BIBLICAL ALLUSION [BIB-LI-KUH L UH-LOO-ZHUH N ]:
A REFERENCE WITHIN A LITERARY WORK TO A STORY, IDEA, OR
EVENT THAT IS RELATED IN THE BIBLE OR OTHER BIBLICAL
WRITINGS.
Mrs. Nartker
Honors English 11
7th period Biblical Allusions
The Bible
First it is
divided
into two
parts




The Bible is divided into two parts; the first is known as
the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament, and the second
part is known as the New Testament. (Note that "Old
Testament“ is the term used by most Christians, but scholars
consider it more accurate to use the term "Hebrew Bible.")
Each Testament further divides into individual books, and
each book divides into chapters.
The writings of the Bible contain a diverse array of
literary forms, including poetry, prose, myth, legend,
history, hymns, love stories, letters, religious and secular
law, proverbs, and prophecy.
The Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) describes the religious
life and history of ancient Israel before the birth of Christ,
while the New Testament deals with the life of Christ, with
the expansion of the early Church after his death, and
with much of the doctrine of Christianity.
Hebrew Bible/ Old Testament

Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
First book of Samuel
Second book of Samuel
First book of Kings
Second book of Kings
First book of Chronicles
Second Book of Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi.
New Testament

Matthew

Mark

Luke


Hebrews

James
John

1 Peter

Acts

2 Peter

Romans
1 Corinthians

1 John


2 Corinthians

2 John

Galatians

3 John

Ephesians

Jude

Philippians
Colossians


Revelation

1 Thessalonians

2 Thessalonians

1 Timothy

2 Timothy

Titus

Philemon
Cain and Abel
Rebekah Sebastian - 7
The Basic Story
Cain and Abel were sons of Adam and Eve. Abel
offered the Lord the firstborns of his flock of sheep.
Cain, as a tiller, offered the Lord fruit. The Lord respects
Abel because, in the Bible, a person who is a keeper
of sheep is faithful. The Lord rewards Abel with land to
rule. Jealous, Cain takes Abel into the fields and
murders him. When the Lord asks Cain where his
brother is, he replies “I know not: Am I my brother’s
keeper” (Genesis 4:9). As a punishment, the Lord tells
Cain that the land will no longer work in his favor when
he cultivates it. Cain will be a fugitive, wandering the
earth. Cain says this punishment is too great and the
Lord responds by placing a mark on Cain so that he
shall not be killed by anyone who comes across him.
Why Alluded/Examples
 The
story of Cain and Abel is alluded to show how
time and time again, jealousy takes over people
and causes them to do things they would not
normally do.
 Toy Story - In Toy Story, Woody pushed Buzz out the
window. He does this because he is jealous of Buzz
and the fact that Buzz has taken his title of
“favorite toy” away from him.
 McBeth - In Shakespeare’s play, McBeth is jealous
of the king. Because McBeth thinks he can do a
better job than King Duncan, he murders the king.
The Birth of Moses
From the Bible story Exodus
Basic Story:
When Moses was born, the Israelites were slaves
of the Pharoah in Egypt. Any boys that were
born were being killed to prevent any
opposition to the Pharoah. Because of this, his
mother hid him for 3 months, and then put
him in an ark made of bulrushes and set him in
the river. The Pharoah’s daughter found him,
gave him to his mother for nursing, and then
took him back to raise him. She raised him at
the Pharoah’s house until he killed an Egyptian
and the troubles began.
Allusions:
Significance:
After many years, Moses would part the Red Sea
and help the Israelites reach saftey (he would
never make it there though)
The Lion King:
The Grapes of Wrath:
A child is put in a
basket and sent down the
Nile
Bruce Almighty:
Bruce parts a bowl of
tomato soup
