παραβολή

a parable, comparison

Definition

In the New Testament, παραβολή primarily means a parable—a short, illustrative story used by Jesus to convey spiritual truths, as seen in Matthew 13:3 when He begins teaching the crowds with parables. It can also denote a comparison or analogy, such as in Hebrews 9:9 where the tabernacle service is described as a 'parable' or symbolic illustration for the present time. Additionally, the word carries the sense of a proverb or wise saying, as used in Luke 4:23 where Jesus references the proverb 'Physician, heal yourself.' These overlapping meanings highlight its role as a teaching tool that bridges earthly examples with heavenly realities.

Biblical Usage

παραβολή is used almost exclusively in the Gospels (especially Matthew, Mark, and Luke) and Hebrews. In the Synoptic Gospels, it consistently refers to the parables of Jesus, which are central to His public teaching ministry, as in Matthew 13:34 where it says He did not speak to the crowds without a parable. The usage in Mark 4:33-34 emphasizes that parables were tailored to the listeners' capacity to understand. In Hebrews, it appears once (Hebrews 9:9) in a more symbolic, typological sense, describing the earthly sanctuary as a parable pointing to Christ's work.

Etymology

Derived from the preposition παρά (para, meaning 'beside' or 'alongside') and the root βολή (bolē, from βάλλω, ballō, meaning 'to throw' or 'cast'). Literally, it means 'a throwing beside' or 'a placing alongside,' suggesting the idea of comparison—placing one thing beside another to illustrate a point. This etymology reflects its function as a rhetorical device where an everyday story is placed alongside a spiritual truth to illuminate it.

Semantic Range

παραβολή is theologically significant as it reveals Jesus' primary method of teaching about the kingdom of God. Parables both reveal truth to those with receptive hearts and conceal it from the hardened, fulfilling prophecy (Matthew 13:10-15). Understanding this Greek term enriches Bible reading by highlighting how Jesus used familiar, concrete imagery to unpack profound spiritual mysteries, inviting listeners into deeper reflection and decision. It underscores the nature of divine revelation as accessible yet requiring spiritual discernment.

In first-century Jewish culture, parables were a common rabbinic teaching technique, making abstract religious concepts tangible through stories from daily life (e.g., farming, fishing, family relations). Jesus' parables often subverted expectations, challenging His audience's assumptions about God's kingdom. Modern readers might miss the cultural nuances—like the shock value in the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37) or the economic implications in the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30)—which were immediately apparent to the original listeners.

αἴνιγμα (ainigma, G135) — a riddle or enigmatic saying, more obscure than a parable; τύπος (typos, G5179) — a type, pattern, or model, often prefigurative rather than narrative; παροιμία (paroimia, G3942) — a proverb or figurative saying, similar but typically shorter and less narrative than a parable.

Word Details

Scripture References