BIBLICAL ALLUSION
Absalom
Archetype of a rebellious son, especially one who meets a tragic end. The third son of
King David, remarkable for his beauty, beloved by his father and his people. He sided
with his father’s enemy and was slain by Joab after his hair entangled in a tree while
trying to escape.
Abraham
Archetypical patriarch. One of the most important figures of the Old Testament (OT),
Abraham is usually considered the father of the Hebrew people and the ancestor of all
Jews. He is referred to as “the father of many nations” in Genesis 17:5.
Adam’s curse
Ironic colloquialism for work. “In the sweat of they face shalt thou eat bread.” (Genesis
3:19)
Angel of Death
Personification of death. The angel of death is usually assumed of biblical origin, being
identified as Azrael or Michael.
Ahab
Archetype of an arrogant, wicked tyrant. Husband to the evil Jezebel. he colluded in the
introduction of pagan worship and was subsequently warned by God’s prophet Elijah that
he faced divine vengeance and the fall of his dynasty. Ahab was killed in battle and his
blood was licked up by dogs.
Antichrist
A person who opposes Christ or is the implacable enemy of all that is good. The
Antichrist is described in the Bible as the enemy of Christ (1John 2:18-21), who will
inflict great wickedness upon the word prior to being overcome in the final battle by
Christ in the Second Coming.
Apocalypse
A catastrophic or climatic event involving total destruction. From the Greek work
meaning “to disclose.”
Babylon
A city, place, society, etc., notorious for corruption or depravity.
by the rivers of Babylon
In exile from a cherished but far-distant place or time. From Psalm 137:1, in which the
Israelites in exile in Babylon lamented their lost homeland Zion: “By the rivers of
Babylon, there we sat, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.”
Beelzebub
A devil, demon, or very wicked person. From the Hebrew meaning “lord of the heavenly
habitation.” Later reinterpreted as meaning “lord of the flies.”
Cain and Abel
Archetype to brothers whose relationship ends in violence. (Genesis 4:1-16)
Corinthian
Licentious, dissolute. The lax moral of the inhabitants of this city were widely known in
the ancient world.
David and Bathsheba
A guilty or treacherous love affair. (2 Samuel 11&12)
Diaspora
The dispersion of people through migration or forced removal.
epiphany
A revelatory appearance, or realization; from the Greek, manifestation. In the Bible, the
presentation of the infant Christ to the Wise Men.
Esau
A person who allows himself to be parted with something of value without receiving much
in return.
Gabriel
Messenger of God.
genesis
A beginning; the origin of something.
Gog and Magog
Godless forces that threaten the end of the world through war. Gog and Magog are
identified in Revelation 20:8 as the personification of nations as the farthest ends of the
earth in the final apocalyptic conflict between good and evil.
Goliath
A formidable opponent or obstacle.
Jacob’s ladder
A ladder of rope or cable used to board a boat or ship. Originally, a ladder connecting
heaven and earth, having rungs representing the virtues.
Jezebel
A shameless, immoral woman. Jezebel was the daughter of Ethbaal, the king of Tyre and
Sidon, and the wife of Ahab, king of Israel. Her evil deeds included the murder of the
Lord’s prophets and their replacement by the prophets of Baal and the attempted murder
of Elijah. Elijah foretold a bad end for Jezebel with the words “The dogs shall eat
Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel” (1 Kings 21:23:, and eventually Jezebel was hurled out of
a palace window on orders of King Jehu after she adorned herself and tried to seduce
him: Her blood spattered the wall and the body was torn apart by dogs (2 Kings 9:30-37).
John the Baptist
A person who preaches or speaks out in defiance of hostile opinion, especially urges
Christian repentance. “…voice crying in the wilderness.”
Jonah
A person who brings bad luck wherever he or she goes. The biblical person was a
prophet who was blamed for the storm that lashed the ship in which he was gleeing from
God’s command to go and preach repentance to the people of Nineveh. (Jonah 1:4-1)
Judas
A traitor; a hypocrite. He betrayed Christ to the Romans for thirty pieces of silver.
Lazarus
A person who unexpectedly emerges revived after dying or renewed after apparently
ceasing to have anything further to offer (John 11: 1-44).
leviathan
A vast or immensely powerful force or thing, especially a massive organization, state
bureaucracy, etc. The name comes from a monstrous beast mentioned at several points
in the Bible; for one. (Job 41:1)
in the lion’s den
A person who is in a position of great danger. The phrase alludes to the biblical story of
Daniel who is accused of defying the rulers of Babylon and is thrown into a cage full of
hungry lions (Daniel 6:16). Daniel’s courage and faith is rewarded when God saves his
life by sealing the lions’ mouths so they could not eat him.
