Biblical References
A
Adam and Eve - When Claire expresses regret that her knowledge of the future has forced Jamie into betraying Charles Stuart, Jamie says to her, "I dinna recall Adam's asking God to take back Eve and look what she did to him" (DIA, chapter 36) This is a reference to the story of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3. God forbids Adam and Eve to eat fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil but Eve is tricked into doing so by a snake, and she shares the fruit with Adam. God punishes them by expelling them from the Garden of Eden. Jamie then says to Claire, "Go to sleep, my wee rib. I shall be needin' a helpmeet in the morning". This is a reference to Genesis 2:18-23 where God creates Eve from Adam's rib - "And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him".
When Fergus, Rabbie and Young Jamie watch fascinated as Jamie shaves off his beard, Jamie tells them that whiskers are one of the plagues of Adam visited on him when he was driven from Eden (V, chapter 4) This is not in the Bible so perhaps Jamie is guilty of Biblical fan-fiction!
Marsali refers to menstruation as being 'part o' the curse of Eve' mentioned by St Paul who said that women were sinners because of what Eve did, but they could be saved by the pain and suffering of childbirth (V, chapter 46) The reference to St Paul is to his words in 1 Timothy 2:12-15. Paul in turn is referring to the story of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3:16, "Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee."
"And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding, she shall be saved in childbearing, if she continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety" - this is the passage from the Bible that Mrs Kirby reads to the older Murray children when Jenny is in labour with Ian, until Jamie puts a stop to it (V, chapter 5) This passage is from 1 Timothy 2
"... and he smote them with emerods, and they were very sore" - this is the first passage Claire opens in the Bible when she is seeking divine guidance to help Jamie after Wentworth (Outlander, chapter 39) I believe this is a reference to Samuel 5:9 although the wording is different in the King James version of the Bible - "... and he smote the men of the city, both small and great, and they had emerods in their secret parts."
"... and thou shalt destroy him, root and branch, so that his name shall no more be known among the tribes of Israel" - Claire thinks that her actions have changed the future so that Frank will no longer be born and she thinks of this phrase in relation to that (DIA, chapter 38) This phrase refers to Jeremiah 11:19 where Jeremiah learns of a plot against him by the people of Israel who wish to destroy him so that his name will not be remembered - " ...Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered"
Angel Uriel - Claire describes Mother Hildegarde as standing "tall and stern as the angel at the gates of Eden" (DIA, chapter 26) The Angel Uriel is not named in the Scriptures but the angel who stands guard at the gates of Eden with a flaming sword is commonly thought to be Uriel. This passage this relates to in the Bible is Genesis 3:24
Archangel Michael - when Jamie tries to stop Young Ian from going with a prostitute on the night of the fire in the print shop, Claire asks him if it was the Archangel Michael who drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden (V, chapter 27) The angel is not named in the Bible (Genesis 3:24), but in Paradise Lost by John Milton, it is Michael whom God sends to escort Adam and Eve out of Paradise.
When Fergus, Rabbie and Young Jamie watch fascinated as Jamie shaves off his beard, Jamie tells them that whiskers are one of the plagues of Adam visited on him when he was driven from Eden (V, chapter 4) This is not in the Bible so perhaps Jamie is guilty of Biblical fan-fiction!
Marsali refers to menstruation as being 'part o' the curse of Eve' mentioned by St Paul who said that women were sinners because of what Eve did, but they could be saved by the pain and suffering of childbirth (V, chapter 46) The reference to St Paul is to his words in 1 Timothy 2:12-15. Paul in turn is referring to the story of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3:16, "Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee."
"And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding, she shall be saved in childbearing, if she continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety" - this is the passage from the Bible that Mrs Kirby reads to the older Murray children when Jenny is in labour with Ian, until Jamie puts a stop to it (V, chapter 5) This passage is from 1 Timothy 2
"... and he smote them with emerods, and they were very sore" - this is the first passage Claire opens in the Bible when she is seeking divine guidance to help Jamie after Wentworth (Outlander, chapter 39) I believe this is a reference to Samuel 5:9 although the wording is different in the King James version of the Bible - "... and he smote the men of the city, both small and great, and they had emerods in their secret parts."
