A moment intended to unite those in attendance at the Pentagon has instead sparked widespread online conversation after Secretary of War Pete Hegseth delivered a prayer that many say sounded strikingly familiar.
According to reports from USA Today, Mediaite via Yahoo News, Hegseth led a prayer at a Pentagon event connected to a military operation, referencing what he called “CSAR 25:17” and inviting others present to join him.
But it wasn’t the setting that drew attention—it was the wording.
A Prayer—or a Movie Line?
Listeners quickly noted that the prayer’s phrasing closely resembled the well-known “Ezekiel 25:17” monologue from Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction.
As USA Today reported, the version, popularized by the film, is not a direct quotation from Scripture but rather a dramatized adaptation loosely inspired by the biblical passage. The article emphasized that although the real Ezekiel 25:17 appears in the Bible, the language many recognize includes added lines not found in the Bible.
Questions and Reactions Grow
The reports noted that the phrasing stood out immediately, fueling debate across social media and prompting renewed discussion about how Scripture is quoted—and sometimes misquoted—in public life.
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While Hegseth framed the moment as a prayer connected to faith and mission, the overlap with a Hollywood script became the focal point of the controversy.
In a statement on X, Sean Parnell gave an official statement on the matter, writing:
Secretary Hegseth on Wednesday shared a custom prayer, referenced as the CSAR prayer, used by the brave warfighters of Sandy-1 who led the daylight rescue mission of Dude 44 Alpha out of Iran, which was obviously inspired by dialogue in Pulp Fiction. However, both the CSAR prayer and the dialogue in Pulp Fiction were reflections of the verse Ezekiel 25:17, as Secretary Hegseth clearly said in his remarks at the prayer service. Anyone saying the Secretary misquoted Ezekiel 25:17 is peddling fake news and ignorant of reality.
Secretary Hegseth on Wednesday shared a custom prayer, referenced as the CSAR prayer, used by the brave warfighters of Sandy-1 who led the daylight rescue mission of Dude 44 Alpha out of Iran, which was obviously inspired by dialogue in Pulp Fiction. However, both the CSAR prayer… https://t.co/KMRNQ9MBcc
— Sean Parnell (@SeanParnellASW) April 16, 2026
Pope’s Scriptural Re-Interpretation
Hegseth wasn’t the only world leader to fumble with Bible verses.
Pope Leo also misquoted Jesus, stating, “Jesus told us, ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, but woe to those who manipulate religion in the very name of God for their own military, economic, or political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth.”
This clearly does not match the Beatitudes, which do not focus on a political agenda or comeback as Leo appeared to do.
NEW: Outrage has broken out after Pope Leo appeared to quote Jesus using a passage that does not exist in the Bible.
— Jack (@jackunheard) April 16, 2026
“Jesus told us, ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, but woe to those who manipulate religion in the very name of God for their own military, economic, or political… pic.twitter.com/P9w7vIfGaz
Knowing the Word in an Age of Confusion
Moments like this serve as a sobering reminder: not everything that sounds biblical actually is.
In a culture saturated with media, quotes and reinterpretations, it has become increasingly easy for truth to be blended with fiction. A line repeated often enough—even one from a movie—can begin to carry the weight of Scripture in the minds of many.
But Scripture itself calls believers to something deeper than surface-level familiarity. It calls for discernment.
Knowing the Word of God firsthand is no longer optional—it is essential. Without it, Christians risk confusing emotional resonance with biblical truth, or worse, accepting altered versions of Scripture without question.
The apostle Paul warned of a time when deception would grow, and truth would be distorted. That warning feels especially relevant in moments like this, where verses can turn out to be cultural creations rather than divine revelation.
Our call is clear: open the Bible, study it and know it for ourselves.
Because in a world where truth can be mimicked, remixed and repackaged, discernment is not just wisdom—it is protection.
Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the upcoming book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
