--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we don't understand how metaphor works…" description: "\"If we don't understand how metaphor works we will misunderstand most of what we read in the Bible. No matter how carefully we parse our Hebrew and Gree..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4d/eugene-h-peterson-1745_appreciate_if-we-don-t-understand-how-metaphor-work_1573645.jpg" --- # If we don't understand how metaphor works we will… ![“If we don't understand how metaphor works we will misunderstand most of what we read in the Bible. No matter how carefully we parse our Hebrew and Greek sentences, no matter how precisely we use our dictionaries and trace our etymologies, no matter how exactly we define the words on the page, if…” quote by Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4d/eugene-h-peterson-1745_appreciate_if-we-don-t-understand-how-metaphor-work_1573645.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4d/eugene-h-peterson-1745_appreciate_if-we-don-t-understand-how-metaphor-work_1573645.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4d/eugene-h-peterson-1745_appreciate_if-we-don-t-understand-how-metaphor-work_1573645.jpg) > “If we don't understand how metaphor works we will misunderstand most of what we read in the Bible. No matter how carefully we parse our Hebrew and Greek sentences, no matter how precisely we use our dictionaries and trace our etymologies, no matter how exactly we define the words on the page, if we do not appreciate the way a metaphor works we will never comprehend the meaning of the text.” [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding metaphor is essential for interpreting biblical texts; without it, literal reading misses deeper meaning. **In simple terms:** Metaphor reveals hidden meanings in scripture. Key Takeaway Learn to read beyond the literal. Themes interpretation language theology Mood reflective analytical Type theological educational When to use this quote - Bible study - academic research - personal reflection - teaching Key Concepts figurative language hermeneutics Questions to Reflect On - How does metaphor shape your reading of sacred texts? - What metaphors have you missed? A Different Perspective Metaphor can be ambiguous, leading to varied interpretations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Appreciate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appreciate/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Dictionary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictionary/) [Etymology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/etymology/) [Greek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greek/) [Hebrew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hebrew/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Metaphor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/metaphor/) [Metaphor Works](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/metaphor-works-980951/) [Pages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pages/) [Read Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/read-bible-288657/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Sentences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sentences/) [Understand Metaphor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understand-metaphor-3298385/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Way Metaphor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way-metaphor-3605962/) ## Related quotes > [There is no aspect of our experience not molded in some way by metaphor's almost imperceptible touch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-geary/there-is-no-aspect-of-our-experience-not-molded-in-some-way-by/) [James Geary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-geary/) > [...a metaphor that works in one society may seem preposterous in another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-black/a-metaphor-that-works-in-one-society-may-seem-preposterous-in-another/) [Max Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-black/) > [“There are a lot of things that aren’t your fault. Or mine, either. Not the fault of prophecies, or curses, or DNA, or absurdity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/there-are-a-lot-of-things-that-aren-t-your-fault-or-mine-either-not/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“one thing that I realized early on in thinking about this book, when I found, to my consternation, that I was writing a fantasy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/one-thing-that-i-realized-early-on-in-thinking-about-this-book-when-i/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [Americans don't understand what metaphor in cinema is about. They're extremely good at making straightforward, linear narrative movies, which entertain superbly. 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If you use it during sex, trying to be politically correct-- "Darling, could you stroke my vagina?"--…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-ensler/it-s-a-totally-ridiculous-completely-unsexy-word-if-you-use-it-during/) [Eve Ensler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-ensler/) > [Etymology: from Latin ad-, "to" + visum, past participle of videre, "to see". Advice is what you get from your parents when you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/etymology-from-latin-ad-to-visum-past-participle-of-videre-to-see/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [“The reader, knowing nothing about the ‘dark continent,’ filled in the blanks. Pictured Stone in a tent, kerosene lamp held up by a Hottentot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-verghese/the-reader-knowing-nothing-about-the-dark-continent-filled-in-the/) [Abraham Verghese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-verghese/) ## More by Eugene H. Peterson > [“Forget about deciding what’s right for each other. Here’s what you need to be concerned about: that you don’t get in the way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/forget-about-deciding-what-s-right-for-each-other-here-s-what-you/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [Like a child exploring the attic of an old house on a rainy day, discovering a trunk full of treasure and then calling all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/like-a-child-exploring-the-attic-of-an-old-house-on-a-rainy-day/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [“Liturgy gathers the holy community as it reads the Holy Scriptures into the sweeping tidal rhythms of the church year in which the story…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/liturgy-gathers-the-holy-community-as-it-reads-the-holy-scriptures/) [Eugene H. 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Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [I think pastors are the worst listeners. We're so used to speaking, teaching, giving answers. We must learn to be quiet, quit being so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/i-think-pastors-are-the-worst-listeners-we-re-so-used-to-speaking/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [“When I look for help in developing my pastoral craft and nurturing my pastoral vocation, the one century that has the least to commend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/when-i-look-for-help-in-developing-my-pastoral-craft-and-nurturing-my/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [Religion is a very scary thing, because a pastor is in a position of power. And if you use that power badly, you ruin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/religion-is-a-very-scary-thing-because-a-pastor-is-in-a-position-of/) [Eugene H. 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Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [“And the remainder of the Message details God’s intricate and loving plan to redeem, restore, and reconcile creation back to himself after what happened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/and-the-remainder-of-the-message-details-god-s-intricate-and-loving/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) [Explore all 210 Eugene H. Peterson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) ## More Appreciate quotes > [All I hear is the people that appreciate me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-hardy/all-i-hear-is-the-people-that-appreciate-me/) [Greg Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-hardy/) > [I think that kind of balance comes with the process of growing together as a band, the Little Dragon. 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