Promised Land

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Promised Land

1. (Judaism, Christianity) The area historically known as Judea, which was promised to the Israelites by God according to oral tradition recorded in the Book of Genesis.
   • 1910, P. G. Wodehouse, chapter 3, in The Intrusion of Jimmy:

     At last, after years of patient waiting, he stood like Moses on the mountain, looking down into the Promised Land.

2. (Mormonism) The United States of America.
3. (idiomatic, sometimes lower case) Heaven or the afterlife.
   • 1901, Gilbert Parker, chapter 3, in The March of The White Guard:

     "Be good, my boy, and God will make you great." Then she said she was cold, and . . . murmured: "I'll away, I'll away to the Promised Land—to the Promised Land. […] It is cold—so cold—God keep my boy!"

   • 1934 July 16, “Heroes: Brave Engineer”, in Time:

     On Sunday night, April 29, 1900 Engineman John Luther Jones, called "Casey", […] took his farewell journey to the promised land.

• Zion

Promised Land (plural Promised Lands)

1. (idiomatic, sometimes lower case) Any place to which one eagerly seeks to go and which one expects to greatly improve one's situation.
   • c. 1820, “The Early Experiences of Ralph Ringwood”, in The Crayon Papers, Washington Irving:

     The country, too, which had been the promised land of my boyhood, did not, like most promised lands, disappoint me.

   • 1857, Charlotte Brontë, chapter 25, in The Professor:

     When Frances had developed her plan, she intimated, in some closing sentences, her hopes for the future. […] [A]nd what was to hinder us from going to live in England? England was still her Promised Land.

   • 1912, Annie Fellows Johnston, chapter 8, in Mary Ware's Promised Land:

     That is the danger that always menaces people when they get over into their Promised Land.

   • 1968 April 3, Martin Luther King Jr., I've Been to the Mountaintop:

     I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land.

   • 1987, Joe Smooth (lyrics and music), “Promised Land”, performed by Anthony Thomas:

     When the angels from above / Fall down and spread their wings like doves / As we walk hand in hand / Sister, brothers, we'll make it to the promised land