Phrase guide

separate the sheep from the goats

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To divide the members of a group into those that are superior and those that are inferior.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From the New Testament discourse of the Sheep and the Goats, particularly Matthew 25:32–33: “And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.”

Across languages

Translations

3 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Russian: отдели́ть зёрна от пле́вел (otdelítʹ zjórna ot plével) — Translations
  • Russian: му́хи отде́льно, котле́ты отде́льно (múxi otdélʹno, kotléty otdélʹno) — Translations
  • Russian: отдели́ть а́гнцев от ко́злищ (otdelítʹ ágncev ot kózlišč) — Translations