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Yes, the Final Battle is the right moment to start preaching.note 

Togusa: "How great is the sum of thy thoughts. If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand."
Batou: Psalms 139, Old Testament. The way you spout these spontaneous exotic references, I'd say your own external memory's pretty twisted.

In English, the Good Book is a metonymic for The Bible. Being by far one of the most influential books in Western culture, it is a natural quote source when wanting to lend some gravitas to a fictional situation. Having a character quote from it lets us know they're either a scholar, a priest, deeply religious, a bonafide supernatural being or a psychopath. But also, having such a far-reaching influence, quoting it sounds familiar enough that it might be recognizable to many members of the audience. The fact that the Bible's text is numerically divided into relatively short chapters and verses also makes it easy to refer to.

A Bible quote can be an effective literary tool if used in a meaningful context, but, outside it, it's an obvious, major cop-out. It has been observed before that even the devil can quote the Bible to his own advantage by choosing his verses with care.specifically note  Parodies may include entirely fake and comical-sounding biblical verses, word swaps in the well-known verses which entirely change their meaning, or quoting some other book, mundane but supposedly holy to this character, in a manner clearly reminiscent of the Bible. The parody can also involve one character misquoting the Bible to point out that another character's quote is not actually from the Bible, either. note 

Commonly used for Love Is Like Religion. Compare Literary Allusion Title, which often serves a similar purpose. Contrast Useful Book, where a "good book" means something else entirely. See also Speaks in Shout-Outs.


Example subpages:


Other examples:

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    Anime & Manga 
  • The infamous hentai Bible Black. "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death. He who sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the Lord only, he shall be utterly destroyed." — Exodus 22:18-20
  • Parodied in Black Lagoon, in which Eda paraphrases part of Luke 11 as a sophisticated way of saying "get the fuck off my porch" to someone trying to seek sanctuary in the church. When the people after the woman in question come calling and fire a shot into the church, on the other hand, things get very violent very quickly.
  • In Blue Exorcist, certain bible verses can banish certain demons. One character doesn't know a certain demon's specific verse, so he recites the entire Book of John at it. From memory.
  • Cesare - Il Creatore che ha distrutto, besides having a bishop as a main character (alright, an unwilling, 16-year-old bishop, but still), is also recognized as being one of the most meticulously detailed and immersive history manga, so of course there are quite a few of these. A significant one is the color illustration that features the title character holding a scroll that reads "Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's", in Latin.
  • Surprisingly, for a story about a nun that hunts demons, the manga of Chrono Crusade doesn't do this once. However, Gonzo's anime adaption gleefully adds it back in, having both Joshua and Aion quote the Bible in an attempt to portray Aion as some sort of antichrist. Aion even quotes the Bible as his last words.
  • One chapter of Dance in the Vampire Bund has Veratos quote the first half of John 3:16 to explain to another character how she became a vampire voluntarily by offering her blood to Mina's mother.
  • Death Note: After the Bait-and-Switch Credits that make it look like Light's going to do something very noble, the very first we see of him in the first episode is him quoting the Shinto classics (with "kami" unusually translated as "god" in the singular). Factoring in Beauty Equals Goodness, he looks like a noble, pious, upstanding young man. By the end of that very episode, he's embarking on a mass murder spree of criminals as part of a plan to Take Over the World and rule as a god. The sheer speed with which he kills people surprises even the Shinigami who dropped the murder weapon in search of entertainment. The English dub modifies the scene to have Light quoting the Bible; however, the class is implied to simply be an English class.
  • Parodied in the opening to Volume 20 of Great Teacher Onizuka:
    First there was darkness, and then the Great Force said "Let there be light," and there was light, and in the light there was the Great Teacher Onizuka, who said "Turn that damn light off, I got a Naomi Tani movie playing in here."
  • Claes from Gunslinger Girl frequently shows off her wide reading. Henrietta's breakdown prompts her to quote Ecclesiastes 11:8-9note . She never names the chapter or verse, answering Rico's question "Is that poetry?" with "Not quite. It's Biblical".
    • At the start of the series she quotes a shortened version of this to Henrietta, claiming tongue-in-cheek that she came up with the quote herself.
    • When Triela compares Claes' willingness to act as The Bait for a terrorist kidnapping to being a grain of wheat, Claes gives the John 12:24 quote in full, though she denies she's making a Heroic Sacrifice and rejects the idea of being a passive victim.
  • Hellsing's Alexander Anderson quotes the Bible every other sentence. Since he's a thoroughly insane priest and monster hunter, it doesn't really mean anything.
  • This happens twice in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean:
    • Gwess quotes the Gospel of John 1:2-3 to Jolyne, after she had shrunken her down to the size of a mouse:
      Gwess: Everything has a name. It even says so in the Bible, Gospel of John 1:2-3. "The word was with God in the beginning. Through him, all things were made." That's why I gave a name to the power of my heart that I used to shrink you. Can I tell you what it is? Goo Goo Dolls! That's the name of my spiritual strength. Do you like it, Jolyne? Isn't it cool?
    • Later, Enrico Pucci quotes Matthew 7:6 to himself after one of his henchmen is killed by the person he sent him after:
      Enrico: Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.
  • Kaguya-sama: Love Is War has Karen quoting Luke 1:78‭-‬79 after she nearly dies from joy from seeing Kaguya and Shirogane's first kiss.
  • Knight Hunters: Although Aya doesn't specifically quote the Bible, a point is made of the fact that he reads it regularly; the Radio Drama "Fight Fire with Fire" includes a scene in which he returns a Bible that he had borrowed from a church. The nun to whom he returns the Bible comments on its worn-out condition, and Aya explains that he reads it every night before going to sleep.
  • Le Chevalier Deon focuses mostly in the Book of Psalms, especially Psalm 95.
  • Monster starts with a quote from the Book of Revelation on the coming of The Antichrist, an appropriate comparison with Johan Liebert.
  • In Psycho-Pass, Makishima quotes the bible as he prepares to destroy Japan's food supply.
    Makishima: Jesus told them another parable: The kingdom of Heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.
  • Played with at one point in an episode of Overlord (2012) when Ainz quotes John 15:13 (Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.) when discussing Heroic Sacrifice with the NPCs. However, he claims it's a saying he and his guild mates used to use, rather than scripture. But since the NPCs a) don't know about the Bible, and b) believe Ainz and his guild mates were gods, it amounts to the same thing in their minds.
  • In the anime of Strawberry Marshmallow, a native English girl tries to explain how she knows so much, especially about Japanese culture, with a quote from the apocryphal book of Ecclesiasticus: "He that toucheth pitch shall be defiled."
  • In Umineko: When They Cry, the blood seals have passages from Psalms in them, and the Creepy Child gives the exact location in the Bible.

