Mark 9:24

He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her – John 8:7

I am the Light of the world – John 8:12

Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free – John 8:32

I am the Good Shepherd – John 10:11

What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder – Matthew 19:6

Suffer little children, and forbid them not – Matthew 19:14

Camel through the eye of a needle – Matthew 19:24

Regeneration – Matthew 19:28

Jesus wept – John 11:35

A millstone about his neck – Matthew 18:6

The last shall be first and the first last – Matthew 20:16

Many are called, few are chosen – Matthew 22:14

Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass – Matthew 21:5

Den of thieves – Matthew 21:13

Out of the mouths of babes – Matthew 21:16

Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s – Mark 12:17

They do not practise what they preach – Matthew 23:3

The blind leading the blind – Matthew 23:16 (Luke 6:39)

Strain at a gnat and swallow a camel – Matthew 23:24

Whited sepulchres – Matthew 23:27

I would have gathered thy children together as a hen gathereth her chickens – Matthew 23:37

Wars and rumours of wars – Mark 13:7

Signs of the times – Matthew 16:3

Talents – Matthew 25:15

Well done, thou good and faithful servant – Matthew 25:21

Sheep and goats – Matthew 25:32

Foot washing – John 13:1

In my Father’s house are many mansions – John 14:2

I am the way, the truth and the life – John 14:6

I am the Vine, ye are the branches – John 15:1

Greater love hath no man than this – John 15:13

Jesus took bread and blessed it – Matthew 26:26

This is my body – Matthew 26:26

This is my blood – Matthew 26:28

Abba, Father – Mark 14:36

Let this cup pass from me – Matthew 26:39

The spirit is willing, the flesh is weak – Matthew 26:41

Betrayed with a kiss – Luke 22:48

Thirty pieces of silver – Matthew 27:3

My kingdom is not of this world – John 18:36

Crucify him, crucify him – Luke 23:21

Pilate washed his hands – Matthew 27:24

Crown of thorns – Matthew 27:29

Hail King of the Jews – Matthew 27:29

Father, forgive them they know not what they do – Luke 23:34

Gave up the ghost – John 19:30

It is finished – John 19:30

He is not here, he is risen – Matthew 28:6

Doubting Thomas – John 20:24

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost – Matthew 28:19

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Rest of NT

The fruit of his loins – Acts 2:30

Cut to the heart – Acts 2:37 (Acts 5:33)

Damascus Road Experience – Acts 9:3

Turned the world upside down – Acts 17:6

In him we live and move and have our being – Acts 17:28

It is more blessed to give than to receive – Acts 20:35

Saints – Romans 1:7

A law unto themselves – Romans 2:14

Hope against hope – Romans 4:18

God forbid – Romans 6:2

The wages of sin is death – Romans 6:23

Vengeance is mine – Romans 12:19

O wretched man that I am! – Romans 7:24

The powers that be – Romans 13:1

Stumbling block – 1 Corinthians 1:23

The time is short – 1 Corinthians 7:29

All things to all men – 1 Corinthians 9:22

Faith that can move mountains – 1 Corinthians 13:2

Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things – 1 Corinthians 13:7

Now we see through a glass darkly – 1 Corinthians 13:12

Faith, hope and love – 1 Corinthians 13:13

In the twinkling of an eye – 1 Corinthians 15:52

O death where is thy sting – 1 Corinthians 15:55

Letter of the law – 2 Corinthians 3:6

Suffer fools gladly – 2 Corinthians 11:19

A thorn in my flesh – 2 Corinthians 12:7

Anathema – Galatians 1:8 (1 Corinthians 16:22)

A man reaps what he sows – Galatians 6:7

The unsearchable riches of Christ – Ephesians 3:8

Let not the sun go down on your wrath – Ephesians 4:26

Likeminded – Philippians 2:2

Passeth all understanding – Philippians 4:7

Bowels of mercies – Colossians 3:12

Labour of love – 1 Thessalonians 1:3

Filthy lucre – 1 Timothy 3:3

Money is the root of all evil – 1 Timothy 6:10

Itching ears – 2 Timothy 4:3

Fight the good fight – 2 Timothy 4:7

Finish the course – 2 Timothy 4:7

Keep the faith – 2 Timothy 4:7

Twoedged sword – Hebrews 4:12

Once and for all – Hebrews 10:10

This is “the life” – 1 John 1:2

Dearly beloved – 1 John 4:7

God is love – 1 John 4:8

Alpha and Omega – Revelation 1:8

Bottomless pit – Revelation 9:11

Armageddon – Revelation 16:16

Alleluia – Revelation 19:1

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