Allegorical Interpretation in Biblical Hermeneutics and Its Dangers
Allegory, in biblical hermeneutics, refers to a figure of speech where a representation of one thing is intended to evoke the representation of another, distinct thing [1]. It involves a twofold sense: an immediate or historical meaning derived from the words, and an ultimate meaning concerned with the things signified by those words [1]. Every parable can be considered an allegory, as seen in Nathan's narrative to David (2 Sam. 12:1-4) or the allegorical description of old age in Ecclesiastes 12:2-6 [2]. The Apostle Paul explicitly uses the term in Galatians 4:24, where he allegorizes the history of Isaac and Ishmael to illustrate the contrast between those born free and those born into slavery [2, 7].
The use of allegory in interpreting scripture has a long history. Philo the Jew, for instance, allegorized Sarah as virtue and Hagar as the arts and sciences, viewing the latter as a handmaid to virtue, prior to Paul's allegorical use [7]. Paul's application in Galatians 4:24, where he states, "These things are an allegory" (or "are allegorized"), demonstrates a divinely sanctioned use of this interpretive method [7]. In this passage, the narrative of Abraham's two sons, born of a free woman (Sarah) and a slave woman (Hagar), is used to represent the two covenants: the covenant from Mount Sinai, leading to slavery (represented by Hagar and her son Ishmael), and the covenant of grace, leading to freedom (represented by Sarah and her son Isaac) [2, 7].
While allegory can be a powerful tool for conveying deeper spiritual truths, its application in biblical interpretation carries potential dangers. One significant risk is the tendency to disregard or diminish the literal, historical meaning of the text in favor of a perceived deeper, spiritual meaning. This can lead to subjective interpretations that are not grounded in the original context or authorial intent. For example, while the "gall of bitterness" in Acts 8:23 is a Hebraism for excessive bitterness, symbolizing the dreadful effects of sin, an allegorical reading that completely detaches it from its immediate context could lead to misapplication [6]. Similarly, the "sorrows of a travailing woman" in Hosea 13:13 are used to describe sudden and agonizing calamities, but an over-allegorization might obscure the immediate prophetic warning to Israel [8].
Another danger lies in making light of or misrepresenting the word of God. John Gill, commenting on Jeremiah 23:34, warns against those who use phrases like "the burden of the Lord" in a "bantering and ludicrous manner," emphasizing that such actions are deeply resented by God and can lead to severe consequences for the individual and their household [4]. This highlights the importance of treating biblical texts with reverence and seriousness, even when exploring their figurative dimensions.
Furthermore, an unbridled allegorical approach can lead to interpretations that are not easily verifiable or consistent, potentially undermining the authority and clarity of scripture. For instance, the warning in Ecclesiastes 11:9 to "rejoice" in youth, followed by the caveat that "God will bring thee into judgment," is an ironic warning against carnal self-indulgence, not an endorsement of it [3]. An allegorical reading that misses this irony could misinterpret the passage's intent. Similarly, Psalm 36:2 describes the wicked persuading themselves that God will not find their iniquity, leading to deceitful words and a rejection of righteous principles [5]. An allegorical interpretation that strays too far from this direct moral observation could lose the force of the psalmist's critique.
Sources
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Allegory — a figure of speech, which has been defined by Bishop Marsh, in accordance with its etymology as, "a representation of one thing which is intended to excite the representation of another thing." ("A figurative representation containing a meaning other than and in addition to the literal." "A fable or parable; is a short allegory with one definite moral."--Encyc. Brit.) In every allegory there is a twofold sense--the immediate or historic, which is understood from the words, and the ultimate, which is concerned with the things signified by the words. The alle”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Allegory — Used only in Gal. 4:24, where the apostle refers to the history of Isaac the free-born, and Ishmael the slave-born, and makes use of it allegorically. Every parable is an allegory. Nathan (2 Sam. 12:1-4) addresses David in an allegorical narrative. In the eightieth Psalm there is a beautiful allegory: "Thou broughtest a vine out of Egypt," etc. In Eccl. 12:2-6, there is a striking allegorical description of old age.”
- Ecclesiastes (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ecclesiastes 11:9: Rejoice--not advice, but warning. So Kg1 22:15, is irony; if thou dost rejoice (carnally, Ecc 2:2; Ecc 7:2, not moderately, as in Ecc 5:18), &c., then "know that . . . God will bring thee into judgment" (Ecc 3:17; Ecc 12:14). youth . . . youth--distinct Hebrew words, adolescence or boyhood (before Ecc 11:10), and full-grown youth. It marks the gradual progress in self-indulgence, to which the young especially are prone; they see the roses, but do not discover the thorns, until pierced by them. Religion will cost self-denial, but the want of it ”
- Jeremiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Jeremiah 23:34: And as for the prophet, and the priest, and the people,.... Be they one or the other, or all of them; no regard will be had to their character and office, rank and dignity: that shall say, the burden of the Lord; using that phrase in a bantering and ludicrous manner: I will even punish that man and his house; not only he, but his family, shall suffer for it. This shows how much it is resented by the Lord, and what a dangerous thing it is to lampoon the word of God, to make a jest of Scripture phrases, or to joke with them; this is foolish jesting, which is not ”
- Psalms (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 36:2: This reflection detailed. until his iniquity--literally, "for finding his iniquity for hating"; that is, he persuades himself God will not so find it--"for hating" involving the idea of punishing. Hence his words of iniquity and deceit, and his bold rejection of all right principles of conduct. The climax is that he deliberately adopts and patronizes evil. The negative forms affirm more emphatically their contraries.”
- Acts (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Acts 8:23: The gall of bitterness - A Hebraism for excessive bitterness: gall, wormwood, and such like, were used to express the dreadful effects of sin in the soul; the bitter repentance, bitter regret, bitter sufferings, bitter death, etc., etc., which it produces. In Deu 29:18, idolatry and its consequences are expressed, by having among them a root that beareth Gall and Wormwood. And in Heb 12:15, some grievous sin is intended, when the apostle warns them, lest any root of Bitterness springing up, trouble you, and thereby many be defiled. Bond of iniquity - An allusion to th”
- Galatians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Galatians 4:23: Which things are an allegory,.... Or "are allegorized": so Sarah and Hagar were allegorized by Philo the Jew (p), before they were by the apostle. Sarah he makes to signify virtue, and Hagar the whole circle of arts and sciences, which are, or should be, an handmaid to virtue; but these things respecting Hagar and Sarah, the bondwoman and the free, and their several offspring, are much better allegorized by the apostle here. An allegory is a way of speaking in which one thing is expressed by another, and is a continued metaphor; and the apostle's meaning is, that t”
- Hosea (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hosea 13:13: sorrows of a travailing woman--calamities sudden and agonizing (Jer 30:6). unwise--in not foreseeing the impending judgment, and averting it by penitence (Pro 22:3). he should not stay long in the place of the breaking forth of children--When Israel might deliver himself from calamity by the pangs of penitence, he brings ruin on himself by so long deferring a new birth unto repentance, like a child whose mother has not strength to bring it forth, and which therefore remains so long in the passage from the womb as to run the risk of death (Kg2 19:3;”