《圣經(jīng)》里的語言
《圣經(jīng)》是西方世界的歷史,社會(huì)和文化的集中體現(xiàn),《圣經(jīng)》中的一些語言已經(jīng)滲透到英語的日常生活用語當(dāng)中,了解這些語言,將有助于我們更好的與西方人交流,也會(huì)幫助我們更好的理解英美文學(xué)作品。
一、運(yùn)用《圣經(jīng)》中特指的動(dòng)物進(jìn)行表述
1、A little bird told me.一只小鳥告訴我。
From: The Book of Ecclesiastes《傳道書》
Do not curse the king, even in your thoughts; do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom; for a bird of the air may carry your voice, and a bird in flight may tell the matter.
此言喻指“有人(私下)告訴我,消息不脛而走”。
Example: --How do you know this information?
--A little bird told me.
2、The leopard won't change its spots.豹子不會(huì)改變身上的斑點(diǎn)。
From: The Book of Jeremiah《邱利亞書》
Can the Ethiopion change its skin, or the leopard its spots? Then may ye also do good,
that are accustomed to do evil. Therefore I will scatter them like stubble that passes away by the wind of the wilderness.
此言喻指:本性難改
Example: I think Jim will reform himself, but Tom won't, as a leopard won't change its spots.
3、Balaam's donkey 巴蘭的驢
From: The Book of Numbers《民數(shù)記》
So the donkey said to Balaam,"Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden, ever since I became yours,to this day? Was I ever disposed to do this to you?"
此言喻指“平素沉默馴服而突然提出抗議的人”。
Example: I don't think Jim is Balaam's donkey.
4、a lion in the road 道上有獅子
From: The Book of Proverbs《箴言》
Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. The lazy man says,"There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion is in the streets!"
此言喻指:“攔路虎,可怕的障礙”等
Example: A lion in the road, so he did't pass the examination.
5、Sheep that have no shepherd 沒有牧人的羊群
From: The First Book of Kings 《列王記(上)》
I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, like sheep that have no shepherd. And the lord said:"These have no master. Let each of them return to his house in peace."
此言喻指:“群龍無首,沒有領(lǐng)頭人的群眾”。
Example: Our group is like sheep having no shepherd in this match.
二、運(yùn)用《圣經(jīng)》中特指的人物進(jìn)行表述。
1、Adam and Eve 亞當(dāng)和夏娃
From: The Book of Genesis 《創(chuàng)世記》
And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from the man He made into a woman and brought her to the man.
[喻]祖先,人類始祖
Example: Tom's grandma lived to be over a hundred,----lived to be Adam and Eve, as they say.
2、Lot's wife 羅德的妻子
From: The Book of Genesis《創(chuàng)世紀(jì)》
When the Lord began to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, he sent two angels to urge the goodman Lot and his family to flee and warned them not to turn their head in flight.
But too curious to see what was happening to her home city, his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.(其中Sodom和Gomorrah均是因居民罪孽深重而被上帝焚毀的古城)
[喻]過分好奇的人
Example: Curious as Lot's wife, Helen can't get along well with her classmates.
3、Moses 摩西
From: The Book of Exadus《出埃及記》
Moses led the Jews out of Egypt.
[喻]領(lǐng)導(dǎo)者,領(lǐng)袖
Example: In this war, you are our Moses.
4、Samaritan 撒馬利亞人
From: The Gospel According to Luke《路加福音》
But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was,and when he saw him, he had compassion on him. And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine,and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
[喻]樂善好施者
Example: this poor man begged,"you good Samaritan, have pity on me!"
5、Saul and David 掃羅和大衛(wèi)
From: The Book of Samuel 《撒母耳記》
In the battle with the philistines, David killed many with stones, on his triumphant return, women sang,”Saul has slained his thousands and David his ten thousands," which made Saul the king very jealous.
[喻]不可同日而語,有天壤之別
Example: Compared with John, I did very little indeed. Saul has slained his thousands and David his ten thousands.
三、運(yùn)用特指的建筑物名稱、地名、城市名等進(jìn)行表述。
1、Garden of Eden 伊甸園
From: The Book of Genesis 《創(chuàng)世紀(jì)》
Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to tend and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying,"Of every tree of good and eveil you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."
[喻]人間天堂,樂園
Example: This place is thought the Garden of Eden by youg people.
2、Tower of Babel 巴別塔
From: The Book of Genesis 《創(chuàng)世紀(jì)》
So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city. therefore its name is called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of th earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.
