A house divided 🏠⚔️

Meaning

A group, organization, or family that is experiencing internal conflict and disagreement, making it unable to function effectively.

Origin

This phrase famously echoes Jesus' words in the New Testament, 'Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.' In 1858, Abraham Lincoln, facing a nation fractured by slavery, invoked this powerful imagery in a speech, warning that the United States could not permanently endure 'half slave and half free.' He declared, 'I am not prepared to say but that I believe this government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free. I am prepared to say that I do not expect the Union to be dissolved—I do not expect the house to fall—but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing or all the other.' Lincoln's stirring declaration cemented the phrase in the American consciousness as a potent symbol of internal strife threatening fundamental unity.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 family 🗣️ communication 👑⚖️ power ❌📉 failure

A house divided represented with emoji🏠⚔️

This playful juxtaposition of a home (🏠) and swords (⚔️) not only visually represents the idiom 'a house divided' but also serves as a charming, albeit stark, reminder of the fragility of domestic harmony. It teaches the viewer to consider how internal discord can be as formidable as any external threat, transforming the familiar symbol of home into a site of potential conflict. The simplicity of the emoji invites a dialogue on unity and the quiet battles waged within the spaces we hold most cherish.

Examples

  • The political party became a house divided after the contentious leadership vote, struggling to agree on key policies.
  • With constant bickering between the siblings over the inheritance, the once-happy family was now a house divided.
  • The theater troupe was a house divided when the lead actors refused to speak to each other, making rehearsals a chaotic mess.
  • Even the ginger cats, usually in league for cuddles, were a house divided over who got the sunbeam spot.

Frequently asked questions

Is 'a house divided' a proverb or an idiom?

'A house divided' is best described as an idiom, though it originates from biblical proverb-like sayings. While proverbs offer general wisdom, this phrase specifically refers to internal conflict within any group or entity.

What's the opposite of 'a house divided'?

The opposite of 'a house divided' would be a united, harmonious, or cohesive entity. This implies a group or organization that is in agreement and functioning as one unit.

Can 'a house divided' apply to a business context?

Absolutely, 'a house divided' is frequently used to describe a business with internal conflicts. Disagreements between departments, management, or employees can cripple a company's productivity and success.

Did Abraham Lincoln invent 'a house divided'?

No, Abraham Lincoln popularized the phrase in a famous 1858 speech, but the concept and similar wording originate from Jesus's teachings in the New Testament.

Similar to "a house divided"

A ship with two captains
Both phrases paint a picture of leadership in crisis, but 'a house divided' feels like a foundational, almost biblical lament for what's collapsing, while 'a ship with two captains' is a more immediate, action-oriented visualization of control being contested
Tangled threads
Both phrases describe a state of complex, unresolvable problems, but 'a house divided' points to a fundamental split in allegiance and purpose, whereas 'tangled threads' suggests a messiness of interlocking issues that might be frustratingly difficult to sort out but not necessarily born of bad faith
The body politic in disarray
Both speak to a collective entity falling apart, but 'a house divided' comes with the heavy, almost tragic implication of internal betrayal and self-destruction, while 'the body politic in disarray' sounds more like a clinical, perhaps journalistic observation of fractured governance

Opposite of "a house divided"

All hands on deck
This phrase argues for unity in the face of crisis, directly countering the paralysis of 'a house divided' by demanding collective action and shared purpose—it's the clarion call to overcome division, not succumb to it
Strength in unity
This is the anthem for cohesion, the moral argument that binding together is the source of power, a bold declaration against the weakness inherent in 'a house divided.'

Related to "a house divided"

The road to ruin
This phrase shares the sense of inevitable downward trajectory with 'a house divided,' as internal conflict is often seen as the first step on a path to destruction
Pulling in different directions
This phrase captures the mechanical consequence of being 'a house divided'—the sheer inefficiency and futility that arises when members work against each other's efforts
Biting the hand that feeds you
This phrase highlights the self-destructive, often ungrateful nature of internal conflict, a specific kind of 'house divided' scenario where the very source of sustenance is attacked