Pete Hegseth Quotes ‘Pulp Fiction’ at Pentagon Prayer Service

Faith Facts

• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth read a fabricated Bible verse from the 1994 film ‘Pulp Fiction’ during a Pentagon prayer service
• The fictional passage does not appear in Scripture despite being presented as Ezekiel 25:17 in the Quentin Tarantino film
• Hegseth compared media critics to the Pharisees who challenged Jesus

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth found himself at the center of controversy after reciting a non-biblical passage from a Hollywood movie during a Pentagon prayer service Wednesday. The quote, which many recognize from Quentin Tarantino’s violent crime film “Pulp Fiction,” is not actually found in Scripture despite being attributed to Ezekiel 25:17 in the 1994 movie.

The monthly Pentagon prayer service has been a longstanding tradition, bringing together service members and leadership for spiritual reflection. However, this particular gathering took an unexpected turn when Hegseth chose to quote the fabricated verse that actor Samuel L. Jackson’s character Jules Winnfield dramatically recites before executing victims in the film.

The passage in question combines fragments of actual biblical language with Hollywood invention, creating what sounds like Scripture but is actually cinematic fiction. While the real Ezekiel 25:17 contains just one verse about God’s vengeance on the Philistines, the movie version is an extended monologue crafted for dramatic effect.

Beyond the questionable Scripture reference, Hegseth also drew parallels between modern media and the Pharisees of Jesus’ time. The Pharisees were religious leaders who frequently challenged and criticized Christ’s ministry, ultimately conspiring in His crucifixion.

This incident raises important questions about scriptural literacy among Christian leaders and the responsibility that comes with spiritual authority. For believers, accurately handling God’s Word is a sacred trust, not to be mixed with entertainment media or used carelessly.

The Pentagon has not issued additional comment on the matter. Critics from various backgrounds have questioned whether a prayer service is the appropriate venue for movie quotations, regardless of their spiritual-sounding language.

For Christian conservatives, this serves as a reminder of the importance of knowing Scripture intimately and distinguishing between God’s authentic Word and cultural approximations. In an age where biblical literacy is declining even among professing Christians, leaders bear special responsibility to model careful, reverent engagement with the Bible.

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