1. the interpretation of a text (especially Scripture) by reading into it one's own ideas, biases, or meanings rather than deriving meaning from the text itself
Usage: formal; often used in biblical and literary criticism; contrasted with exegesis

Examples

• The pastor warned against eisegesis, urging the congregation to study Scripture carefully rather than impose their own beliefs onto the text.
• Critics argued that the author's interpretation was eisegesis, projecting modern values onto a historical document.
• Eisegesis occurs when readers find meanings in a poem that the poet never intended.
• Scholars must guard against eisegesis by examining the original context and language of ancient texts.
• Her analysis was dismissed as eisegesis because she read her political ideology into the novel's themes.