Greek · G3850 · unreviewed

παραβολή

Parable

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παραβολή G3850

Pronunciation parabolḗ

What does παραβολή (parabolḗ) mean in the Bible?

παραβολή (parabolḗ) is a Greek word meaning "parable". παραβολή, -ῆς, ἡ (παραβάλλω), [in LXX (cf. Defines the literary method of kingdom revelation. This term runs through the canonical themes of Kingdom, Revelation.

Full entry for παραβολή (G3850) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

parable

Extended definition

A comparison or illustration drawn from nature and human life to teach spiritual truth.

(παραβάλλω), [in LXX (cf. McNeile, Mt., 185): Num.23:7, Deu.28:37, Psa.44:14, Pro.1:6, Eze.12:22, al. (מָשַׁל), Sir.47:17 (חִידָה), al. mutt. in Sir, Wis.5:3 ;]

1a placing beside, juxtaposition (Polyb., al.).

2a comparing, comparison (Plat., Arist., al.).

3a comparison, illustration, analogy, figure (Arist., al.) : Mat.24:32, Mrk.3:23, Heb.9:9 11:19; specif. of the pictures and narratives drawn from nature and human life which are characteristic of the synoptic teaching of our Lord, a parable: Mat.13:3, 10 Mrk.4:2, 10, Luk.8:4, 9-11, al.; with genitive ref., Mat.13:18, 36

44 Like Heb. מָשַׁל (1Ki.10:12, Pro.1:6, Sir.3:29, al.), = παροιμία, a proverb or gnomic saying: Luk.4:23 5:36 6:39

Synonymsπαροιμία (see Abbott, Essays, 82 ff.)

Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith

Why This Word Matters

Defines the literary method of kingdom revelation.

Reveals kingdom truth through imagery requiring discernment. Mark 4:1–9

Grammatical Forms

How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.

Nominative · Singular · Feminine Luke 8:9 · Luke 8:11 · Heb 9:9 3×

Genitive · Singular · Feminine Matt 13:34 · Mark 4:34 · Luke 8:4 3×

Dative · Plural · Feminine Matt 13:3 · Matt 13:10 · Matt 13:13 · Matt 13:34 · Matt 13:35 · Matt 22:1 · Mark 3:23 · Mark 4:2 · Mark 4:11 · Mark 4:33 · Mark 12:1 · Luke 8:10 12×

Dative · Singular · Feminine Mark 4:30 · Heb 11:19 2×

Accusative · Singular · Feminine Matt 13:18 · Matt 13:24 · Matt 13:31 · Matt 13:33 · Matt 13:36 · Matt 15:15 · Matt 21:33 · Matt 24:32 · Mark 4:13 · Mark 7:17 · Mark 12:12 · Mark 13:28 · Luke 4:23 · Luke 5:36 · Luke 6:39 · Luke 12:16 26×

Accusative · Plural · Feminine Matt 13:53 · Matt 21:45 · Mark 4:10 · Mark 4:13 4×

Canonical Themes

Kingdom Revelation

Biblical Occurrences

Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.

Additional Occurrences

Mark 4:1–20 παραβολή parabolḗ

illustrative comparison

New Testament Witnesses

Mark 4:1–9 παραβολή parabolḗ Dative · Plural · Feminine

parable or illustrative comparison

Matthew 13:1–9 παραβολή parabolḗ Dative · Plural · Feminine

illustrative comparison conveying kingdom truth

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

Luke 15 — The Joy of God over the Lost Being Found Luke 20 — The Rejected Son, the Questioned Authority, and the Lord Who Silences His Opponents Luke 8 — The Word Heard, the Kingdom Revealed, and the Lord’s Authority Displayed Mark 12 — The Rejected Son, the Greatest Commandment, the Lord of David, and the Widow’s Offering Mark 4 — The Mystery of the Kingdom: Hearing, Fruitfulness, and the Lord over the Storm Matthew 13 — The Kingdom in Parables: Hearing, Hiddenness, Growth, Worth, and Judgment Matthew 15 — Tradition, the Heart, Gentile Faith, and the Compassionate Bread of the Messiah

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

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