Introduction. An idiom is defined as: “a group of words established by usage as having a meaning not deducible from those of the individual words.” So we are not going to “beat around the bush” or “cut any corners” in today’s article, because we don’t want to “bark up the wrong tree.” We seek to “hit the nail on the head,” and might even “kill two birds with one stone.” So, “to make a long story short,” we want to give “the whole nine yards” and “let the cat out of the bag” about idioms. I hope you don’t think “I am off my rocker,” “not playing with a full deck,” or “missed the boat.” There is a “method to my madness,” and I think at the end of this article you will agree that I am “right on money."
The problem with idioms is that no one defines them for us. We have to deduce or infer them. If you have never heard one of these idioms, you will have no idea what I am talking about. “Pulling my leg” could be literal, but we understand it as someone trying to “pull the wool over our eyes.” We are always “under the weather,” but only use that term when we feel sick. As we finish our drumstick, we know “I have bone to pick with you” isn’t the drumstick. Even if we are chopping wood with a dull axe, we would understand “I have an axe to grind” isn’t that axe.
There are also idioms in Scripture. “The nations are as a drop in a bucket” (Isa. 40:15). Job was “nothing but skin and bones” (Job 19:19-20). Jesus return will be “in the twinkling of an eye” (1Cor. 15:52). “The wicked reel to and fro and are at their wits’ end” (Psalm 107:27). Peter wants every Christian to “gird up the loins of your mind” (1Pet. 1:13).
As I was working on the qualifications for elders this week, I came on the word “beside wine” (1Tim. 3:3; Titus 1:7). The more I thought about it the more it became clear to me that this too could be an idiom, one they easily understood, but one which we must “gird up the loins of our mind.” I drew this conclusion after reading the diversity in the translations of two simple Greek words (“mé pàroinos” (“me” - not; “para” - beside; “oinos” - wine)” Why did the simple “not beside wine” become “no brawler” (KJV), “not given to much wine” (ASV), “not given to wine” (NKJV), “addicted to much wine” (NAS), “drunkard” (ESV), and “not given to drunkenness” (NIV)?
Think about it. “Not beside wine” moved from fighting (brawler), to a bad habit (not given to wine/much wine) to an addiction (addicted to much wine), to becoming a drunkard, or to habitual misuse (given to drunkenness). It is obvious none took the phrase literally. We might sympathize with the translators, since taken literally, one would be guilty if they walked down the aisle of a grocery store “beside wine.” Even eating at a restaurant, if someone at the next table is drinking wine, we would be “beside wine.”
Enter the idiom (a group of words established by usage as having a meaning not deducible from those of the individual words). “Not beside wine” somehow inferred “too long at,” or “inappropriately at” “wine.” they easily deduced it, while we struggle. The extent of the “too long” or the exact problem created by being “beside wine” is now unknown to us.
Yet, seeking to give us a simple meaning has only created problems. If it is a “drunkard”(ESV, NIV), then it could allow social drinking. If it is a brawler (KJV), then any use of alcohol that didn’t lead to fighting might be fine. If it is “not given to much wine,” (ASV) then some will affirm that a little wine is not a problem. Only when we leave it “beside wine” does anything from a single sip to drunkenness become the possible meaning.
The best solution is to “let Scripture interpret Scripture, “speak where the Bible speaks,” “be silent where the Bible is silent,” and “use Bible words to explain Bible things.” We must learn, “not to go beyond the things which are written” (1Cor. 4:6) and allow God to explain what occurs when people “linger long” at the wine.”
Leaders of God’s people can only be “not beside wine” when they drink no wine. “It is not for kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, Nor for princes intoxicating drink; Lest they drink and forget the law, And pervert the justice of all the afflicted” (Pr. 31:4).
With these verses, the simple solution is also the best. We remove all doubt when we understand “not beside wine” in all these contexts. One is never “beside wine” if they do not drink or associate with those who do. Although some might think this is too stringent a view, given what our translations say, it is exactly what God demanded of His ministering priests:
Conclusion. Maybe you feel like you have “been through the mill” and I only have a “bee in my bonnet.” I don’t think we need to go “back to the drawing board,” and I hope you think I “hit the nail on the head.” Now, “the ball is in your court,” so “burn the midnight oil.” Because if you “search the scriptures daily,” “give diligence” to “rightly divide the word of truth,” and abide in My words,” “you shall know the truth and the truth will make you free.” (Acts 17:11, 2Tim. 2:15; Jn 8:31-32).