The entire movie is
basically an allusion to the
story of Moses
The Birth of Moses
What does the story tell us?
Many allusions to Moses involve
floating down the river. However,
later in his life he was called on by
God to led his people to safety, but
he questions God – he does not
think he is good enough.
Therefore, allusions to Moses could
help show a character that is
struggling with self-confidence
and won’t believe in his/herself
Look For:
•Baby floating down river
•Ark made of bulrushes
•Burning bush (alludes to his later
life, not his birth)
“An Eye for an Eye”
• From Matthew 5:38
•From the Code of Hammurabi (King of Babylon)
•Meaning: For every wrongdoing, there must be equal
compensation
Moses and the Burning Bush
Stephanie Nicholls period 7
Explanation:
Historical Context:
The story of Moses and the Burning
Bush is found in the Bible in the book of
Exodus chapter 3. It is also referenced in
the book of Acts chapter 7.
Moses was tending his father-in-law, Jethro’s, flock in the region of
Midian near Mount Horeb. An angel of the Lord appeared to
Moses in the form of a burning bush that was not consumed by
the fire. God called out to Moses warning him to not come any
closer and to remove his sandals because he was standing on holy
ground. God told Moses that he had seen the suffering of his
people which were in Egypt under the oppressive rule of Pharaoh.
God told Moses to go and set the Israelites free and bring them to
a prosperous land. Moses did not understand why he was chosen,
but he was obedient and did what God asked.
The burning bush is alluded
to in many cultures because it was a
powerful attention grabbing symbol of
hope used to motivate and inspire for
a great purpose.
Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
“The Truth” by Handsome Boy Modeling School
“The powers that be…”
•This phrase refers to the established authority or government
•Mentioned in the book of Romans chapter 13 verse 1
•This is alluded to in society to remind people of the law and authority that governs them.
What is it?
Moses guided the Israelites out of Egypt where
they were slaves to the Egyptians. The Egyptians
pursued the Israelites after they fled knowing
that the Red Sea would trap the Israelites. With
the Lord’s help, Moses split the water of the sea
creating a path to the land on the other side of
The Red Sea.
Moses Parts the Red Sea
Moses by Coldplay
“Come on now, don't you
want to see?
This thing that's
happening to me
Like Moses has power
over sea
So you've got power over
me”
Where is the Story Found?
The story of Moses and the Red Sea is
written in the bible in The Book of
Exodus, going through chapters 13:1714:29. This story is also in the Qur’an in
Surah 26.
Bruce AlmightySplitting the
Tomato Soup
Exodus 19-24
The basics:
The people Moses were with had
just been brought out of Egypt by
the power of God. God told Moses
to come up to Mount Sinai so
Moses could receive instructions.
The mountain was covered with a
cloud of smoke. There, God gave
the ten commandments which
told everyone the basic rules to
follow and were written down on
stone tablets. They all agreed to
these commandments and told
God that they would do whatever
he asked. Moses was the one who
was communicating directly with
God. He spent 40 days and 40
nights on the Mount.
This story is often referred to
because most people, even if they
aren’t Christian, are aware that the
ten commandments are what God
told people to follow. This story
tells people how to live their lives
as believers in God.
Matthew 22:14 “Many are called
but few are chosen”
This phrase comes from what
Jesus said at a king’s wedding
when everyone had been
invited, but those who disliked
the king or couldn’t make time
for him wouldn’t come.
Everyone is invited into the
Kingdom of God but only those
who accept Christ into their
lives will be there.


