Another crack at "literal" and "figurative" Bible verses?

Question

Song of Solomon 4

1Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes within thy locks: thy hair is as a flock of goats, that appear from mount Gilead.

2Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn, which came up from the washing; whereof every one bear twins, and none is barren among them.

It's the same thing in the King James version. She has literal doves' eyes within her hair (locks)? Of course not - she has metaphorical doves' eyes. They are as beautiful as doves eyes. Again the simile with the flock of goats as well. Her hair is not literally as a flock of goats -- it's figuratively as a flock of goats. And a simile uses "like" or "as." Similes are not literal.

Not every verse in the Bible is literal. Certainly not the above, right? Even in the King James version. I'm not saying it's not true. Literal and true are not the same thing at all.

Anyone disagree? If so, explain how the above are literal? (doves/goats, etc.)

Neophrel -- there are plenty of people who will post on here, even after reading the verse from Solomon I posted or a host of other similes and metaphors, that the entire Bible is to be taken literally. My point here is to set out that clearly that can't be the case. At least SOME of the Bible has to be taken figuratively. What parts depend precisely on context and wording. You've asked about some verses, but not cited them. I'd refrain from commenting on them until I read just what you are referring to. Although, the Noah/flood story, in my opinion, is an allegory. There is no evidence of a global flood, it may perhaps be a reflection of more localized flood event, but I think it's more about man's relationship with God than about the details of the flood.

manoman -- there is PLENTY of figurative language in the new testament too.

Matthew 5:13: "Ye are the salt of the Earth...."

Matthew 5:14: "Ye are the light of the world..."

Matthew is not saying that the people are really, literally salt and light. He's using an obvious metaphor. There is much truth in metaphor.

Those are just two examples from a random selection from a random book in the new testament. Search for yourself. It's hard to open a page in the Bible without a metaphor or other figurative device.

dillinger-p --- do I know what metaphors and similes are? Wasn't that clear from my post? Metaphors and similes are figurative -- NONLITERAL -- devices. They are NOT to be taken literally. If they are taken literally they make no sense.

Suzanne - I did not confuse anything. My sole point was to show that when people say that the Bible is to be taken literally from cover-to-cover -- they are simply wrong. Some of it is to be taken figuratively.

Answer 1

You point is true as far as the book SoS goes. However there are four times of books in the Bible.

Some books are written as poetry and there is some use of poetic language. Some words can be figurative, but for the purpose of communicating emotions. (e.g. Songs of Solomon, Psalms)

Some books are written as prophecy and not all the words are to be taken as literal, but some words can be taken as figurative. The books of prophecy are used to hide a meaning from some people, but to reveal them to others. (e.g. Daniel, Revelations)

Some books are written as history and are to be taken in the plain sense they are written. (e.g. Genesis, Exodus, The Gospels, Acts)

Some books are written as law and are to be taken in the plain sense they are written. (e.g. Leviticus, Deuteronomy)

It should be noted that comparing scripture with scripture is key to a proper understanding of scripture. We can not take events written as history and just make them figurative! Such a practice is merely playing fast and loose with the Bible.

Answer 2

i absolutely agree with you that not everything in the bible is literal. my brother will argue with you that when lot's wife (can't recall her name right now, or if it's even mentioned) was turned into a pillar of salt, it's a metaphor meaning she was made to be barren, since nothing can live in salt. i have also thought of the notion that when the wall of jericho fell, it could be a metaphor meaning that the city's defenses were made to be vulnerable somehow, through distraction, through divine intervention, which could have been in the form of fatigue, or distraction, or disorganization among the ranks, or what have you. it's a possibility, is it not? i'm not saying anything in the bible is false: i believe everything from the first word to the last. i just think that some things aren't meant to be taken quite as literally as we often take them. and if people are too dull to realize the figurative nature of the similes solomon is using... wow. lol

Answer 3

You're confusing the interpretation of prophecy with the interpretation of historic and "wisdom" literature contained within the Bible. The question of literal vs. spiritualized interpretation is only an issue when one reads prophecy. To evangelicals, the rule of thumb is: interpret prophecy literally, UNLESS the context indicates the words are symbolic; for example, Rev. 17:1-6 are symbolic and are explained literally at Rev. 17:7-18.

Answer 4

I totally agree with you.Jesus said if you live by the law you die by the law.Example it says in the bible to sat obey authority because that is who God put in place for you to obey.So if there was a sign that said no swimming in lake or punishable by law.And you saw a boy drowning in the lake would you obey the governmental law which God told you to obey or would you save the boys life by disobeying the law.I would save the boys life,and so would Jesus.Love beats out law.And that is exactly what is going on in todays church.Their is a fight between fundamentalists and true lovers of Jesus with compassion and love that can only come from our Lord and Savior Jesus,Praise Jesus.Good Question!

Answer 5

The Holy Spirit came upon christ in the form of a dove, the church is "baptised into His baptism'.
Jesus refers to his followers as sheep, and their teeth, be they as lions teeth to tear up an enemy or as sheeps teeth making bread in the preaching of the gospel, etc.

The allegory, or metaphor is pretty real.

Answer 6

You are correct, this is more akin to poetic license than a literal sense, quite a lot of the Bible is such as this and all it takes is a little common sense and wisdom to end the arguments over it all.

Answer 7

So when the story says that god wanted the murder of every first born son...... Was that supposed to be taken literally or figuratively? How do you figuratively kill the first born son of your family? When god flooded the earth to kill EVERYONE except his favorite family, the Noah's ...... was that a figurative flood or a literal flood?

When god created man from dirt & woman from the man's rib.... was that literal or figurative? Did got LITERALLY use dirt & his hocus pocus parlor tricks to create a man & then literally pluck the rib from adam's chest & use it (along with more parlor tricks) to create eve!? Is that literal?

Most of us here are all aware of what similies are & that they are not meant to be taken literally... but the ones you choose to express have no bearing on the real issues that people have with the bible. I have never seen anyone here on Y!A complain that they thought the guy was seriously saying she had dove's eyes in her hair or a flock of sheep in her mouth.

Answer 8

The book you're referring to, as well as Psalms and Proverbs etc. is a book of poetry. There is an obvious display of metaphor and imagery quite often in these books. You do know what these terms mean, correct?

Answer 9

I've obviously missed some q&a - you're absolutely correct. There is literal and figurative speech through-out the Bible. The point of the Bible is to show God's love, man's failure and the solution to the problem of sin and death.

God bless.

Answer 10

the entire book of solomon was meant to be a love poem..with alot of figurative language.