At their wit’s end (Psalms 107:27)

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

It's not that it's impossible to read some writers without a Biblical background, but that you would miss a whole dimension to their work.

Prof. Steven Goldsmith, University of California at Berkeley
from 2006 Bible Literary Project

I can only say that if a student doesn't know any Bible literature, he or she will simply not understand whole elements of Shakespeare, Sidney, Spenser, Milton, Pope, Wordsworth

Prof. Robert Kiely, Harvard University
from 2006 Bible Literary Project

...there is truth in the remark. "without Tyndale[Bible translator], no Shakespeare"...

Prof. David Daniell, University College London
from The Bible in English

You can't really study Western literature intelligently or coherently without starting with the Bible.

Prof. Gerald L. Bruns, University of Notre Dame
from 2006 Bible Literary Project

...a familiar understanding of Christian doctrine in historical perspective thus contributes to a fuller appreciation of Shakespeare's art, but Shakespeare's art

Prof. Roland M. Frye
from Shakespeare and the Christian Doctrine

In English tradition and also for an American tradition begun by Puritan writers, a knowledge of the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament is even more crucial than classical references.

Prof. Ulrich Knoefplmacher, Princeton University
from 2006 Bible Literary Project

There is no book more important for our culture than the Bible, and it is fundametal to the study of English literature and language.

Prof. David Jasper and Prof. Stephen Prickett
from the Bible and literature

At their wit’s end (Psalms 107:27)

Picture description: Storm
Picture copyright: V. Gilbert and Arlisle F. Beers

bible verse

“They reeled and staggered like drunken men; they were at their wits’ end.” (Psalms 107:27)

meaning

Reach the limit of their knowledge.

origin and application

This psalm is of thanksgiving. The writer gives thanks to the Lord who is not only God of Israel, but God of the whole earth and all mankind. In verse 27, the writer calls upon people to give thanks and glory to God when they are saved from storms at sea. Here, the whole ship’s crew are in confusion. They were at their wits’ end means that they had reached the limit of their knowledge and did not know what next.

example

After so many trials and errors, I’m at my wit’s end.

Keywords

knowledge limit wit

Related Information

NIV official site
Chinese Bible (???)

< Previous Next >

At their wit’s end (Psalms 107:27)

bible verse

meaning

origin and application

example

Keywords

Related Information

Search idiom or name

FIND THE ORIGIN OF IDIOMS

From A-Z

Find By Book In The Bible

What's in a name?

Society for English Learning Through Biblical Literature

About Us

Resources