Biblical phraseology in German, English, and Macedonian: a comparative linguistic and cultural analysis

This paper explores the profound and enduring influence of the Bible in the development
of modern phraseology in the German, English, and Macedonian languages. As one of
the most translated and influential texts in human history, the Bible has shaped not only
religious and moral thought but also the idiomatic and metaphorical structures of
European languages. Through comparative linguistic and cultural analysis, the study
identifies and interprets biblical idioms and phraseological units that remain present in
contemporary speech.
The methodological framework of the paper includes both corpus-based and studentcentered
approaches. Students of German and English participated by gathering material
from specialized phraseological dictionaries, as well as directly from the New Testament
in German, English and Macedonian. Afterwards, they translated the selected idioms into
Macedonian, their mother tongue, in order to establish semantic parallels and culturally
appropriate equivalents. All examples in German, English, and Macedonian appear in the
same form as in the corresponding editions of the Holy Bible in each of the three
languages. This process resulted in a structured list of approximately 50 idiomatic
expressions in German, aligned with their English and Macedonian counterparts, which
served as the basis for further comparative analysis. Here is an example from the
analysis: Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth | German: Auge um Auge, Zahn um Zahn |
Macedonian: Око за око, заб за заб that serves as a symbol of justice and retribution.
The research demonstrates that, although modern speakers may not always recognize
their religious origins, these expressions retain their symbolic depth and cultural
significance. The paper confirms that the Bible continues to serve as a living source of
language, rich in symbolism and historical weight.