"... and thou shalt destroy him, root and branch, so that his name shall no more be known among the tribes of Israel" - Claire thinks that her actions have changed the future so that Frank will no longer be born and she thinks of this phrase in relation to that (DIA, chapter 38) This phrase refers to Jeremiah 11:19 where Jeremiah learns of a plot against him by the people of Israel who wish to destroy him so that his name will not be remembered - " ...Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered"
Angel Uriel - Claire describes Mother Hildegarde as standing "tall and stern as the angel at the gates of Eden" (DIA, chapter 26) The Angel Uriel is not named in the Scriptures but the angel who stands guard at the gates of Eden with a flaming sword is commonly thought to be Uriel. This passage this relates to in the Bible is Genesis 3:24
Archangel Michael - when Jamie tries to stop Young Ian from going with a prostitute on the night of the fire in the print shop, Claire asks him if it was the Archangel Michael who drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden (V, chapter 27) The angel is not named in the Bible (Genesis 3:24), but in Paradise Lost by John Milton, it is Michael whom God sends to escort Adam and Eve out of Paradise.
B
"Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth with his feet" - these are the first words Father Bain utters when he appears at the witch trial. They are from Habakkuk 3:5
"Being now justified by His blood" - this is the title of chapter 6 of Voyager which is the chapter where Jamie decides he will give himself up to the English after Fergus has his hand chopped off, so the people of Lallybroch can collect the reward for his capture and no longer be endangered by his presence. The quote is from Romans 5:9 - "Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him"
"Blessed are those who have not seen, and have believed" - Roger is reminded of this Biblical quote after Brianna sees Gillian Edgars (Geillis) go through the stones at Craigh na Dun and she is forced to accept that Claire's story is true (DIA, chapter 49) The quote is from John 20:29
"But be not thou far from me, O Lord: O my strength, haste thee to help me. Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog" - more from the second passage Claire opens in the Bible when she is seeking divine guidance to help Jamie after Wentworth (Outlander, chapter 39) The words are from Psalm 22
"But his flesh upon him shall have pain, and his soul within him shall mourn" - this is the third passage Claire opens in the Bible when she is seeking divine guidance to help Jamie after Wentworth (Outlander, chapter 39) The words are from Job 14:22
"But I am a worm and no man ... I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of the bowels" - this is the second passage Claire opens in the Bible when she is seeking divine guidance to help Jamie after Wentworth (Outlander, chapter 39) The words are from Psalm 22
"Being now justified by His blood" - this is the title of chapter 6 of Voyager which is the chapter where Jamie decides he will give himself up to the English after Fergus has his hand chopped off, so the people of Lallybroch can collect the reward for his capture and no longer be endangered by his presence. The quote is from Romans 5:9 - "Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him"
"Blessed are those who have not seen, and have believed" - Roger is reminded of this Biblical quote after Brianna sees Gillian Edgars (Geillis) go through the stones at Craigh na Dun and she is forced to accept that Claire's story is true (DIA, chapter 49) The quote is from John 20:29
"But be not thou far from me, O Lord: O my strength, haste thee to help me. Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog" - more from the second passage Claire opens in the Bible when she is seeking divine guidance to help Jamie after Wentworth (Outlander, chapter 39) The words are from Psalm 22
"But his flesh upon him shall have pain, and his soul within him shall mourn" - this is the third passage Claire opens in the Bible when she is seeking divine guidance to help Jamie after Wentworth (Outlander, chapter 39) The words are from Job 14:22
"But I am a worm and no man ... I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of the bowels" - this is the second passage Claire opens in the Bible when she is seeking divine guidance to help Jamie after Wentworth (Outlander, chapter 39) The words are from Psalm 22
C
"Can you not watch with me one hour?" - the words that Jesus spoke to his disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane. See the entry for Gethsemane below
D
"Deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger that flattereth with her words. For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead" - more words from Father Bain during the witch trial. The first sentence is Proverbs 2:16, the second sentence is Proverbs 2:18
Descent of the Paraclete - after Jamie has been flogged at Ardsmuir he philosophises about the different natures of individuals and wonders whether such traits come from God like the descent of the Paraclete bringing tongues of fire to the apostles (V, chapter 12) The Paraclete is another name for the third part of the Christian trinity, the Holy Spirit. The passage in the Bible that Jamie is referring to is Acts 2
Descent of the Paraclete - after Jamie has been flogged at Ardsmuir he philosophises about the different natures of individuals and wonders whether such traits come from God like the descent of the Paraclete bringing tongues of fire to the apostles (V, chapter 12) The Paraclete is another name for the third part of the Christian trinity, the Holy Spirit. The passage in the Bible that Jamie is referring to is Acts 2
F
Flight into Egypt - the library at the Abbey of Ste. Anne de Beaupre has a stained-glass window showing the Flight into Egypt (Outlander, chapter 38) The Flight into Egypt refers to the biblical event where Joseph and Mary flee to Egypt with their infant son Jesus after being warned by an angel that Herod will kill all the baby boys in Bethlehem. It is described in Matthew 2:13-15
"For now we see through a glass, darkly" - this passage from 1 Corinthians 13:12 is referenced in the title of part one of Dragonfly in Amber which is entitled, 'Through a looking glass, darkly'
"For the sins of the fathers shall be visited on the children ..." - Claire believes that she has betrayed Frank and because of her actions Frank will no longer be born (DIA, chapter 38) This is probably a reference to Exodus 34:7. See contradictory thoughts from Claire on this topic below under "The sins of the fathers ..."
"For thou art dust, and unto dust thou shalt return" - Claire thinks of this passage when she describes Faith to Jamie and remembers how Faith's joints gleamed like the bones of the earth itself, and how ill she herself was and that the nuns expected her to die as well (DIA, chapter 28) This is from Genesis 3:19
"For now we see through a glass, darkly" - this passage from 1 Corinthians 13:12 is referenced in the title of part one of Dragonfly in Amber which is entitled, 'Through a looking glass, darkly'
"For the sins of the fathers shall be visited on the children ..." - Claire believes that she has betrayed Frank and because of her actions Frank will no longer be born (DIA, chapter 38) This is probably a reference to Exodus 34:7. See contradictory thoughts from Claire on this topic below under "The sins of the fathers ..."
"For thou art dust, and unto dust thou shalt return" - Claire thinks of this passage when she describes Faith to Jamie and remembers how Faith's joints gleamed like the bones of the earth itself, and how ill she herself was and that the nuns expected her to die as well (DIA, chapter 28) This is from Genesis 3:19
G
Gabriel's Trump - this refers to the Angel Gabriel's horn. It is popularly believed that Gabriel will blow his horn to signal the return of the Lord to Earth. When Claire arrives back at Castle Leoch after marrying Jamie she is so tired she thinks the only thing she would get up for is Gabriel's trump (Outlander, chapter 23)
Garden of Eden - Chapter 35 of Voyager is titled Flight from Eden. This is the chapter in which Claire flees from Lallybroch after discovering that Jamie is married to Laoghaire. While it is logical to assume that the chapter title references Adam and Eve's expulsion from the Garden of Eden, this may not be the case. The fact that it is only Claire who is fleeing may in fact suggest that the title is not a biblical reference, but a reference to the Jewish myth of Lilith, who was said to be Adam's first wife, and who fled from Eden when she refused to be subservient to Adam
Gethsemane - the ritual of Perpetual Adoration at the Abbey of Ste. Anne de Beaupre is an atonement for the disciples of Jesus falling asleep in the Garden of Gethsemane the day before his trial and crucifixion instead of bearing him company (Outlander, chapter 38) This is from Matthew 26: 36-46. For more on the ritual of Perpetual Adoration see Religious Rituals
Gideon - Claire tells Marsali that there are a lot of bad things in the Bible, such as the story of Gideon and his daughter (V, chapter 46) The story of Gideon is told in Judges 6-8, but there is no mention of any daughter. Claire probably meant to refer to Jephthah, whose story is told in Judges 11-12. Jephthah makes a promise to God that if God helps him defeat the Ammonites in battle, he will offer up to God as a burnt sacrifice the first person to come out of the door of his house when he returns home. Unfortunately for Jephthah, the first person to come out is his daughter and only child
