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Sour Grapes in the Bible

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    © 19 Colin Melbourne

    Q: Is there a biblical reference in the use of the expression, ‘sour grapes’, meaning jealous?

    A: I take it you mean when the expression is used, for example, by a poor loser in a competition, and she criticises the winner.

    Onlookers sense her criticism is resentful and unjustified, so they say the comments are; “just sour grapes.”

    That use of the idiom, signifying hurt pride and jealousy, is not found in the bible, being merely an English colloquialism.

    However, Jews used the expression ‘sour grapes’ in proverbial form such as in Jer. 31:29-30 KJV;

    In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children’s teeth are set on edge. But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge.

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