A ‘Saturday Night Live’ Halloween skit encouraged kids to dress as Bible characters. Here’s why

Amid its ongoing strike, SAG-AFTRA has called on its members to avoid dressing as film or television characters for Halloween and to, instead, look for costume inspiration elsewhere, such as in animated cartoons or books.

“Saturday Night Live” lightly mocked this request during its Oct. 28 episode with a skit featuring a cast member portraying SAG president Fran Drescher. The Drescher character stops children dressed as Spider-Man and Barbie while they’re trick-or-treating and tells them they should change.

“I’m here to teach you how to do Halloween during a strike,” she says.

With the help of some other children, the Drescher character goes on to offer a few strike-conscious costume ideas, including one inspired by the Bible.

“There are many great characters you can still be for Halloween,” she says. “How about minor characters from the Bible who have not appeared in any film adaptation?”

As she delivers this line, a boy walks up next to her wearing the kind of robes and head coverings that children typically wear when they’re playing the role of shepherds in church Christmas pageants.

“I’m Zoheth, son of Ishi who beget Ben Zoheth,” the boy says.

The Drescher character responds, “See? Who needs Iron Man when you have Zoheth son of Ishi who beget Ben Zoheth?”

Halloween costumes from the Bible

Although it’s unlikely that anyone has dressed as “Zoheth” for Halloween before, it’s not uncommon for the Bible to inspire Halloween costumes.

Bible-related searches on sites like Amazon and Oriental Trading result in a number of costume options, from angel wings to an actual Bible outfit.

Here are some other Halloween costume ideas from the Bible:

• Shepherd.

• Jesus Christ.

• Mary.

• Adam.

• Eve.

• Wise man.

• Moses.

• Queen Esther.

• Burning bush.

• Donkey.