In Animal Farm by George Orwell, the
animals created their “Seven
Commandments” that all of them had
to follow. They were guidelines for how
they were to live and what they were to
do and not to do. These alluded
strongly to the Ten Commandments
when Moses was on the Mount.
In The Invention of Lying, the main
character writes down his ideas about
“The Man in the Sky” and religion on
two pizza boxes in a similar fashion to
Moses and the stone tablets.
“Now the whole
earth had one
language and the
same words. 2And
as they migrated
from the east,* they
came upon a plain
in the land of
Shinar and settled
there. 3And they
said to one another,
‘Come, let us make
bricks, and burn
them thoroughly.’
And they had brick
“In my father’s
house are many
mansions” (John
14:2).
• Room for all to live
• Pratchett’s Dark Side of the Sun
• Curse of Jargon
• Lewis That Hideous Strength
• Genetic experiments
• The Amazing Spiderman
• Oscorp Tower
• Used as a symbol of punishing
those who attempt to
circumvent the rules to gain
power.
Picture courtesy of
http://www.goodsalt.com/de
tails/pppas0218.html
Historical/Cultural Context:
The story of Noah and the flood is written in the
Bible in the book of Genesis chapters 5-9. But
the story is also evident in many other cultures
and religions.
Things to look for…..
40 days and 40 nights
Olive branch
Pairs of animals
Ark
Flood
Evan Almighty
Noah and the flood
Explanation:
God sees man’s wickedness on Earth and decides
to flood the Earth and kill everyone except Noah and
His family because he is a righteous man.
God tells Noah to build an ark and gather his
family and a male and female of every kind
of animal. The flood comes and all humanity
is destroyed for 40 days and 40 nights. Noah
sends out a white dove who brings back an
olive branch signifying the flood was over.
God then makes a covenant with all people
in the sign of a rainbow that he will never
again flood the earth.
The Story: Joseph was the 11th son of Jacob (12 in total).
Jacob loved Joseph and gave him a most colorful coat to show
his love. Joseph's brothers became jealous and hateful
towards Joseph, who also claimed to have dreams of his
brothers bowing down to him. His brothers plotted to kill him.
However, they instead sold him to a man from Egypt, who took
Joseph and sold him to be a slave for the Pharaoh. Joseph
interpreted the Pharaoh's dreams and helped to predict the 7
year famine that was to come. Because of this, Joseph was
made to be person of great power in Egypt. Several years
later, when the famine did indeed strike, Josephs brothers
traveled to Egypt in search of food. Here, Joseph recognizes
his brothers, but they do not recognize him. They bow to him,
just as his dream predicted. Joseph then reveals himself as
their brother and his family comes to live in Egypt.
History: The story of Joesph takes place in Genesis 37:111
Alluded to:
1. In Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, the city
where books are burned is said to be wrapped up
in a coat of a thousand colors.
2. In Robin Hood by J. Walker McSpadden, Robin
Hood trades clothes with and old, poor man. The
robe Robin Hood now wears is like Joseph's coat
of many colors.
Why?: Joseph, his brothers, and his coat are
alluded to in literature to evoke the biblical
story of Joseph. When his colorful coat is
mentioned, it means that whatever is
associated with the coat is favored or above
the rest. It also means that this favored object
is not universally liked, however, and that
others are jealous of it. Both Robin Hood and
the city in Fahrenheit 451 are special, or what
is considered to be better. However, neither is
favored by all, as Joseph was not favored by
his brothers.
Then: The Holy Grail was supposedly the
cup that Jesus Christ drank out of at the
last supper. Later it was used to collect
Christ's blood and sweat while on the
Cross.
Now: It has come to mean any sought after
item or desired goal.
Story : (605 B.C.)
Examples:
At a young age, Daniel was taken
into captivity in Babylon.
Throughout his life he stayed
honest, kept his loyalty to God, and
worked hard. As he grew old, he
moved up the ranks and became an
administrator in the kingdom. Other
government officials were jealous of
Daniel’s wisdom and power. They
knew he never broke any laws, so
the only way to have him removed
from power was to make a new law
that challenged his faith. It stated
that anyone who prayed to God or
worshipped someone other than the
King Darius would be thrown into
the lions den. Even though the King
liked David and allowed Daniel to
pray, the king liked the idea of
increasing his power and signed off
on the decree. Daniel stayed faithful
and continued to pray to God, so he
was thrown into the den of lions.
King Darius tried to save Daniel, but
he had already signed the decree.
The King worried about Daniel all
night. However, Daniel was found
the next morning untouched by the
lions. For falsely accusing Daniel,
the king had the men, along with
their wives and children, thrown into
the lions den. They were
immediately killed by the lions.
• The Merchant of Venice by Shakespeare
Shylock: “A Daniel come to judgment! yea, a
Daniel!”
•The Innocents Abroad by Mark Twain
