Why was the phrase "Brow beaten" developed? Who's brow was the first to be beaten?

Question

Lol (((Question This))). That was hilarious!

Thank you suzyQ.

Answer 1

Adam's (once he got a wife)  I know, I know, sexist.  Bad suzy!

Answer 2

Brow Beaten is biblically cited with origins stemming back to the originally Aramaic although there is good reason to assume that the agnostic gospel of Thomas may be the first known reference. With the earliest known writing " Zwsmu_dd ee_ffgz   __y__u" (obviously misspelled), several people have vehemently argued for  a "Brahmic" translation. But with all due respect, I think that this would be a mistake.

And probably why the  great Phoenician translator "Z-asta el" had his misgivings.

Without pointing fingers, it is sufficient to simply say that somewhere from the ancient Greek, to Pig Latin and then back to Greek and finally to all of the romance languages, the original intent was lost! Piecing it all together the most widely accepted theory suggests that "Brow" is a distortion from the original "cow" or in fact "cow beaten".

In a frantic attempt to find some alternative for the traditional, casting of the first stone,( fortunately, with the advent of Jesus,  now only a viable option for those without sin), cow beating became an alternative and popular repercussion for those that would transgress against Hebrew law.  And those that were beaten with cows would, certainly attest to its effectiveness, although it obviously required numerous participants with knowledge of animal husbandry and extraordinary strength. Perhaps as a result of the impracticality,  it  finally deteriorated to a threatening stare which implied the intent- the rather  subtle nonverbal  communication that said, "I'm on the verge of beating you with a cow so cool it!"-  which has now in our time come to be known as brow beating.

The first known case of Brow beating has been associated with the apostle Paul, but many argue that it was actually the fourth case!

Answer 3

Some people (Ask Mike, probably) will tell you it's not that one's brow is beaten, it's that one is beaten BY a brow; stared down.

This is a lie.

In truth, the phrase originated in the early 70's, when Bert, who had been drinking heavily (in service of his enthusiastic quest for a bottle-cap collection), unleashed his vicious pigeons on an unsuspecting "No more for you" bartender, and had to be taught an important lesson.

http://homepages.bw.edu/~cknopick/ChrisK...