Allegorical interpretations of Genesis

An allegorical interpretation of Genesis is a reading of the biblical Book of Genesis that treats elements of the narrative as symbols or types, rather than viewing them literally as historical events. Either way, Genesis is canonical scripture for both Judaism and Christianity, and believers regard it as being of spiritual significance.

The opening chapter of Genesis tells a story of God's creation of the universe and humankind as being accomplished over the course of six successive days. Some Christians and Jews read these biblical passages literally, that each day of creation was 24 hours in duration. Others read the story allegorically hold that the intent of the biblical account is to describe humankind's relationship to creation and the creator, that it does not describe an actual historical event, and that the six days of creation can simply represent a long period of time.

Genesis 2 records a second account of creation. In chapter 3 a talking serpent is introduced, which many Christians understand to be Satan in disguise. This symbolism is accepted even by Christians who believe the story as a whole is based on an actual historical event. Many Christians in ancient times regarded the early chapters of Genesis to be true as both history and allegory.

Other Jews and Christians have long considered the creation account of Genesis as an allegory even prior to the development of modern science and the scientific account based on the scientific method. Two notable examples are Christian theologian Augustine of Hippo who in the 4th century, on theological grounds, argued that everything in the universe was created by God in the same instant, and not in six days as a plain reading of Genesis would require; and the even earlier 1st century Jewish scholar Philo of Alexandria, who wrote that it would be a mistake to think that creation happened in six days or in any determinate amount of time.

In the King James version of the Bible, , Paul describes the Genesis story of Abraham's sons as an allegory. Other [who?] translations convey a similar sentiment: Galatians 4:21-31.

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