Barry Emanuel Zeve employs a variety of metaphors, symbols, and similes throughout his work to interpret scripture, understand human nature, and describe the relationship between the inner and outer worlds. He emphasizes that understanding these figurative languages is key to comprehending reality and achieving spiritual growth
A central concept is the distinction and interconnectedness of three primary figurative languages as they relate to the Abrahamic faiths and aspects of the self:
Metaphor: Associated with Judaism and the Hebrew Testament (Torah), particularly the main metaphor of Moses
It is linked to the head and thoughts and describes something unknown through something known, highlighting similarities
Symbolism: Associated with Christianity and the Christian Testament (Gospels)
It is linked to the heart and feelings. Jesus is presented as God’s first symbol. Symbolism clarifies and intensifies, requiring both knowledge and emotion
Simile: Associated with Islam and the Quran
It is linked to the soul and beliefs/loyalty. The Quran is said to contain 114 similes. Simile turns ideas into common knowledge
Some of the main metaphors Zeve uses include:
The Main Metaphor of Moses: This is deeply embedded in the Creation Story in Genesis and is the foundation of Torah
It describes the inner forces within every human being and how they relate to God’s moral plan
Key components are personified as:
Adam: Man’s head, thoughts, or mind
Eve: Man’s heart or feelings
Serpent: Man’s penis, desires, or wants
Tree of Knowledge: Represents man, potentially with roots and branches
Forbidden Fruit: Associated with guilt and self-knowledge
Two Fruits (Testicles): Represent the mixture of good and evil produced by man’s desires
God: Represents man’s conscience or the God within
Life as a School: This metaphor positions God as the Teacher
Life is the school, and individuals are students. Learning about oneself is the main major. Graduation is equivalent to death
The seven metaphors of life are stages or subjects in this school
The Human Body as a Container/Building: The physical body is seen as a container for inner spiritual contents
It is also metaphorically described as a building, with different levels or rooms representing aspects of the inner self
Judaism is the ground floor, Christianity the second story, and Islam the penthouse
The Tower of Babel represents man’s attempt to reach God or gain power, often externalized but originating internally
Fire and Ice: Fire symbolizes God’s presence, passion, inner flame, urges, and appetite
Its attributes like illumination, heat, and burn correspond to spiritual qualities like wisdom, love, and purification. The Burning Bush is a metaphor for the inner fire, passion, or soul. Ice is the opposite, representing apathy, indifference, and carelessness, causing spiritual frostbite
Natural Landscapes and Elements:
The inner world is described as a landscape with Land (thoughts/head)
Sea (feelings/heart), Sky (beliefs/soul), and Flames (genitals/desires)
God is sometimes described as a Rock that individuals wrap their roots around for spiritual support
Water often represents emotions or feelings
with the Red Sea specifically symbolizing anger and the transition through puberty
Trees (see Main Metaphor), plants, and fruits are central, representing aspects of man, knowledge, life, and inner processes
Animals and Creatures: Various animals symbolize aspects of human nature and spiritual concepts. Examples include the Serpent (desires)
Fish (man/spiritual mystery/out-of-water experience), Cow/Golden Calf (man’s self-made, hollow state/idolatry), Bees (producers of honey/wisdom), Dove (spiritual freedom/desire), and others representing character traits or stages of life
Food and Meals: Eating and digestion are metaphors for taking in knowledge and experience
Spiritual food includes the forbidden fruit (guilt/self-knowledge), milk (love), and honey (wisdom). The Christian Eucharist (bread and wine as body and blood) is a central symbol for consuming Christ’s message and love
Vehicles and Journeys: Life is a journey, and the body is the vehicle
Different forms of transportation (trains, cars, boats, flying) are used to describe modes of thinking, feeling, and believing
These are just some of the prominent metaphors Zeve employs to elaborate on his spiritual philosophy, often intertwining them to create complex allegorical interpretations of religious texts and human experience