God created good and evil - Father Anselm tells Claire that we know that God allows evil to exist because the Bible says "I created good and created evil" (Outlander, chapter 40) I think Father Anselm may be paraphrasing Isaiah 45:7 - "I form the light, and create darkness, I make peace, and create evil, I the Lord do all these things"
Garden of Eden - Chapter 35 of Voyager is titled Flight from Eden. This is the chapter in which Claire flees from Lallybroch after discovering that Jamie is married to Laoghaire. While it is logical to assume that the chapter title references Adam and Eve's expulsion from the Garden of Eden, this may not be the case. The fact that it is only Claire who is fleeing may in fact suggest that the title is not a biblical reference, but a reference to the Jewish myth of Lilith, who was said to be Adam's first wife, and who fled from Eden when she refused to be subservient to Adam
Gethsemane - the ritual of Perpetual Adoration at the Abbey of Ste. Anne de Beaupre is an atonement for the disciples of Jesus falling asleep in the Garden of Gethsemane the day before his trial and crucifixion instead of bearing him company (Outlander, chapter 38) This is from Matthew 26: 36-46. For more on the ritual of Perpetual Adoration see Religious Rituals
Gideon - Claire tells Marsali that there are a lot of bad things in the Bible, such as the story of Gideon and his daughter (V, chapter 46) The story of Gideon is told in Judges 6-8, but there is no mention of any daughter. Claire probably meant to refer to Jephthah, whose story is told in Judges 11-12. Jephthah makes a promise to God that if God helps him defeat the Ammonites in battle, he will offer up to God as a burnt sacrifice the first person to come out of the door of his house when he returns home. Unfortunately for Jephthah, the first person to come out is his daughter and only child
God created good and evil - Father Anselm tells Claire that we know that God allows evil to exist because the Bible says "I created good and created evil" (Outlander, chapter 40) I think Father Anselm may be paraphrasing Isaiah 45:7 - "I form the light, and create darkness, I make peace, and create evil, I the Lord do all these things"
H
"He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain ... His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out" - more words from Job that Claire reads in the Bible when she is seeking divine guidance to help Jamie after Wentworth (Outlander, chapter 39) The words are from Job 33:19 and 33:21
"He shall lay the foundations thereof in his firstborn and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it" - Frank quotes this line to Claire when explaining about the old ritual of killing something and burying it under the foundations of a new house as an offering to the spirits (Outlander, chapter 1) This passage is from Joshua 6:26
"He shall lay the foundations thereof in his firstborn and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it" - Frank quotes this line to Claire when explaining about the old ritual of killing something and burying it under the foundations of a new house as an offering to the spirits (Outlander, chapter 1) This passage is from Joshua 6:26
I
"If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness: Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom. His flesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall return to the days of his youth" - this is the final passage from Job that Claire reads in the Bible when she is seeking divine guidance to help Jamie after Wentworth and the source of the chapter title, 'To Ransom a Man's Soul' (Outlander, chapter 39) The words are from Job 33:23-25
J
Jacob and Esau - when Jamie holds Claire's hand on their wedding night she notices his reddish hairs which are so unlike Frank's smooth hairless hands and thinks to herself "For Jacob's skin was smooth, while his brother Esau was a hairy man". Claire is mis-remembering the actual quote which is: "And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man". This is from Genesis 27:11 (Outlander, chapter 15)
Jeremiah and his Lamentations - when Claire has to give Jenny advice to help Lallybroch prepare for the coming Rising, she feels sympathy for Jeremiah and his Lamentations. Jeremiah was an Old Testament prophet and the Book of Lamentations in the Bible is believed to be authored by him (Outlander, chapter 33)