    Comic Books 
  • The Avengers stories often have had Bible allusions, particularly where The Vision is concerned, as in the issue titles "Where There Is No Vision..." (Proverbs 29:18) and "Your Young Men Shall Slay Visions" (a play on the original verse of Acts 2:17, in which it is "SEE visions").
  • Batman: Streets of Gotham has Abuse/Colin Wilkes musing on the story of Cain's fate after killing Abel and how he applies it to his crime-fighting. It makes some sense, as he lives in an orphanage run by nuns.
  • Chick Tracts use this all the time, usually ripped right out of context.
  • Cloak and Dagger (Marvel Comics) paraphrases Psalm 139:12-14.
    "The darkness and light are both alike... I am fearfully and wonderfully made."
  • In Fables, Kay uses a Bible quote about looking at people with lust as an explanation for why he cut his eyes out. In his case, however, it was because he can see all the evil that anybody did in his life by just looking at them, so he's constantly blinding himself to escape the horrors. Unfortunately, due to the magical nature of his curse, they always grow back.
  • God Loves, Man Kills: Reverend Stryker is prone to this, albeit being a Sinister Minister villain, he cherry-picks verses to support his murderous views.
  • One issue of Iron Man, in which Iron Man must fight the giant alien dragon Fin Fang Foom, which at the same time is battling the spirit of the young man whose body he co-opted, features the quote: "Your young men shall slay dragons."
  • Kingdom Come: The protagonist is a pastor, and since he observes the whole thing, the story is loaded. It's mainly Book of Revelation, which features The End of the World as We Know It, so it works.
  • In Legends (DC Comics), a quote is taken from Ephesians 6:12 to close out the story.
  • As a former student of theology, Gabe from The Maze Agency is able to pull out an appropriate bible quotation whenever he needs one.
  • The Sandman (1989): In the "Season of the Mists" series, Lucifer Morningstar quotes the book of Genesis when he spares Dream's envoy from torture. Any other envoy would have been tortured, but not Cain, whom the God of The Bible promised to avenge sevenfold.
  • The first issue of Scarlet Witch (2015) opens with Exodus 22:18: "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live."
  • In Strange Adventures (2020), the now-retired Adam Strange writes a memoir that includes a dedication to his late daughter — who was lost during the war against the Pykkts — including the line "My life is spent with grief," which Mister Terrific identifies this as a reference from Psalm 31. Its origin ends up becoming very important because it has nothing to do with grief, loss, or even death — in context, the passage is about lamenting one's shame and guilt about the atrocities that one has committed in the name of hurting their enemies that have wronged youExcerpt. Combined with many other inconsistencies with Strange's memoir, especially in light of the Pykkt's recent invasion of Earth, Mr. T pieces together that this quote was Strange's hidden confession of bigger misdeeds, having secretly sold out Earth to the Pykkts in exchange for sparing his other home planet of Rann, and using his very-much-alive daughter as a bargaining chip.
  • Suske en Wiske: Professor Barabas' name is based on the biblical character of the same name. The story De Kale Kapper takes place in biblical times, with Jerom as Samson.
  • Ultimatum: Magneto, in full A God Am I mode, compares his action with the great flood and quotes passages of the Bible to that effect (the trope image cites Genesis 6:13 specifically).
  • Used to terrible effect in Uncanny X-Men (Chuck Austen) #423 and #424, as a nonsensical plot is unveiled to the religious Nightcrawler's constant quoting of Bible passages that Chuck Austen didn't bother reading beforehand — he didn't even bother to get the citations right, and in one example, he made a quote up to fit the story.
  • In The Unknown Supergirl, an overthrown tyrant pleads for clemency, telling "A great book says... 'Return good for evil'" (1 Peter 3:8-9). Supergirl flatly reminds him that said great book is one of the millions of books he ordered burned to keep the enslaved masses dumb and subdued.
  • In Wacky Raceland, Red Baron quotes a passage from Genesis about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah while watching Las Vegas being destroyed by a flood from the broken Hoover Dam.
  • Watchmen:
    • Would the Judge of All the Earth not do Right? (Doctor Manhattan = God; from Genesis 18:25.)
    • Shortly after he is transformed, Dr. Manhattan is asked what he says to the people comparing him to God: he replies that he doesn't think there is a God, and if there is, it's certainly not him. He later ruminates over this, and (in a Genius Bonus reference to 'The Blind Watchmaker') wonders if a watch can occur without a watchmaker.

    Fan Works 
  • Always Visible: When Pharqraut reprimands Earl Knight, he quotes one of the Ten Commandments, specifically "Thou shalt not steal".
  • Abraxas (Hrodvitnon): The Many's dialogue makes clear references to the Bible at times, fitting with how their Hive Mind is a disturbing mix of Horror Hunger and fanaticism. It seems to be a kind of family trait: the Many and Keizer Ghidorah's heads both respectively reference Genesis 3:5 in particular.
  • In A Changed World, Eleya quotes a Bajoran prophecy in response to a temporally displaced Bajoran criticizing her for working outside her D'jarra.
    Eleya: "The Cardassians were using the D'jarra to control us during the Occupation. Kai Opaka abolished it in the Year of Nine Sorrows so we'd fight them instead. And, oh by the way, that's all in the Ohalu Prophecies: 'the D'jarra will end with the coming of the grey warriors', Ohalu 57:12." (narrating) I normally find it annoying when people quote scripture at me but let's just say this isn't the first time I've heard this load of bull.
  • In Chrysalis Visits The Hague, the ICC judge Colm Mullan does this when he pleads his case for a (tacit yet peaceful) status quo between the warring ponies and changelings of Equestria. It then gets promptly Lampshaded:
    Estermann: You... crusty old peacemonger. Do old habits really die this hard?
    Mullan: 'Blessed are the peacemakers', Alex. Matthew 5:9.
    Estermann: Colm... I get that you're Irish... but you don't need to quote scripture at me to make a point.
  • In Empath: The Luckiest Smurf, the resident village bartender Tapper will occasionally throw in a Bible verse where appropriate for the situation.
  • HERZ: Chapter 10 quotes a passage of the Book of Revelations right after Gendo's death.
  • In Hogwarts School of Prayer and Miracles, characters actually cite Biblical verses in their dialogue.
    "You tried to corrupt me; but it did not work. But I forgive you, Aunt Petunia; because of Luke 23:34."
  • In The Legend of Total Drama Island, the devoutly religious Ezekiel prepares for a dangerous cliff dive by reciting Psalms 23:4 to himself: "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me."
  • Limpet AU: In "Meet the Skywalkers", an aggravated Piett starts talking to a stained-glass image of a woman, pouring out his heart about the stresses of working for Vader. Later, he finds an inscription of the image quoting 1 Corinthians 13:8 ("Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.").
  • In Old West, the snake-hunter Mon Hellsing has a habit of citing the Bible to decrease snakes.
  • Wings to Fly makes a somewhat nonstandard use, in that the characters usually do not directly quote the Bible. They will instead usually give a citation of book, chapter, and verse. Whether other characters in the conversation can translate that into an actual quotation is up to them.
  • The story A Dream used this when Rarity was turned into a pillar of salt. Though instead of directly quoting Genesis, Bible, who is formed from the book he's named after, motioned to the portion of his body containing the relevant verses.
  • In Game of Thrones: Vendetta Scripture is quoted several times:
    • Ezekiel 25:17 is the quote used in the second chapter. As one reviewer states, "you can never go wrong with the holy word of God."
    • The third chapter opens with Revelations 6:8.
    • The fourth chapter opens up with Psalms 137: 1, 7-9.
  • In Hellsister Trilogy, John Constantine quotes Psalm 23:4. Constantine being Constantine, he does this in irreverent fashion.
    Constantine: 'Yea, though I walk through the valley of death, I shall fear no evil, 'cause I'm the meanest sonofayouknowwhat in the valley.'
  • C.C. from Code Geass: The Prepared Rebellion cites 1 Corinthians 11:15 when she calls her long hair "a woman's pride and joy".
  • In Superman of 2499: The Great Confrontation, super-villain Muto quotes Genesis after conquering Atlantis.
    Muto looked upon his work and judged it good.
  • Maybe the Last Archie Story: As Archie, Betty, Veronica, Reggie and Salem are being flung through the time to rescue Sabrina from a madman, Betty can be heard reciting Psalms 23:4 to arm herself with courage: "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for thou art with me."
  • Seven Days in Sunny June: The title of sidestory "How Great The Outcry" comes from Acts 23:9.
  • In A Very Kara Christmas, the Midvale Orphanage is celebrating Christmas, and Linda Lee, who is experiencing it for the first time, is asked to read an excerpt (Luke 1:26 to 2:20, specifically). Inwardly, she prays that she does not screw it up.
  • Chapter 3 of Viva La Vida opens with a combined passage from Ephesians 4:26 and 4:27.
    "In your anger do not sin". Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.
  • A Thing of Vikings: In Chapter 71, as she reflects on how she came to love both Hiccup and Astrid, Wulfhild recalls 1 Corinthians 13:4-8: "Love is patient, love is kind...".

