Quentin Tarantino's 1994 masterpiece, Pulp Fiction, is renowned for its eclectic dialogue, non-linear narrative, and striking depictions of violence. One of the film’s most memorable elements is Jules Winnfield’s (Samuel L. Jackson) dramatic recitation of Ezekiel 25:17. However, the verse he quotes differs significantly from any recognized biblical translation. This article examines the source of Jules’s version of Ezekiel 25:17, presents the full text of Ezekiel 25 as taken from that source, and explores Tarantino’s possible reasons for adapting the quote.
Methodology
The research for this article followed a multi-step process:
- Identifying the Quote: Pinpointing the biblical verse (Ezekiel 25:17) that Jules Winnfield recites in Pulp Fiction.
- Comparing Versions: Locating Ezekiel 25:17 across multiple Bible translations and comparing them with the version in the film.
- Tracing the Source: Determining the quote’s origin, leading to its connection with the 1976 Sonny Chiba film The Bodyguard (Karate Kiba).
- Analyzing the Adaptation: Investigating why Tarantino might have adapted the quote and its significance within the context of Pulp Fiction.
Ezekiel 25 in The Bodyguard (Karate Kiba)
To understand the context of the quote that appears in Pulp Fiction, we must look at the full text of Ezekiel 25 as it appears in The Bodyguard (Karate Kiba):
“The path of the righteous man and defender is beset on all sides by the iniquity of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he, who in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of...”
While it shares thematic similarities with the biblical Ezekiel 25, this passage is a fictionalized version crafted for The Bodyguard. It underscores themes of righteousness, protection, and vengeance, which resonate with both Chiba’s character in that film and Jules Winnfield in Pulp Fiction. The idea of “shepherding the weak through the valley of darkness” is central to Jules’s character arc, reflecting his eventual moral and spiritual awakening.
Jules Winnfield’s Ezekiel 25:17
As a hitman prone to philosophical musings, Jules Winnfield cites this adapted Ezekiel 25:17 before executing Brett (Frank Whaley), who has crossed their boss, Marsellus Wallace (Ving Rhames). Jules delivers the verse with chilling conviction, drawing a sense of righteous justification from its words. Later, in the diner scene with Pumpkin (Tim Roth), Jules pointedly chooses not to recite it—and instead spares Pumpkin’s life.
The passage Jules speaks in the film is:
“The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother’s keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy My brothers. And you will know I am the Lord when I lay My vengeance upon you.”
By comparison, the New International Version of Ezekiel 25:17 reads:
“I will carry out great vengeance on them and punish them in my wrath. Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I take vengeance on them.”
Clearly, Tarantino’s rendition significantly expands upon the original verse, injecting deeper thematic elements that reflect Jules’s inner conflict and the film’s larger exploration of violence, morality, and redemption.
Tarantino’s Adaptation
Tarantino’s decision to use an adapted version of Ezekiel 25:17 highlights his signature intertextual style. He draws inspiration from varied sources—ranging from classic literature to genre films and pop culture—often merging them in surprising ways. In Pulp Fiction, he borrows a line from a little-known martial arts movie and repurposes it to suit Jules’s character and the film’s broader themes.
Key changes from The Bodyguard version include altering “father of lost children” to “finder of lost children,” shifting the emphasis from paternal authority to an active role of rescue. This change underscores Jules’s transformation when he decides to “walk the earth,” hinting that his new purpose is to guide and protect others. It also sets the stage for Jules’s moral pivot after a miraculous near-death incident, prompting him to reevaluate his interpretation of the scripture he’s been using to justify violence.
The adaptation serves multiple functions:
- Irony: Jules, a contract killer, wields a passage about righteousness and protection—a stark contrast that underscores the moral ambiguity of Pulp Fiction.
- Foreshadowing: The verse foreshadows Jules’s eventual transformation. After surviving a close brush with death, he questions his life and the meaning behind these words, ultimately choosing a path of redemption.
- Intertextuality: By blending a biblical reference with an obscure martial arts film quote, Tarantino creates an unconventional yet memorable combination that epitomizes his love of genre cinema.
In the end, Tarantino’s choice to adapt Ezekiel 25:17 rather than quote the actual biblical text broadens its relevance to Jules’s journey. The new passage more effectively captures the tension between righteousness and violence, culminating in a believable path toward redemption for a character who initially shows no remorse for his lethal ways.
Conclusion
The Ezekiel 25:17 recitation in Pulp Fiction is not an authentic biblical excerpt but an adaptation of a line from Sonny Chiba’s The Bodyguard (Karate Kiba). Tarantino’s extensive modifications heighten its thematic resonance, mirroring Jules Winnfield’s internal struggle and foreshadowing his ultimate search for absolution. This intertextual approach—blending a biblical motif with a martial arts movie quotation—magnifies the film’s ironic undertones and exemplifies Tarantino’s penchant for subverting expectations. By emphasizing righteousness, protection, and the moral dilemma of violence, the adapted quote offers a far richer commentary on Jules’s redemption than a straightforward biblical verse could provide.