Have you ever heard this idiom? Have you ever used this idiom? Do you know where it comes from and what it means? I would like to present the meaning of this idiom to you as well as its origins so that you can know how to use it in the future and see what a great influence the Bible has had on the beautiful English language.
The phrase/idiom “a leopard cannot change its spots” is used as a proverbial question, asking if someone or thing has the ability to change its inherent character. It carries the idea that the way that you act is the way that you are, or, the way that you are is the way that you act. Leopards are born with spots and they cannot change that. This phrase comes from the Bible. It is from a verse in the prophet Jeremiah’s writings, the book that carries his name.
23 “Can the Ethiopian change his skin Or the leopard his spots ? Then you also can do good Who are accustomed to doing evil. (Jeremiah 13:23)
I would like to take a look at the context of Jeremiah 13:23.
18 Say to the king and the queen mother, “Take a lowly seat, For your beautiful crown Has come down from your head.” 19 The cities of the Negev have been locked up, And there is no one to open them; All Judah has been carried into exile, Wholly carried into exile. 20 “Lift up your eyes and see Those coming from the north. Where is the flock that was given you, Your beautiful sheep ? 21 “What will you say when He appoints over you- And you yourself had taught them- Former companions to be head over you? Will not pangs take hold of you Like a woman in childbirth ? 22 “If you say in your heart, ‘Why have these things happened to me?’ Because of the magnitude of your iniquity Your skirts have been removed And your heels have been exposed. 23 “Can the Ethiopian change his skin Or the leopard his spots ? Then you also can do good Who are accustomed to doing evil. 24 “Therefore I will scatter them like drifting straw To the desert wind. 25 “This is your lot, the portion measured to you From Me,” declares the LORD, “Because you have forgotten Me And trusted in falsehood. 26 “So I Myself have also stripped your skirts off over your face, That your shame may be seen. 27 “As for your adulteries and your lustful neighings, The lewdness of your prostitution On the hills in the field, I have seen your abominations. Woe to you, O Jerusalem ! How long will you remain unclean ?” (Jeremiah 13:23)
The context is during a time when the people of Israel are being blatantly disobedient to God and the process started with the disobedient king of the land. This is written directly to him to explain what was coming his way. The question is, “why is this happening to us” (once the negative consequences begin to come upon the people)? God gives the answer, because of the magnitude of your sin. The obvious question would be, “can I change so that this does not happen to me?” God gives the answer before the king can ask the question by asking, “can a leopard change its spots?” The obvious answer is “no” so the answer is also given to the king by God, “can you who are accustomed to doing evil now all of a sudden do good?” The obvious answer is “no”. Why is it impossible? It is impossible because once something has become a habit, it is difficult to break. Does this mean that we can excuse ourselves for doing evil? Of course not because we are accountable for our actions. As people, we choose the actions but God gives the results (consequences). The point is, once we have formed habits in our lives, they are hard to break. The answer lies in the next chapter of Jeremiah.
7 “Although our iniquities testify against us, O LORD, act for Your name’s sake ! Truly our apostasies have been many, We have sinned against You. 8 “O Hope of Israel, Its Savior in time of distress, Why are You like a stranger in the land Or like a traveler who has pitched his tent for the night ? 9 “Why are You like a man dismayed, Like a mighty man who cannot save ? Yet You are in our midst, O LORD, And we are called by Your name ; Do not forsake us!” (Jeremiah 14)
We must admit that we have done wrong and they we need help. We must come to God for help as well as repent of our actions. If we do this, then God will save us and give us the ability to break the bad habits in our lives. So, the leopard can change its spots if it comes to God for help. What about you, do you have bad habits that you cannot break? Have you tried to break them before and failed? The answer is not in your own power because you are like the leopard who cannot change its spots. The hope that you have is, there is a God who can change a leopards spots and He is ready to help you if you turn to Him.