    Food & Drink 
  • Ezekiel 4:9 brand cereal. Quoted right on the box:
    "Take also unto thee Wheat and Barley and Beans and Lentils and Millet and Spelt and put them in one vessel and make bread of it..."

    Jokes 
  • A new preacher comes to a small town on a Friday and decides it would be a good idea to visit each member of his congregation at home to get to know them before Sunday's service. All goes well until he comes to one house. The preacher knocks, and rings the doorbell, but even though the lights are on and activity can be seen inside, no one answers the door. Exasperated, but deciding it's best not to bother them, the preacher takes a card out of his pocket and writes "Revelation 3:20"note  on it, before slipping it under the door and leaving. Come Sunday, after finishing his sermon at the local church, the preacher finds the card in his collection basket, and sees that the resident of the house has written "Genesis 3:10".note 
  • A man goes to his pastor in a deep depression. His finances are in the toilet. The Pastor suggests he looks to the Bible for an answer. The next week the man has a big smile on his face - he grabs the pastor and thanks him for his suggestion. "So what was it in the Bible that helped you?" the Pastor asks. The man says "I opened up my Bible and there was the answer: Chapter 13!"

    Music 
  • Avenged Sevenfold: "Beast and the Harlot" from City of Evil references the Great Prostitute and the Seven-Headed Beast from Revelation 17-18.
  • Tom Russell's song "The Sky Above, the Mud Below" when Deacon Black, preacher-turned-corrupt-sheriff confronts a pair of horse thieves: "The Old Testament, it says somewhere eye for eye and hair for hair/Covet not thy neighbor's mare, I believe it's Revelations." He's close but he jumbles things together.
  • Not too many people realize the similarities between Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower" from John Wesley Harding and Isaiah ch 21 verses 5-9 on how the city of Babylon had fallen. Given the song's anti-war theme, it's actually appropriate.
  • Cradle of Filth's Damnation And A Day features a bit of scripture – specifically, the Book of Genesis 1:2 and Revelation 12:7-9 – read by Dave McEwen in possibly the best version of the Bible-on-tape EVER. A disappointing number of reviewers thought the quotes were from Dante or Paradise Lost, though.
  • For a secular band, Nightwish loves this trope. "The Carpenter" is about Jesus, "The Pharaoh Sails To Orion" opens with a death-grunt of Exodus 10:28, "Crownless" contains Psalm 27:17 in one of its verses...
  • One of Iron Maiden's biggest hits, "Number of the Beast", opens with the relevant biblical quote:
    Woe to you, Oh Earth and Sea, for the Devil sends the beast with wrath, because he knows the time is short...Let him who hath understanding reckon the number of the beast, for it is a human number; its number is Six hundred threescore and six.
    Book of Revelation, 12:12, 13:18
  • Johnny Cash's The Man Comes Around opens and closes with him reading from the Book of Revelation, and contains a reference to the book of Job (the reference to a "Whirlwind in a thorn tree")
  • "Gangsta's Paradise" by Coolio starts off with Psalm 23:4 "As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death" to add some divine effect to the eponymous Gangsta's Paradise.
  • From Charlie Daniels Band's Simple Man*:
    Well the good book says it, so I know it's the truth
    An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth
  • The Byrds song "Turn, Turn, Turn" from Turn Turn Turn is taken almost entirely from the third chapter of Ecclesiastes.
  • This trope is mocked in Tim Minchin's song The Good Book, which raises the issue of some people thinking everything that the good book says is good because the good book says it's good, and if it wasn't good then the book wouldn't be the good book, but since it is the good book, everything the good book says is good because the good books says so and thus it is supposedly always perfectly credible.
  • Metallica. Yes, Metallica. Read the Book of Exodus and then listen to "Creeping Death".
  • The Offspring's "Hammerhead" has a botched version of Psalm 23 before the Tomato Surprise, as another indication that the narrator is Ax-Crazy.
  • Brazilian group Legião Urbana had "Monte Castelo", which is 50% 1 Corinthians 13 ("If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love...") and 50% a poem by Luis de Camões.
  • The title and Titler Track from Coat of Many Colors by Dolly Parton are inspired by the story of Joseph and his multicolored dream coat.
  • Simon & Garfunkel conclude their song "Sparrow" with a slightly paraphrased Genesis 3:19 — "From dust were ye made; and dust ye shall be."
  • Pink Floyd subverts this with "Sheep", off the album Animals. The bridge begins with a recitation of Psalm 23 ("The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want..."), but it quickly takes a turn for the sinister:
    With bright knives He releaseth my soul
    He maketh me to hang on hooks in high places
    He converteth me to lamb cutlets
    For lo, He hath great power and great hunger
  • Sabaton:
  • Kids Praise: Being a Christian work aimed at kids, Bible quotes are expected to crop up. One song in the fifth album is even a series of Bible quotes, listed in alphabetical order!
  • The Guess Who's "Hang On To Your Life" concludes with Burton Cummings reciting Psalm 22:13-15.
    They gaped upon me with their mouths
    As a ravening and a roaring lion
    I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint
    My heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels
    My strength is dried up like a potsherd,and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws
    And thou hast brought me into the dust of death
    .
  • Cypress Hill's 'Legalize It' quotes Genesis 1:12:
    I have given you all the seed bearing plants on earth to use.
  • The Killers' two very blunt examples, first with "The Calling" which opens with Woody Harrelson reading a quote from the Book of Matthew, and then later on "Fire In Bone" which is a retelling of the Parable of the Prodigal Son.
  • Referred in Neil Young's "Southern Man," a call to end slavery and Jim Crow laws: note 
    Southern man, better keep your head
    Don't forget what your good book said
  • The Rolling Stones references Matthew 27:24 in the opening lines of "Sympathy For the Devil," indicating that Pontius Pilate bore some culpability for Jesus' execution via the Devil's influence.
    I was 'round when Jesus Christ
    Had His moments of doubt and pain
    Made damn sure that Pilate
    Washed his hands and sealed His fate

    Music Videos 
  • "Genesis 3:6", where Adam and Eve eat the apple*, flashes on the screen during Pearl Jam's "Jeremy".
  • Taken from Psalm 126:5, One of the subtitles in R.E.M.'s "Everybody Hurts" is "What we sow in tears we reap in joy."