There are also idioms in Scripture. “The nations are as a drop in a bucket” (Isa. 40:15). Job was “nothing but skin and bones” (Job 19:19-20). Jesus return will be “in the twinkling of an eye” (1Cor. 15:52). “The wicked reel to and fro and are at their wits’ end” (Psalm 107:27). Peter wants every Christian to “gird up the loins of your mind” (1Pet. 1:13).
As I was working on the qualifications for elders this week, I came on the word “beside wine” (1Tim. 3:3; Titus 1:7). The more I thought about it the more it became clear to me that this too could be an idiom, one they easily understood, but one which we must “gird up the loins of our mind.” I drew this conclusion after reading the diversity in the translations of two simple Greek words (“mé pàroinos” (“me” - not; “para” - beside; “oinos” - wine)” Why did the simple “not beside wine” become “no brawler” (KJV), “not given to much wine” (ASV), “not given to wine” (NKJV), “addicted to much wine” (NAS), “drunkard” (ESV), and “not given to drunkenness” (NIV)?
Think about it. “Not beside wine” moved from fighting (brawler), to a bad habit (not given to wine/much wine) to an addiction (addicted to much wine), to becoming a drunkard, or to habitual misuse (given to drunkenness). It is obvious none took the phrase literally. We might sympathize with the translators, since taken literally, one would be guilty if they walked down the aisle of a grocery store “beside wine.” Even eating at a restaurant, if someone at the next table is drinking wine, we would be “beside wine.”
Enter the idiom (a group of words established by usage as having a meaning not deducible from those of the individual words). “Not beside wine” somehow inferred “too long at,” or “inappropriately at” “wine.” they easily deduced it, while we struggle. The extent of the “too long” or the exact problem created by being “beside wine” is now unknown to us.
Yet, seeking to give us a simple meaning has only created problems. If it is a “drunkard”(ESV, NIV), then it could allow social drinking. If it is a brawler (KJV), then any use of alcohol that didn’t lead to fighting might be fine. If it is “not given to much wine,” (ASV) then some will affirm that a little wine is not a problem. Only when we leave it “beside wine” does anything from a single sip to drunkenness become the possible meaning.
The best solution is to “let Scripture interpret Scripture, “speak where the Bible speaks,” “be silent where the Bible is silent,” and “use Bible words to explain Bible things.” We must learn, “not to go beyond the things which are written” (1Cor. 4:6) and allow God to explain what occurs when people “linger long” at the wine.”
- Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? 30 Those who linger long at the wine, Those who go in search of mixed wine. 31 Do not look on the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it swirls around smoothly; 32 At the last it bites like a serpent, And stings like a viper. 33 Your eyes will see strange things, And your heart will utter perverse things. 34 Yes, you will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, Or like one who lies at the top of the mast, saying: 35 "They have struck me, but I was not hurt; They have beaten me, but I did not feel it. When shall I awake, I will seek it yet again” Pr. 23:29-35
Leaders of God’s people can only be “not beside wine” when they drink no wine. “It is not for kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, Nor for princes intoxicating drink; Lest they drink and forget the law, And pervert the justice of all the afflicted” (Pr. 31:4).
With these verses, the simple solution is also the best. We remove all doubt when we understand “not beside wine” in all these contexts. One is never “beside wine” if they do not drink or associate with those who do. Although some might think this is too stringent a view, given what our translations say, it is exactly what God demanded of His ministering priests:
- Then the Lord spoke to Aaron, saying: 9 “Do not drink wine or intoxicating drink, you, nor your sons with you, when you go into the tabernacle of meeting, lest you die. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, 10 that you may distinguish between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean, 11 and that you may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord has spoken to them by the hand of Moses.” (Lev. 10:8-11).
Conclusion. Maybe you feel like you have “been through the mill” and I only have a “bee in my bonnet.” I don’t think we need to go “back to the drawing board,” and I hope you think I “hit the nail on the head.” Now, “the ball is in your court,” so “burn the midnight oil.” Because if you “search the scriptures daily,” “give diligence” to “rightly divide the word of truth,” and abide in My words,” “you shall know the truth and the truth will make you free.” (Acts 17:11, 2Tim. 2:15; Jn 8:31-32).