Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[chengyan]

Hello,

Could anyone here please tell me what "in the biblical sense" means?

I read it in a book, where the sentence is :

"Oh, I know Mickey," she said, and right away I wondered if she knew him in the biblical sense.

The context here is that "I" knew "she" had an affair with Mickey, which is "My" husband. But I am not quite sure what it exactly means here by "in a biblical sense".

Thanks,
Cheng

[stellara]

i can't recite from the bible, but "to know somebody in the biblical sense" means nearly the same as "to have had sex with somebody".
so that you know this person quasi 'inside out'

greets
_________________
Don't cry because it's over - smile because it happened!

MOKEY ROCKS!!!

[cgage]

I'm a native English speaker and am not familiar with that interpretation
i.e. sex.
My interpretation is that it refers to teachings, values, or events of the Bible. I guess it depends on the context.

[advoca]

The bible uses the euhemism *know* instead of saying *s e x u a l intercourse.*

Is she knew him in the biblical sense then she had s e x with him.

[advoca]

The euphemism is first used when Adam and Eve had children. In order to procreate they had to have sexual intercourse. The bible says that Adam knew Eve, thereby politely avoiding the problem that Adam and Eve had had sex but were not married.

[chengyan]

Thanks for all your explanation. Lucky that I asked. It's very interesting to learn about this.

[advoca]

So be careful when you go up to a girl and say, "I would like to know you."
She might be familiar with the bible.

[Bob S.]

Mostly you only see it in the older King James version.
e.g.
Genesis 4:1 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.

Genesis 19:5 And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.

and so on.

[advoca]

[advoca]

[Bob S.]