    Mythology and Religion 
  • The Four Gospels:
    • Jesus quotes the traditional interpretation of the Old Testament quite a few times to make a point and contrast his new Christian ethics against the older ones.
    • The Devil tossed references to scripture in the desert to convince Jesus to break His fast, test God, and bow to himself in exchange for powers. In each of these instances, Jesus rebukes the Devil and points to other Biblical verses that explain exactly why Jesus shouldn't give into these temptations.
  • Bound to occur in works of Christian theology, like St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Augustine of Hippo, St. John Henry Newman, and others. St. Thomas in particular says that quoting scripture to make a point is advisable only if the interlocutor concedes belief in divine revelation, which is why the Bible is used when disputing with heretics.
  • On the Incarnation by Church Father St. Athanasius of Alexandria. When facing objections from the Greek heathens regarding Jesus Christ becoming man, he draws from the Greek philosophers like Plato. On the other hand, when answering objections from the Jews, St. Athanasius quotes from the Old Testament, arguing that a careful reading shows that the Incarnation was foreshadowed.

    Newspaper Comics 
  • In Modesty Blaise, Willie can find a line from the Book of Psalms to fit almost any situation, as he once spent a year in an Indian prison with nothing else to read.
  • Linus van Pelt, of Peanuts, is frequently given to quoting Scripture.
    • Probably the most celebrated instance comes in the animated special A Charlie Brown Christmas, when a frustrated Charlie Brown asks, "Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?" and Linus duly obliges by reciting Luke 2:8-14.
    • A series of strips, later adapted into You're (Not) Elected, Charlie Brown, has Linus running for Student Council President, with his first campaign speech having him use biblical analogies to describe his administration should he win the election.
      Linus: If I am elected school president, I will purge the kingdom! My administration will release us from our spiritual Babylon! My administration will bring down the false idols in high places! My administration will...
      Charlie Brown: I wonder why the principal looks so pale...
    • One strip has Linus claiming that he has the right to choose what to watch on TV since he got there first, only for Lucy to change the channel and say, "In the 19th chapter of the book of Matthew it says, 'Many that are first will be last, and the last first.'*". Linus replies, "I'll bet Matthew didn't have an older sister!"
    • Other characters do it as well; for example, in one of the football gags, Charlie Brown cries out, "How long, O Lord?" Lucy recognizes the quote (it's from Isaiah 6:11), and continues and analyzes it, before pulling the football away.
    • In another strip, Snoopy comes in the house. Charlie Brown looks up from the Bible he'd been reading and asks, "What's up? Are you hungry?" Snoopy silently takes his Bible, turns to a page, and hands it back. Charlie Brown reads the indicated passage, Psalms 50:12: "If I were hungry, I would not tell thee." He shouts to Snoopy (now presumably in the kitchen), "Give me a week, and I'll find an answer!"
    • Another strip has Charlie Brown scold Snoopy for taking food from the fridge, by showing him Exodus 20:15: "You shall not steal." Snoopy counters by taking the Bible, turning to another page, and having Charlie Brown read Deuteronomy 25:4: "You shall not muzzle the ox while it treads out the grain."
      Charlie Brown: (calling after him) I don't see you treading out any grain!
      Snoopy: (on his doghouse) It got me out the back door.
    • Parodied at one point, in a moment used in one of the animated specials, when Lucy claims that the Bible says that brothers need to get their sisters Christmas gifts, to which Linus replies that that's not actually Biblical. Lucy goes to look it up and proclaims that she was able to find the word "sister" in the Bible - therefore, Linus has to get her a Christmas gift.
    • Lampshaded once, after Peppermint Patty throws out a kid tutoring her because she found out he was getting paid to do so:
      Maynard: "The laborer is worthy of his hire." Luke 10:4.
      Marcie: He's quoting Scripture, sir.
      Peppermint Patty: Is that fair?
    • Of course, Schulz wasn't above deliberately taking a quote out of context for a gag. When Charlie Brown was feeling good from receiving a couple compliments, Linus dragged him back down with "Woe to you when all men speak well of you." from Luke 6.
    • One Sunday strip had Schroeder trying to console Charlie Brown on another lost baseball game with the quote "Man is born to trouble, as the spark flies upward (Job 5:7)." And because Charlie Brown looked confused the entire team rushed in to offer character-appropriate interpretations on the book of Job.
      Charlie Brown: I don't have a baseball team, I have a theological seminary!
    • Charles Schulz was a Sunday School teacher, and scriptural lessons are sprinkled throughout Peanuts, so much so that a man named Robert L. Short wrote a couple of bestselling "pop theology" books, The Gospel According to Peanuts (1965) and The Parables of Peanuts (1968), analyzing the strip's religious content.
  • In a Pearls Before Swine strip, while Rat is watching a football game, Pig claims that in every football game there is a guy named John who keeps forgetting his watch which forces a buddy of his to hold up a sign telling the time, hence why every game has a guy holding a sign reading "John 3:16" *. Pig starts watching the game after Rat leaves and remarks "Great. Now Luke forgot his watch."
    • The same joke was inverted in a Get Fuzzy strip: Rob gets home and finds a spooked out Satchel sitting in the dark babbling "John 3:16! John 3:16!". He then turns on the lights and says "Your friend John called at 3:16".
    • Another Pearls example shows a squirrel, when fed by Pig, responds by quoting Revelations 18:21.
    • The name of the strip itself comes from Matthew 7:6, in which Jesus, during his Sermon on the Mount, warns his followers not to cast "pearls before swine".
  • In a Garfield strip Jon quotes Matthew 5:5 to Garfield: "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth". Garfield thinks: "But in the meantime the strong will make a pretty comfortable living."

    Other/Multiple media 
  • "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" — Matthew 16:26, Mark 8:36, and Luke 9:25. If you see this one, count on the moral being With Great Power Comes Great Insanity, with Lonely at the Top being a key illustration of this. Such as:
    Dracula: "Ah...sarcasm. 'For what profit is it to a man if he gains the world, and loses his own soul?' Matthew 16:26, I believe."
    • A Miracle of Science. "Well, he'd profit by one whole world, for one thing."
    • Quoted by The Mad Thinker to Reed Richards in a "Civil War-era" Fantastic Four story, when he sees the lengths Richards has gone to in order to prevent a predicted crisis.
    • The Ranma fanfic Pride Comes Before The Fall has Proverbs 16:18 as the intro. The title itself is a compact version of the verse.
    • Quoted in the movie version of The Bonfire of the Vanities. It's used in the bookends' narration as Bruce Willis' journalist ponders his newfound fortune coming at the expense of many reputations. At the end, he decides he's been well compensated for losing his soul.
    • A character in Piers Anthony's With a Tangled Skein misquotes it as "save the whole world", thus completely changing the nature of the point.
    • A Man for All Seasons: "Why, Richard, it profits a man nothing to give his soul for the whole world... but for Wales?"
    • Intentionally inverted in "Starseed", the last volume of Spider Robinson's Stardance trilogy, with the quote, "What shall it cost a man if he shall lose the world only to gain his soul?" The aesop in this case is, "Humanity must ultimately leave the Earth behind if we are to take our place among the stars."
  • Combined with "Last Supper" Steal: Entertainment Weekly Issue #1186 (January 22, 2010) says of the promotional image of Lost's Last Supper that "The castaways' imbibing evokes the Bible verse: 'If the dead are not raised: Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die' [1 Corinthians 15:32b; Isaiah 22:13d, NAB]. Which is exactly what was at stake with last season's resurrection-or-bust Jughead cliffhanger."
    • Speaking of Entertainment Weekly: In the "Bullseye" section (#1505, March 9, 2018) one arrow that's pointed close to between "Miss" and "Near-Miss" says, "For our very real review of Living Bibically [the TV series], please go look up Mark 11:14", which is actually an excerpt from the story of Jesus cursing a fig treenote ; this Bible verse actually quotes Jesus' words to the fruitless fig tree (which the Bullseye staff foretells of the TV show), "May no one ever eat of your fruit again!" (NAB)
  • The English stream of letters for the Yu-Gi-Oh! OCG text in Qliphort Monolith reads 「God is angry on your doing and want to bring fire flood」, a reference to Noah's Ark in the Old Testament. The Japanese stream of text is written alternately in hiragana/kanji and katakana to obfuscate it; when converted to the proper grammar it reads 「見よ人は我々の一人のようになり善悪を知るものとなった彼は手を伸べ命の木からも取って食べ永久に生きるかもしれない」 ("Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:"). This is a direct quote from the biblical verse Genesis 3:22, and references the tree of life in the Old Testament.
  • One Game Informer review for Shrek: Fairy Tale Freakdown by Andrew Reiner (June 2001) has one of the game factors (Playability) quote the Book of Revelation as follows: "Revelation 20:7: 'When the thousand years are over, Satan is released from his prison' [NIV]. Well, boys and girls, he's back, and making games to boot!"

