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What the Bible Says About Allegory

Overview

The Bible addresses allegory across 22 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Isaiah, Judges and Galatians. Closely related themes include Church (2), Readings, Select, Parables and Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Key Bible verses about allegory

Old Testament

Judges

Judges 9:8

The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.

Judges 9:9

But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? go: or, go up and down for other trees

Judges 9:10

And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us.

Judges 9:11

But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?

Judges 9:12

Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us.

Judges 9:13

And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?

Judges 9:14

Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us. bramble: or, thistle

Judges 9:15

And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.

Isaiah

Isaiah 11:6

The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.

Isaiah 11:7

And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

Isaiah 11:8

And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. cockatrice: or, adders

Isaiah 35:1

The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.

Isaiah 35:2

It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.

Isaiah 35:3

Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.

Isaiah 35:4

Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you. fearful: Heb. hasty

Isaiah 35:5

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

Isaiah 35:6

Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.

Isaiah 35:7

And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes. grass: or, a court for reeds, etc

Isaiah 35:8

And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. but: or, for he shall be with them

Isaiah 35:9

No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:

Isaiah 35:10

And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

In the Bible dictionary

Studying allegory for yourself

  • Begin with Judges 9:8, then read the passages below in canonical order.
  • Compare how Isaiah, Judges and Galatians each treat the theme.
  • Widen the study to related themes: Church (2), Readings, Select, Parables and Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Bible say about allegory?

The Bible addresses allegory across 22 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Isaiah, Judges and Galatians. Closely related themes include Church (2), Readings, Select, Parables and Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit.

How many Bible verses are about allegory?

The Bible references allegory in 22 verses (King James Version).

Where does the Bible first mention allegory?

In canonical order, the first of these passages is Judges 9:8: “The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.”

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