Compare
Comparing in the Old Testament
Several Hebrew words are translated as 'compare' in the Old Testament, each with distinct nuances. The word damah means 'to be like' or 'to resemble,' used in Song of Solomon 1:9 where the beloved is compared to a mare among Pharaoh's chariots. The word mashal means 'to liken' and is the root of the word for parable or proverb, appearing in Isaiah 46:5 where God challenges, "To whom will you liken me and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be alike?" The word arakh means 'to set in array' or 'to arrange in order,' used in Psalm 89:6 to ask, "Who in the skies can be compared to the Lord?"
The Incomparability of God
One of the most powerful uses of comparison in Scripture is to declare that God is beyond comparison. Isaiah repeatedly drives home this point: "To whom then will you compare God, or what likeness compare with him?" (Isaiah 40:18). The implied answer is: nothing and no one. Every attempt to compare God to created things fails, because He transcends all categories. This theme of divine incomparability runs through the prophets and the psalms, establishing monotheism not through abstract argument but through the simple challenge: find anything that compares to God, and you will fail (Isaiah 40:25; Psalm 89:6).
Comparing Spiritual Things
In the New Testament, Paul uses the Greek word sugkrino in 1 Corinthians 2:13, a passage that has been translated various ways: "comparing spiritual things with spiritual," "interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual," or "combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words." The word sugkrino literally means 'to judge together' or 'to sift together,' suggesting a process of bringing spiritual realities alongside one another for examination. Paul's point is that spiritual truth requires spiritual discernment; it cannot be evaluated by purely human wisdom.
The Value of Wisdom Beyond Compare
Proverbs uses comparison to establish the supreme value of wisdom. "Nothing you desire can compare with her" (Proverbs 3:15; 8:11). The Hebrew word shawah means 'to be equal' or 'to be on the same level.' By declaring that nothing compares to wisdom, the writer establishes wisdom as the highest pursuit available to human beings. This echoes through Scripture's repeated emphasis on seeking understanding above wealth, status, or pleasure.
Parables: Teaching Through Comparison
The most extensive use of comparison in Scripture comes through parables. The Hebrew word mashal and the Greek word parabole both indicate a comparison or analogy placed alongside a truth for illumination. Jesus began many teachings with "The kingdom of heaven is like..." (Matthew 13:31, 33, 44, 45, 47), using familiar, everyday comparisons to reveal spiritual realities. The parable method acknowledges that ultimate truths often cannot be stated directly but can be approached through carefully chosen analogies.
Biblical Context
Comparison language appears throughout Scripture. Key Old Testament passages include Isaiah 40:18 and 46:5 (God's incomparability), Psalm 89:6 (none compared to God in heaven), Song of Solomon 1:9 (poetic comparison), and Proverbs 3:15 and 8:11 (wisdom beyond compare). In the New Testament, 1 Corinthians 2:13 discusses comparing spiritual things, and Jesus' parables throughout the Gospels represent the most extensive use of comparison as a teaching method.
Theological Significance
The biblical use of comparison serves two major theological functions. First, it establishes God's transcendence by declaring Him incomparable to anything in creation. This protects against idolatry by insisting that no image or concept can capture God's nature. Second, comparison through parable and analogy becomes the primary method for revealing the mysteries of God's kingdom. Jesus' parables show that divine truth, while beyond full human comprehension, can be genuinely apprehended through the gift of Spirit-illuminated comparison.
Historical Background
The use of comparison and analogy was a standard teaching method in the ancient Near East. Wisdom teachers in Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Israel all employed comparisons to make abstract truths concrete and memorable. The Hebrew mashal tradition encompassed proverbs, parables, riddles, and allegories, making comparison one of the most versatile tools in the biblical writer's toolkit. Greek rhetorical tradition similarly valued analogy and comparison, and Paul drew on both Hebrew and Greek traditions in his epistles. The rabbinical tradition that followed continued to use parables extensively, demonstrating the lasting influence of this teaching method.