U.S. Secretary of Defense Peter Heggs A man is facing backlash after a seemingly biblical verse was quoted during a Pentagon prayer service; simply because it closely matched a line from Samuel L. Jackson’s “Pulp Fiction.”
According to Variety , Hegseth recited the words while referring to a combat search and rescue mission. Iranshowing that it is related to Ezekiel 25:17.
What did Hegseth say?
During the prayer, Hegseth asked the audience to join him before reciting a passage about a “downed airman” dealing with “selfish inequality and the tyranny of evil men.”
He said the lines were related to military call signs, adding: “They call it CSAR 25:17, which I think is meant to reflect Ezekiel 25:17,” Variety reported.
Also read: ‘As long as necessary’: US Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth warns Iranian port blockades will continue
However, the phrasing is very similar to the famous monologue of Jackson’s character Jules Winfield in “Pulp Fiction”: itself a stylized and fictionalized version of a biblical verse.
How is it different from the Bible?
The actual passage in the Bible at Ezekiel 25:17 is much shorter and has a different tone and wording. As Metro UK points out, the original poem reads: “I will exact great vengeance on them with angry rebuke; they will know that I am the Lord…”
In contrast, the version Hegseth recited included long lines of guiding others “through the valley of darkness” and striking down enemies: elements popular in Tarantino films rather than the Bible.
The incident sparked criticism online, with observers questioning the use of fictional film lines in a formal religious setting.
Also read: Pete Hegseth faces impeachment articles: 5 things you need to know about scandal allegations
Hegseth has also come under scrutiny for invoking religious imagery in official settings. At a press conference, he compared reporters to Pharisees, characters in the New Testament who are often portrayed as opposition Jesus. He accused the media of trying to “explain the good intentions of the U.S. actions,” Variety reported.
The controversy comes amid a debate over the use of religion in political and military messages. According to Metro UK, Hegseth has previously articulated the Iran conflict from a moral and civilized perspective, urging critics to support US actions.
Hegseth has yet to publicly address the issue.
