2006-07-14 07:22:39 · 7 answers · asked by OZ 6 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
Like many proverbial sayings, "casting pearls before swine" is not necessarily used precisely in the way it was originally intended (see below). It tends to be used to make the point that we should be careful in how we dispense the truth and to whom, because those who aren't responsive to it (who don't even recognize what it IS) will not only not appreciate it and receive it, but will mistreat it. People often use the expression to warn us not to 'waste our breath' or effort on those who despise it and aren't willing to hear the truth.
This saying originates with Jesus' teaching in Matthew 7:6 (in the Sermon on the Mount). The whole verse reads:
(A) Do not give dogs what is holy,
.....(B) and do not cast your pearls before swine,
.....(B) lest they trample them underfoot
(A) and turn to attack you.
Note that there is a poetic structure in which the first and lines go together ('the dogs. .. turn to attack') and the middle lines
What we have here is a PAIR of pictures making the same basic point, so each helps to interpret the other.
First, note that "dogs' and "pigs" are not just "those who don't appreciate or understand" --though it DOES include that. Rather, in Jesus's culture (Jewish) these were the two premier 'unclean animals' which a good Jew would absolutely avoid to stay kosher. Symbolically they were very far away from God, and just the OPPOSITE of holy. (Jews at times used these terms, esp. dogs, to refer to the Gentiles, esp to those that utterly rejected the God of Israel.) Also, the dogs in that culture were not pets, but 'wild dogs', hostile and dangerous; pigs likewise could prove rather unfriendly.
So Jesus is concerned with those who REJECT the holy things of God. And the people of God, knowing this, are to exercise care not to allow God's holy things to be mistreated. Since Jesus elsewhere compares the 'kingdom of God' about which he taught to a "pearl of great price" and since "the holy things of God" might be used to refer to the teachings ("sacred oracles") of God, Jesus may be specifically be warning his disciples to take care when they preach the gospel (thus offering people 'the pearl of great price') to those who show no willigness to hear it, but will belittle the truth and even attack its messengers. (In the case of the 'pigs' the image may be that the pearls appear to them no different from pods of food, but are treated as worthless when they prove inedible.)
One other key to its meaning is that this verse comes immediately after Jesus' warning about not judging others (that is, being judgmental) and the call to remove the plank ini our own eye before we try to remove the speck in our brother's eye (Matthew 7:1-5). It seems that v.6 is put here to 'balance' that call with a warning not to be naive or assume people will always respond positively.
2006-07-14 20:21:24 · answer #1 · answered by bruhaha 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In addition to the points made by the previous posters, in middle eastern culture at the time of Christ, pearls were considered to be the most valuable of jewels (today it might be diamonds). So putting pearls before swine wasn't just putting valuables in front of 'swine', it was putting the MOST valuable things in front of them.
2006-07-14 21:31:31 · answer #2 · answered by Mark V 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think the term is casting pearls before swine.
2006-07-14 08:34:25 · answer #3 · answered by dderat 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Putting pears before swine" or "casting pearls before swine" refers to giving someone something they won't/cant understand and therefore can't or won't be able to appreciate. Like real pearls before real swine, the swine don't know what pearls are, or what to do with them or how to appreciate them, they'll just trample them underfoot and grind them into the mud.
2006-07-14 07:31:16 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is taking something precious and giving it to people who will not or cannot appreciate it. Painting a potrait of a blind man is putting pearls before swine.
2006-07-14 07:30:34 · answer #5 · answered by PUtuba7 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Neither cast your pearls before swine" is what Jesus Christ said in the Bible (Matthew 7:6).
It means that something sophisticated, advanced, or precious is lost on an uncultured, unrefined, or unappreciative audience.
2006-07-14 07:29:00 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means taking that which has value and giving it to those who will have no apprecistion for it.
2006-07-14 07:27:17 · answer #7 · answered by Bean 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