[喻]空想、空中樓閣
Example: They think Mike's plan is the tower of Babel.
3、a land of flowing with milk and honey 流奶與蜜之地
From: The Book of Exodus 《出埃及記》
So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey.
[喻]富饒之地、魚米之鄉(xiāng)
Example: His hometown is considered to be a nice place, a land flowing with milk and honey.
四、運(yùn)用特指的日常生活用品進(jìn)行表述。
1、Aaron's rod 亞倫的杖
From: The Book of Exodus 《出埃及記》
"And you shall write Aaron's name on the rod of Levi, for there shall be one rod of the head of each father's house."
[喻]大權(quán)在握
Example: What do you want if you are given Aaron's rod?
2、a widow's cruse 寡婦的壇子
From: the Book of Kings 《列王記》
And she said,"Your maidservant has nothing in the house, but a jar of oil." Then he(Elisha) said,"Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors--empty vessels; do not gather just a few. ... then pour it into all those vessels, and set aside the full ones."
[喻]貌似有限但取之不竭的財(cái)源
Example: In Susan's courtyard, the little well is a widow's cruse, which never dries, even in the severe season of drought.
3、coat of many colors 彩衣
From: The Book of Genesis 《創(chuàng)世記》
Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age, and he made him a coat of many colors.
[喻]恩寵
Example: In our classroom, Liu Tao is the one wearing a coat of many colors before our teacher.
五、兩種熟悉的事物合用, 表述一種含義。
1、pillar of cloud and pillar of fire 云柱和火柱
From: The Book of Exodus 《出埃及記》
And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by the day and night.
[喻]指路明燈
Example: Jane regard her teachers as pillars of cloud and pillars of fire in her life.珍妮把她的老師們當(dāng)作自己人生的指路明燈。
2、loaves and fishes 面包和魚
From: The Gospel According to John 《約翰福音》
And when they found Him on th other side of the sea, they said to Him,"Rabbi, when did You come here?" Jesus answered them and said,"Most assuredly, I tell you, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled."
[喻]物質(zhì)利益、實(shí)惠、好處
Example: They seek office, not to be useful to the state, but for the loaves and fishes.他們謀求工職,不是為了對(duì)國家有用,而是為了個(gè)人私利。
3、dove and olive leaf 鴿子和橄欖枝
From: The Book of Genesis 《創(chuàng)世紀(jì)》
And he waited yet another seven days, and again he sent the dove out from the ark. Then the dove came to him in the evening, and behold, a freshly plucked olive leaf was in her mouth; and Noah knew that the waters had receded from the earth.
[喻]和平,和解
Example: They are flying flag of dove and olive leaf instead of war.他們提出要和平,而不是要戰(zhàn)爭。
1. a drop in the bucket 滄海一粟;九牛一毛
Behold, the nations are as a drop in a bucket, and are counted as the small dust on the balance; look, He lifts up the isles as a very little thing. Isaial 40:15 看哪,萬民都象水桶的一滴,又算如天平上的微塵;他舉起眾海島,好像極微之物。(<以賽亞書>40章15節(jié))
The amount being spent on scientific research is a drop in the bucket. 花在科學(xué)研究上的費(fèi)用是微不足道的。
2. a fly in the ointment 美中不足;使人掃興的小事
Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savor: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honor. Ecclesiastes 10:1 死蒼蠅使作香的膏油發(fā)出臭氣。這樣,-點(diǎn)愚昧,也能敗壞智慧和尊榮((傳道書>10章1節(jié))
I find the house wonderful, but there is a fly in the ointment--it is too far from the town. 我覺得那所房子非常好,但是有-點(diǎn)美中不足,就是離市區(qū)太遠(yuǎn)了。
Your new job sounds too good to be true--interesting work, high pay, short hours. Isn't there any fly in the ointment?你的新工作好得難以置信.有趣味,工資高,工時(shí)短。有沒有什么美中不足呢?
3.a grain of mustard seed 一粒芥種;大有前途的微小事物
Another parable He put forth to them, saying:"The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field." Matthew 13:31他又設(shè)個(gè)比喻對(duì)他們說;“天國好像一粒芥菜種,有人拿去種在田里! (《馬大福音》13章31節(jié))
Mistakes of policy, which were perhaps the mustard seed when committed, grew into mighty trees of mischief.--Daily Telegraph政策上的錯(cuò)誤,初犯時(shí)可能是毫厘之差,終會(huì)釀成滔天大禍。--《每日電訊報(bào)》
This fevered hope had grown up again like a grain of mustard seed--Thomas Hardy 這個(gè)強(qiáng)烈的希望就好像一粒芥菜種那樣又長出來了。--托馬斯.哈代
四、運(yùn)用特指的日常生活用品進(jìn)行表述。
1、Aaron's rod 亞倫的杖
From: The Book of Exodus 《出埃及記》
"And you shall write Aaron's name on the rod of Levi, for there shall be one rod of the head of each father's house."
