A Practical Guide to Biblical Hermeneutics: Understanding God’s Word from a Literal Perspective

1.0 Introduction: The Vital Discipline of Biblical Interpretation

As believers, our highest aim is to know God as He has revealed Himself in His Word. This requires more than simply reading the Bible; it demands that we diligently seek to understand the meaning God intended to convey through His chosen human authors. The sacred discipline that equips us for this task is biblical hermeneutics. It is the foundation upon which all sound doctrine is built, the engine of true spiritual growth, and the primary means by which we honor the revealed truth of our Creator. Without a commitment to careful interpretation, we risk distorting God’s message and substituting our own ideas for His perfect revelation.

Biblical Hermeneutics is the set of principles that guides the accurate interpretation of the Bible. Its goal is to discover the author’s intended meaning within its original context, allowing us to bridge the ancient text to modern life with integrity and confidence.

At the heart of this discipline lies a critical distinction between two opposing approaches: exegesis and eisegesis. The faithful student of Scripture must learn to practice the former and diligently avoid the latter.

Exegesis	Eisegesis
From the Greek meaning “to lead out” or “draw out,” exegesis is the objective process of discovering the text’s meaning in accordance with the author’s original language, culture, and setting. It is a systematic study to extract what the passage is actually saying.	From the Greek meaning “to lead into,” eisegesis is the subjective process of “reading into” the text one’s own presuppositions, biases, or personal agendas. It imposes an external meaning onto the text, rather than drawing meaning from it. This is the primary error that sound interpretation seeks to avoid.

Every principle of sound hermeneutics is designed to ensure we are practicing exegesis, honoring the text as it was given. The foundational principle that anchors this entire process is the commitment to a literal interpretation of the text.

2.0 The Cornerstone: The Principle of Literal Interpretation

The cornerstone of all sound biblical interpretation is the literal method, often referred to as the grammatical-historical method. This approach honors Scripture as clear and direct communication from God to humanity. It seeks to understand the plain, normal sense of the text, accepting God’s Word at face value unless the passage itself clearly indicates that it is using figurative language. We do not search for hidden, mystical meanings behind the words; rather, we trust that God said what He meant and meant what He said.

The Grammatical-Historical Method is the disciplined process of analyzing the specific words, grammar, and historical background of a text to discover the single, intended meaning of the biblical author. It is a commitment to let the text speak for itself, constrained by the rules of language and the facts of history.

Crucially, a literal interpretation is not a wooden, literalistic one. It fully acknowledges that the Bible, as a masterful literary work, employs a rich variety of literary devices. Metaphors, parables, symbols, and other figures of speech are not exceptions to the literal method; they are intentional tools used by the authors to communicate literal truth. Our goal is to understand the truth the author intended to convey through these devices, not to use them as an excuse to invent our own interpretations. As God’s inspired Word, every part of it has a divine purpose.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

— 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV)

This literal meaning is never found in a vacuum; it is always anchored firmly in its original context.

3.0 Unlocking Meaning: The Centrality of Context

Context is the single most important principle in biblical interpretation. Ignoring context is the primary cause of doctrinal error and misapplication of Scripture. It has rightly been said that a text without a context is a pretext for proving anything. To faithfully understand a passage, we must examine the layers of context that surround it, from the immediate verses to the grand sweep of the entire Bible.

• 3.1. Immediate Context
  • This is the most direct layer of context, consisting of the verses and paragraphs immediately surrounding the passage under study. Reading the full chapter reveals the author’s direct flow of thought and prevents us from isolating verses from their intended argument.
• 3.2. Literary Context
  • This layer involves understanding the flow of thought and overarching purpose of the entire biblical book in which the passage is found. Every book was written with a specific structure and objective, and understanding that framework is essential for correctly placing individual verses within the author’s larger message.
• 3.3. Historical & Cultural Context
  • This refers to the specific time, culture, audience, and situation in which a book was written. Understanding the customs, events, and language of the original recipients sheds invaluable light on the text’s meaning. We must seek to hear the Word as they would have heard it.
• 3.4. Biblical Context (Scripture Interprets Scripture)
  • This foundational principle, known as the analogy of faith or analogia Scripturae, recognizes that the Bible is a unified, harmonious revelation from a single Divine Author. Therefore, Scripture never contradicts itself. Clearer, more didactic passages of Scripture serve as the interpretive key for passages that are less clear or more symbolic.

