A Biblical metaphor is a figure of speech that appears in the Christian Bible or is otherwise associated with that text. Some metaphors are so deeply associated with the Bible that they are called Biblical metaphors even outside that document. There are many different examples of metaphor being used in the Bible, including many sustained metaphorical traditions. Whether a term is being used metaphorically in the Bible can sometimes be difficult to determine, and the intended meaning of metaphors is not always clear either. The use of non-literal language in the Bible can lead to vastly different interpretations of its meaning.
Many Biblical metaphors appear in multiple places in the Bible. References to followers of Christ as sheep, for example, are common, as is the metaphorical description of Christ as a shepherd. Other metaphors compare groups to animals or plants. On a larger scale, many parts of the Bible use parables to make important philosophical points. Parables are essentially metaphorical stories that use this figure of speech to make a point about a subject not addressed in the parable itself.
Many Biblical metaphors appear in multiple places in the Bible. References to followers of Christ as sheep, for example, are common, as is the metaphorical description of Christ as a shepherd. Other metaphors compare groups to animals or plants. On a larger scale, many parts of the Bible use parables to make important philosophical points. Parables are essentially metaphorical stories that use this figure of speech to make a point about a subject not addressed in the parable itself.