Modern Meaning
What Does “Set your house in order” Mean?
To organize your affairs, especially before a crisis.
Biblical Origin
Where Does This Phrase Come From?
The prophet Isaiah delivered this blunt message to King Hezekiah when he was mortally ill. The command to arrange one's affairs before death became a universal English expression for getting organized, especially when facing an important deadline or transition.
The phrase appears in 2 Kings 20:1 in the King James Version of the Bible, first published in 1611.
Usage Today
How Is It Used Today?
Advice to get organized. "Before the audit, you need to set your house in order."
The KJV Verse
2 Kings 20:1
“Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.”
Related Phrases