“… intruding upon a scene like this, comes
this fantastic mob of green-spectacled
Yanks, with their flapping elbows and
bobbing umbrellas! It is Daniel in the lion's
den with a green cotton umbrella under his
arm, all over again.”
Why is it Referenced?
• “Daniel”
A person who was betrayed, wronged, or
deceived. A person who has been thrown
under the bus by another person.
• “… in the lion’s den”
When a person finds themselves in a hostile
environment or a very troubling/difficult
situation.
Daniel and the Den of Lions
Book of Daniel, Chapter 6
“Let there be light”
In Hebrew and
Aramaic, the
word “light” can
mean
understanding.
The idiom really
means “Let
there be an
understanding.”
It’s used to refer
to the need for
an
enlightenment
on a particular
subject or
controversy.
Explanation
Absalom was son of King David. He
was very conceited, especially
concerning his long flowing hair. After
his brother, Amnon wronged his
sister Tekoah, Absalom killed his
brother. His father refused to see him
for many years. At this time, the
people began to support Absalom,
who decided that he should take over
the throne. Absalom and his
followers met King David and his
troops. Absalom’s men were quickly
obliterated, and Absalom escaped on
a mule. However, his hair got caught
in a tree, and was killed by three
darts.
Examples:
Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton
Absalom, Absalom by William Faulker
Things to look for:
• Sons and fathers
fighting
• Three Darts
Quote:
Ashes to ashes, dust to
dust
Refers to death
making you one with
the Earth again
Context
In the book of Samuel, after Saul is
defeated by the Philistines. One of many
religious and/or mythological references
to a son’s rebellion.
Blind Leading the Blind:
Refers to when a group of people believe that their “leader” knows what
he/she is doing. It also means that some people when blindly follow
someone, without any conviction. And the one who is leading could be just
as clueless as the rest.
Lawless soundtrack:
“Fire and Brimstone”
Significance?
It is often used to
describe a person or
community that will be
punished and destroyed
for their actions and sins.
Sodom and Gomorrah
The Story:
Hemmingway’s
The Garden of Eden
God, after observing the people of Sodom and
Gomorrah, decided it was full of sinners and wrongdoers. He
declared that the only way the people of Sodom and Gomorrah
would be spared, was if his angels could find 10 righteous men.
So the Lord sent the Angels to Sodom, who were then taken in
by a man named Lot. However, after the three angelic men
arrived, the people of Sodom demanded Lot bring the visitors
to them for there pleasure. Lot refused, and the townsfolk
began to use force. Lot was then saved by the three angels, and
protected from the violence. God was furious, and punished the
kingdoms of Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot was allowed to take his
family to safety. God then sent sulfur and fire down from the
Heavens, and destroyed the lands and plains of Sodom and
Gomorrah. As they escaped, Lot’s wife turned to look back, and
turned into a pillar of salt.
Allusions in:
Charles Dickens, The Tale of Two Cities
The Office
Many food pantries use the name
Loaves and Fishes
Things to look for:
Why referenced?
God will take care of
our needs if we give
him the little that
we have. Offer
yourself and he can
work miracles.
Loaves and fish
Multiplying food
Innocent offerings
Loaves and Fishes
Explanation:
Jesus has a group of around 5,ooo
people sitting and listening to him and
it is getting late. Jesus knows he
should feed all instead of just sending
them home hungry, but he does not
have any food. An innocent boy brings
him five loaves and two fish. Jesus
breaks the bread and asks the disciples
to pass it around. There is plenty of
food for everyone with 12 baskets of
fish and loaves left over.
Found in:
Mark 6:41
Luke 9:16
Matthew 14:13-21
Found in:
Jeremiah 11:19
Isaiah 53:7
In an unconcerned manner - unaware of
the impending catastrophe.
Lamb to the Slaughter
Jeremiah
But I was like a gentle lamb
led to the slaughter; And I
did not know that they had
devised plots against me,
{saying,} "Let us destroy
the tree with its fruit, And
let us cut him off from the
land of the living, That his
name be remembered no
more."
Isaiah
He was oppressed, and he
was afflicted, yet he
opened not his mouth: he
is brought as a lamb to the
slaughter, and as a sheep
before her shearers is
dumb, so he openeth not
his mouth.
JACOB’S LADDER
 Description: In the beginning of the Bible (Genesis 28:10 19), Jacob is fleeing from his murderous brother Esau and
stops to rest on the road. He falls asleep and dreams of a
ladder leading to heaven. Angels ascend and descend this
ladder, and even God himself appears at the top. The Lord
speaks to Jacob, blessing him and proclaiming Jacob’s
people to be the chosen ones. Af ter Jacob awakes, he
realizes that God is present in the area, and builds a city
there – Bethel, which means “House of God.”
 Allusions:
 Jacob’s Ladder (1990 horror film)
 Jacob’s Ladder children’s toy
 “Jacob’s Ladder” (F. Scott Fitzgerald short story)
 Significance: Many theologians believe that climbing the