    Podcast 
  • In episode four of Mystery Show, Starlee speculates that a mysterious license plate might refer to its owner's favorite bible passage, specifically Psalms 9:11.
    Sing praises to the Lord, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.

    Radio Theater 
  • "As the Holy Book says, in the Book of Holes, chapter 1: 'And they knew not their holes, from an ass on the ground.'" - Nino "The Mind-Boggler" Savatt, in The Firesign Theater's Everything You Know Is Wrong.

    Stand-Up Comedy 
  • In her stand-up show "Hurricane Diane", Diane Spencer reports that she used her parents' roof as a private refuge while growing up. She was happy to find a Bible verse supporting the practice... but less happy to learn what the second half of that verse said.
    And it said "It is better to live on the roof of your house... than inside it with a quarrelsome woman." I'm like "Well, what if you are a quarrelsome woman?! Where do I go, Jesus?"
  • George Carlin in his "Seven dirty words" bit would bring up double entendres from the unlikliest of sources, such as the Bible which has the text "And the cock crows three times" which paraphrases Mark 14: 27-31 (KJV). Jesus actually says "Before the cock crows two times, you will deny me thrice" to Peter. Luke 22:34 also bears this in some versions.

    Theater 
  • Fiddler on the Roof employs this exact phrase with Tevye, even though we already know that he's deeply religious. There's no ulterior symbolism, other than to portray him as a religious, down-to-earth man living in a devout, tradition-bound culture. Mostly Played for Laughs, as he gets most of the quotes wrong and makes up some of them out of the air without realizing it:
    Tevye: Of course, we don't eat like kings, but we don't starve, either. As the Good Book says, "When a poor man eats a chicken, one of them is sick."
    Mendel: Where does the Book say that?
    Tevye: Well, it doesn't exactly say that, but someplace it has something about a chicken!
    • Humorously defied at one point, as shown in the page quote: Tevye, speaking to God, begins to quote the Good Book out of habit, then has a moment of Fridge Logic when he realizes that God, of all people, would know what the Good Book says.
  • At the start of the Chanukah scene of The Diary of Anne Frank, the Frank family and their friends read Psalm 121 from the KJV Bible.
  • In Gypsy, Mama Rose would often quote this trope before spouting an idiom with no Biblical subtext whatsoever.
  • Seen in 1776: When the Southern states have walked out of Congress over the slavery clause, Dickinson gloats at Adams and Chase (who has just arrived with the badly mistimed and insufficient good news that he's talked Maryland into supporting independence) with the deliberate misquote, "What shall a man be profited if he shall gain Mary-land, but lose the entire South?" He then smirks and adds, "Matthew, chapter 16, verse 26" before walking out himself. The meaning — that all of Adams' attempts to procure independence had just gone up in smoke and his winning over of Maryland was Pyrrhic — would haunt Dickinson the next day when it became clear he and he alone really opposed independence on principle thanks to a last-second compromise by Adams and South Carolina's Edward Rutledge.
  • Cesare - Il Creatore che ha distrutto: Dante Alighieri, in Cesare's mind, asks him "Quo Vadis?" and quotes the relevant lines.
  • In The Threepenny Opera, Macheath and Polly's dialogue before their "Love Song" is from Ruth 1:16 (Kurt Weill set this verse as a song, not in the Threepenny Opera but in The Eternal Road).
  • In The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged), when the players are idly chatting about the weather, one of them quotes the apocryphal Bible verse, "Many are cold, few are frozen," from the Book of Galoshes in the New Testament.
  • Inherit the Wind is named after a portion of Proverbs 11:29. Matthew Harrison Brady quotes this particular verse during the second act.
  • In Albert Herring, when the Committee members are talking about the wonderful April weather, Miss Wordsworth quotes Song of Solomon 2:11–12: "And lo! the winter is past, the rain is over and gone, / The flowers appear on the earth!" The Vicar, of course, chimes in with her.
  • This doubles as a Title Drop in There Shall Be No Night when the protagonist quotes Revelation 22:4-5 and its vision of the new Eden, in which "there shall be no night". The play is set during the darkest hours of the 1939-1940 Winter War between Finland and the Soviet Union, but the main character quotes this passage as a way of expressing his hope in the triumph of humanity's better nature.
  • In Hamilton, Washington quotes "everyone shall sit under their own vine and fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid" from Micah 4:4note  in "One Last Time" to emphasize the necessity of leaving power while he's still alive and allowing the process of elections to go forward.
  • Perfect Pie is bookended by Pasty quoting Isaiah 49:16: "I will not forget you, you are carved in the palm of my hand."
  • The chorus to "The Meek Shall Inherit" from Little Shop of Horrors starts with "They say the meek shall inherit. You know the book doesn't lie".