Job - when the doctor who tends Jamie after his first flogging brings him Alex MacGregor's Bible, he tells Jamie that he can compare his troubles to Job (Outlander, chapter 22) Claire seeks inspiration from the Book of Job when she is seeking ways to help heal Jamie's soul at the Abbey of Ste. Anne de Beaupre because Job is Jamie's favourite book in the Bible (Outlander, chapter 39)
Jeremiah and his Lamentations - when Claire has to give Jenny advice to help Lallybroch prepare for the coming Rising, she feels sympathy for Jeremiah and his Lamentations. Jeremiah was an Old Testament prophet and the Book of Lamentations in the Bible is believed to be authored by him (Outlander, chapter 33)
Job - when the doctor who tends Jamie after his first flogging brings him Alex MacGregor's Bible, he tells Jamie that he can compare his troubles to Job (Outlander, chapter 22) Claire seeks inspiration from the Book of Job when she is seeking ways to help heal Jamie's soul at the Abbey of Ste. Anne de Beaupre because Job is Jamie's favourite book in the Bible (Outlander, chapter 39)
L
Lazarus - after the English soldiers leave Jenny's bedroom when Jamie is hiding in the armoire with baby Ian, Jenny shoots 'up from the bedclothes like Lazarus' (V, chapter 5) This is a reference to Lazarus of Bethany who was brought back to life by Jesus four days after his death as told in John 11
Lot's Wife - When Frank tries to hold Claire after implying that she may have had affairs during the war, she holds herself as "stiff as Lot's wife" This is from Genesis 19:26 (Outlander, chapter 1)
Lot's Wife - When Frank tries to hold Claire after implying that she may have had affairs during the war, she holds herself as "stiff as Lot's wife" This is from Genesis 19:26 (Outlander, chapter 1)
M
Mary Magdalene - Mother Hildegarde wonders who to pray to when Claire is about to ask King Louis to release Jamie from the Bastille, as Claire will be expected to lie with Louis. Claire thinks that Mary Magdalene would be the right person to pray to (DIA, chapter 27) Before Mary Magdalene became one of Christ's followers she was a prostitute
O
'O Lucifer, thou son of the morning' - this quotation springs to John's mind on his journey to Helwater with Jamie when he sees Jamie on horseback atop a hill with the wind streaming his hair behind him like a mane (V, chapter 14) This is from Isaiah 14:12 - 'How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations!'
"O ye of little faith" - Jamie says this to Claire when she has trouble believing he spent the night in a bawdy house without having sex (DIA, chapter 17) This phrase appears in several places in the Bible usually as a rebuke to those who doubt Jesus's divinity, e.g. Matthew 6:30 and Luke 12:28
"O ye of little faith" - Jamie says this to Claire when she has trouble believing he spent the night in a bawdy house without having sex (DIA, chapter 17) This phrase appears in several places in the Bible usually as a rebuke to those who doubt Jesus's divinity, e.g. Matthew 6:30 and Luke 12:28
P
Philistines - Claire describes the skull of a large percheron horse in Master Raymond's skull collection as "looking eminently suitable for flattening platoons of Philistines" (DIA, chapter 16) The Philistines were a people described in the Hebrew Bible who fought a number of battles against Israel
"Put not your trust in princes" - Jamie quotes this to Claire when explaining why he wants to see Jared before meeting Charles Stuart (DIA, chapter 6) It's from Psalm 146:3
"Put not your trust in princes" - Jamie quotes this to Claire when explaining why he wants to see Jared before meeting Charles Stuart (DIA, chapter 6) It's from Psalm 146:3
R
Rape of a concubine - Claire tells Marsali there are lots of bad things in the Bible, like the story of the man who 'sent his lady out to be raped to death by a crowd of ruffians, so they wouldn't get him' (V, chapter 46) This refers to the story in Judges 19
S
St Paul - one of Dougal's men tells Claire that her husband should beat her because of her bad language because St Paul says "Let a woman be silent ..." This is from 1 Timothy 2:11 (Outlander, chapter 3)
Stigmata - stigmata are wounds, sores or pain which correspond to the locations of the crucifixion wounds of Christ, which were nails through both hands and feet and a piercing of the side of the torso. Jamie has a nail wound through his palm from where Jack Randall nailed his hand to a desk (Outlander, chapter 40)
"Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof" - From Matthew 6:34. In Outlander, ch. 7, Claire drags this quote up from the recesses of her memory, but later on in the books it is referred to as one of Frank's favourite sayings.
