# Britdopers - "Jesus Wept." **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 13, 2008, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-jesus-wept/467740 "2008-10-13T17:45:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-jesus-wept/467740/1 "2008-10-13T17:45:03Z")
I happened to watch “Hellraiser” last night and there’s that legendary moment as the Cenobites attack, and their victim utters the line “Jesus Wept.” For many, many years, I thought this was simply a line from this movie. Then, in the film “Notes On a Scandal”, a character utters this phrase. And I’ve heard in at least one other movie (which eludes me right now). Not to mention, I have heard a man with a british accent utter this phrase IRL. So, it’s apparently a “british-ism.” It seems to be the equivalent of saying “Ah, shit!” What does it mean? Is it just another way of saying “Ah, crikey!” ? And just how common a saying is it? Did it originate in “Hellraiser”, or was it already a saying in the popular vernacular when the film was made? Is it considered profane (It sounds vaguely blasphemous)? Just curious. ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-jesus-wept/467740/2 "2008-10-13T17:52:43Z")
I’m not British but you do know that it is the shortest verse in the New Testament. John, chapter 11, verse 35 [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_wept) ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-jesus-wept/467740/3 "2008-10-13T17:53:59Z")
Apparently, it [is an expetive in England](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_wept). Its origin is, not surprisingly, the Bible, where it is the shortest verse. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-jesus-wept/467740/4 "2008-10-13T17:54:23Z")
It is the shortest verse in the bible, from the gospel of John, chapter 11, verse 35. ETA: I never get here first. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-jesus-wept/467740/5 "2008-10-13T17:59:16Z")
And for an American use, there is a statue accross the street from the Oklahoma City National Memorial (site of the 1995 bombing of the federal building there) called “And Jesus Wept”, showing Jesus Christ looking away from the memorial and crying. It’s on the site of a church that was also destroyed as a result of the bomb. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-jesus-wept/467740/6 "2008-10-13T18:17:14Z")
Wasn’t that what the reporter exclaimed in _Lawrence of Arabia_ when he saw the results of the massacre of the Turks? I may be remembering wrong. ---
**Author:** ![TaffyisaWelshman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5daacb/32.png) [@TaffyisaWelshman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TaffyisaWelshman)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-jesus-wept/467740/7 "2008-10-13T18:27:29Z")
> [@The New and Improved Superman](#): > > For many, many years, I thought this was simply a line from this movie. Then, in the film “Notes On a Scandal”, a character utters this phrase. And I’ve heard in at least one other movie (which eludes me right now). Not to mention, I have heard a man with a british accent utter this phrase IRL. So, it’s apparently a “british-ism.” It seems to be the equivalent of saying “Ah, shit!” > > What does it mean? Is it just another way of saying “Ah, crikey!” ? And just how common a saying is it? Did it originate in “Hellraiser”, or was it already a saying in the popular vernacular when the film was made? Is it considered profane (It sounds vaguely blasphemous)? > > Just curious. Very profane - “Jesus wept!” is a much harsher expression than “oh shit”, “oh bugger”, “oh bollocks” and so on and so forth IMO. Personally I would be cautious to who I said it in front of as it does, to some people, have blasphemous connotations. It’s in fairly common usage, definitely predates “Hellraiser” and is rather satisfying to use. ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-jesus-wept/467740/8 "2008-10-13T18:35:42Z")
What? I know which one I would say in front of the children, and it isn’t “oh bollocks”. “Jesus wept” sounds harmless and quaint to me. I wouldn’t even describe it as an expletive. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-jesus-wept/467740/9 "2008-10-13T18:40:14Z")
I don’t think it’s harsher at all. I’ve heard it all over, and I’d merely call it an exclamation. ---
**Author:** ![stargazer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@stargazer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stargazer)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-jesus-wept/467740/10 "2008-10-13T18:58:05Z")
I’m also not British, but it sounds like one of those phrases that arose from people trying _not_ to curse – like they were starting to say, “Jesus H. Christ!” and modified it to “Jesus wept!” so as not to cause offense. Pure speculation on my part, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-jesus-wept/467740/11 "2008-10-13T18:58:44Z")
I’ve been aware of it as an expression for 20 - 30 years, at least, I’d say… can’t recall using my self, but friends did. ---
**Author:** ![minlokwat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minlokwat/32/2844_2.png) [@minlokwat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minlokwat)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-jesus-wept/467740/12 "2008-10-13T19:27:38Z")
Yank checking in. I had a buddy in high school who would use it in the same exasperated sense referenced above. Its usage always struck me as mighty peculiar. ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-jesus-wept/467740/13 "2008-10-13T19:32:33Z")
> [@stargazer](#): > > I’m also not British, but it sounds like one of those phrases that arose from people trying _not_ to curse – like they were starting to say, “Jesus H. Christ!” and modified it to “Jesus wept!” so as not to cause offense. Pure speculation on my part, of course. Yes, I think you’re right. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-jesus-wept/467740/14 "2008-10-13T19:33:35Z")
I use it sometimes, but I change it to ‘Jesus wiped.’ Seems appropriate when someone says ‘Holy shit!’ ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-jesus-wept/467740/15 "2008-10-13T19:39:50Z")
> [@stargazer](#): > > I’m also not British, but it sounds like one of those phrases that arose from people trying _not_ to curse – like they were starting to say, “Jesus H. Christ!” and modified it to “Jesus wept!” so as not to cause offense. Pure speculation on my part, of course. That’s exactly how I thought of it; but then, I’m not British either. And to keep this CafeSociety – I just heard it used, in The Bank Job (thumbs up, btw). ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-jesus-wept/467740/16 "2008-10-13T19:48:34Z")
It is just a euphemism for “Jesus Christ!” The OED indicates it shows up in James Joyce’s **Ulysses** , but I would expect it’s older than that. Probably started when someone started to say “Jesus Christ” and realized it wasn’t the proper time or place. By changing it to “Jesus wept,” it became less offensive. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-jesus-wept/467740/17 "2008-10-13T20:25:58Z")
It also appears in David Lodge’s NICE WORK (a fabulous novel, btw.) I was a bit puzzled, but it seemed in that context to be a polite form of “Jesus Christ!”–you start to exclaim “Jesus–” and, in mid-TTLNIV, change it to a quote from holy scripture. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-jesus-wept/467740/18 "2008-10-13T20:42:58Z")
I don’t think of it as particularly British - my Southern (US) Dad says it sometimes as an “Oh my god I cannot believe how irritatingly stupid this is.” I always took it to _not_ be a sideways curse (he says “dadgummit” for an all-purpose swearword and “GOD ALMIGHTY!” when he hits his thumb with a hammer) but as “Jesus looked at that dumb-shit thing you did and wept!” ---
**Author:** ![DeptfordX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DeptfordX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeptfordX)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2008, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-jesus-wept/467740/19 "2008-10-14T00:30:46Z")
> [@Usram](#): > > What? I know which one I would say in front of the children, and it isn’t “oh bollocks”. > > “Jesus wept” sounds harmless and quaint to me. I wouldn’t even describe it as an expletive. Another Brit. I concur. The sort of thing you’d say if you didn’t want to actually swear. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2008, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-jesus-wept/467740/20 "2008-10-14T00:44:50Z")
I’m gonna start saying “Jesus H. Wept!”. FWIW I’ve heard it here too (Ireland). Another popular one is “JESUS, MARY, & JOSEPH!!” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britdopers-jesus-wept/467740.md?page=2)