In our everyday lives, it is obvious that we find the Bible important in a religious context. However, did you know that the Bible also had a profound influence on the English language, helping in shaping its vocabulary, idioms, literature, and cultural expressions over centuries? Being one of the most widely read and translated texts in history, the Bible’s impact extends beyond religious contexts into everyday communication.

        English Bible translations were known earliest in the Old English period. During that time, only some of the Bible was translated by monks and scholars. In the Middle Ages, an important milestone was seen when John Wycliffe and his followers hand-copied and translated the Bible into Middle English in the  1380s. This was the first complete English-language Bible, translated from the Latin Vulgate, making the Scripture accessible to English-speaking people. After that, the invention of the printing press accelerated Bible translation into Modern English. During that time, the culmination of the era was the King James Version in 1611.

It became a literary masterpiece admired for its poetic and memorable phrasing. Many English idioms and expressions commonly used today originated or gained popularity through biblical language. Phrases such as “The powers that be,” “by the skin of your teeth,” and “a thorn in the flesh” show how Biblical texts have enriched English idiomatic speech. The impact of the Bible on English vocabulary is shown in numerous words and concepts related to morality, justice, and human experience, which have biblical roots. Words such as “atonement,” “salvation,” “prophecy,” and “blasphemy” carry meanings shaped by theological contexts and biblical usage.

        The Bible has served as a foundational reference for many writers and poets. Authors such as John Milton, William Blake, and T.S. Eliot drew heavily on biblical themes, allusions, and symbolism in their works. The Bible’s narratives and moral lessons have informed literary plots, characters, and motifs, enriching the depth and complexity of English writings. Not only in literature, the Bible has influenced the ways people express ideas in speeches, sermons, and public interaction. Its powerful imagery and style have been utilized by speakers to inspire, persuade, and convey ethical principles. This shows the Bible’s role in not only shaping language but also cultural values embedded in the English-speaking world.

References: 

McIntyre, Dan. 2020. History of English: A Resource Book for Students. New York: Routledge.

Content Writer: Paulina Angelica Putri

Editor: Arinda Risma Wardani