Lot’s wife
Archetype of an individual who brings about his or her own downfall through
disobedience (Genesis 19:26)
magi
Astrologers. Three men from the East, who according to Matthew 2:1, came to
Bethlehem with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to celebrate the birth of Christ.
mark of Cain
A brand or other distinguishing mark that bears witness to some past crime or misdeed.
Pharisee
A self-righteous or hypocritical person, especially one who insists on legalistically and
slavishly observing the rules, regardless of the intent behind them.
philistine
An uncultured, ignorant person. Originally the Philistines were a warlike non-Semitic
people who in biblical times inhabited ancient Philistia in close and often hostile
proximity to the Jews. Goliath (1 Samuel 17) and Delilah (Judges 16) were Philistines.
Potiphar’s wife
A woman who gets revenge on a man who has rejected her advances by falsely accusing
him of rape (Genesis 37:36)
Queen of Sheba
Legendary queen whose name is sometimes applied pejoratively to a woman who is
suspected of dressing or otherwise behaving in an inappropriate grand manner. (1 Kings
10:1-13, Chronicles 9:1-9, 12) Sometimes the queen’s name symbolizes vanquished
pride (“there was no more spirit in her”).
Ruth
The archetype of a devoted, loyal woman. A Moabite widow, Ruth promised never to
desert her mother-in-law: “Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after
thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest: thy people shall be my
people, and they God my God” (Ruth 1:16)
Salome
A seductive, deceitful temptress. The biblical Salome, the step-daughter of Herod
Antipas, who demanded the head of John the Baptist: She was promised whatever she
wanted in payment for her dancing before her stepfather.
Samson
A person of exceptional physical strength. The allusion to the biblical Samson, a judge of
Israel, who was renowned for his great strength. He was brought low, by Delilah who
cut off his long hair on which his strength depended and had his eyes gouged out.
Sodom and Gomorrah
A place that is notorious for depravity and vice, especially of a sexual nature. Sodom
and Gomorrah are described in the book of Genesis as cities of corruption, and for this
reason they are both destroyed by fire and brimstone sent by God, Genesis 19:24-25.
walls of Jericho
A seemingly invincible obstacle that is miraculously overcome without a blow being
struck. Biblical reference, Joshua describes (6:1-20) how he and his forces, bearing the
Ark of the Covenant, surrounded Jericho in six days. On the seventh day, the people
heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall
fell flat, so the people came to the city.
Witch of Endor
Archetypical witch or medium with supernatural powers. The reference is the corceress
of Endor, who (according to 1 Samuel 28:3-25) on command of King Saul summoned up
the spirit of the prophet Samuel; the spirit warned the king of his imminent defeat and
death in battle against the Philistines.
worshipping the golden calf
In modern usage, this phrase describes people who place undue emphasis on the pursuit
of material values. The allusion is to a biblical episode described in Exodus 32:1-14.
REFERENCES
Reference
Definition
Abaddon
Revelation 9:11
Abaddon is the Greek form and Apollyon is the Hebrew equivalent.
These words mean ‘destroyer, ‘ ‘destruction.’ This title stresses his work
of destruction; he works to destroy the glory of God and God’s purpose
with man. He further works to destroy societies and mankind.
The Accuser
of the
Brethren
Revelation 12:10
The Greek word for “accuser” is kathgor, which refers to one who brings
condemning accusations against others. In view of Job 1 and 2, this is
also an attempt to malign the character of God and His plan.
The Adversary
1 Peter 5:8
An opponent (in a lawsuit); specially, Satan (as the arch-enemy)
Angel of Light
2 Corinthians 11:14
One of his purposes is to make men as much like God as he can, but
always without God. So, he will copy as much of God and His plan as
he can, but he will always either distort, pervert, substitute or leave out
those key ingredients of truth that are vital to the plan of salvation and
sanctification through Christ.
Apollyon
Revelation 9:11
A destroyer (i.e. Satan)
Beelzebub
Matthew 12:24
Mark 3:22
Luke 11:15
Three possible spellings of this word each have a different menaing:
(1)Beelzebul means “lord of the dung,” a name of reproach.
