Prescriptive & Descriptive

When studying the Bible, it is important to identify whether a verse or passage is descriptive or prescriptive. In particular, we should be wary of turning descriptive passages into prescriptive ones.

A passage is descriptive if it describes something or an event that has happened in the past. A passage is prescriptive if it commands us on what to do and what not to do. Descriptive texts simply describe what is happening without giving a command or instruction on how to act. 

It is important that we understand the difference between the two because when we take a biblical passage that describes an event and interpret it as a prescription for someone’s life, it can lead to a severe error. 

Examples of Descriptive and Prescriptive texts; 

• The book of Exodus is descriptive, when it speaks about the slavery of the Israelites in Egypt and how God rescued them.
• The narrative account of King Solomon having 700 wives and 300 concubines (1 Kings 11:3) is descriptive and is not an action that God prescribes or advocates.
• The ten commandments are prescriptive as it lists out things we should do and what not to do.

Yes, the Bible is meant to inform and guide our faith today, but not all of its passages directly address our specific situations. This is especially true because some parts of the Bible, such as poetry, parables, or prophecy, convey God’s truths in ways that require interpretation and understanding of their deeper meaning

We should read prescriptive texts appropriately in their right cultural and historical context. Similarly, we should also read the descriptive texts as narratives and not turn them into examples to be followed.