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Colin Jost says a throwaway idea in the Saturday Night Live writers’ room may have come true in real life when Pete Hegseth recited a passage famously adapted in Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction. The exchange has stirred attention online after the Pentagon event clip circulated, blending late-night TV humor with a viral political moment.
From a writers’ room pitch to a Pentagon moment
Jost told Jimmy Fallon he and the SNL team once joked about inserting the Pulp Fiction-style Bible passage into a cold open.
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He recalled the idea felt too absurd to use. Days later, he said, Hegseth delivered a near-identical prayer during a Pentagon gathering.
Jost quipped that the coincidence felt like being watched. The remark sent social posts buzzing about whether the sketch writers had predicted the real-world line.
What Pete Hegseth said at the “Faith in Military” event
At a recent Pentagon ceremony, Hegseth offered a prayer he called the CSAR prayer. He prefaced it by linking it to the passage often associated with Ezekiel 25:17.
In his version, the prayer honored rescuers and described protecting comrades through darkness, invoking a vow of vengeance against those who harm them.
- He labeled the passage “CSAR 25:17,” signaling a nod to Ezekiel while adapting the language.
- Attendees were asked to join in the prayer during the service.
- The phrasing echoed the cinematic passage popularized by Samuel L. Jackson.
The clip spread quickly online as viewers noticed the similarity to the Pulp Fiction monologue.
The Pulp Fiction text versus the Biblical verse
Samuel L. Jackson’s character in Pulp Fiction delivers a stylized version of Ezekiel 25:17. The film passage expands on the original scripture for dramatic effect.
- Movie version: A long, poetic speech about the righteous man, charity, and vengeance.
- Biblical text: A much shorter line about executing vengeance and making people know the Lord.
- Hegseth’s wording: Mirrors the film’s tone more than the succinct Biblical verse.
The distinction matters because many listeners assumed Hegseth was quoting scripture directly, when he actually echoed Tarantino’s creative reworking.
Pentagon reaction and official comment
The Pentagon’s chief spokesperson weighed in and framed Hegseth’s words as intentional and inspired by the film passage.
Officials described the prayer as a custom invocation tied to an operational call sign and a rescue mission, rather than a misquotation of scripture.
Why the moment resonated online
The story caught hold because it mixes pop culture, military ceremony, and late-night comedy lore.
- People recognized the Pulp Fiction connection immediately.
- Social users contrasted the cinematic quote with the original Bible verse.
- Colin Jost’s claim of having once suggested the idea added an unexpected twist.
The result: a short video that became a talking point across news feeds and social platforms.
Key names and references to know
- Colin Jost — SNL writer and performer who discussed the writers’ room pitch.
- Pete Hegseth — Former TV host and Pentagon speaker who recited the prayer.
- Samuel L. Jackson — Actor who delivered the famous monologue in Pulp Fiction.
- Quentin Tarantino — Director and writer of Pulp Fiction, who popularized the adapted verse.
- Ezekiel 25:17 — The Biblical verse that inspired the film’s extended passage.
