παραβολ-ή G3850
parable, comparison, proverb — a figurative illustration placed alongside a truth to make it vivid and memorable
Parabole (from para + ballo, 'to throw alongside') is the signature teaching genre of Jesus in the Synoptic Gospels. In the Septuagint it translated Hebrew mashal, covering proverbs, riddles, and illustrative stories alike. Jesus' parables range from brief similes (the mustard seed, Matt 13:31) to extended narratives (the prodigal son, Luke 15:11-32), with Mark 4:11-12 explaining that parables simultaneously reveal and conceal the kingdom's mystery. Hebrews 9:9 and 11:19 use the word in its older sense of 'type' or 'figure.' Spanish 'parabola,' French 'parabole,' and German 'Gleichnis' each accent a different facet.
Senses
1. parable, illustrative comparison — A figurative narrative, comparison, or proverbial saying placed alongside a truth to illuminate it, functioning as the primary vehicle of Jesus' kingdom teaching. Covers extended story-parables (the Sower, Matt 13:3-9, 18-23; the Wicked Tenants, Matt 21:33-44), compact similes (the Leaven, Matt 13:33; the Pearl, Matt 13:45-46), and enigmatic sayings that blur into proverb (Luke 4:23, 'Physician, heal yourself'). Mark 4:10-12, 33-34 frames parabolic speech as both a pedagogical strategy and a revelatory mystery. In Hebrews 9:9 and 11:19, the word takes its older Greek sense of 'type' or 'figure,' referring to the tabernacle as a parabole of heavenly reality. All 50 occurrences share the root concept of illustrative analogy, whether narrative or gnomic. 50×
AR["المَثَلَ", "مَثَلًا", "مَثَلٍ", "مَثَلَ", "مَثَلُ", "مَثَلِ"]·ben["দৃষ্টান্ত", "দৃষ্টান্তে", "দৃষ্টান্তের"]·DE["Gleichnis"]·EN["a-parable", "parable"]·FR["parabole"]·heb["מְשַׁל", "מָשָׁל"]·HI["के", "दृष्टान्त", "द्रिशतन्त", "द्रिशतन्त-के", "द्रिशतन्त-को", "द्रिस्तन्त", "रखें"]·ID["-", "itu", "perumpamaan"]·IT["parabola"]·jav["pasemon", "pasemon."]·KO["비유", "비유-를", "비유가", "비유로", "비유를"]·PT["parábola"]·RU["притча", "притче", "притчи", "притчу"]·ES["parábola", "proverbio"]·SW["mfano", "mithali", "mwingine", "sikieni", "wakati"]·TR["atasözünü", "benzetme", "benzetme.", "benzetme?", "benzetmesini", "benzetmeye", "benzetmeyi", "örnek", "öyküyü"]·urd["اُن-سے", "تمثیل", "تمثیل-کے", "مثال", "مثال-کو", "مثال-کے"]
Matt 13:3, Matt 13:10, Matt 13:13, Matt 13:18, Matt 13:24, Matt 13:31, Matt 13:33, Matt 13:34, Matt 13:34, Matt 13:35, Matt 13:36, Matt 13:53 (+38 more)
Related Senses
H0559 1. say, speak, tell (5297×)G3004 1. say, tell, speak (2226×)H1696 1. speak, say, tell (Piel) (1105×)H7121 1. call, summon, name (575×)H6680 1. command, order, charge (483×)H6030b 1. answer, respond, reply (289×)G2980 1. speak, talk (277×)H5046 1. Hifil: to tell, report (237×)G0611 1. answer or respond verbally (232×)H1288 1. Piel: bless, invoke blessing (227×)H7650 1. swear, take an oath (Niphal) (154×)H3789 1. Qal passive participle: written, recorded (112×)H1984b 1. praise, laud (Piel) (111×)H7592 1. ask, inquire, question (96×)H3034 1. give thanks, praise (Hifil) (94×)G1321 1. teach, instruct actively (92×)H3789 2. Qal active: write, compose (89×)G1125 1. to write, compose (a letter or document) (84×)H5046 2. Hifil: to declare, proclaim (79×)H7892a 1. song, musical composition (78×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
παραβολ-ή, ἡ, juxtaposition, comparison, τῶν βίων Refs 5th c.BC+; ἐν παραβολῇ by juxtaposition, Refs 4th c.BC+ __2 comparison, illustration, analogy, τὴν π. ἀπρεπῆ πεποιῆσθαι Refs 5th c.BC+; π. δὲ τὰ Σωκρατικά (distinguished from λόγος, apologue) Refs 4th c.BC+ __3 NT, parable, NT; type, Ep. Hebrew 9.9, 11.19. __4 by-word, proverb, LXX+NT; in bad sense, εἰς π. ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσι LXX __5 objection to…