English Reference
Idiom idiom

know someone in the biblical sense


To have sex with someone.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

“They have known each other in the biblical sense for years.”

CONTEXTUAL

“The gossip column hinted that the two actors had known each other in the biblical sense during the filming of their latest movie.”

COMPLEX

“The historical text suggests that the king had known the queen in the biblical sense long before their official marriage ceremony took place.”


From the use of know in the Bible. Some Bible translations, such as the King James Version, translate the Hebrew word יָדַע (yādaʿ) as know even in sexual contexts, giving rise to lines like “And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived.”


Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    abound in one's own sense

    To follow one’s own inclinations and opinions.

  2. 02

    as far as one knows

    To the best of one's knowledge, as far as someone knows or possible information to be gathered about the topic, subject, aspect, or situation.

  3. 03

    as if someone owns the place

    Alternative form of like someone owns the place.

  4. 04

    as you know

    as it is already known.

  5. 05

    beat someone round the ears

    To beat (a person) with blows about the head.

  6. 06

    bless someone with

    To give or bestow, as a gift from God.

  7. 07

    bring someone to their knees

    To defeat and make submit to orders.

  8. 08

    call someone every name in the book

    To call someone many abusive names.

Last updated August 10, 2026