• HOME
  • SHARE TO FRIEND
  • Login
slider

The Bible has been the most influential text in all of Western culture. It's difficult to understand medieval or early modern or much of modern literature without knowing it...

Prof. Barbara Newman, Northwestern University
from 2006 Bible Literary project

Wolf in sheep’s clothing (Matthew 7:15)

Picture description: Wolf
Picture copyright: V.

bible verse

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” (Matthew 7:15)

meaning

This expression has become a popular saying for any hidden danger under the disguise of friendship.

origin and application

In his famous sermon on Mount Beatitudes, Jesus cautioned the crowds to beware of false prophets. A true prophet is one who preaches truth according to the Bible and is faithful to Jesus’ teachings. A false prophet may come under the guise of a godly man whose sayings may sway from Christian doctrine.
Some Christians thought that Jesus borrowed this expression from one of Aesop’s fables (620-560 BC), where a wolf wore a sheep’s fleece in hopes of making for food easier. In the end, it was killed by the shepherd who mistook it for hunting a sheep.

example

The president of this company is a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Keywords

wolf   

Related Information

NIV official site
Chinese Bible (???)

Search idiom or name
FIND THE ORIGIN OF IDIOMS

A lot of phrases, such as "two-edged sword" and " an eye for an eye", are taken from the English Bible. Learning the stories behind these idioms is fun, and can help boost your vocabulary. Click here to find out now!

What's in a name?

Common names such as Joseph and Rachel have their origins in the Bible. Want to know their stories before picking the right name for yourself? Click here to find out.