Deliberate Misuse of Idioms in the Biblical Narrative

Idioms are the building blocks of any language, both spoken and primarily written. Many authors intentionally change these idioms, thereby incorporating sophisticated wordplay in their works. A known idiom can be altered in three fundamental ways: an unexpected word may be substituted for a familiar one; the syntax may be changed; and the expression may be placed in a new context that provides unique meaning. This article traces the altering of idioms in the biblical narrative, while pointing out how this intentionally contributes to the literary design, for when this phenomenon occurs it surprises the reader, drawing his attention to a meaningful idea.