In addition to understanding these layers of context, we must also be equipped to recognize the specific literary forms and devices God chose to communicate His message.

4.0 Recognizing Literary Forms and Prophetic Devices

The Bible is not a single book but a divine library—a collection of 66 books containing diverse literary genres. Recognizing these forms is essential for applying the principle of literal interpretation correctly. We interpret a historical narrative differently than we interpret poetry, and we approach a legal code differently than we approach prophecy.

4.1 Allegory

An allegory is a literary form that functions as an extended metaphor. It is a storyline where characters, events, or objects represent or convey a deeper truth by personifying abstract concepts. The historical account of Abraham’s offering of Isaac in Genesis 22 serves as a powerful biblical allegory, prefiguring the atoning work of Jesus Christ. While this narrative contains strong typological elements rooted in history, it also functions as an extended allegory, where the entire storyline systematically conveys a deeper theological truth about God’s plan of redemption.

Allegory in Genesis 22: Abraham’s Sacrifice and Christ’s Atonement

Abraham and Isaac’s Story	First Coming of Christ’s Story
Abraham hears from God that Isaac will be a sacrifice.	Jesus is selected as the sacrifice for our sins.
Abraham takes his only Son.	Jesus is God’s Only Son.
They travel to Mount Moriah.	Jesus is sacrificed on Mount Moriah on the hilltop called Golgotha.
The Son Isaac carries the wood for his sacrifice.	Jesus is forced to carry his cross.
There is a substitution of a Lamb for Isaac.	Jesus is declared the Lamb of God and is sacrificed for our sins as a substitute.
Isaac does not join Abraham in returning home and is not mentioned again until Genesis 24.	Jesus goes to heaven and waits to be united with his bride, the Church.
Isaac is mentioned again in Genesis 24 when Eleazar is sent to go get Isaac a bride.	The Holy Spirit is sent to go get Jesus his bride.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

— John 3:16 (ESV)

4.2 Typology

Typology is the study of divinely ordained Old Testament persons, events, or institutions that serve as models or prefigurations (types) of future, greater New Testament realities (antitypes). These are not accidental resemblances but are embedded in God’s redemptive-historical design.

Unlike an allegory’s extended metaphor, typology is rooted in actual history. A real person, a real event, or a real institution in the Old Testament was sovereignly designed by God to foreshadow a future, greater reality fulfilled in the New Testament. A clear example is Enoch, who serves as a “type” of the Church. Just as Enoch was raptured and taken to be with God before the judgment of the flood, the Church (the “antitype”) will be raptured before the final judgment of the Tribulation.

4.3 Biblical Symbols

A symbol is something that represents an idea, a process, or a physical entity to communicate meaning. Prophetic literature, in particular, is rich with symbols. Fortunately, Scripture itself often provides the key to interpreting its own symbols.

Symbol	Meaning	Scripture Reference
Beast	Kings / Kingdoms	Daniel 7:17
Horn	Ruler	Daniel 7:24
Water / Sea	Peoples	Revelation 17:15
Mountain	Government	Daniel 2:35
Dragon	Devil / Satan	Revelation 20:2
Lamb of God	Jesus	John 1:35-37
Two-Edged Sword	Word of God	Hebrews 4:12

Scripture itself often defines its symbols, as seen in Daniel’s vision and John’s revelation:

‘These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth.’

— Daniel 7:17 (ESV)

And the angel said to me, “The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages.”

— Revelation 17:15 (ESV)

4.4 The Meaning of Numbers

Numbers in Scripture frequently carry symbolic weight beyond their simple quantitative value. Recognizing these patterns can provide deeper insight into the divine message, especially in prophetic and apocalyptic texts.

Number	Common Biblical Meaning
1	Unity; God
3	Divine completeness and perfection
6	Weakness of man; Manifestation of sin
7	Resurrection; Spiritual completeness; Father’s perfection
8	New Beginnings
10	Testimony; Man ordained rule
12	Governmental perfection
40	Trials; Probation; Testings
50	Holy Spirit; Pentecost
666	Antichrist
1000	Divine completeness and Father’s glory

Understanding these literary tools prepares us to tackle the unique challenges and blessings of interpreting biblical prophecy.

