Idiom: “he that pisseth against the wall”

There are a lot of Hebrew idioms used in the Old Testament. One of the common idioms is “he/him that pisseth against the wall” meaning a man. It is used as a derogatory term when declaring a prophecy of violence against all men of a family. For example:

David when he was a fugitive from King Saul, David became angry with a wealthy rancher named Nabal (Hebrew meaning fool), but Nabal’s wise wife, Abigail, intercedes and pacifies David who declares, “For in very deed, as the Lord God of Israel liveth, which hath kept me back from hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me, surely there had not been left unto Nabal by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.” 1 Samuel 25:34.

The prophet Ahijah declared, “Therefore, behold, I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, and will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as a man taketh away dung, till it be all gone.” 1 Kings 14:10.

In fulfillment of Jehu’s prophecy: “And it came to pass, when he began to reign, as soon as he sat on his throne, that he slew all the house of Baasha: he left him not one that pisseth against a wall, neither of his kinsfolks, nor of his friends.” 1 Kings 16:11.

Elisha the prophet foretold: “For the whole house of Ahab shall perish: and I will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel:” 2 Kings 9:8.

And now you know.