ladder represents the spiritual movement of a person’s
soul to be closer to God. Jacob’s ladder represents the
link between the Ear th and heaven, which ever yone
should attempt to climb in order to reach spirituality.
“RED SKY AT NIGHT, SHEPHERD’S DELIGHT”
 In Matthew 16:2-3, Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees and
Sadducees, who are, like usual, trying to tempt him by asking for a
sign from the heavens. He tells them in reply:
 “When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair
weather: for the sky is red. And in the
morning, It will be foul weather to day: for
the sky is red and lowering.”
 This phrase was also taken up by
Shakespeare, who uses it in the poem
Venus and Adonis.
 Like a red morn that ever yet betokened,
wreck to the seaman - sorrow to the shepherds.
 Although it is mainly superstition, many people believe in the
proverb, using it to say that a red sky in the morning means a
storm is coming, while a red sky at night predicts calm weather.
Key phrases
Historical Context
Waters of Babylon
Wine of passion
Immoral wines
Evil desires
Kings have slept with her
Queen/Harlot Babylon
Purple/scarlet cloth
Great city of Babylon
This judgment of God against one
the seven mentioned great cities
describes the decline of a great
city. Although historians state that
the fall of the major trade center
occurred over a series of years, not
in a single hour, and that the fire is
symbolic of the decline.
Allusions
the Fall of Babylon: the movie
Scarlet Letter (to the Scarlet
Babylon)
The Fall of Babylon
Explanation
Discussed in Revelation 17-19, the fall of
Babylon, a city prosperous by its many trade
routes and centers, begins with a prophecy
given by an angel saying “Babylon is fallen”.
He speaks in past tense while warning God’s
people to leave the harlot of Babylon.
Babylon is described as a deceiving whore who
has bewitched the people with comfort and
luxuries (namely wine and sex) to sins. It was
said that in a single day, a single hour, the city
burned as God gave his judgment against the
city, eradicating the sinful. The merchants
were no longer rich as they watched the city
burn.
My Brother’s keeper:
Is part of Cain’s response to
God (after Cain killed his
brother Abel out of jealousy)
when God asks where Abel
is. Cain said sneeringly or
snarkily “Am I my brother’s
keeper” in a term more like
“zookeeper”. He was implying
that his bother was beneath
him in intelligence
Significance: The story of Samson and Delilah is
found in the book of Judges Chapter 16.
References to this story can often mean a tragic
love story of betrayal. Samson’s hair symbolizes
strength, and he serves as a reminder to people
that God is willing to forgive. Also, the name
Delilah is usually associated with an attractive,
treacherous woman.
Samson and Delilah
Samson was a Judge of the Israelites who had been given superhuman strength by God. One day
Samson met Delilah and fell in love. The Philistine leaders, his enemies, offered money to Delilah
to discover Samson’s weakness, so she constantly asked Samson for his secret. After lying to her
several times, he finally revealed that his hair was the source of his strength. Delilah told the
Philistines and they cut off his hair, capturing him. Samson’s eyes were gouged out and he was
forced to work hard labor. Slowly, his hair started growing back as he turned to God. During a
pagan sacrifice, Samson prayed for the strength to push down the pillars supporting the temple
and did so, killing everyone. He destroyed more of his enemies in this one act than he had
previously throughout his life.
The Incredible Hulk comic
books- a character named
Doc Samson whose strength
depended on his hair length
“Fire” by Bruce
Springsteen- mentions
Samson and Delilah
A drop in the bucket
This phrase is found in the book of Isaiah 40:15. Foreign
armies have surrounded God’s city, and the different
nations are described as being a drop in the bucket. Even
though it might seem like God’s people are a drop in the
bucket of these mighty nations, it’s actually the nations
are a drop in the God’s bucket. The phrase has come to
mean something small and insignificant. It usually
describes an effort or an action that has very little overall
influence, especially when it’s compared to a much larger
problem.
Example: When I think about those less fortunate than
me, I realize that my own problems are just a drop in
the bucket.
The Story:
The archangel Gabriel visited Mary, a young woman who had
taken a vow of virginity early in life. He told her that she, by
the Holy Spirit, would soon become the mother of Jesus. This
became known as the virgin birth of Christ. She was then
married to Joseph. Soon after, the emperor, decided to take a
census. Joseph and a very pregnant Mary journeyed to
Bethlehem. No one would take them in. They ended up staying
in a stable. That night Jesus was born and laid in a manger.
Later he visited by 3 wise men and 3 shepherds. The little
family stayed together while they fled to Egypt and later
returned to Nazareth.
History:
Mary appears
throughout the
Bible many
times, but the
story in focus
here begin in
Luke 1.
The Why:
The Virgin Mary is often