    TV Tropes Wiki 

    Video Games 
  • Assassin's Creed:
    • In one eavesdropping mission, one of the two men Altaïr's listening to claims that "God helps those who help themselves" is a Bible quote, thus justifying his unsavory activities. The other man promptly corrects him, saying it's from one of Aesop's Fables.
    • The ending of the game leaves out subtlety and just quotes Bible verses outright. During the scene with Altaïr looking at the holographic map of the Earth, a voice in the background directly quotes a verse from the book of Ecclesiastes. Additionally, once Deus Ex Machina graciously gives Desmond the ability to use his Assassin's vision just as he learns he will soon be executed, you can see quotes from various religious books and legends on the wall above his bed, including one from the book of Revelation.
  • In Aviary Attorney Friar Remus, if called out on his willingness to accept seemingly unChristian mob violence, quote multiple bloody passages from the Bible, old and new Testament.
  • Batman: Arkham Asylum:
    • In the original, one of the Arkham Chronicles mentions Poison Ivy being brought in by someone. Amadeus Arkham quotes Exodus 22:18 in this one:
      "I watched in silence as he brought in the woman. Her skin now a venomous green, the wanton creature no longer looked like a human being, much less a woman. The Bible says, 'Suffer not a witch to live,' yet he has once again delivered this female atrocity to our care. Once I have dealt with the monster, I think it will be time to see if green wood does, in fact, burn."
    • In Batman: Arkham Origins, during the Predator Challenge aboard the Final Offer, Alberto Falcone's bodyguard quotes Matthew 5:5 in saying, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth" - insinuating that although the family is currently struggling with running their crime empire, they will arise as the victor in the ongoing turf wars. One of Penguin's goons, not familiar with the proverb, mishears the word "meek" as "weak" and instead thinks he's insulting him.
  • The Binding of Isaac:
    • Wrath of the Lamb, the first expansion for the original game, is a reference to Revelation 6:16, which reads "They called to the mountains and the rocks, 'Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb!'"
    • The theme for Rebirth is titled Genesis 22:10, which reads "Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son." Fitting considering the game's name and premise, of course.
    • The boss theme for the penultimate final boss of Repentance, Dogma, has lyrics consisting of Biblical quotes, as delivered by the fire-and-brimstone preacher that drove Isaac's mother insane.
  • In BioShock, Andrew Ryan refers to the Bible as "The Book of Lies", but still admits that Ecclesiastes 3:1note  is true.
  • BioShock Infinite uses many Bible quotes throughout its runtime as Colombia is incredibly religious.
  • Blood (1997): At the end of the E2M8 ("The Lair of Shial"), Caleb approaches the cocoon-wrapped Gabriel and takes his heart from his body as he quotes John 6:53 before drinking his blood to gain power.
  • Call of Juarez:
    • The original features Reverend Ray, who quotes fire and brimstone Bible scripture every other line.
    • A much straighter example is found in Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood, where William constantly cites the Bible to that very Ray, trying to prevent him from falling to The Dark Side. His words fail but his actions don't.
    • Call of Juarez: Gunslinger has the phrase "Luke 16:28" engraved on the side of the upgraded rifle. The quote reads "For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment." (KJV), clearly referencing Silas' quest for vengeance on his brothers' killers.
  • Captain Bible in Dome of Darkness practically breathes this trope. The goal of the game is to find bible verses to defeat robots who are telling anti-Christian lies to the citizens of a city.
  • Castlevania: Symphony of the Night falls into this trope, albeit surprisingly tastefully (considering the rest of the game's dialogue), with Dracula quoting Matthew 16:26 upon his final defeat.
    "For what profit is it to man if he gains the world, and loses his own soul?"
  • Command & Conquer: Red Alert: In the end of the Soviet campaign, Nadia reveals herself as being an agent of the Brotherhood of Nod, quoting Genesis 4:16 right after poisoning Stalin and telling the player that Nod's plan to sow chaos in Europe is successful.
  • One of the guns in Cyberpunk 2077 is the thermal-damaging Psalm 11:6: "Let him rain coals on the wicked: fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup."
  • Dead Space (Remake): After Isaac jettisons the Leviathan out of the Hydroponics airlock, Dr. Cross quotes Psalm 74:14.
    And lo, you crushed the heads of Leviathan. He will be meat for those in the wilderness.
  • Deus Ex: Human Revolution: Ex-Belltower merc Michael Zelazny is quite fond of quoting The Bible. When Jensen sarcastically asks if he decided to become a priest, he just says that he finds scripture to be quite "evocative."
  • Doom: The fourth episode of Ultimate Doom is entitled "Thy Flesh Consumed", which comes from Proverbs 5:11 (KJV)note . Every level title in that episode (except for the ninth, simply "Fear"; Hell Beneath*, Perfect Hatred*, Sever The Wicked*, Unruly Evil*, They Will Repent*, Against Thee Wickedly*, And Hell Followed*, and Unto The Cruel*) come from the King James Version of the Bible, mostly completely and utterly out of context.
  • Fallout 3 uses Revelation 21:6 (KJV) — "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely." It's the favorite quote of the protagonist's mother and "Waters of Life" forms the Arc Words of the game. It also provides the passcode needed for final moment Heroic Sacrifice.
    • Another one can be seen with the birthdate of the main character (7/13/2258). Micah 7:13 reads, "And the earth will become desolate because of her inhabitants, on account of the fruit of their deeds." It aptly describes the Fallout series as a whole.
  • Fallout: New Vegas DLC Honest Hearts features Mormon missionary, Badass Preacher and ex-legatus of Caesar's Legion, Joshua Graham (the Burned Man), who uses several aphorisms and occasional quotes from the Bible during the DLC. Especially his use of Psalm 137:1 + 7-9 to express his belief that one should Pay Evil unto Evil to the White Legs. His unique sidearm has John 1:5 ("And the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness [hath] comprehended it not"; KJV) engraved in the slide in Greek.
  • Far Cry 4 has "LK1018" engraved on the side of the rocket launcher, and considering that you mostly use it to shoot down helicopters "And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven." (KJV) is quite apropos.
  • Joseph Seed of Far Cry 5 frequently quotes the Bible's verses on the end of the world.
  • Grand Theft Auto:
  • Halo 3: ODST: Used for a moment of comic relief during a pitched airel battle:
    Dutch: As The Good Book says, "Payback's a bitch!"
    Mickey: I don't think it actually says that, Dutch.
    Dutch: I'm paraphrasing, ya' heathen!
  • Iconoclasts: General Chrome is fond of quoting verses from One Concern's holy book, and can be seen reading from it in the title screen and even in his boss battle.
  • Left 4 Dead: One graffiti piece in Death Toll invokes Exodus 9:15 ("For by now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with a plague that would have wiped you off the Earth.")
  • Left 4 Dead 2: The Swamp Fever campaign has Ellis asking Coach if he has any words to say before they enter the swamp.
    Coach: As I walk through the valley of death, I will fear no evil.
    Ellis: Okay. I was hopin' y'all wouldn't go all Fire and Brimstone on me.
  • Life Is Strange 2: Reverend Fischer quotes Mark 3:25 when Sean tries convincing her to let Daniel leave Haven Point with him.
  • Mass Effect 2: EDI quotes "My name is Legion, for we are many" when Shepard is trying to come up with a name for the captured Geth platform. Legion then comes up with the proper source: "Christian Bible, gospel of Mark, verse five. We acknowledge this as an appropriate metaphor."
  • Not for Broadcast: Parodied in "Day 8: The Fallout": Constable Bob Peele claims that God hates "foreigners, gays, and gypsies, mainly," and tries (mis)quoting the Book of Leviticus to prove a point. He also claimed that "Jesus didn't like immigrants", when the Bible's New Testament states otherwise, considering that Jesus and his family were once immigrants in the land of Egypt during the time that King Herod Antipas tried to destroy him.
  • OFF: Enoch paraphrases Psalm 23:4 when he's about to chase the Batter through the hallway outside his office.
    Enoch: "Yaaaahahaha!!! In the shadow of death valley you shall fear the apostle of darkness! I'll kill you Batter!"
  • The first teaser for Outlast II has an ominous old man quoting a verse from the Bible.
  • Outlaws gives us a made up one:
    Dr. Death: What is it the Bible says, Slim?
    Slim: I dunno Doctor.
    Dr. Death: Ah yes, "you don't never, never look a gift horse in the mouth". That's a pearl of wisdom.
  • Persona 5: "Rivers in the Desert", the penultimate boss theme, is a reference to Isaiah 43:20 ("The wild beasts will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches, for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people") Fittingly, it describes the plans of the Big Bad to create a new world where his chosen "elites" can flourish.
  • Red Dead Redemption:
    • The final story mission is named "The Last Enemy That Shall Be Destroyed", which is from I Corinthians 15:26. The game leaves out the last two words of the verse: "...is death," alluding to the fact that John Marston is killed defending his family. Furthermore, John's grave marker reads "Blessed are the peacemakers" in reference to Matthew 5:9.
    • The last mission with Uncle is named "A Continual Feast", a reference to Proverbs 15:15 - "All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast."
  • Red Dead Redemption 2:
    • In one camp interaction of the Colter chapter, Rev. Swanson reads a passage from Isaiah 40:20-31 (KJV) to a bunch of women. When one of them asks what this means, Swanson says he's not quite sure what the words meant.
    • Two missions quote Matthew: "Blessed are the meek?" and "Blessed are the peacemakers". The former is the mission where you bust the decidedly not meek Micah out of jail before he's hanged. The latter is a parlay with a rival gang that quickly goes south.
    • A Chapter 3 story mission is called, "Sodom? Back to Gomorrah", which is a reference to a story from the book of Genesis.
    • Arthur's grave will bear an inscription of either Matthew 5:4 (if he died with low Honor) or 5:6 (high Honor).
  • Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri quotes the Bible at various points, usually as part of the description of some new civilization-changing secret project. It quotes plenty of other literary works, too, including several written by characters in the game.
    • In particular, the game's opening cutscene begins with a quote from Genesis. The Universal Translator's quotation of the Bible comes across as very creepy, given the project's cutscene.
    • So do Civilization IV and V, for which the Bible is the single most common source of quotes, particularly for early-game techs.
  • Xenogears begins by quoting Revelation of John 22:13:
    I am the Alpha and the Omega
    the beginning and the end
    the first and the last
    .
  • Likewise, Xenosaga, although it is generally more inclined to quote Nietzsche, does borrow a quotation from the Bible: "Ye shall be as gods". This gets a lot more ominous if you happen to recall just who said the original words!
    • Also present in Xenogears, as a message that is repeated endlessly, covering all computer screens on the opening cinematic.
    • In Episode 1, Albedo quotes John 12:24 - "Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone." - to describe his immortality and the fear of living forever while his loved ones die.

