Meaning & use
in the biblical sense
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Meanings
phrasefixed phrasehumorouseuphemistic
Used after a word to say it is meant in the sexual way that it sometimes has in the Bible, especially 'know'.
Grammar: Comes after the word it comments on: He knew her, in the biblical sense.
Patterns
- know someone in the biblical sense
He said he 'knew' her, in the biblical sense.
The joke depends on taking 'know' in the biblical sense.
phrasefixed phrase
In the way the Bible describes something, especially when the Bible gives a word a special or old meaning.
Grammar: Used more generally to refer to biblical usage: The word 'fear' here is meant in the biblical sense.
Patterns
- meant in the biblical sense
- understood in the biblical sense
The phrase 'the fear of the Lord' is understood in the biblical sense.
She explained that 'neighbor' is used in the biblical sense, meaning anyone in need.
Common combinations
- know someone in the biblical sense
- He claimed he knew her in the biblical sense.
- in the biblical sense of the word
- They were friends, in the biblical sense of the word.
- meant in the biblical sense
- The word 'know' is meant in the biblical sense here.
Synonyms and how they differ
- carnally
- A formal or literary adverb meaning sexually; it is more direct and less humorous than 'in the biblical sense'.
Commonly confused: in the biblical sense or biblical?
in the biblical sense vs biblical
Biblical means relating to the Bible. The phrase 'in the biblical sense' is a set expression and should not be shortened to just 'biblical' when you mean this idiom.
Practice
When he said he 'knew' her, he meant it ______.
Choose one answer.
The fixed phrase is 'in the biblical sense'. The other prepositions do not form this idiom.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “in the biblical sense”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.