alluded to with the
purpose of showing the
innocence and virtue a
character possesses.
How that person is pure
and uncorrupt.
In 1997 Sinead O’Conner
played The Virgin Mary, in the
film, The Butcher Boy. She was
a hallucination of the main
character.
Idiom: The writing is on the wall-
based on a
story from the Bible where Daniel reads mysterious
handwriting on a wall, that predicts the fall of Babylon.
It happens just days later. Now it is used when people
see there is a likelihood for unfortunate events, or
when they feel something ominous is approaching.
This quote from Life of Pi
also references Mary the
Virgin: “She came floating
on an island of bananas in
a halo of light, as lovely as
the Virgin Mary. The rising
sun was behind her. Her
flaming hair looked
stunning.”
The Prodigal Son
Summary:
A man had two sons and a large estate. The younger son decided he wanted to
leave and his share of the estate. He left and spent away all of his share. A
famine hit and he went to work feeding pigs but was not given anything for
himself. He decided to return to his father. Upon his return his father held a
feast and killed their fattened calf in honor of his son’s return. The older son
became enraged because he had always been loyal and his father had never
rewarded him so handsomely. His father said they had to celebrate because
the youngest son was dead and had returned to life. He had been lost but now
had been found.
This story comes from Luke 15: 11-32
This story tells us that we should always look with love upon those
who have trespassed against us. As well as we should rejoice when
they come back to us from where they were lost.
Water into wine: One of the
greatest miracles Jesus ever
preformed was transforming
water into wine at a wedding
he was invited to. The guests
had never tasted a better wine.
This little miracle has been
referenced in many movies
because it is so wellrecognized.
Examples in Literature, Movies, ect.
1.
2.
In the Lion King, Simba makes a bad decision and takes Nala with him.
When things go wrong and they return home, Mufasa is just relieved
he’s ok and glad his son has been found again.
The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Allan Quartermain is
reminded of his lost son by Tom Sawyer (The American Special Agent).
He is exactly like him and Allan kind of rejoices at the thought of having
him back. He doesn’t openly celebrate but he does form a great bond
with Tom as the movie goes on.
Jonah 1
New King James Version
Jonah’s story begins when God commands him to travel to the city of Nineveh to warn people about the
wickedness of their ways. Instead of rising to the challenge, Jonah ran away from God’s command to the
port of Joppa and joined a voyage to the city of Tarnish. As Jonah was voyaging across the sea, a terrible
storm hit. The sailors throw all of their cargo into the sea and tried to make it back to land. Jonah knew
that this was God’s doing and he told the sailors to throw him overboard. They at first refused and
continued trying to row back to land, but they could not and so they threw Jonah overboard. They
prayed to God that they had not killed him and God sent a large fish, or a whale, to swallow him. Jonah
stayed inside the whale for 3 days and nights. During that time Jonah prayed and asked for God’s
forgiveness. At the end of the three days, the whale vomited Jonah onto land.
J A t W
o n h h
n d e a
a
l
h
e
The Story of Jonah and the whale
teaches of God’s forgiveness and
obeying God’s commands.
Allusions
• Pinocchio
• Moby Dick
Jezebel was the wife of Ahab, king of Israel. They were both worshipers of Baal, a false idol of weather. Unlike
every other woman referenced in the bible, Jezebel was essentially a cruel and evil person, not only in her
beliefs in the false god, but in her actions. She brutally murdered several prophets of God and sent the others
into hiding. Later, the newly appointed king of Israel, Jehu, had Jezebel thrown out a window, where she was
eaten by dogs.
Where Can I Find This Story?...
 In the original Twilight Zone, there is an
episode about an evil girl named Jess-Belle, a
reference to Jezebel from the old Testament.
 On That 70’s Show, Fez tells Eric’s sister (who
is not very nice) “Zip-it Jezebel”.
 In Isaac Asimov’s novel Caves of Steel, Jezebel
is described as an ideal wife, and a woman
who, in full compliance with the mores of the
time, promotes her own religion
conscientiously.
 In Tom Robbins’s novel Skinny Legs and All,
Jezebel is presented as a down to earth,
sympathetic, and strong female character,
wrongfully slandered in the Bible because of
her religious beliefs.
www.thethinkingatheist.com
Why should I care?...
Since Jezebel committed
numerous atrocious
crimes against God, and is
one of the only evil
women referenced in the
bible, she is often used to
stereotype a female
character as evil,
unnecessarily cruel, or
otherwise acting against
God.
By: Katie Posey
“Ye are
: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be
salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under
foot of men.” -Matthew 5:13
Jesus told his disciples they were the salt of the earth during one of his numerous
