*****
A MUST-READ FOR ANYONE INTERESTED IN THE RICHNESS OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND ITS SOURCES,
For Christians and non -Christians alike, historians and linguists and those who have an inquiring mind: this book is a delight to dip into or to immerse oneself in. For each book of the King James Bible one is treated to a well-known phrase in the english vocabulary, its original context and its relevance through history to the modern world. A book for the curious....where do phrases such as 'the blind leading the blind', 'the writing on the wall' and 'wheels within wheels ' originally come from? In his relaxed and informative style Richard Noble treats you to the answers. Each chapter whets the appetite for the next...... We are also given wonderfully succinct and useful summaries of the composition and chronology of the Old Testament, the relevance of the Intertestamental Period and the amazing story of God's revelation in the New Testament.
*****
Clichés, expressions, and idioms, they can be the apple of your eye, or a thorn in your flesh - but do you know where these seemingly meaningless phrases originate? If not, this is the perfect book to guide you off to the land of nod.
*****
What an intriguing book. We can't recall reading another book quite like it. We found out things that we never knew before. We couldn't believe how many day to day sayings have their source in the bible. Moreover it is obvious that Richard has thoroughly researched his subject. Initially we wanted to challenge his view of the first account of Paul's conversion in Acts 9 only to find that the Greek New Testament confirms Richards's comments, although surprisingly the NIV doesn't. There are, as one would expect, comments that show Richards style of churchmanship but these cannot be faulted. It's the type of book that you think you might not read all the way through in one go, but use more as a reference book but actually once you started you just had to keep on looking at what else the book contained. However it is definitely a book that you are likely to refer back to. A fascinating study of commonly used phrases . Rob and Jean Clark.
*****
'He was in by the skin of his teeth' said the cricket commentator. Have you ever wondered where such a phrase originated? Richard Noble's engrossing book gives not only the meaning but places it in the context of the particular book of the bible. Over 60 phrases from the King James version of the Bible we frequently use are explored. Valuable for anyone interested in the English language or in the biblical background. In an recent interesting tv programme about William Tyndale, the translator of the bible into English, Melvin Bragg remarked on the number of phrases which have come into everyday use. Here they are to discover more about them and enjoy!
For Christians and non-Christians alike, historians and linguists and those who have an inquiring mind: this book is a delight to dip into or to immerse oneself in. For each book of the King James Bible one is treated to a well-known phrase in the English vocabulary, its original context and its relevance through history to the modern world. ...Where do phrases such as 'the blind leading the blind', 'the writing on the wall' and 'wheels within wheels' originally come from? In his relaxed and informative style Richard Noble treats you to the answers. Each chapter whets the appetite for the next... We are also given wonderfully succinct and useful summaries of the composition and chronology of the Old Testament, the relevance of the Intertestamental Period and the amazing story of God's revelation in the New Testament.
It isn't until someone does something like this that one realises the almost limitless depths of the King James Bible. ... Richard Noble's remarks on his extractions are brilliant - quite exceptional and quite enthralling. And of great use when writing sermons!
This is a fascinating book. It would be a great gift, and not just for Christians, but for anyone who loves the language of the bible ... The introductions to the books of the Bible are well researched and concise, inspiring the reader to pick up a bible and read more, and the vignettes about the chosen phrases are memorable and draw on a huge frame of reference in political, social and literary life. This is the kind of book you could buy to read yourself, and then when you've finished, leave it lying around for others to pick up and be fascinated by.
