15 Bible Verses about Old Sayings

“Behold, everyone who uses proverbs will use this proverb against you: ‘Like mother, like daughter.’

He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; therefore it is said, “Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the Lord.”

And a man from there answered, “But who is the father of the others?” So it became a proverb, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”

He also took off his [royal] robes [and armor] and prophesied before Samuel and lay down naked all that day and night. So they say, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”

As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness’; but my hand shall not be against you.

Then David said on that day, “Whoever strikes the Jebusites, let him go up through the [underground] water shaft to strike the lame and the blind, who are detested by David’s soul [because of their arrogance].” So [for that reason] they say, “The blind or the lame (Jebusites) shall not come into the [royal] house [of Israel].”

Then she said, “In the past people used to say, ‘They will certainly ask advice at Abel,’ and so they settled the dispute.

Satan answered the Lord, “Skin for skin! Yes, a man will give all he has for his life.

“Son of man, what is this proverb that you have in the land of Israel, saying, ‘The days are long and every vision fails’?

“What do you mean by using this proverb concerning the land of Israel,

‘The fathers eat sour grapes [they sin],
But the children’s teeth are set on edge’?

So He said to them, “You will no doubt quote this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal Yourself! Whatever [miracles] that we heard were done [by You] in Capernaum, do here in Your hometown as well.’”

The thing spoken of in the true proverb has happened to them, “The dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “A sow is washed only to wallow [again] in the mire.”

For in this case the saying is true, ‘One [person] sows and another reaps.’

Therefore tell them, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “I will put an end to this proverb, and they will no longer use it as a proverb in Israel.” But say to them, “The days draw near as well as the fulfillment of every vision.

As I live,” says the Lord God, “you are certainly not going to use this proverb [as an excuse] in Israel anymore.