‘Pulp Fiction’s Fake Bible Quote Used by Pete Hegseth in Pentagon Prayer Service

by

It’s always enjoyable when people quote movies. Some of our closest friends are those we can have entire conversations with just using lines from films. I remember driving with a friend years ago when we were stopped at a light next to a motorcycle. My friend glanced over, then turned forward and said, “Zed’s dead, baby.” It was a clear reference to a famous scene in Pulp Fiction, where Butch (Bruce Willis) returns with Zed’s (Peter Greene) bike after a harrowing escape. Moments like these rely on shared cultural knowledge, and recently, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth demonstrated a lack of it.

During a Pentagon prayer service, Pete Hegseth either intentionally misled attendees or demonstrated a surprising lack of awareness. He recited a passage almost exactly as it appears in the movie Pulp Fiction, claiming it was a standard prayer used by Combat Search and Rescue teams (CSAR 2517) and originally based on a verse from Ezekiel 25:17. He then proceeded with his prayer.

Good people constantly face challenges from those who are selfish and cruel. Those who help and protect the vulnerable, showing kindness and compassion, are truly noble. But beware: anyone who harms my loved ones will face my fierce and unwavering wrath, and you will understand the power of my justice when it comes upon you.

Many will recognize this as a famous line delivered by Samuel L. Jackson in Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction. It’s a well-known scene – in fact, our own Jonathan Fuge recently wrote a whole article about it, focusing on Jackson’s speech right before he confronts a deceitful colleague. Here’s what Jackson says:

Righteous people constantly face challenges from the selfishness and cruelty of others. Those who kindly protect the vulnerable are blessed, as they truly care for their fellow human beings and help those in need. But beware, those who harm my people will face my terrible wrath, and you will realize who I am when my vengeance falls upon you.

Tarantino borrowed the speech from a 1970s Japanese martial arts movie. He then added the name “Ezekiel” to make it seem more authentic, as the Book of Ezekiel in the King James Bible contains a similar passage about vengeance: “And I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious rebukes; and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall lay my vengeance upon them.”

On Thursday, news quickly spread online about comments made by Hegseth and his seeming lack of awareness regarding their source. This follows growing tension between conservative Christians and religious figures like Pope Leo XIV, who recently criticized the U.S. government for using Christianity to further its own goals, stating, “It is a tragedy when religion and the name of God are exploited for military, economic, and political advantage, corrupting the sacred.”

Honestly, by 2026 it’s getting so hard to tell what’s genuine anymore. Either we’re all being fooled, or Pete Hegseth really fell for a fake Bible verse. What I find particularly amusing is the idea that the CSAR team – especially with their unit number 2517 – were fans of Pulp Fiction and just playfully inserted that famous monologue. And the best part? A self-centered figure like Hegseth didn’t even recognize it as the clever fake that it is!

Read More

2026-04-17 00:35