The Biblical Proverbs of The Clone Wars
One out of the many reasons why Star Wars enthusiasts find Star Wars: The Clone Wars so lovable is that fact that it’s written with the intentionality of helping people. As Dave Filoni once recollected:
“Something [George Lucas has] reiterated … is ‘remember to make these stories hopeful. Remember to give that to kids, because they really need it.’”
-Disney Gallery: Star Wars: The Mandalorian
Each episode has a moral to the story — an edict that our heroes live by by the end of the episode (or as a cautionary tale to the villains who don’t). There has always been something so pure about Filoni-touched shows such as Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Avatar: The Last Airbender. Both of these shows carry about them a vibe of good and evil. And that’s what Star Wars is about, right (among other things)? Good vs. evil, faith, hope, family, love, friends, and perseverance are all themes that consistently touch the creative gold that is Star Wars. With this in mind, it’s occurred to this author that The Clone Wars executes godly principles without even realizing it. Indeed, there are many moments in the show that resonate with Judeo-Christian morals — such as when Hevy sacrificed himself for Domino Squad or when Obi-Wan forgave Hondo Ohnaka for holding them hostage. One could speculate that The Clone Wars is the perfect cultural middle ground on ethics between God-followers and non-God-followers.
Get David Brandon Hyland’s stories in your inbox
Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.
With that in mind, I’ve discovered that the opening quotes of episodes (proverbs of their own right) align with the Book of Proverbs from the Bible. Each pairing was carefully selected so that the moral of the episode’s quote paralleled with the biblical passage. So without a further ado, here are 22 proverbs that perfectly align with the proverbs of The Clone Wars.
Season 1, Episode 3 “Shadow of Malevolence”
The Clone Wars: “Easy is the path to wisdom for those not blinded by ego.”/Proverbs 11:2: “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”
Season 1, Episode 10 “Lair of Grievous”
The Clone Wars: “Most powerful is he who controls his own power.”/Proverbs 25:28: “Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.”
Season 1, Episode 15 “Trespass”
The Clone Wars: “Arrogance diminishes wisdom.”/Proverbs 13:14: “The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.”
Season 1, Episode 22 “Hostage Crisis”
The Clone Wars: “A secret shared is a trust formed.”/Proverbs 11:13: “A gossip betrays confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.”
Season 2, Episode 1 “Holocron Heist”
The Clone Wars: “A lesson learned is a lesson earned.”/Proverbs 12:1: “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.”
Season 2, Episode 2 “Cargo of Doom”
The Clone Wars: “Overconfidence is the most dangerous form of carelessness.”/Proverbs 16:18: “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”
Season 2, Episode 21 “R2 Come Home”
The Clone Wars: “Adversity is a friendship’s truest test.”/Proverbs 17:17: “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”
Season 3, Episode 6 “The Academy”
The Clone Wars: “Those who enforce the law must obey the law.”/Proverbs 28:4: “Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law resist them.”
Season 3, Episode 13 “Monster”
The Clone Wars: “Evil is not born, it is taught.”/Proverbs 16:29 “A violent man entices his neighbor and leads him down a path that is not good.” (Note: In the Christian perspective, it’s both: men are born with the capacity for evil, and good men can be led astray.)
Season 3, Episode 17 “Ghosts of Mortis”
The Clone Wars: “He who seeks to control fate shall never peace.”/Proverbs 16:9: “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.”
Season 4, Episode 2 “Gungan Attack”
The Clone Wars: “Only through fire is a strong sword forged.”/Proverbs 24:10: “If you falter in times of trouble, how small is your strength!”
Season 4, Episode 6 “Nomad Droids”
The Clone Wars: “Who’s the more foolish, the fool or the fool who follows him?”/Proverbs 26:4: “Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will be like him yourself.”
Season 5, Episode 6 “The Gathering”
The Clone Wars: “He who faces himself finds himself.”/Proverbs 20:5: “The purposes of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.”
Season 5, Episode 11 “A Sunny Day in the Void”
The Clone Wars: “When all seems hopeless, a true hero gives hope.”/ Proverbs 14:21: “He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who is kind to the needy.”
Season 5, Episode 12 “Missing in Action”
The Clone Wars: “A soldier’s most powerful weapon is courage.”/”Proverbs 28:1: “The wicked man flees though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.”
Season 5, Episode 16 “The Lawless”
The Clone Wars: “Morality separates heroes from villains.”/Proverbs 27:19: “As water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man.”
Season 5, Episode 19 “To Catch a Jedi”
The Clone Wars: “Never become desperate enough to trust the unworthy.”/Proverbs 25:19: “Trusting in a treacherous man in time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips.”
Season 5, Episode 20 “The Wrong Jedi”
The Clone Wars: “Never give up hope, no matter how dark things seem.”/Proverbs 10:28: “The hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish.”
Season 6, Episode 2 “Conspiracy”
The Clone Wars: “The wise benefit from a second opinion.”/Proverbs 19:20: “Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.”
Season 6, Episode 6 “The Rise of Clovis”
The Clone Wars: “Jealousy is the path to chaos.”/Proverbs 27:4: “Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?”
Season 6, Episode 7 “Crisis at the Heart”
The Clone Wars: “Deceit is the weapon of greed.”/”Proverbs 21:6: “A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.”
Season 6, Episode 12 “Destiny”
The Clone Wars: “Death is just the beginning.”/Proverbs 30:4(a): “Who has ascended to heaven and come down?”
Thanks for reading!
God bless, God first,
David Hyland
