exegesis and eisegesis

Exegesis is the exposition or explanation of a text based on a careful, objective analysis. The word exegesis means that the interpreter is led to his conclusions by following the text. Obviously, only exegesis does justice to the context of the Bible.

Eisegesis is the interpretation of a passage based on a subjective, non-analytical reading. The word eisegesis means the interpreter injects his own ideas into the text, making it mean whatever he wants.

Examples of exegesis and eisegesis I’ve personally seen used in scripture by others;

2 Peter 3:8 KJV
[8] But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

Eisegesis - each day in the Genesis creation account is actually 1000 years, so God created everything in 6000 years.

Exegesis - God is in and outside of time.

Numbers 14:34 KJV
[34] After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise.

Eisegesis - The day/year principle; every time a day is mentioned in scripture it is to be counted as a year.

Exegesis - The children of Israel will wonder the desert every day of the year for 40 years.

Isaiah 14:12-14 KJV
[12] How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! [13] For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: [14] I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

Eisegesis - Lucifer is Jesus Christ

Exegesis - Lucifer is Satan
(Isaiah 14:15 KJV
[15] Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
Isaiah 14:19-20 KJV
[19] But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet. [20] Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy people: the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned.)

Psalm 141:2 KJV
[2] Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

Eisegesis - Every time while we pray we are to burn incense.

Exegesis - the word “as” is being used here for simile, so it is the comparison of two unlike things. Many times in the Old Testament incense was burned for an offering to God.
Throughout the entire Bible, we never see a single passage that suggests we are to burn incense and pray simultaneously.

(This one is not one I’ve seen used, but was used an example)
2 Chronicles 27:1-2
“Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. . . . He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Uzziah had done, but unlike him he did not enter the temple of the LORD.”

Eisegesis - First, the interpreter decides on a topic. Today, it’s “The Importance of Church Attendance.” The interpreter reads 2 Chronicles 27:1-2 and sees that King Jotham was a good king, just like his father Uzziah had been, except for one thing: he didn’t go to the temple! This passage seems to fit his idea, so he uses it. The resulting sermon deals with the need for passing on godly values from one generation to the next. Just because King Uzziah went to the temple every week didn’t mean that his son would continue the practice. In the same way, many young people today tragically turn from their parents’ training, and church attendance drops off. The sermon ends with a question: “How many blessings did Jotham fail to receive, simply because he neglected church?”

Exegesis - First, the interpreter reads the passage and, to fully understand the context, he reads the histories of both Uzziah and Jotham (2 Chronicles 26-27; 2 Kings 15:1-6, 32-38). In his observation, he discovers that King Uzziah was a good king who nevertheless disobeyed the Lord when he went to the temple and offered incense on the altar—something only a priest had the right to do (2 Chronicles 26:16-20). Uzziah’s pride and his contamination of the temple resulted in his having “leprosy until the day he died” (2 Chronicles 26:21).


The processes of eisegesis and exegesis;

The process of exegesis involves,
1) observation: what does the passage say?
2) interpretation: what does the passage mean?
3) correlation: how does the passage relate to the rest of the Bible? and,
4) application: how should this passage affect my life?

Eisegesis, on the other hand, involves,
1) imagination: what idea do I want to present?
2) exploration: what Scripture passage seems to fit with my idea? and,
3) application: what does my idea mean?
Notice that, in eisegesis, there is no examination of the words of the text or their relationship to each other, no cross-referencing with related passages, and no real desire to understand the actual meaning. Scripture serves only as a prop to the interpreter’s idea.

When interpreting scripture one of these processes is used. The one that should be used is exegesis. Those who believe in sola scriptura are supposed to use the process of exegesis when reading the scriptures. The process of eisegesis is what leads to false interpretations and false doctrines that we see so prevalent today in so many churches, denominations, and institutions, which ultimately leads to unbelief.


Feel free to share any examples of eisegesis and exegesis that you’ve seen.