Of all the many aspects of BEING A HUMAN, perhaps the one which offers the most variety is human speech.
So, presented for the reader’s edification: a few (from among many) items–both great and small–which concern human speech.
1- Sometimes a person uses a phrase which inspires those who hear it to desire to know more about the phrase itself.
During the past several years, a discussion took place in which such a phrase was employed.
“You’re always so unreasonable!”
“How can you say that? I’m a MOST reasonable person!”
“No, you’re not! You do so many unreasonable and unforgivable things, it’s hard for me to remember them all!”
“I am probably the MOST reasonable person you will ever meet. However, I do NOT suffer fools gladly!”
to be kind to and patient with people who are annoying or bothersome —usually used in negative statements
To “NOT suffer fools gladly” is to be brusque with those who are annoying or bothersome–or at least to those who one CONSIDERS to be annoying or bothersome.
Which later prompted a question which is STILL not completely answered:
Is someone unreasonable who does not suffer fools gladly?
2- A few years ago, the following conversation ensued between two acquaintances concerning a another, mutual acquaintance.
“He drinks a lot, doesn’t he?”
“He does.”
“A lot?”
“Yes.”
“He usually has been drinking a lot before he sees me, doesn’t he?”
“I suppose he does.”
“I never tell other people he drinks a lot. I say ‘he’s under the weather.’”
“‘Under the weather’: that’s a good way of putting it.”
And so the first person was thought to be clever, as “under the weather” is a phrase which usually describes someone who is ill or acting grumpy or contrary.
HOWEVER, one day several years AFTER the conversation took place, it was discovered that one of the usual meanings given for “under the weather” is
Somewhat intoxicated or suffering from a hangover.
This 1- was suprising; 2- caused the conversation from several years earlier to be brought to mind; and, 3- made the first person in the conversation appear much less clever in the eyes of the second person.
3- Overheard recently was the following commentary.
“She passed away almost two weeks ago.”
This brought to mind the many phrases which one hears when humans refer to the death of another.
- Passed away
- Croaked
- Bought the farm
- Had their ticket punched
- Lost his/her battle (with cancer or some other disease)
- Bit the big one
- Bit the dust
- Gave up the ghost
- Was called home
- Kicked the bucket
There are others.
The conclusion?
When the subject is not pleasant, humans will discover ways to talk about it without talking about it.
4- All of this thinking about human speech brought to mind the biblical account of the fracturing of human speech.
“And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.
“And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.”
–Genesis 11:1-9
There are a number of stories concocted by men attempting to explain the world’s different languages.
NONE of those stories present the entire picture of human speech–except the Genesis account.
For some reason, the above references to human speech brought the following proverb to mind.
“The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him”
–Proverbs 10:24
(The discussion over this last biblical reference is for another time, another article.)
DOES the reader ever think about the subtleties of human speech?
DOES the reader ever think about other subtleties of life?
OR is the reader too busy?
It is not YET too late: there is still time to change direction (repent), place your faith (hope) for the future entirely on Jesus Christ and enter the kingdom of heaven.
DOES the reader believe he is saved?
Make Your Calling and Election Sure: End Times Survival
DOES the reader believe he is NOT saved?
Time is Running Out: Today is the Day of Salvation
- Gospel of Jesus Christ: Making a Choice
- The Gospel of Jesus Christ
- Gospel of Jesus Christ: The Power of God Unto Salvation
- Gospel of Jesus Christ: The End Times Power of God Unleashed
THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. ”
–1 Corinthians 15:1-8
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
-–Romans 1:16
MORE: Eternal Salvation Through Jesus Christ: Salvation Messages from End Times Prophecy Report
[Portions of this piece appeared originally in End Times Prophecy Headlines: October 21, 2019.]
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by Jeremiah Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier
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Filed under: Biblical Teachings, LIFE, human speech