Genesis 3:19
“In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground.”Read in Context
Modern Meaning
What Does “By the sweat of your brow” Mean?
Earning a living through hard physical labour.
Biblical Origin
Where Does This Phrase Come From?
After the fall, God tells Adam that the ground is now cursed and he must labor to survive. The KJV's "sweat of thy face" became the more common "sweat of your brow" — one of the oldest metaphors for hard work in English.
The phrase appears in Genesis 3:19 in the King James Version of the Bible, first published in 1611.
Usage Today
How Is It Used Today?
Describes honest, hard-earned labor. "Everything I have, I earned by the sweat of my brow."
The KJV Verse
Genesis 3:19
“In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground.”
Related Phrases