“If someone says “she has the eye of an eagle” they do not intend for us to consider that she has had an eye transplant. But if the characteristics of an eagle and its eye are known, then we have the key to knowing that she can see even the smallest thing that takes place. So to understand an idiom one must consider the common characteristics of the main element in the idiom.
Since the word beware is included before the word dog, “man’s best friend” should not come to mind as the objective of the idiom. However knowing that dogs are vicious would be the more likely message in the saying. One of the most vicious things that is evil is to gossip. Paul told the saints,
“Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers,…” Philippians 3:2a.
He was warning them to beware of gossipers, for they are vicious.
We are warned of the “beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing.” We are told not to go on “witch hunts.” Criminals are told to fear “the long arm of the law.” So it does not seem unusual for Paul to warn the saints of “dogs.” They understood that he spoke of gossiping.”
Pg.77
Dogs do bark a lot, maybe there is a good correlation there to gossip and people who can't close their mouths. Dogs are vicious using their mouths, for they bite with sharp teeth - and we've been told in Psalm 57:4
ReplyDelete"My soul is among...the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword."
Fun post, Donna!
haha Jennifer I love your comment! Brilliant.
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