# Coming to One’s Reward: Familiarity with This Expression? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 8, 2014, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coming-to-one-s-reward-familiarity-with-this-expression/683189 "2014-03-08T13:12:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [March 8, 2014, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coming-to-one-s-reward-familiarity-with-this-expression/683189/1 "2014-03-08T13:12:11Z")
Do you know what this expression means? Do you use it/hear it used? Probably my favorite scene from **No Country for Old Men** is the dialogue between Tommy Lee Jones and Barry Corbin. In it, Corbin’s character recounts how the sheriff’s father was killed and he uses this expression. I don’t think I had ever heard “came to his reward” but you can easily figure it out by context. Then just recently watching (ahem) an old \*\*Dukes of Hazzard \*\*episode, Boss Hogg uses the same expression when the town thinks them Duke boys had been killed. So by my way of thinking, I take it this is more of a southern expression with the obvious connotation that coming to one’s reward means proceeding on to the pearly gates. But other from the two references above, I’ve never heard the expression in real life. Anyone wish to weigh in? ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2014, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coming-to-one-s-reward-familiarity-with-this-expression/683189/2 "2014-03-08T13:19:54Z")
It’s more commonly “gone to their reward”, isn’t it? I’m familiar with the expression, but don’t think I’ve ever heard it outside of TV ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2014, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coming-to-one-s-reward-familiarity-with-this-expression/683189/3 "2014-03-08T14:05:09Z")
I’ve never heard this phrase specifically, but I have often heard the phrase “so and so needs to have a come to Jesus meeting” to mean getting some sense slapped into them, so “come to their reward” seems to track. ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2014, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coming-to-one-s-reward-familiarity-with-this-expression/683189/4 "2014-03-08T14:11:45Z")
Overcoming my allergy to the Bible — it’s like French, very pretty, but inconsequential — I googled and Revelation 22:12 has _ **And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.** _ The rest of the results were mainly credit cards, which must mean something. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2014, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coming-to-one-s-reward-familiarity-with-this-expression/683189/5 "2014-03-08T16:18:41Z")
I remember “pass on to his/her final reward” from many years ago. The context was a funny newsletter type thing where “Reginald has passed on to his final reward due to coming in second in a razor fight.” ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2014, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coming-to-one-s-reward-familiarity-with-this-expression/683189/6 "2014-03-08T20:35:10Z")
From the examples in the OP, I think it’s akin to “You reap what you sow”, in that what they did in life lead to what happened to them in the end. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2014, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coming-to-one-s-reward-familiarity-with-this-expression/683189/7 "2014-03-08T20:43:15Z")
I am familiar with it and variations of it. It is a Southern phrase that is still in use even by younger people. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2014, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coming-to-one-s-reward-familiarity-with-this-expression/683189/8 "2014-03-08T21:03:41Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > From the examples in the OP, I think it’s akin to “You reap what you sow”, in that what they did in life lead to what happened to them in the end. No, I think it just means that they have died. Presumably, in this context, the “reward” can be either positive “heaven” or negative “hell”. I agree with **Aspidistra** , however that the more common form is “gone to their reward.” ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2014, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coming-to-one-s-reward-familiarity-with-this-expression/683189/9 "2014-03-08T21:16:30Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > From the examples in the OP, I think it’s akin to “You reap what you sow”, in that what they did in life lead to what happened to them in the end. > [@njtt](#): > > No, I think it just means that they have died. Presumably, in this context, the “reward” can be either positive “heaven” or negative “hell”. I don’t see any significant difference between what you’re saying and what **Czarcasm** said. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2014, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coming-to-one-s-reward-familiarity-with-this-expression/683189/10 "2014-03-09T00:02:25Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > I don’t see any significant difference between what you’re saying and what **Czarcasm** said. You really see no difference between “X reaped what he had sown [implicitly: after he was dead, anyway],” and “X died [implicitly: and so, of course, went either to heaven or hell]”? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2014, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coming-to-one-s-reward-familiarity-with-this-expression/683189/11 "2014-03-09T00:39:08Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > I am familiar with it and variations of it. It is a Southern phrase that is still in use even by younger people. It gets kicked around here, especially when one is trying to be poetic or delicate. (Which can be dangerous, as one can sound like the famous Monty Python “Parrot” sketch.) But, yes, the form of it I hear most often is “He has gone to his reward.” Another relatively common one is “He has gone to meet his maker,” and, of course, the painful cliché, “He’s in a better place now.” I can’t exactly say why, but that last one always galls at me. If death is a better place, why do we so vigorously resist going there? (To Fred Phelps: after you, my dear sir.) ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2014, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coming-to-one-s-reward-familiarity-with-this-expression/683189/12 "2014-03-09T21:29:51Z")
I haven’t heard it, but have vague memories of “going to one’s reward” in movies or tv. It’s a phrase that doesn’t sit well with my personal philosophy, so I’d never use it myself. ---
**Author:** ![Teacake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Teacake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teacake)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2014, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coming-to-one-s-reward-familiarity-with-this-expression/683189/13 "2014-03-09T21:53:06Z")
You’ve never seen Aladdin?! The bit where Jaffar is trying to kill Aladdin by tricking him with the promise of riches, Aladdin asks when he’ll be paid and Jaffar tells him he’ll get his reward… “Your eternal reward!”, and then leaves him in the magic cave to die (disclaimer: I have a lot of nephews and nieces). It’s a common phrase in the UK anyway, and always has been - I think anyone would know what you meant as soon as you said it. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coming-to-one-s-reward-familiarity-with-this-expression/683189/14 "2014-03-10T12:57:38Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > You really see no difference between “X reaped what he had sown [implicitly: after he was dead, anyway],” and “X died [implicitly: and so, of course, went either to heaven or hell]”? :dubious: Not really, no. You’re both saying there’s a “die and get what you got coming to you” aspect to the phrase. Originally, **Czarcasm** used “akin” to make the connection, and you used “presumably,” then when you re-phrased it, you simply used “implicitly” both times. I’m not saying you’re singing the same lyrics, but it sure sounds like the same melody to me. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coming-to-one-s-reward-familiarity-with-this-expression/683189/15 "2014-03-10T14:02:34Z")
The version of _karma_ that appeals to me, and I must assume to the majority of the movie-going public based on how often it’s a theme of some revenge flic, is that the comeuppance happens while the offending party is still alive. That way there’s no real doubt that “justice is being served.” The afterlife is not required. The simplest definition of _karma_ that I have run across is [this one.](http://marcusjwilson.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/karma1.png) And the most cathartic exploitation of the theme is [this one.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHU-osY5O-I)