Inspiring Scriptural Similes

Similes and metaphors are expressions that compare or relate two terms or objects. Similes make use of comparative words such as like, than, as, so, etc. Metaphors omit these comparative words. Both similes and metaphors are literary devices used to conjure up a vivid mental picture. Listed below are my three favorite similes from each book found in our Standard Works. Share some of your scriptural favorites with me at mdtaylormd@gmail.com and I will add them to the list, with an acknowledgment of you as the contributor.

·         Scriptural similes

o        Genesis

      • "...he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah,...and the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace." (Genesis 19:28)
      • "...I will multiply thy [Abraham's] seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; ... (Genesis 22:17)
      • "And the first [Esau] came out red, all over like an hairy garment: ..." (Genesis 25:25)
      • Other similes in Genesis - 13:16, 26:4, 28:14, 32:12, 32:28, 33:10, 41:49, 44:18, 49:4, 49:9, 49:12, 49:27

o        Exodus

      • "And the Lord said unto Moses, See, I have made thee as God to Pharoah: ..." (Exodus 7:1, see footnote)
      • "The depths have covered them [Pharoah's chariots]: they sank into the bottom as a stone." (Exodus 15:5)
      • "Fear and dread shall fall upon them [the Canaanites]; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; ..." (Exodus 15:16)
      • Other similes in Exodus - 15:7, 15:8, 15:10, 16:14, 16:31, 19:18, 24:10, 24:17, 25:33-34, 28:21, 32:13, 39:14, 39:30

o        Leviticus

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      • Other similes in Leviticus -

o        Matthew

      • "...Consider the lilies of the field,...even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." (Matthew 6:28-29)
      • "...whosever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: ... every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: ..." (Matthew 7:24-26)
      • "...I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: ...be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." (Matthew 10:16)
      • Other similes in Matthew - 3:16, 7:24, 9:36, 11:16, 13:24, 13:31, 13:33, 13:44, 13:45, 13:47, 13:52, 17:2, 17:20, 18:3-4, 18:17, 18:23, 19:24, 20:1, 22:2, 23:27, 25:1, 25:14, 25:32-33, 28:3

o        Mark

      • "And Jesus...was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: ..." (Mark 6:34)
      • "And his [Jesus'] raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; ..." (Mark 9:3)
      • "For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man is work, ..." (Mark 13:34)
      • Other similes in Mark - 1:10, 4:26, 4:30-31, 9:26

o        Luke

      • "He [a wise man] is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: ..." (Luke 6:48-49)
      • "...I [Jesus] send you forth as lambs among wolves." (Luke 10:3)
      • "I [Jesus] beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven." (Luke 10:18)
      • Other similes in Luke - 7:31-33, 11:36, 12:27, 12:36

o        James

      • "...For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed." (James 1:6)
      • Other similes in James -

o        1 Nephi

      • "...O that thou [Laman] mightest be like unto this river, continually running into the fountain of all righteousness...O that thou [Lemuel] mightest be like unto this valley, firm and steadfast..." (1 Nephi 2:9-10)
      • "...I [Nephi] beheld the multitudes of people...in number as many as the sand of the sea." (1 Nephi 12:1)
      • "...the justice of God did...divide the wicked from the righteous; and the brightness thereof was like unto the brightness of a flaming fire, which ascendeth up unto God forever and ever..." (1 Nephi 15:30)
      • Other similes in 1 Nephi - 1:9, 4:2, 10:12, 11:8, 15:12, 17:2, 17:20, 17:22, 17:44, 17:45, 17:48, 20:18-19, 21:2, 21:18, 21:26, 22:8, 22:15, 22:20, 22:23, 22:24

o        2 Nephi

      • "...For behold, they [the Lamanites] had hardened their hearts against him, that they had become like unto flint; ..." (2 Nephi 5:21)
      • "..I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood as with sweet wine; ..." (2 Nephi 6:18)
      • "For the Lord shall comfort Zion, ...and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord . ..." (2 Nephi 8:3)
      • "Thy sons have fainted, save these two; ...as a wild bull in a net, they are full of the fury of the Lord, the rebuke of thy God." (2 Nephi 8:20)
      • Other similes in 2 Nephi - 2:18, 3:9, 3:15, 7:7, 7:9, 8:6, 8:8, 8:12, 8:20, 9:9, 9:16, 10:18, 13:9, 15:18,15:24, 15:29-30, 16:13, 17:2, 19:3, 19:18, 19:19, 20:6, 20:13, 20:14, 20:22, 21:9, 21:16, 23:4, 23:8, 23:12, 23:14, 23:19, 24:19, 26:4, 26:6, 26:18, 27:3, 27:27, 30:15

o        Jacob through Words of Mormon

      • "I [the Lord] will liken thee, O house of Israel, like unto a tame olive-tree, which a man took and nourished..." (Jacob 5:3)
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      • Other similes in Jacob through Words of Mormon -

o        Mormon

      • "...they are led about by Satan, even as chaff is driven before the wind..." (Mormon 5:18)
      • "...they are led about by Satan, ...as a vessel is tossed about upon the waves, without sail or anchor..." (Mormon 5:18)
      • "...they are led about by Satan, ...as a vessel is tossed about upon the waves, ...without anything wherewith to steer her..." (Mormon 5:18)
      • Other similes in Mormon -

o        Sections 1 to 20

      • "...He (John) has undertaken a great work; therefore, I will make him as flaming fire..." (D&C 7:6)
      • "...I will gather them [the people] as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wing,...: (D&C 10:65)
      • "...give heed to my [God's] word, which is...sharper than a two-edged sword..." (D&C 11:2)
      • Other similes in D&C 1 to 20 - 6:2, 12:2, 14:2, 19:40, 20:6

o        Sections 21 to 40

      • "...he [Oliver Cowdery] shall open his mouth and declare my gospel as with the voice of a trump,..." (D&C 24:12)
      • "...your Redeemer...will gather his people even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings,..." (D&C 29:1-2)
      • "...all the proud and they that do wickedly shall be as stubble, and I [the Lord] will burn them up..." (D&C 29:9)
      • Other similes in D&C 21 to 40 - 28:2-3, 29:4, 30:9, 33:1, 33:2, 34:6, 35:4, 35:6, 38:39

o        Sections 41 to 60

      • "And this because his [Edward Partridge] heart is pure before me, for his is like unto Nathanael of old, in whom there is no guile." (D&C 41:11)
      • "...ye shall go forth...preaching my gospel..., lifting up your voices as with the sound of a trump, declaring my word like unto angels of God." (D&C 42:6)
      • "...desolation shall come upon this generation as a thief in the night,..." (D&C 45:19)
      • Other similes in D&C 41 to 60 - 43:24, 49:23-24, 52:12

o        Sections 61 to 80

      • "...for the day of wrath shall come upon them [the wicked, the rebellious] as a whirlwind, ..." (D&C 63:6)
      • "Let such [adulterers and adulteresses] beware and repent speedily, lest judgement shall come upon them as a snare, ..." (D&C 63:15)
      • "The keys of the kingdom of God are committed unto man... and shall roll forth unto the ends of the earth as the stone which is cut out of the mountain without hands shall roll forth..." (D&C 65:2)
      • Other similes in D&C 61 to 80 - 64:24, 64:37, 75:4

o        Sections 81 to 100

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      • Other similes in D&C 81 to 100 -

o        Pearl of Great Price

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