Good Samaritan

Phrases, sayings and idioms at

The Phrase Finder

Good Samaritan

Phrases Thesaurus

Meanings and origins of phrases and sayings

Browse phrases beginning with:

[A][B][C][D][E][F][G][H][I][J][K][L][M][N][O][P][Q][R][S][T][U,V][W][X,Y,Z]

Good Samaritan

Meaning

Someone who helps another in need for compassionate motives and with no thought of reward.

Origin

From the Biblical parable, Luke 10:30/33 (King James Version):

A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead... But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him.

The figurative use of the term began in the 17th century. In 1649, Peter Chamberlen published a book entitled The Poore Mans Advocate, or, Englands Samaritan.