    Visual Novels 
  • In ATOM GRRRL!!, Big E quotes Zechariah 11:6 as she finishes off viciously killing her attempted rapist.
  • In We Know the Devil, when the kids tune in to God's station, he recites fictional Bible passages reflecting the symbolism and using the name of the girl who will be possessed. In the true ending, the Devil speaks instead.

    Web Animation 
  • The online flash series Broken Saints uses religious symbolism and scripture extensively. (The Big Bad has incorporated much of the Book of Revelations into his "Last Judgment" scenario for humanity.) This isn't surprising since the series has been somewhat influenced by apocalyptic pop culture works like The Matrix and Neon Genesis Evangelion.

    Webcomics 

    Web Original 
  • Each of the three chapters in Yahtzee's 1213 begins with a Bible quote, each from a verse labeled, what else, 12:13 (he admits in the commentary he just picked the ones he thought fit the situation, as not all of the 12:13 verses had any relevance).
  • In The Angry Video Game Nerd's episode "Bible Games 3", when the Nerd types out the word "ass" in the Game Boy's The King James Version, and the results got in a list of passages with the word "ass", the following passages he reads are:
    • "Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass..."*
    • "...loose his ox or his ass..."*
    • "...whose ass have I taken?"*
    • "...deliver unto his neighbour an ass..."*
    • "Which of you shall have an ass..."*
    • "...he had found a young ass..."*
    • "...the dumb ass..."*
    • "...saddled his ass..."*
    • "...opened his sack to give his ass..."*
    • "...the lion had not eaten the carcase, nor torn the ass..."*
    • "...riding upon his ass..."*
    Nerd: Heh heh...Ahh, I'm going to hell.
  • Alexander Anderson from Hellsing Ultimate Abridged, like his canon counterpart, loves quoting the Bible (when he's not quoting his favorite movie.) Psalms 2:11 and 12 sound great once you get him going:
    Anderson: Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling!
    Alucard: You got me a present?!
    Anderson: Kiss the Son lest He be angry, and ye perish from the way when His wrath is kindled but a little!
  • In Dragon Ball Z Abridged, Cooler attempts to do this when introducing his army of one thousand Meta-Coolers, but Vegeta cuts him off.
    Cooler: My name is Legion, for we are—
    Vegeta: A pain in my ass.
  • In Sword Art Online Abridged, the leader of the Laughing Coffin PK guild does this as part of his "Bible-quoting serial killer" motif. Unfortunately when he picks verses like Judges 15:16, he just ends up confusing his would-be victims no matter how good his delivery is.
  • Spoofed in the What If? entry "Great Tree, Great Axe." Randall butchers part of Revelation Chapter 6 in the sixth image.
    "And I looked and saw the angel open the second seal, a gigantic woodpecker emerged. The people wailed and cowered in terror as its wings blotted out the sun."
  • Parodied in The Cinema Snob and Diamanda Hagan's review of Myra Breckinridge. (Apparently it was a case of Throw It In! by Brad Jones.)
    Hagan: "A lay a day keeps your virginity away!"
    Snob: Matthew, chapter 5 verse 14.
    [Hagan nods knowingly]
  • Referenced in this Battletoads race:
    PCULL44444: Why don't these ducks turn around when I punch them?
    SuperJeenius: If I punch you, you'll turn around!
    NintendoCapriSun: What do you think they are? Christians?
    [Achievement unlocked: Turn The Other Cheek - Matthew 5:38-42]
  • Gail Connors from Deagle Nation follows the bible and the "forgotten bible" "word for word" and considers anything that isn't explicitly stated in these pieces of literature to be either dumb, misguided, or just plain evil.
  • The Bible is one of many sources mined for quotes in Scary News out of Tokyo-3. Late in the game, the players begin to ramp up the biblical quotations — although one of them also adds fake (but disturbingly coherent) quotes he apparently wrote in a drunken stupor, and then largely abandons the Bible in favor of Pink Floyd lyrics.
  • The Bible is one of the most popular works to quote from on TV Tropes, including on common tropes like Evil Cannot Comprehend Good and A God Am I.
  • The opening of the Jon Bois video The People You're Paying to Be in Shorts is a quote from the Book of Revelation, 3:16:
    So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
  • 411Mania's review of the Nintendo DS game Honeycomb Beat opens with the King James Version of Proverbs 5:3-5.