(2) Beelzebub means “lord of the flies.” Either one of these are names of
reproach and are name of uncleanness applies to Satan, the prince of the
demons and uncleanness. (3)Beelzeboul, means “the loard of the
dwelling.” This would identify Satan as the god of demon possession.
This spelling has the best manuscript evidence behind it.
Belial
2 Corinthians 6:15
This name means “worthless” or “hopeless ruin.” The epitome of
worthlessness, hopeless ruin and the source of all idolatry and religion
which is also hopeless or futile.
the Devil
Matt. 4:1,5,9;
Eph. 4:27; Rev.
12:9; 20:2
“Devil” is the Greek work diabollos which means “slanderer, defamer.”
This accentuates his goal and work to impugn the character of God
Dragon
Revelation 12:9
and 20:2
Probably from an alternate form of derkomai (to look): a fabulous
kind of serpent (perhaps as supposed to fascinate) or the Greed word is
drakon (as in draconian) and refers to a “hideous monster, a dragon, or
large serpent.” This word stresses the cruel, vicious, and blood thirsty
character and power of Satan.
the enemy
Matthew 13:39
From a primary echtho (to hate); hateful (passively, odious, or actively
hostile); usually as a noun, an adversary (especially Satan)
the Evil One
John 17:15
1 John 5:9
The Greek poneros means “wicked, evil, bad, base, worthless, vicious,
degenerate.” It points to Satan’s character as active and malignant.
Father of all Lies
John 8:44
A falsifier; using his network of deception through demonic forces and
duped people, he promotes false doctrines in the name of God.
god of this world
II Corinthians 4:4
god is used generically and refers to Satan
king of Babylon
Isaiah 14:4
Confusion; Babel (i.e. Babylon), including Babylonia and the
Babylonian empire
King of Tyrus
Ezekiel 28:12
A rock; Tsor, a place in Palestine, Satan is the false rock. Christ is the
Little Horn
Daniel 7:8
A horn (as projecting); by implication, a flask, cornet; by resemble, an
elephants’ tooth (i.e. ivory), a corner (of the altar), a peak (of a
mountain), a ray (of light); figuratively, power
Lucifer
Isaiah 14:12
The Hebrew word for Lucifer (KJV translation) is literally “the shining
on.” This name draws our attention to his pre-fall condition and to the
nature of the cause of his fall – pride; the morning star: Lucifer (the king
of Babylon). Satan is the false morning star. Christ is the true morning
Star.
Man of sin
II Thessalonians
2:3
Satan was the first to sin. See Ezekiel 28:11-19
That Old Serpent
Revelation 12:9
and 20:2
old=original or primeval
serpent=(through the idea of sharpness of vision): a snake, figuratively
(as a type of sly cunning) an artful malicious person, especially Satan
Power of Darkness
Colossians 1:13
“shade” or a shadow (literally or figuratively [darkness or error or an
adumbration])
Prince of the Power
of the Air
Ephesians 2:2
prince=a first (in rank or power)
power=privilege, i.e. (subjectively) force, capacity, competency,
freedom, or (objectively) mastery (concretely, magistrate, superhuman,
potentate, token of control), delegated influence
Prince that shall
come
Daniel 9:26
A commander (as occupying the front), civil, military or religious;
generally (abstractly, plural), honorable themes. See II Thessalonians
2:3-4 and Revelation 12:7-9
prince of Tyrus
Ezekiel 28:2
a rock; Tsor, a place in Palestine. Satan is the false rock. Christ is the
true rock.
Prince of this world
John 12:31
prince=a first (in rank or power)
world=orderly arrangement, i.e. decoration; by implication, the world (in
a wide or narrow sense, including its inhabitants, literally or figuratively
[morally])
The Proud One
Isaiah 14:12-14
The five “I wills”
Rulers of the
darkness of
this world
Ephesians 6:12
rulers=a world-ruler, an epithet of Satan
darkness=shadiness, i.e., obscurity (literally or figuratively)
Satan
Job 1:6-9;
Matthew 4:10
The title “Satan” occurs 53 times in 47 verses in the Bible. The
primary idea is ‘adversary, one who withstands.’
