WordWise: Did the Bible Really Mean That?

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Have you ever opened your Bible hoping to find something uplifting and ended up reading about some weird family drama instead?

You’re not alone. Many of us struggle to make sense of God’s Word, which is why we are exploring a new blog category:

WordWise: Practical Wisdom for Reading God’s Word.

This post will specifically explore the differences between descriptive and prescriptive Scripture. (Try that tongue tie!)

While there can be overlap, most passages tend to fall into one of these two categories. Knowing the difference helps eliminate confusion, deepens our understanding of God, and ultimately allows us to read with clearer eyes and apply with wiser hearts.

Descriptive Scripture

Descriptive Scripture refers to passages that tell a story by narrating events or actions. And they do not usually attach commands or rules for us to follow. 

These passages often include people, places, actions, and reactions. The key is that descriptive passages are not necessarily telling us what is morally right or wrong. In fact, so much of the Bible describes the actions of regular people—just like us—getting it very wrong! 

With that in mind, if we try to build a moral code around what biblical figures do, we will end up misguided and confused. The Bible is a great place to explore the human condition. And if we let it, it can act as a mirror—showing us hard truths about ourselves.

But just because we can learn a lot about what people did or tend to do, does not mean we should follow their example. Just because it is in the Bible doesn’t mean it’s good. And even more importantly, it does not automatically mean God is endorsing it as good either. Some common pitfalls when reading descriptive passages of Scripture include:

Ignoring the literary genre 

The Bible is written in various literary genres like poetry, narrative form, prophecy, letters, code of law, and history, to name a few. Each has its own rules of interpretation and application. So, for example, when we fail to take into consideration the symbolic and metaphoric language found in a text of poetry or prophecy, we risk using these texts in ways that can be damaging and misleading.

Establishing the literary genre of the passage you’re reading is an easy and important first step.

Ignoring cultural and historical context

It is often said that while the Bible was not written to us, it was written for us. There is always something we can learn from any passage of Scripture. But we must read it through the lens of the original intended audience. This audience happens to be from an entirely different time and culture than our own so we must take that into account. Many Bibles have a brief introduction to each book which is a great place to start in getting familiar with the cultural and historical context of a passage.

Ignoring the larger narrative arc of the Bible

The Bible is ultimately a story about God. Sometimes we can get lost in the weeds when we read the tragic stories of God’s chosen people being dragged into exile, or the bizarre event of Ananias and Sapphira dropping dead in the book of Acts for lying about their less-than-generous church donation. The Bible is full of head-scratchers! So keep in mind the overarching themes of grace and redemption that are woven throughout.

Here’s what I propose instead: My favorite way to approach a descriptive passage is to look for what God is doing.

God is always active in Scripture and his interactions with people in a passage reveal something about his character. Even in passages where God appears absent or inactive, we can still learn something about him and the role he plays in our world. 

Let’s take the story of Joseph in the book of Genesis as an example.

When we are introduced to Joseph in Genesis 37, he is the youngest of Jacob’s eleven sons. Their youngest brother, Benjamin, is born only after Joseph is separated from his family. So until then, Joseph was not only their father’s favorite son, but was deeply resented by his older brothers as a result.

We don’t always recognize the nuances in his story, but the truth is that Joseph is partially responsible for his ill fate.

See, Joseph was a dreamer. 

And his dreams had one theme: Joseph on top, with his family serving him, bowing to him, and essentially made inferior to him. His brothers were less than impressed with these dreams and plotted to end his life. One brother—Reuben, the eldest—came to his senses only slightly, and proposed an alternative: Let’s not kill him! Let’s sell him to those slave traders heading our way! Wow, Reuben. What a saint.

In Genesis 39, the scene cuts to Joseph’s new digs: he’s living in Egypt as a servant, and after being wrongfully accused of attempted rape, he ends up in prison.

In that chapter alone, the narrator repeats the phrase, “The LORD was with Joseph”—not once, twice, or even thrice, but four times! 

Joseph’s story culminates in a redemptive moment with his band of brothers at the end of Genesis when their relationship is restored. In Genesis 50:20, Joseph tells them:

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

So beautiful. Some say Oscar-worthy.

Now, back to making sense of descriptive passages of Scripture.

If you read through the story of Joseph, you’ll notice there is no direct command in the narrative. No rules to follow. No formula to adopt. Just the unfolding drama of a pretty messed-up family. 

However, by observing what God is doing, we discover:

- God redeems human evil for good purposes

- God is sovereign over all things

- God works through human suffering for our good and the blessing of others

If nothing else, we can always learn something about who God is and what his plans and purposes are all about.  

Prescriptive Scripture 

Prescriptive passages function like the prescription you receive after visiting the doctor. If you don’t apply it to your life, you miss out on the benefits. A few years ago, I broke a tiny bone in my foot. After weeks in a protective boot, my doctor prescribed physiotherapy. My foot had weakened, and it would not recover without action. It was not enough to read the prescription repeatedly, to memorize it, or look it up in different languages.

I had to do something!

That’s the nature of prescriptive Scripture. These passages give us instructions for how to live in alignment with God’s vision for human flourishing. 

Here’s an example from the Old Testament. Micah 6:8 says,

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”

Notice the action verbs: act, love, walk. These are calls to live out our faith—not just reflect on it.

And from the New Testament, verses like:

• Romans 12:2: “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

• James 1:22: “Do not merely listen to the word; do what it says.”

Prescriptive passages invite us to personally engage with God’s story. They move us from observation to participation. See, it’s not that we are invited to agree with everything we read in the Bible, but to do something with what we are reading.

Not sure how to spot the difference? 

- Descriptive passages usually involve people, places, actions, and events. You might notice a moral or a lesson, but it is not directly commanded. 

- Prescriptive passages often use command language. You’ll see instructions, expectations, and action words. The focus is on what God requires or asks of us.

Why It Matters

Understanding whether a passage is descriptive or prescriptive helps prevent misinterpretation, avoids legalism and confusion, and it’s how we know to steer away from cherry picking Bible verses to make our case, or sniff out a social media debate based on an obscure verse that was taken wildly out of context. All the while, it invites us into meaningful obedience and deeper understanding of God’s will for our lives. 

We need both kinds of Scripture.

• Descriptive passages show us what God is like.

• Prescriptive passages help us live in response to that truth.

As you explore Scripture this week, try asking:

• What is God doing here?

• What does this teach me about who he is?

• Is this telling me what someone did, or what I should do?

• Does this passage instruct me to respond in some way?

The more we ask questions like these, the more clearly we will hear his voice in his Word.

Wherever you are in your Bible reading, don’t be discouraged. The Bible is meant to draw us closer to the Author. And thankfully he is so patient with his learners.

What’s in the Ears

This is the part of the blog where I share a song or podcast I’m currently into. The podcast I’m sharing today is audio recordings of sermons from Bridgetown Church in Portland, Oregon. Pastor Tyler Staton delivered a fantastic message on the story of Noah’s ark—touching on the origins of evil and the Nephilim. If you know, you know. He’s a great communicator in general, and this message was particularly engaging. Let me know if you check it out!

If this stirred something in you, share this post with a friend or drop a comment below. I’d love to hear what small step you’re taking towards the flourishing life today! And don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss a thing.

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