Abstract
This study explores the influence of biblical teachings on IsiZulu idiomatic expressions. It addresses a gap in the existing literature on the transformative effects of Christianity and the Bible on IsiZulu culture. The research investigates the origins, meanings, usage patterns, and integration of these idioms into everyday speech, media, and literature. Additionally, it explores how these idiomatic expressions influence morality and virtues within the Zulu community, offering nuanced insights into the relationship between religion, language, and culture.
The study adopts Hermeneutics/African Cultural Hermeneutics as its theoretical framework. It interprets idiomatic expressions within their biblical and Zulu cultural contexts, highlighting the interplay between Christian morality and Zulu traditions. This framework provides a nuanced understanding of how biblical idioms have been adapted and localised into IsiZulu. Using a qualitative methodology, the research employs document analysis to examine primary sources, including the Bible and related texts, to trace the evolution of biblical narratives into idiomatic expressions.
The findings reveal that idiomatic expressions derived from the Bible have transcended religious contexts and are now embedded in everyday discourse. This reflects the widespread acceptance (directly or indirectly) of Christian values within the Zulu community. These expressions encapsulate Christian virtues such as faith, forgiveness, and humility, often aligning with traditional Zulu principles like ‘ubuntu’ (humility).
It is believed that this research makes a significant contribution to the growing body of knowledge on the relationship between religion, language, and culture. It provides valuable insights for linguists, educators, and cultural scholars, enriching an understanding of how Christian teachings are integrated into IsiZulu idioms. The findings have important implications for language and cultural preservation as well as the study of indigenous languages.