Serpent
Genesis 3:1;
Revelations 12:9
Properly, to hiss, i.e. whisper a (magic) spell; generally, to
prognosticate
Son of Perdition
John 17:12
II Thessalonians 2:3
Ruin or loss (physical, spiritual or eternal) also to destroy fully
(reflectively, to perish, or lose), literally or figuratively
the Tempter
Matthew 4:3
1 Thessalonians 3:5
To test (objectively), i.e. endeavor, scrutinize, entice, discipline
the Wicked One
Matthew 13:19
Hurtful, evil (properly, in effect or influence) figuratively, calamitous:
also (passively) ill, i.e. diseased; but especially (morally) culpable, i.e.
derelict, vicious, facinorous; neuter (singular) mischief, malice, or
(plural) guilt; masculine (singular) the devil, or (plural) sinners
BIBLICAL PHRASES
Abraham’s supreme test
An ultimate challenge or sacrifice. The reference is to God’s command
to Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, as a burned offering on
Mount Moriah. Abraham readily agreed to comply and was about to kill
Isaac with a knife when God, satisfied that Abraham’s faith was genuine,
intervened by providing a ram caught in a thicket to take Isaac’s place
(Genesis 22:1-19).
Baptism by fire
An arduous initiation or introduction to something.
Blood will have blood
Violence breeds violence (Genesis 9:6)
Book of life
Life itself, experience of living, or a record of how life has been spent.
The original Book of Life, in which the names and deeds of those who
will be saved on Judgment Day are listed, is described in Revelations
3:5, 20:12-15, 21:27
Children of light
Those who are enlightened or otherwise alive to virtue, culture, faith, etc.
City on the hill
Utopia; an ideal community or shining example of some kind.
Clay in potter’s hand
Easily led; malleable; pliable
Death, where is thy sting?
Death is nothing to fear. (1 Corinthians 15:55; “…O grave, Where is
they victory?”)
Doubting Thomas
A person who remains unconvinced about something until firm proof is
proffered.
East of Eden
A featureless, desolate place or situation; a place of wandering or exile.
Feet of clay
A fundamental character flaw, especially one that is not immediately
obvious in someone or something that is otherwise greatly admired.
Flaming sword
A highly effective weapon of some kind, especially one used to keep a
person at bay.
Four Horsemen
War, Pestilence (or strife), Famine, and Death. War rides A white horse.
Pestilence rides a red horse, famine rides a black horse, and Death rides a
pale horse.
Golden calf
Money, riches, or material value
Good Samaritan
A person who kindly and selflessly helps a stranger in distress or
difficulty.
Grain of mustard seed
Anything that has a small beginning but grown into something much
larger.
Inherit the wind
To provoke trouble, especially to bring trouble down on one’s own head.
(Proverbs 11:29)
Judas kiss
An act of betrayal disguised as a demonstration of friendship.
Judgment of Solomon
Great wisdom, as required to solve a particularly difficult dispute or
problem. (1 Kings 3:16-28) The allusion is to a biblical dispute by two
prostitutes who were both claiming possession of the same child. Having
heard their cases, Solomon calmly proposed cutting the child in half so
that the women could have equal shares; the woman who showed anxiety
about this proposal proved she we real mother and was awarded custody
of the child.
Lamb to the slaughter
A defenseless victim; someone who is apparently too naïve or powerless
to defend his or her interests, especially one who ventures into danger
without complaining or protesting.
Land of Beulah
The promised land. A land of ease and plenty; the land flowing with
milk and honey. (Isaiah 62:4)
Land of Nod
The realm of sleep itself. The land East of Eden to which Cain was
exiled. (Genesis 4:16)
Last Trump
Judgment Day. The signal for the end of the world will be a blast on
Gabriel’s trumpet, when the dead will rise for judgment: “We shall not
all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an
eye, at the last trump.” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52)
Lion shall lie down with the lamb
Idyllic view of a future in which natural enemies will be reconciled and
live in peace.
My cup runneth over
Good things are coming in abundance (Psalm 23:5-6)
Patience of Job
Endless patience in the face of great difficulty or suffering.
Raising of Lazarus
A person who unexpectedly emerges revived after dying or renewed after
ceasing to have anything further to offer. The allusion is described in the
New Testament in John 11:1-44. Lazarus is raised from the dead upon
the entreaties of his sisters Mary and Martha. Christ recited the words “I
am the resurrection, and the life, and he who believeth in me, though he
were dead, yet shall live, and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall
never die” and when the stone that sealed the tomb of Lazarus was rolled
away, the dead man rose and emerged at Christ’s command.