    Western Animation 
  • Grandmum and occasionally Sol on 3-2-1 Penguins! quote the Bible whenever Jason and/or Michelle are experiencing a moral dilemma.
  • Parodied through a Bait-and-Switch in the American Dad! episode "An Incident at Owl Creek".
    Stan: One's true value is determined solely through the eyes of others. That's from Genesis, their first album, I think.note 
  • Archer: Ray Gilette's brother Randy uses Genesis 38:8, Onan being commanded to sleep with his brother's wife, to justify his own open marriage and desire to sleep with Ray's (fake (since he's gay)) wife.
  • In the final episodes of Beast Wars, both Optimus Primal and Megatron begin quoting from their scripture, the Covenant of Primus, believing the events that they're a part of are the fulfillment of its prophesies. Megatron also seems to be trying to position himself as an Antichrist figure in the process.
  • An intermission in Earthworm Jim advertises Psycrow's Academy of Evil. The school's motto quotes Romans 6:23 before putting its own spin on the verse:
    Psycrow: "The wages of sin is death. But the hours are good!"
  • Parodied in the Family Guy episode "Mr. Griffin Goes to Washington".
    Chris: Look what I made for the game! [holds up a "John 3:16" sign]
    Meg: What does that mean, anyway?
    Brian: [reading from a Bible] "And the Lord said, 'Go Sox'."
  • In the Justice League episode "Epilogue", we find that Amanda Waller has turned to the Bible for comfort in her twilight years:
    Waller: Like the good book says, He moves in mysterious ways.note  His plan is a mystery. But here's what isn't: He gave us free will, we choose our own fate. For good, or ill.
  • King of the Hill: In "Hilloween", Junie Harper cites Proverbs 1:32: "The complacency of fools will destroy them." Hank retaliates: "Get out of my house! Exodus!"
  • The opening narration for each Little Dogs on the Prairie short starts with a Bible verse about a specific moral that one or more characters have to learn.
  • In the MGM One Shot Cartoon "Peace On Earth," mankind has eliminated themselves through warfare. All the forest animals emerge to assess things as an owl discovers a Bible and turns to "Ye shall rebuild the old wastes" (KJV, Isaiah 58:12; other versions have 61:4). This inspires the animals to create their own self-contained community with the war discards.
    Owl: (upon skimming through the Ten Commandments) Looks like a mighty good book of rules...but I guess them men didn't pay much attention to 'em.
  • The Simpsons:
    • Homer sometimes uses the Bible to "justify" male chauvinism, arguing against Marge working outside the home with "Thou shalt not... horn in on thy husband's... racket" and telling Lisa that the Bible commands girls to stick to "girls' sports" like hot-oil wrestling and foxy-boxing.
    • In Season Three's "Lisa the Greek":
      Homer: [Y]our mother has this crazy idea that gambling is wrong. Even though they say it's okay in the Bible.
      Lisa Really? Where?
      Homer: Uh, somewhere in the back.
    • In Season Three's "The Otto Show":
      Marge: Well, Homer, doesn't the Bible say, "Whatsoever you do unto even the least of my brothers, that you do unto me?"
      Homer: Yes, but doesn't the Bible also say, "Thou shalt not take... moochers into thine... hut?"
    • In Season Four's "Homer the Heretic":
      Rev. Lovejoy: Homer, I'd like you to remember Matthew 7:26. "A foolish man who built his house on sand."
      Homer: And you remember... Matthew ... 21:17!
      Rev. Lovejoy: "And he left them and went out of the city into Bethany and he lodged there"?
      Homer: Yeah... Think about it!
    • In Season Four's "Duffless", Homer tries to sneak out of the nuclear plant via a secret escape route. He encounters a giant spider, and his map says that he can get rid of it by quoting a Bible verse. Pretty quickly, Homer gives up and just pegs it between the eyes with a rock, knocking it right out.
    • Reverend Lovejoy uses his "knowledge" of the Bible to defend the sadistic snake-beating "Whacking Day" holiday ("Whacketh all the serpents that crawl upon their bellies and thy town shall be a beacon unto others."), refusing to let Lisa check his bible for that.
    • In "Secrets of a Successful Marriage", after Marge kicks Homer out of the house, the Lovejoys both advise Marge to divorce him.
      Marge: But isn't that a sin?
      Rev. Lovejoy: Marge, just about everything is a sin. You ever sat down and read this thing? Technically, we're not supposed to go to the bathroom.
    • In "Treehouse of Horror VIII", Lisa quotes "Judge, not lest ye be judged" for the town's Insane Troll Logic on determining if Marge is a witch. Wiggum just counters with "The Bible says a lot of things. Shove her!"
  • In VeggieTales, Bob and Larry consult QWERTY the computer at the end of every episode to support the show's moral with a quote from the Good Book. Once an Episode, however, it's supplemented by a catchy jingle that, at least at first, annoys Bob to no end. He's since admitted that he likes it.
  • In X-Men: Evolution, when the group is discussing Warren's activities:
    Beast: Be not forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels, unawares.
    Professor X: Shakespeare?
    Beast: The Bible.
    Professor X: ...Ah, indeed.

    Real Life 
  • Robert Oppenheimer's quotation of the Bhagavad Gita on witnessing the world's first atomic explosion probably fits in here as well: 'Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds'. The quote does not actually match any translation extant at the time — most had "shatterer" in place of "destroyer" — because he was translating it from the original Sanskrit in his head while he spoke.
  • A real-life example: What do you tell one billion television viewers who are about to see the image of the planet Earth for the first time in their lives — a tiny blue marble all alone in the night, framed only by desolate landscape that is the moon? "In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth..."
    • The first few chapters of Genesis are also being used in a modern-day Rosetta Stone project that provides the passages in all of the known languages on Earth.
  • But If Not — These are the words (taken from Daniel 3:18) that spurred the British to help evacuate a group of soldiers trapped at Dunkirk.
  • "God preserve the United States. We know the Race is not to the Swift nor the Battle to the Strong. Do you not think an Angel rides in the Whirlwind and directs this Storm?" John Page to Thomas Jefferson, July 20, 1776, quoting from Ecclesiastes 9:11.
  • Ernie Harwell, the late radio announcer for baseball's Detroit Tigers, would welcome listeners to the first spring training broadcast of each season with an apropos quotation from Song of Solomon 2:11-12 (KJV): "For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land."
  • To all who think Dungeons & Dragons is witchcraft, let it be known that its creator Gary Gygax used Matthew 5:16 in his e-mail signature. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." He was a Christian and made that clear when lurid accusations were made against D&D in the 1980s (not that it stopped them of course).
  • Since Heaven Sent Gaming was founded as a Christian organization by two now married Christian High-School Sweethearts, Mario Lucero and Isabel Lucero, their motto reflects this as "1 Corinthians 9:25". The text reads "Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever." (NIV)
  • A rather dark example: when Adolf Eichmann pleaded for clemency from the State of Israel, his reply from then-President Yitzhak Ben-Zvi came from the Book of Samuel: "As your sword has made women childless, so your mother shall be childless among women." (1 Samuel 15:33)
  • Paddy Mc Gurk, owner of the Mc Gurk Bar in Belfast that was bombed in 1971 killing 15 people (the deadliest attack in Belfast during the Troubles) including his wife and daughter and who barred any talk of politics in his bar, went on television and said "As the good book says, father forgive them".

...What fuckin' book?

 
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Asuma's Discovery

Shinohara Asuma is digging through files at his father's Labor manufacturing company when he stumbles across a master copy of the new Hyper Operating System, which Special Vehicles suspects is responsible for a spate of Labors going berserk during use. He plugs it into the computer while (in a line original to the English dub) musing that its inventor Ei'ichi Hoba's name "sounds like Jehovah". A quote from Genesis 11 appears on the screen, then all Hell breaks loose in the factory. HOS indeed is responsible, and furthermore, Shinohara Heavy Industries has no clue what's wrong with their product.

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