Stigmata - stigmata are wounds, sores or pain which correspond to the locations of the crucifixion wounds of Christ, which were nails through both hands and feet and a piercing of the side of the torso. Jamie has a nail wound through his palm from where Jack Randall nailed his hand to a desk (Outlander, chapter 40)
"Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof" - From Matthew 6:34. In Outlander, ch. 7, Claire drags this quote up from the recesses of her memory, but later on in the books it is referred to as one of Frank's favourite sayings.
T
The Prodigal's Return - this is the title of chapter 32 of Voyager where Young Ian is returned home to Lallybroch after running away to Edinburgh to be with Jamie. The title refers to the Parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-32, where a wayward son is welcomed home by his father after many year's absence
"The sins of the fathers shall not be visited upon the children" - Claire uses this phrase to justify her decision to demand that Jamie holds off killing Jack Randall for one year so that Frank's ancestor can be conceived (DIA, chapter 21) The Bible is actually very contradictory on the topic of the sins of the fathers being visited on their children, with Exodus 34:7 stating explicity that the sins of the fathers will be visited on the sons. Claire is likely referring to Ezekiel 18:20 - "The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father"
"They shall handle serpents unharmed. And by such signs shall ye know the servants of the true God. And if they drink any deadly poison, they shall not die" - The Comte St Germain and Master Raymond both use this quote to try and prove their innocence when they stand accused of sorcery before King Louis. The Comte quotes the first two lines and produces a snake to try and prove that Claire is not godly. Raymond quotes the third line and suggests that he, Claire and the Comte all drink poison to prove their innocence (DIA, chapter 27) This passage is from Mark 16:18. Jesus says this to his disciples after he is raised from the dead. He tells them to go forth and preach the gospel and baptise people. Those who believe His word will be known by signs and these are some of those signs. The wording in the King James version is: "They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them"
"Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live" - The title of chapter 25 in Outlander and Father Bain's parting shot at the witch trial. This is from Exodus 22:18 (Outlander, chapter 25)
Thy brother's keeper - this is the title of chapter 33 of Dragonfly in Amber. It refers to Genesis 4:9. After Cain has murdered his brother Abel, God asks Cain where Abel is, and Cain lies in reply, "I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?"
"Tis better to marry than burn" - Jamie quotes this tract from St. Paul when he tells Claire he was burning quite badly when he kissed Laoghaire in the alcove. This is from 1 Corinthians 7:9 (Outlander, chapter 22)
"To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven" - Jamie quotes this when it's almost time for supper (Outlander, chapter 27). It's from Ecclesiastes 3:1
"To us a child is given" - this is the title of chapter 5 of Voyager in which Young Ian is born. It references Isaiah 9:6, 'For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given'
"The sins of the fathers shall not be visited upon the children" - Claire uses this phrase to justify her decision to demand that Jamie holds off killing Jack Randall for one year so that Frank's ancestor can be conceived (DIA, chapter 21) The Bible is actually very contradictory on the topic of the sins of the fathers being visited on their children, with Exodus 34:7 stating explicity that the sins of the fathers will be visited on the sons. Claire is likely referring to Ezekiel 18:20 - "The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father"
"They shall handle serpents unharmed. And by such signs shall ye know the servants of the true God. And if they drink any deadly poison, they shall not die" - The Comte St Germain and Master Raymond both use this quote to try and prove their innocence when they stand accused of sorcery before King Louis. The Comte quotes the first two lines and produces a snake to try and prove that Claire is not godly. Raymond quotes the third line and suggests that he, Claire and the Comte all drink poison to prove their innocence (DIA, chapter 27) This passage is from Mark 16:18. Jesus says this to his disciples after he is raised from the dead. He tells them to go forth and preach the gospel and baptise people. Those who believe His word will be known by signs and these are some of those signs. The wording in the King James version is: "They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them"
"Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live" - The title of chapter 25 in Outlander and Father Bain's parting shot at the witch trial. This is from Exodus 22:18 (Outlander, chapter 25)
Thy brother's keeper - this is the title of chapter 33 of Dragonfly in Amber. It refers to Genesis 4:9. After Cain has murdered his brother Abel, God asks Cain where Abel is, and Cain lies in reply, "I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?"