4.5 Expositional Constancy

Biblical expositional constancy is the hermeneutical principle that the Bible uses symbols, metaphors, and types in a consistent manner throughout its various books. According to this view, once a specific image—such as “leaven,” “birds,” or “oil”—is defined in a particular context, that definition remains fundamentally the same across both the Old and New Testaments.

This concept is rooted in the belief that because the Bible has a single Divine Author (the Holy Spirit), the “language of imagery” is a deliberate and unified system rather than a collection of random literary devices. For example, if leaven represents sin or corruption in the Mosaic Law, proponents of expositional constancy argue it must carry that same negative connotation in the parables of Jesus. This consistency allows students of the Bible to use clearer passages to unlock the meaning of more obscure or prophetic sections, ensuring that the interpretation remains grounded in the internal logic of the Scripture itself.

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Common Examples of Constant Symbols

Symbol	Typical Meaning	Biblical Reference Point
Leaven	Sin, malice, or corrupting influence	Exodus 12; 1 Corinthians 5:6-8
Birds	Evil spirits or agents of the enemy	Matthew 13 (Parable of the Sower); Revelation 18:2
Oil	The Holy Spirit / Anointing	Zechariah 4; Matthew 25
Rock	Christ or God’s faithfulness	Exodus 17:6; 1 Corinthians 10:4

A Note on Context: While expositional constancy is a popular tool in dispensational and literalist frameworks, most scholars suggest it should be balanced with contextual analysis. While symbols are often consistent, the specific setting of a passage still dictates the nuance of how that symbol is applied.

5.0 Principles for Interpreting Bible Prophecy

The study of prophecy is both a great blessing and a serious responsibility. From a literal, dispensational perspective, we must approach prophecy as “future historical narrative.” Just as the historical accounts in Scripture describe events that have literally come to pass, the prophetic passages describe events that will literally come to pass. The same grammatical-historical principles that apply to the rest of Scripture must be applied here.

5.1 The Prophetic Year

A key to unlocking prophetic timelines is understanding the biblical “prophetic year,” which consists of 360 days, based on twelve 30-day months. This is derived directly from Scripture:

• In Genesis 7:11, the flood begins on the 17th day of the 2nd month.
• In Genesis 8:4, the ark rests on the 17th day of the 7th month.
• The time elapsed is exactly five months. Genesis 7:24 states that the waters prevailed for 150 days.

By comparing these verses, we see that five months are equated to 150 days, establishing a standard 30-day month. This 360-day year is the standard for interpreting the key time periods in Daniel and Revelation, including the “Time, Times and ½ time,” “42 months,” and “1260 days,” all of which refer to the same 3.5-year period.

5.2 Near-Far Prophecy

Old Testament prophets often saw future events without perceiving the large gaps of time between them. This phenomenon of “near-far” prophecy results in visions that flow seamlessly from a near-term, local fulfillment to a more complete, far-future fulfillment. The prophet saw multiple mountain peaks in the distance as a single range, unaware of the vast valleys that lay between them.

The book of Isaiah provides a classic example. The prophet issues a stern prophecy of judgment against the sinful nation of Israel in his own day (the “near” view), yet he also looks ahead to the glorious restoration of a holy remnant in the future Messianic era (the “far” view).

• “Near” Prophecy of Judgment:
• “Far” Prophecy of Restoration:

Applying these principles faithfully equips every believer to approach God’s Word with confidence and accuracy.

6.0 Conclusion: The Path to Faithful Understanding

The ultimate purpose of biblical hermeneutics is not merely to accumulate knowledge or win theological arguments. The goal is to be transformed by the truth of God’s Word so that we might “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:10). This requires a simple yet profound process of personal study.

1. Observe: This is the foundational step of carefully and slowly reading the text to see exactly what it says. Ask the basic questions: Who is speaking or being spoken to? What is happening? When and where is it taking place? How is the message being communicated?
2. Interpret: This is the work of determining the original meaning of the passage. By applying the principles discussed in this guide—literal interpretation, context, and genre recognition—we seek to answer the crucial question: What did this mean to the original author and audience?
3. Apply: This final step bridges the gap from the ancient world to our contemporary lives. Once we have established the timeless, authoritative truth of the passage through observation and interpretation, we must then ask: How does this truth apply to my life, my heart, and my actions today?

As we engage in this sacred work, let us do so with humility, diligence, and prayer, always relying on the Holy Spirit who illuminates the text and conforms our hearts to the truth. For in understanding His Word, we come to better know and love Him.