Exodus Movie: Differences Between Film and Bible

December 15, 2014 3:30 PM EST

Ridley Scott’s Exodus: Gods and Kings is not exactly a documentary, so a comparison of the film’s adaptation to Scripture is not the point of the movie. But it can be helpful to understand the underlying poetic truth.

Here are four ways the two Exodus stories diverge.

1. The Bible: Exodus is a story of ethical and political redemption.

The Film: Hebrew slaves are freed, but racial controversy surrounding the film clouded the story’s overall message of liberation. Scott selected white characters as Egyptians and Hebrews in the film. The only visible black characters are other slaves in Pharaoh’s palace who do not appear to be liberated with the Hebrew people.

2. The Bible: God is depicted as a king and man of war, who takes on Pharaoh, the God and King of the Egyptians.

The Film: The God-character is depicted as a child, played by eleven-year-old Isaac Andrews. It is unclear whether he represents God or a figment of Moses’ imagination or an angel or something else. Moses is not sent to Pharaoh by God, but goes on his own. The drama in the film is inter-human, between Moses and Pharaoh than between God and Pharaoh.

3. The Bible: Moses flees Egypt after killing an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew slave.

The Film: Moses is kicked out of Egypt when Pharaoh realizes Moses is a Hebrew. Moses does appear to kill an Egyptian soldier, but that was in retaliation for the soldier calling Moses a slave. It was not Moses defending an oppressed brother or sister.

4. The Bible: The Pharaoh is unnamed.

The Film: The setting is the reign of Ramses. Hundreds of thousands of Hebrew slaves are portrayed in the movie, but the actual population of all slaves and of Hebrew slaves is unknown. Scott appears to try to bring the historical setting of the time to life, but the reality is that the “historical” Exodus story is hard to pin down. “There is a deliberate lack of specification [in the Bible],” explains Ellen Davis, professor of Bible and practical theology at Duke Divinity School. “Pharaoh is the sort of quintessential oppressive ruler in the Bible, and that is how he is remembered in later literature, so he stands for the oppressor of the moment in a sense.”

Ten Actors Who Have Played God (In Film)

Isaac Andrews, *Exodus: Gods and Kings* In Exodus, God speaks through Malak, a young boy played by Isaac Andrews. The British preteen is no stranger to the ancient world, having previously appeared in the Dwayne Johnson *Hercules*; his next big role is in the *Avengers* sequel.Gareth Cattermole—Getty Images; 20th Century Fox

M4DBIBL FE006 — John Huston, *The Bible: In The Beginning* When casting a powerful, commanding leading man, iconic director John Huston knew to look no further than himself. Huston appeared in his own film as both Noah and the voice of God, part of a side career in acting that went on to include the downright devilish villain in Chinatown.20th Century Fox

MSDDOGM EC005 — Alanis Morissette, *Dogma* This goofy religious satire from the mind of Kevin Smith featured Ben Affleck and Matt Damon as fallen angels and Morissette, in a cameo, as the Almighty. Morissette was in the midst of promoting *Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie*, an album inspired by Eastern religion that put forward a more spiritual, enlightened rock star.Lionsgate

Morgan Freeman, *Bruce Almighty* He'd already played the president, so God wasn't much of a stretch; Freeman, one of America's most trusted actors, brought his resounding tones to bear on the loopy Jim Carrey comedy. Playing God must have its perks: Unlike stars Carrey and Jennifer Aniston, Freeman returned for the sequel *Evan Almighty*.Universal

Val Kilmer, *Prince of Egypt* Like John Huston, Kilmer played a double role, inhabiting both Moses and the voice of God, a purposeful statement meant to invoke the manner in which regular people "hear God."JB Lacroix—WireImage/Getty Images; Dreamworks

99t/34/huty/13597/23 — Graham Chapman, *Monty Python and the Holy Grail* The late Chapman (pictured right) played multiple roles, just like the rest of the Monty Python troupe; he wasn't just God but also King Arthur and one of the Three-Headed Knight's three heads. John Downing—Express/Getty Images

Rob Zombie, *Super* Zombie's voice, previously heard on albums including Hellbilly Deluxe and The Sinister Urge, helped motivate Rainn Wilson to become a superhero in the indie *Super*; director James Gunn used Zombie's voice again in his *Guardians of the Galaxy*.Getty Images/IFC Films

Earthbound — Whoopi Goldberg, *A little Bit of Heaven* The Oscar winner was part of the deeply strange Kate Hudson rom-com, in which she appears as God before a terminally-ill Hudson and grants her three wishes. This wasn't new for Goldberg, though: she'd previously played a spin on God in 2002's *A Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie*.Millenium Entertainment

OG4-626 AQU034-084 — George Burns, *Oh, God!* The former vaudevillian played God in *Oh, God!* and two cutely-titled sequels: *Oh, God! Book II* and *Oh, God! You Devil*. In the latter, he played — predictably enough — both God and Satan.Warner Bros./Getty Images

**Will.i.am, *Joan of Arcadia* (TV)** The Black Eyed Peas frontman was one of many performers to have appeared as the Almighty on the CBS soap opera about a girl in communication with divine powers. Other Gods included future *Star Trek* actor Zachary Quinto and *The West Wing* star Kathryn Joosten.CBS

Exodus: 4 Differences Between Film and Bible

Ten Actors Who Have Played God (In Film)

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