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The Bible has been the most influential text in all of Western culture. It's difficult to understand medieval or early modern or much of modern literature without knowing it...

Prof. Barbara Newman, Northwestern University
from 2006 Bible Literary project

Change one’s spots (Jeremiah 13:23)

Picture description: Leopard
Picture copyright: V.

bible verse

“Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil.” (Jeremiah 13:23)

meaning

This idiom means that people cannot change basic aspects of their character, especially negative ones. “A leopard doesn’t change its spots” is also used.

origin and application

Jeremiah was an Old Testament prophet. He cried out to people in Jerusalem and warns against their sins. Their sinful nature was deep-rooted and could hardly be changed, just as a leopard could not change its spots.

Keywords

leopard spot

Related Information

NIV official site
Chinese Bible (???)

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