Literal Interpretation of Allegorized Passages in Scripture

An allegory is a figure of speech where a representation of one thing is intended to evoke the representation of another, carrying a meaning beyond the literal ^[1]. This means an allegory possesses a twofold sense: an immediate or historical meaning derived from the words, and an ultimate meaning conveyed by the things the words signify ^[1]. The New Testament uses the Greek word parabole for parable, which literally means "placing beside" or "comparison," indicating an illustration of one subject by another ^[3]. Every parable can be considered an allegory ^[2].

The Apostle Paul explicitly uses the term "allegory" in Galatians 4:24, where he refers to the history of Isaac and Ishmael, interpreting it allegorically ^[2]. John Gill notes that Philo the Jew had allegorized Sarah and Hagar before Paul, with Sarah representing virtue and Hagar representing the arts and sciences ^[8]. However, Gill emphasizes that Paul's allegorization of the bondwoman and the free woman, and their offspring, is more profound ^[8].

While allegorical interpretation is a recognized method, scholars caution against its indiscriminate application. John Calvin, for instance, warned against "torturing" all histories to an allegorical sense, criticizing Origen for corrupting Scripture by constantly seeking allegories ^[10]. Calvin argued that such an approach extracts "smoke out of light" and undermines the simplicity of Scripture ^[10]. Similarly, modern academic approaches to parables suggest that while parables express an analogy between a common aspect of life and a spiritual truth, interpreters should focus on the central analogy and its historical context rather than seeking speculative allegorical meanings in every element ^[9].

Nevertheless, the Old Testament contains numerous passages that lend themselves to allegorical understanding. Nathan's narrative to David in 2 Samuel 12:1-4 is an allegorical account ^[2]. Psalm 80 presents a beautiful allegory: "Thou broughtest a vine out of Egypt," referring to Israel ^[2]. Ecclesiastes 12:2-6 offers a striking allegorical description of old age ^[2]. Rabbinic tradition, as seen in Rashi's commentary on Proverbs 1:6, also recognizes the use of allegory and figure. Rashi explains that understanding a proverb involves discerning both the allegory and the figure itself, noting that "idolatry is meant" when the text speaks of being saved "from a strange woman and a foreign one" (Proverbs 2:16) ^[11]. This demonstrates that the literal meaning of the "strange woman" is not discarded but serves as the vehicle for the allegorical meaning of idolatry ^[11].

The principle of understanding both the literal and figurative aspects is crucial. John Gill, commenting on Proverbs 1:6, states that a wise person will not only grasp the meaning of proverbial sayings but also appreciate their "elegancy" and be able to interpret them clearly ^[12]. This suggests that the literal wording, even when conveying a deeper meaning, retains its significance. The "entrance of your words gives light," and understanding the teaching of precepts leads to meditating on wondrous works ^{[5, 7]}. The proper interpretation of Scripture, whether literal or allegorical, is aided by various ancient and modern versions, which serve as important tools for understanding the Word ^[4]. The New Testament's quotations from the Old Testament, though numerous, do not follow a uniform method, sometimes referring to sections by their content rather than precise chapter and verse, indicating a focus on the meaning conveyed ^[6].

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.”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Parable — (The word parable is in Greek parable (parabole) which signifies placing beside or together, a comparison, a parable is therefore literally a placing beside, a comparison, a similitude, an illustration of one subject by another.--McClintock and Strong. As used in the New Testament it had a very wide application, being applied sometimes to the shortest proverbs, (1 Samuel 10:12; 24:13; 2 Chronicles 7:20) sometimes to dark prophetic utterances, (Numbers 23:7,18; 24:3; Ezekiel 20:49) sometimes to enigmatic maxims, (Psalms 78:2; Proverbs 1:6) or metaphors expand”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Version — A translation of the holy Scriptures. This word is not found in the Bible, nevertheless, as frequent references are made in this work to various ancient as well as modern versions, it is fitting that some brief account should be given of the most important of these. These versions are important helps to the right interpretation of the Word. (See SAMARITAN [653]PENTATEUCH.) 1. The Targums. After the return from the Captivity, the Jews, no longer familiar with the old Hebrew, required that their Scriptures should be translated for them into the Chaldaic or Ar”
Psalms “The entrance of your words gives light. It gives understanding to the simple. -- Psalms 119:130”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Quotations — From the Old Testament in the New, which are very numerous, are not made according to any uniform method. When the New Testament was written, the Old was not divided, as it now is, into chapters and verses, and hence such peculiarities as these: When Luke (20:37) refers to Ex. 3:6, he quotes from "Moses at the bush", i.e., the section containing the record of Moses at the bush. So also Mark (2:26) refers to 1 Sam. 21:1-6, in the words, "in the days of Abiathar;" and Paul (Rom. 11:2) refers to 1 Kings ch. 17-19, in the words, "in Elias", i.e., in the port”
Psalms “Let me understand the teaching of your precepts! Then I will meditate on your wondrous works. -- Psalms 119:27”
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”
Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 13:3: 13:3-9 This parable (interpreted in 13:18-23) addresses the mostly negative responses of the Jewish nation to Jesus and his message. • Parables (Greek parabolē) are stories that usually express an analogy between a common aspect of life and a spiritual truth. To understand a parable, it is necessary to locate the central analogy and understand it in its historical context and in the context of the Gospel text; then the central message can be understood. Speculative allegorical meanings that were not intended should not be found in every element of a parable.”
CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1 (Gen 1-23), section 25.13: But because I have before declared, that this history is more profoundly considered by Paul, the sum of it is here briefly to be collected. In the first place, he says, that what is here read, was written allegorically: not that he wishes all histories, indiscriminately to be tortured to an allegorical sense, as Origin does; who by hunting everywhere for allegories, corrupts the whole Scripture; and others, too eagerly emulating his example, have extracted smoke out of light. And not only has the simplicity of Scripture been viti”
Sefaria (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) on Proverbs 1:6: to understand an allegory and a figure That they should direct their attention to understand the verses through two methods: the allegory and the figure. They should understand what he compares to the figure, but they should not neglect the figure itself, for that, too, requires understanding. When he states, “To save you from a strange woman and a foreign one” (2:16), idolatry is meant; this is the allegory, and also the figure—for he expressed his allegory in terms of a woman—should be understood by it, [meaning that] you shall beware of a stra”
Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 1:6: To understand a proverb, and the interpretation,.... This may be connected either with the first verse, "the proverbs of Solomon", &c. are written, as for the above ends and purposes, so for these; or with Pro 1:5, a wise and understanding man, by hearkening and attending to what is here delivered, will not only attain to wise counsels, but to the understanding of proverbial sayings, and to see into the "elegancy" (m), the eloquence and beauty of them, as the word signifies; and be able to interpret them to others in a clear, plain, way and manner; the words of the”

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