Braingle: 'A Poem of Biblical Proportions' Riddle

A Poem of Biblical Proportions

Riddles are little poems or phrases that pose a question that needs answering. Riddles frequently rhyme, but this is not a requirement.

Puzzle ID:	#19679
Fun:	(2.87)
Difficulty:	(3.13)
Category:	Riddle
Submitted By:	goldmare

Adam, God made out of dust
But thought it best to make me first,
So I was made before man
To answer God's most Holy plan.
A living being I became
And Adam gave to me my name.
I from his presence then withdrew
And more of Adam never knew.
I did my Maker's law obey
Nor ever went from it astray.
Thousands of miles I go in fear
But seldom on earth appear.
For purpose wise God did see,
He put a living soul in me.
A soul from me God did claim
And took from me the soul again.
So when from me the soul had fled
I was the same as when first made.
And without hands, or feet, or soul,
I travel on from pole to pole.
I labor hard by day, by night
To fallen man I give great light.
Thousands of people, young and old
Will by my death great light behold.
No right or wrong can I conceive
The scripture I cannot believe.
Although my name therein is found
They are to me an empty sound.
No feat of death doth trouble me
Real happiness I'll never see.
To Heaven I shall never go
Or to Hell below.
Now when these lines you slowly read,
Go search your Bible with all speed
For that my name is written there
I do honestly to you declare.

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Answer

I'm a WHALE
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Comments

doggyxp Dec 05, 2004	Where does the word appear? "Jonah and the Whale" and...? Where?
goldmare Dec 05, 2004	Actually, it appears four times in the King James version, according to the search I just did. Anyway, it's found in the following verses: Gen 1:21; Job 7:12; Ezek 32:2; Matt 12:40. It's not actually found in Jonah, as he refers to it as a great fish.
pianofox Dec 07, 2004	Wow, that was hard. I read the Bible all the time but I didn't know that. Great job! More Blble teasers please.
eyecue Dec 07, 2004	This teaser WAS NOT ORIGINAL!!! I twas copied word for word out a book. It was written by a woman named Lucy King, and was published in a book called Brain Bafflers. You can get it at your local Barnes and Noble. It is on page 75. She wrote because she was offered a reward from a wealthy intelligent business man who was also a serious religious fanatic, but wanted to be stumped. Whoever submitted it to this site, nice try on trying to look intelligent...get your own material.
eyecue Dec 09, 2004	I want to personally apologize to goldmare. I did not read she did her bibliography in her (or his) hnit because I don't really look at them. I made a fuss because I know some people on this site feel strongly about keeping things original. The mistake was mine, so I get the .
goldmare Dec 10, 2004	Thank you for the apology eyecue. I appreciate it.
hollystruve Dec 28, 2004	I don't fully understand the part of the brain teaser where it says that the soul has fled, etc. can anyone show any insight to me?!
GTregay Jan 20, 2005	The only thing I can think of this part talking about is Jonah (though that is a "great fish", not necessarily a whale). "For purpose wise God did see, He put a living soul in me. A soul from me God did claim And took from me the soul again." Any other thoughts?
goldmare Jan 21, 2005	Yes, the \"soul\" is referring to Jonah. Although Jonah refers to it as a great fish, in later passages Bible writers refer back to it as a whale.
God-sGrace2005 Jan 24, 2005	Goldmare if whale is the correct answer than it only appears 2 times not 4 times in the King James Version. In Genesis 1:21 it is whales not whale. And in Matthew 12:40 it is whale\'s not whale. So it does appear 2 times. In Job and Ezekiel.
goldmare Jan 29, 2005	Good point, Grace. Thank you.
BFarmer1980 Feb 20, 2005	What I don't get is how thousands of people, young and old, behold great light when a whale dies?!
jjflamingo Feb 23, 2005	I think when it says its death gives light to men it is refering to whale oil being used as a fuel
goldmare Mar 01, 2005	Yes, that's correct jjflamingo. Whale oil, from the blubber, is used as fuel for oil lamps. One of the main reasons so many whale species are endangered now.
PCDguitar Jun 14, 2005	i now get the part about the soul its just talking about jonah going into and out of a giant whale even if it was a fish i liked the tezzer alot and would like 1 like this
zonahobo Jun 17, 2005	I'm glad I bumped into this .. it sets the "gold" standard for riddle writing .. I wonder how long she labored on this or if it just came rushing out as inspired writing.. let your light shine!
zonahobo Jun 17, 2005	I'm glad I bumped into this .. it sets the "gold" standard for riddle writing .. I wonder how long she labored on this or if it just came rushing out as inspired writing.. let your light shine!
lycanthrope Jul 14, 2005	I really enjoyed this teaser (even though it was originally written by someone else, I hadn't seen it before). More in a biblical vane would be appreciated!
lycanthrope Jul 14, 2005	I really enjoyed this teaser (even though it was originally written by someone else, I hadn't seen it before). More in a biblical vane would be appreciated!
craziigurl1105 Jul 24, 2005	My first thought was that it was the sun, cause when stars die, they give off a lot of light... but now that i read it again it makes perfect sense it was a whale... i even got the soul part and the lots of light part w/o reading the comments... thanks for submitting this even though it wasn't youre own!
deepsea Sep 13, 2005	why did you bring religon into a teaser?
zonarita Sep 24, 2005	this is a great teaser and I'm glad you brought it to Braingle. loved the read
TheEarthling Nov 15, 2005	Eek! I don't have a bible!
PRAragorn Jun 26, 2007	i ALSO THOUGHT IT WAS THE SUN UNTIL I SAW IT WAS WHALE AND THEN IT MADE SENSE! GOOD TEASER!
JessicaG Jan 29, 2008	The title of the teaser should have been a give-away for me, and for missing that I am ashamed. A couple of lines down when I realised this was no interesting and original teaser but a religous rant poorly clothed as a riddle, I had to cut to the answer and get outta there. I agree with deepsea, why bring religion into a teaser?