10 Things You Didn't Know About The Matrix Trilogy
5. The Matrix Is Our Bible
The Matrix trilogy is rife with Buddhist, Jewish, Hindu and Christian imagery and allegory. But, while these are often approached head-on (Neo is the literal saviour of humanity, destined to lead them out of the darkness, after all), some are layered into the film in clever and often impenetrable ways.
This is augmented by many things throughout the series, but a pertinent example comes from a plaque on the Nebuchadnezzar -- Morpheus' hovercraft, named after the builder king of Babylon (and a divine ruler) -- which is inscribed Mark III, No.11.
This points to the Christian Bible's Gospel of Mark, chapter 3, verse 11, which reads, 'And the unclean spirits, whenever they saw Him, fell down before Him and cried out, saying, “You are the Son of God.”' This signals the arrival of Neo as 'the one', who is born onto the Nebuchadnezzar and has supposedly come to guide humanity into the unironically named free city of Zion.
On a similar note, the license plate of the rogue Agent Smith's car is IS 5416, referencing Isaiah chapter 54, verse 16: “Behold, I have created the smith that blows the coals in the fire, and that brings forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the spoiler to destroy.” Spoiler, indeed.