"Tis better to marry than burn" - Jamie quotes this tract from St. Paul when he tells Claire he was burning quite badly when he kissed Laoghaire in the alcove. This is from 1 Corinthians 7:9 (Outlander, chapter 22)
"To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven" - Jamie quotes this when it's almost time for supper (Outlander, chapter 27). It's from Ecclesiastes 3:1
"To us a child is given" - this is the title of chapter 5 of Voyager in which Young Ian is born. It references Isaiah 9:6, 'For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given'
V
Virgin Mary - Master Raymond calls Claire 'Madonna' because she has a blue aura that reminds him of the Virgin's cloak (DIA, chapter 25) The Virgin Mary is often depicted in art wearing blue clothing. Madonna is a medieval Italian term for an important woman and is often used in reference to the Virgin Mary
Virtuous woman - Sir Marcus MacRannoch sends Jamie and Claire a parcel containing the skin of the wolf Claire killed and a pearl bracelet to match the pearl necklace that he gave to Ellen MacKenzie on her wedding day. He includes a note with these gifts that says: "For a virtuous woman is a pearl of great price, and her value is greater than rubies" (Outlander, chapter 41) This is from Proverbs 31:10 - "Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies"
Virtuous woman - Sir Marcus MacRannoch sends Jamie and Claire a parcel containing the skin of the wolf Claire killed and a pearl bracelet to match the pearl necklace that he gave to Ellen MacKenzie on her wedding day. He includes a note with these gifts that says: "For a virtuous woman is a pearl of great price, and her value is greater than rubies" (Outlander, chapter 41) This is from Proverbs 31:10 - "Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies"
W
"When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long" - Claire thinks of this quote when Jamie confesses his sorrow at having to betray Charles Stuart and forswear his own honour in order to try and save Scotland. Claire knows it is because of her, but she also knows that she had no choice but to tell Jamie what she knew of the future. The quote is from Psalm 32:3
Whited sepulchre - when Young Ian wrongly suspects his father of frequenting brothels in Edinburgh, he tells him he's a hypocrite and calls him a "goddamned whited sepulchre" (V, chapter 27). This is from Matthew 23:27 - "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness"
"Who looks on a woman with lust in his heart hath committed adultery with her already" - Jamie asks Claire if this is how she feels when he comes home with love bites on his neck after spending a night out with Charles Stuart in a bawdy house (DIA, chapter 17) Jamie is paraphrasing Matthew 5:28 - "That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart"
Whore of Babylon - when Claire marvels that Father Anselm believes her story of time travel, he tells her that time travel is not difficult to believe for a man who serves a Master who heals the sick, raises the dead and feeds the multitudes from loaves and fishes. Claire reflects that it is better than being denounced as the whore of Babylon (Outlander, chapter 40) The whore of Babylon is a personification of evil mentioned in the Book of Revelations in Revelation 17
Whited sepulchre - when Young Ian wrongly suspects his father of frequenting brothels in Edinburgh, he tells him he's a hypocrite and calls him a "goddamned whited sepulchre" (V, chapter 27). This is from Matthew 23:27 - "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness"
"Who looks on a woman with lust in his heart hath committed adultery with her already" - Jamie asks Claire if this is how she feels when he comes home with love bites on his neck after spending a night out with Charles Stuart in a bawdy house (DIA, chapter 17) Jamie is paraphrasing Matthew 5:28 - "That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart"
Whore of Babylon - when Claire marvels that Father Anselm believes her story of time travel, he tells her that time travel is not difficult to believe for a man who serves a Master who heals the sick, raises the dead and feeds the multitudes from loaves and fishes. Claire reflects that it is better than being denounced as the whore of Babylon (Outlander, chapter 40) The whore of Babylon is a personification of evil mentioned in the Book of Revelations in Revelation 17
Y
"Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers" - this is another passage from Job that Claire reads in the Bible when she is seeking divine guidance to help Jamie after Wentworth (Outlander, chapter 39) The words are from Job 33:22