Reap what you sow
The benefit you receive depends on what you have put in. The phrase
comes from Paul’s letter to the Galatians: “God is not mocked: for
whatever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” (Galatians 6:7)
Thirty pieces of silver
The price of an act of betrayal. The allusion is to the 30 shekels of silver
that was paid by the priests to Judas in exchange for information about
Christ’s whereabouts. (Matthew 26:14-16)
Thorn in the flesh
A persistent irritation or annoyance, especially one that cannot be easily
escaped. The phrase comes from Corinthians 13:7, in which Paul
complains about his troubles.
Tower of Babel
A scene of general confusion and noise. According to Genesis 11:4-9,
the Tower of Babel was built with the intentions of reaching heaven.
God thwarted the efforts of the builders by making them speak in
different languages.
Pearls before swine
Something good or valuable that is offered to or in the possession of a
person who cannot appreciate it. The phrase comes from Matthew 7:16:
“Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, nether cast ye pearls before
swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again to rend you.”
Pilate washed his hands/
Wash one’s hand of
A person who refuses to take responsibility for his or her actions;
a hypocrite. Alludes to the biblical account of Pilate washing his hands
in public as an expression of the fact that he refused to accept any blame
for Christ’s death.
Prodigal son
A person who return after a lengthy absence, having squandered his
money. (Luke 14:11-32)
Promised land
A place or situation believed to offer great happiness, fulfillment, and
security. In the OT the land of Canaan was promised by God to
Abraham and his descendents, and thus Canaan cam to be referred to as
the Promised Land. (Genesis 12:7)
A process of revelation resulting in fundamental change of viewpoint or
opinion (typically the result of a sudden eve miraculous insight). Acts
9:1-19, 22:1-21, and 26:1-23
Road to Damascus
Shake off the dust from/
on one’s feet
To leave somewhere or disassociate oneself from someone as a result of
the treatment one has received. (Matthew 10:14)
Stolen waters are sweet
Pleasures acquired illegally or through otherwise dubious means are all
more enjoyable. The sentiment comes from Proverbs 9:17: “Stolen
waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
Straight and narrow
The honest and moral path. Matthew 7:13-14 warns that it is much
easier to follow the path to eternal condemnation that it is to take the path
that leads to salvation.
Tree of Knowledge
Adam and Eve disregard God’s command not to eat from The Tree of
Knowledge of Good and Evil that leads to their expulsion from Paradise.
Today the tree is sometimes interpreted as a symbol of the truth gained at
the expense of loss of innocence. (Genesis 2:9)
Tree of life
The tree of life is “in the midst of the garden” of Paradise (Genesis 2:9).
(Generally interpreted as a symbol of God’s gift of life.)
Two edge sword
Referring to something that is open to two different interpretations, such
as an argument or policy that has an effect against both parties. “For the
word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edge
sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit and of
joints and marrow, and discerner of the thoughts and intents of the
heart.” Hebrews 4:12
Vanities of vanities
An act or belief that is considered entirely futile. In its original biblical
context, the word suggested rather the notion of meaningless, emptiness,
futility, or idolatry. Ecclesiastes 1:2; “Vanity of vanities, saith the
Preacher, Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”
Voice crying in the wilderness
A lone voice of protest raised against prevailing opinion, typically one
expressing views that meet with an indifferent or openly hostile
reception. The original voice in the wilderness was that of John the
Baptist, who preached the coming of Christ. (Matthew 3:1-3)
Wages of sin
Suffering of some kind as a punishment for the sins that a Person has
committed. “The wages of sin is death: but the gift is eternal life through
Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
Walk on water
To achieve the apparently impossible and emerge unscathed. An
allusion to a biblical episode as related in Mark 6:45-56.
Wise as serpents and
harmless as doves
Shrewd but innocent. Matthew 10:16: “Behold, I send you forth as
sheep in the midst of wolves: by ye therefore wise as serpents, and
harmless as doves.”
Wolf in sheep’s clothing
A person or thing that appears to be harmless but is masking its real,
harmful nature. Christ condemns the false prophets (Matthew 7:15):
“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but
inwardly they are raving wolves.”
Zion
The name of the hill on which the city of Jerusalem was first built and
sometimes called David’s city; symbolically, it represents the church of
God or the kingdom of heaven.
Sources: King James Version of the Bible
Manser, Martin H. and David H. Pickering, Ass. Ed.
The Facts on File Dictionary of Classical
and Biblical Allusions. Martin H. Manser, USA, 2003
Compiled by:
Maria Ramirez
W.T. White High School
April 2005