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 student-centered 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 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: German: Auge um Auge, Zahn um Zahn, English: an eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, 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.
Keywords: Biblical idioms; comparative linguistics; New Testament; phraseology; idiomatic expressions; equivalence.