lessons to them. He was referring to the useful and valuable properties of salt, telling
them they were the flavorful ones of the earth full of worth and reliability. Should
someone call you the salt of the earth, they are complimenting you, telling you are of
worth, value, and wisdom. Furthermore, Jesus told the disciples that once the flavor
of the salt is gone, it is never coming back. Your worth is only there if you hold onto it,
you must not lose it or it shall be gone for good.
www.flickriver.com
By: Katie Posey
THE GOOD SAMARITAN Luke 10:29–37
THE STORY: A man was going down from Jerusalem to
Jericho, and on the way he met some robbers, who stripped
him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. By
chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw
him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite, when
he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other
side. But a Samaritan while travelling came near him; and
when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him
and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on
them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to
an inn, and took care of him and paid for his stay there.
Significance (why do we call
someone a “Good Samaritan”): As
a compliment. Many people know
the story of the compassionate man
who helped the forsaken man.
People reference the story of the
Good Samaritan as an allusion to
the situation at hand which mirrors
the story from the Bible.
Exodus 21:24 an eye for an eye. [Exactly what
it sounds like. Also somewhat like let the
punishment fit the crime.]
Historical/Cultural
Context: The story of the good
Samaritan, where some one,
out of the kindness of their
heart helps a helpless human
being, is used as an allusion in
many works throughout
different eras.
Blue Bloods, 1st episode entitled
Samaritans, TV
NCIS Season 1, episode 14,
entitled The Good Samaritans,
TV
Jane Eyre (book)
Samaritan (film)
Example #1:
In Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises,
a scene takes place that is very resembles
the scene of the last supper. The main
characters become closer and they
engage in intimate conversation that
shows that they have become as close as
“brothers”. This is symbolic of their first
communion together just like the first
communion in the last supper.
The Story:
On the Passover before Jesus’ crucifixion, Jesus sent one of his
disciples to a man’s house to tell him they were coming to have the Passover
dinner there. At the dinner, Jesus told his disciples that one of them would
betray him. The disciples were greatly disturbed by this statement, and they
throughout the dinner, they would each ask Jesus, “Lord, is it I?” Jesus says
that the man that dips his hand in the dish with him is the one that will betray
him. Judas was the disciple to betray Jesus. After this, Jesus institutes the
Lord’s supper. First, he takes a loaf of bread and breaks it saying that it
represents his body in which Jesus came to Earth. He passes the bread around,
and each disciple takes a piece Then, he takes a cup of wine and passes it
around the group. He says that it represents the blood that he will shed on his
crucifixion. This was the very communion.
Example #2:
In John Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath, a woman breastfeeds a starving man. While doing so she says, “Drink,
this is my blood.” This directly alludes to what Jesus
says in the story. The woman knows that without her,
the man would have died just like Christ in the Bible.
In the Bible, Jesus is sacrifices himself for the sins
of humans because he knows they would be lost without
Him. This makes the example very similar to the Last
Supper.
In general, this story is alluded to
most often to exemplify a
sacrifice or a savior. Other times,
like in the Hemingway example,
it is referred to as the first
communion which is also
significant.
This is a very commonly used phrase from the Bible,
but it is misquoted. It is found in Isaiah 11:6, and says,
“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard
shall lie down with the young goat…”. In usage, this
phrase refers to a time of peace. More specifically, it
refers to the time when the Messiah returns to the
Earth and brings peace, but it can be used in other
contexts.
Allusions: The
holy cross used
as the symbol of
Christianity is
referencing the
crucifixion of
Jesus.
EX: Grapes of
Wrath
Crucifixion
Summary- A terrible punishment for the guilty,
the story of crucifixion is usually in reference to
the death of Jesus Christ. In the Bible, a man
named Jesus Christ, proclaims himself as King of
the Jews, and leads 12 disciples to pray for
people across the world, which was considered a
high treasonous crime . For 30 silver pieces, a
disciple of Jesus, Judas Iscariot, identifies Jesus
to the temple guard with a kiss. Jesus is then
guided to Judea governor, Pontius Pilate, to be
judged. Pontius first sees him as innocent, but
due to public pressure, allows the people to
decide the fate of Jesus. Decided overwhelmingly
guilty, Christ is sent to Golgotha’s Rock to be
crucified on a cross, a most painful and slow
death.
Meaning: By
sacrificing himself,
the death of Jesus
Christ is said to
