about "Jesus wept and shrank his waistcoat"

It's not an idiom.

'Jesus wept', the shortest verse in the New Testament, is sometimes used to express frustration, I imagine that this is a humorous extension of this. When Jesus wept, his tears fell on his waistcoat. As a result of being soaked, the waistcoat shrank. I imagine that many Christians might be offended by this, so don't repeat it.

Hi

'Jesus wept' is known as the shortest sentence in the Bible and - in the past - has been used as a mild exclamation for dismay 'Jesus wept!'

The author here is using the quotation but in a flippant and extended way. The idea is that Jesus's tears caused his waistcoat to shrink. It is quite a complex metaphor, showing that some of the characters are being blasphemous and are d

thanks very much, fivejedjon and dave. You both let me know some more interesting culture beyond the text. thanks for your kind warn, fivejedjon

april2013 Hi everyone. Is anyone kindly to help me with this sentence? I'm confused and don't know what's the true meaning of this idiom. Thanks in advance.

Jesus was a very poor, migrant preacher who wandered the area around the Sea of Galilee.
A waistcoat is the dress of an English burgher. The two ideas are literally incongruous.
Figuratively, i

I have always thought this phrase was one which expresses profound sadness. Combining the shortest biblical verse with the rending of clothing, done when distraught. Thus, Jesus not only wept but tore his clothing.