[喻]大權(quán)在握
Example: What do you want if you are given Aaron's rod?
2、a widow's cruse 寡婦的壇子
From: the Book of Kings 《列王記》
And she said,"Your maidservant has nothing in the house, but a jar of oil." Then he(Elisha) said,"Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors--empty vessels; do not gather just a few. ... then pour it into all those vessels, and set aside the full ones."
[喻]貌似有限但取之不竭的財(cái)源
Example: In Susan's courtyard, the little well is a widow's cruse, which never dries, even in the severe season of drought.
3、coat of many colors 彩衣
From: The Book of Genesis 《創(chuàng)世記》
Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age, and he made him a coat of many colors.
[喻]恩寵
Example: In our classroom, Liu Tao is the one wearing a coat of many colors before our teacher.
五、兩種熟悉的事物合用, 表述一種含義。
1、pillar of cloud and pillar of fire 云柱和火柱
From: The Book of Exodus 《出埃及記》
And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by the day and night.
[喻]指路明燈
Example: Jane regard her teachers as pillars of cloud and pillars of fire in her life.珍妮把她的老師們當(dāng)作自己人生的指路明燈。
2、loaves and fishes 面包和魚
From: The Gospel According to John 《約翰福音》
And when they found Him on th other side of the sea, they said to Him,"Rabbi, when did You come here?" Jesus answered them and said,"Most assuredly, I tell you, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled."
[喻]物質(zhì)利益、實(shí)惠、好處
Example: They seek office, not to be useful to the state, but for the loaves and fishes.他們謀求工職,不是為了對(duì)國家有用,而是為了個(gè)人私利。
3、dove and olive leaf 鴿子和橄欖枝
From: The Book of Genesis 《創(chuàng)世紀(jì)》
And he waited yet another seven days, and again he sent the dove out from the ark. Then the dove came to him in the evening, and behold, a freshly plucked olive leaf was in her mouth; and Noah knew that the waters had receded from the earth.
[喻]和平,和解
Example: They are flying flag of dove and olive leaf instead of war.他們提出要和平,而不是要戰(zhàn)爭。
1. a drop in the bucket 滄海一粟;九牛一毛
Behold, the nations are as a drop in a bucket, and are counted as the small dust on the balance; look, He lifts up the isles as a very little thing. Isaial 40:15 看哪,萬民都象水桶的一滴,又算如天平上的微塵;他舉起眾海島,好像極微之物。(<以賽亞書>40章15節(jié))
The amount being spent on scientific research is a drop in the bucket. 花在科學(xué)研究上的費(fèi)用是微不足道的。
2. a fly in the ointment 美中不足;使人掃興的小事
Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savor: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honor. Ecclesiastes 10:1 死蒼蠅使作香的膏油發(fā)出臭氣。這樣,-點(diǎn)愚昧,也能敗壞智慧和尊榮((傳道書>10章1節(jié))
I find the house wonderful, but there is a fly in the ointment--it is too far from the town. 我覺得那所房子非常好,但是有-點(diǎn)美中不足,就是離市區(qū)太遠(yuǎn)了。
Your new job sounds too good to be true--interesting work, high pay, short hours. Isn't there any fly in the ointment?你的新工作好得難以置信.有趣味,工資高,工時(shí)短。有沒有什么美中不足呢?
3.a grain of mustard seed 一粒芥種;大有前途的微小事物
Another parable He put forth to them, saying:"The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field." Matthew 13:31他又設(shè)個(gè)比喻對(duì)他們說;“天國好像一粒芥菜種,有人拿去種在田里! (《馬大福音》13章31節(jié))
Mistakes of policy, which were perhaps the mustard seed when committed, grew into mighty trees of mischief.--Daily Telegraph政策上的錯(cuò)誤,初犯時(shí)可能是毫厘之差,終會(huì)釀成滔天大禍。--《每日電訊報(bào)》
This fevered hope had grown up again like a grain of mustard seed--Thomas Hardy 這個(gè)強(qiáng)烈的希望就好像一粒芥菜種那樣又長出來了。--托馬斯.哈代