Biblical Sources of Phrases in Common Use: A House Divided

In Alabama, we take our football very seriously.  An Auburn fan who marries an Alabama fan usually will remain an Auburn fan, and vice versa.  Most people make the most of the situation and express their school loyalties with good humor toward one another .  Of course, there are always a few who do not.

Other similar university rivalries include: Ohio State and Ohio, Louisville and Kentucky,  Michigan and Michigan State,  Purdue and Indiana, Idaho and Boise State, and many others.

“A house divided” is sometimes also used for familial differences in political philosophy or religion.  A  famous use of the phrase was during the American Civil War in United States President Abraham Lincoln’s House Divided Speech.

The origin of the phrase is in Matthew 12:25, where Jesus says, “... Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:”