have opened the
gateway to heaven
and have absolved
humanity from sin.
Ultimately meaning
crucifixion is a
symbol of
martyrdom.
“Heap coals of fire”- references to a christian philosophy to approach an
enemy’s hatred with kindness.
Holy Grail:
Usually used as a metaphor to compare things. It is usually the ultimate goal of a
person to get this object or state but it is very hard to achieve and quite rare to find. An
example would be: Some say the Ferrari car brand is the Holy Grail of cars and is the
best that will ever exist.
Allusions to the Conversion of Saul:
In the book The Invisible Man the author talks about a man who has changed from Saul to Paul. This meaning a
positive change in his life overall. Another common usage is on the road to Damascus. If you say someone is on the
road to Damascus they are going in the right direction in order to make their state of being better.
Conversion
of
Saul
The Story:
by :Scott Bauer
Saul was a man who persecuted Christians. Saul was on his way to Damascus
to arrest any Christians he found there. Saul was thinking of how he could hurt
the Christians as he came near Damascus when a bright light suddenly shone
down from heaven. Saul fell to the ground and a voice said, “Saul, Saul why do
you prosecute me?” Saul answered , “Who are you, Lord?” The voice replied,
“I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. It is hard to fight against me. Go now
into Damascus and you will be told what you must do. When Saul rose he was
blind. For three days Saul didn’t eat or drink. God told a man Ananias that he
should go see Saul. Ananias laid his hands on Saul and Saul was able to see
again. Saul began to follow the teachings of Jesus and his name was changed to
Paul. Paul, the apostle, became a missionary and taught Christianity all over
the world.
Background:
With the Roman government prosecuting them, Christians began to question when the events
such as the return of Jesus Christ and the coming of the new age would occur. Even though
Christians attempted to avoid losing their faith, many of them were soon tempted to abandon
their faith to please the Roman government. Due to these circumstances, a Christian named
John wrote Revelation for the seven churches of Asia Minor to strengthen their faith and also to
warn them of the apocalyptic events that (were believed) needed to occur before the day of
divine intervention, or the coming of God through Jesus Christ.
Revelation
•John exiled to Patmos due to Christian faith
•Voice of Jesus Christ told him to write what he saw and send to the seven churches
•Seven angels become guardians of each church
•Christ warns Christians that Satan is returning
•They must remain faithful because God’s judgement is close at hand
•John describes seven seals (scrolls) where events will be described
•Jesus, the Lamb of God, is only one worthy enough to open seals
•Disasters in the form of earthquakes, turning rivers to blood, etc. revealed to earth when scrolls
are opened
•Wrath of God visiting those who persecute Christian people
•John uses Book of Daniel to describe ruler who forced Jews into submission.
•Beast represents Roman emperor, given the number 666
•Ties Satan to Roman emperor because both try to destruct Christianity
•Seven angels appear-each empty bowl that symbolizes wrath of God onto earth
•Different catastrophes that bring an end to the kingdoms on earth
•Christ will approach the earth, the wicked will die, Satan will be bound, the City of God will
descend to earth, and Jesus will be with all.
The Lord of the Flies:
“And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast
rise up out of the sea” (Revelations 13:1) goes along
with chapter 5 of Lord of the Flies, Beast From Water.
“And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to
death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the
world wondered after the beast” (Revelations 13:3) is
alluded to with the beast in chapter 6 of Lord of the
Flies when the boys find a dead parachutist who the
boys bring back to life (figuratively) with their fear.
Revelation is referenced because it outlines the social,
economical, religious system that dominates the world, and
how the system can be overthrown with a strong leader and a
lot of faith.
By bread alone:
Matthew 4:4 - Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does
not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes
from the mouth of God.'“
Satan’s temptations are the strongest to us, but people
cannot live on the bread that he offers. They can live only
on the word and faith of God and the strength that their
religion gives to them.
Revelation Cartoon:
Purpose of Biblical Allusions
Text:
Explanation:


The truck driver comes and he’s eating
spam.
“Men ate what they had not raised, had
no connection with the bread” (36).




At first, it might look like a random detail.
Actually an allusion.
“In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat
bread, till thou return unto the ground”
Gen. 3:19a
In a single sentence, Steinbeck makes a
huge comment on technology.


Naturally, people are supposed to work
for what they consume.
The truck driver, as others who rely on
technology, is disobeying God.