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Anonymous Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

Flesh and blood

Is 'flesh and blood' used as singular or plural? I see both variations. For instance, in bible: Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you. In another translation: flesh and blood have not revealed it to you. In the first translation, flesh and blood is used as singular, whereas in the second translation it is used as plural.

So are singular and plural both OK?

Thanks,
Peter
  

Top answer

Anonymous For instance, in bible: Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you. In another translation: flesh and blood have not revealed it to you. It is subject to Biblical interpretation.

— AlpheccaStars

  • Anonymous For instance, in bible: Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you.
  • In another translation: flesh and blood have not revealed it to you.
  • It is subject to Biblical interpretation.
  • Go with the majority.
  • com/verse/en/Matthew%2016:17 What context do you want to use this phrase in?
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3 Answers
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AnonymousFor instance, in bible: Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you. In another translation: flesh and blood have not revealed it to you.
It is subject to Biblical interpretation.
Go with the majority.
https://www.biblegateway.com/verse/en/Matthew%2
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Thanks, AlpheccaStars, I came across this nice line: It is not flesh and blood but the heart that makes us fathers and sons.

I wanted to know how to break it to two sentences. Like, "Flesh and blood does not make us fathers and sons. The heart does." But I got confused and wondered if "flesh and blood do not make us fathers and sons" is correct.
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AnonymousWhat do you think?
You can use either one. I prefer the singular, because the phrase is a poetic expression for the singular "your having half of my genes"
Also all but one of the Biblical translations are singular, although the meaning of the phrase is different.
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