Sweat of your brow (Genesis 3:19)

Picture description: Adam
Picture copyright: V.

bible verse

“By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.” (Genesis 3:19)

meaning

Sweat of your brow signifies hard work and intensive labour.

origin and application

When Adam and Eve took a bite of the forbidden fruit, they were banished from the Garden and from then onwards, men had to work hard for a living. This is what God said to Adam, “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.” (Gen 3:19). Sweat of your brow signifies hard work and intensive labour.
It is interesting to note that “sweat of your brow”, now a common English idiom, is originally “sweat of your nose” in the Hebrew bible. It is not known why the image of nose is lost during the translation process. It may be a case of euphemism to avoid the negative connotation attached to the nose.
“Sweat of Your Brow” was the second single from Jully Black’s debut album This is Me. Released in 2005, it became a hit in Canada.

example

Sometimes, the sweat of your brow isn’t enough to get you good pay at work.