To know someone in the biblical sense is a humorous or polite euphemism meaning to have had sexual intercourse with them.
In modern everyday speech, it is most frequently used in the negative, “not in the biblical sense”, as a witty, preemptive clarification that a relationship with someone is strictly platonic or professional.
Also: Know biblically, in the biblical sense, not in the biblical sense, carnal knowledge
Tone and Context: From Solemn Euphemism to Modern Joke
Today, the expression is used almost exclusively as a lighthearted joke or a nervously uttered disclaimer to avoid awkward misunderstandings in conversation. However, it was not always punchline material:
- The Serious Historical Euphemism: Originally, translating the Hebrew scriptures using “to know” was a grave, modest, and delicate way to discuss sexual union and marital procreation without resorting to vulgarity. In Victorian literature, legal proceedings, and religious sermons, it was treated with complete seriousness as a respectful euphemism.
- The Shift to Modern Innuendo & Irony: As secular culture moved away from archaic scriptural phrasing, adopting formal biblical language to describe modern dating, casual hookups, or workplace gossip became inherently comical. Today, it creates deliberate irony, dressing up a mundane or scandalous subject in grand, solemn scripture.
- The Nervous Social Disclaimer: In casual dialogue, people often blurt out “not in the biblical sense!” with nervous laughter the instant they realize saying “I know him/her very well” might sound like an accidental confession of intimacy.
“Know in the Biblical Sense” vs. “Not in the Biblical Sense”
While dictionary entries sometimes treat these as two separate idioms, they are two sides of the same joke:
- The Affirmative (The Core Euphemism): Directly stating that two people have been sexually intimate.
“He hinted that he had known her in the biblical sense back in college.” - The Negative Disclaimer (The Most Common Modern Use): When asked if you “know” someone, the verb know can be playfully misinterpreted. Speakers use “not in the biblical sense” to make a humorous disclaimer that eliminates any romantic or sexual implication.
“‘Do you know the new director?’ | ‘Yes, but not in the biblical sense; we just went to the same high school.’”
Tone and Context: Politeness, Irony, and Innuendo
Because the phrase references religious scripture to discuss physical intimacy, it carries a distinctive stylistic tone:
- Deliberate Archaism: The humor comes from using formal, centuries-old scriptural language to discuss modern dating, hookups, or gossip.
- Softening Taboo Topics: It allows speakers to acknowledge sexual relationships in mixed company, polite conversation, or television without using crude, explicit language.
Origin & History: Genesis and the King James Bible
The idiom stems directly from ancient Semitic idioms translated into English:
The Hebrew Verb Yada (יָדַע)
In Biblical Hebrew, the verb yada primarily means “to perceive, understand, or know.” However, in ancient Hebrew culture, the highest form of knowing another human being, both emotionally and physically, was sexual union within marriage. Thus, yada was frequently used as a modest, intimate euphemism for sexual intercourse.
The King James Version (1611)
When the scholars of King James I translated the Hebrew scriptures into Early Modern English, they translated yada literally as know rather than substituting a vulgar or explicit word. The most famous example appears in Genesis 4:1:
“And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain…”
Similar phrasing appears throughout the Old Testament (e.g., Genesis 19:5, Genesis 24:16, and Judges 19:22).
Modern Secular Transition
Because generations of English speakers grew up reading the King James Bible, the literal phrase “to know” became universally recognized as scriptural code for sex. By the 20th century, secular writers and comedians began tacking on “in the biblical sense” to intentionally highlight the double entendre, cementing it as a modern idiom.
Sentence Examples
“Have you two met before?” asked Sarah. | “We’ve worked together for years,” laughed Mark, “but not in the biblical sense.”
“The defense attorney asked the witness if she had ever known the defendant in the biblical sense.”
“They were close friends throughout graduate school, though neither ever claimed to have known the other biblically.”
“I know him very well,’ she joked, ‘just not in the biblical sense!”
Similar and Related Expressions
- Carnal Knowledge: A formal legal term meaning sexual intercourse.
- Sleep With: A common, gentle euphemism for having sexual relations.
- Hook Up: Modern informal slang for engaging in sexual or romantic activity.
- Be Intimate With: A polite, delicate way to describe a sexual relationship.