| Translation | Verse | Text |
| King James | Lu 18:1 | And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; |
| Word | King James Dictionary - Definition |
| OUGHT | Any one; any thing. |
| Word | American Tract Society - Definition |
| PARABLE | Derived from a Greek word, which signifies, to compare things together, to form a parallel or similitude of them with other things. What we call the Proverbs of Solomon, which are moral maxims and sentences, the Greeks call the Parables of Solomon. In like manner, when Job answers his friends, it is said he took up his "parable," Job 27:1 29:1. In the New Testament the word parable denotes sometimes a true history, or an illustrative sketch from nature; sometimes a proverb or adage, Lu 4:23; a truth darkly or figuratively expressed, Mt 15:15; a type, Heb 9:9; or a similitude, Mt 24:32. The parabolical, enigmatical, figurative, and sententious way of speaking, was the language of the Eastern sages and learned men, Ps 49:4 78:2; and nothing was more insupportable than to hear a fool utter parables, Pr 26:7. The prophets employed parables the more strongly to impress prince and people with their threatening or their promises. Nathan reproved David under the parable of a rich man who had taken away and killed the lamb of a poor man, 2Sa 12:1-31. See also Jud 9:7-15 2Ki 14:9-10. Our Savior frequently addressed the people in parables, thereby verifying the prophecy of Isa 6:9, that the people should see without knowing, and hear without understanding, in the midst of instructions. This result, however, only proved how inveterate were their hardness of heart and blindness of mind; for in no other way could he have offered them instruction more invitingly, clearly, or forcibly, than by this beautiful and familiar mode. The Hebrew writers made great use of it; and not only the Jews, but the Arabs, Syrians, and all the nations of the east were and still are admirers of this form of discourse. In the interpretation of a parable, its primary truth and main scope are chiefly to be considered. The minute particulars are less to be regarded than in a sustained allegory; and serious errors are occasioned by pressing every detail, and inventing for it some spiritual analogy. The following parables of our Lord are recorded by the evangelists. Wise and foolish builders, Mt 7:24-27. Children of the bride-chamber, Mt 9:15. New cloth and old garment, Mt 9:16. New wine and old bottles, Mt 9:17. Unclean spirit, Mt 12:43. Sower, Mt 13:3,18 Lu 8:5,11. Tares, Mt 13:24-30,36-43. Mustard-seed, Mt 13:31-32 Lu 13:19. Leaven, Mt 13:33. Treasure hid in a field, Mt 13:44. Pearl of great price, Mt 13:45-46. Net cast into the sea, Mt 13:47-50. Meats defiling not, Mt 15:10-15. Unmerciful servant, Mt 18:23-35. Laborers hired, Mt 20:1-16. Two sons, Mt 21:28-32. Wicked husbandmen, Mt 21:33-45. Marriage-feast, Mt 22:2-14. Fig tree leafing, Mt 24:32-34. Man of the house watching, Mt 24:43. Faithful and evil servants, Mt 24:45-51. Ten virgins, Mt 25:1-13. Talents, Mt 25:14-30. Kingdom divided against itself, Mr 3:24. House divided against itself, Mr 3:25. Strongman armed, Mr 3:27 Lu 11:21. Seed growing secretly, Mr 4:26-29. Lighted candle, Mr 4:21 Lu 11:33-36. Man taking a far journey, Mr 13:34-37. Blind leading the blind, Lu 6:39. Beam and mote, Lu 6:41-42. Tree and its fruit, Lu 6:43-45. Creditor and debtors, Lu 7:41-47. Good Samaritan, Lu 10:30-37. Importunate friend, Lu 11:5-9. Rich fool, Lu 12:16-21. Cloud and wind, Lu 12:54-57. Barren fig tree, Lu 13:6-9. Men bidden to a feast, Lu 14:7-11. Builder of a tower, Lu 14:28-30,33. King going to war, Lu 14:31-33. Savor of salt, Lu 14:34-35. Lost sheep, Lu 15:3-7. Lost piece of silver, Lu 15:8-10. Prodigal son, Lu 15:11-32. Unjust steward, Lu 16:1-8. Rich man and Lazarus, Lu 16:19-31. Importunate widow, Lu 18:1-8. Pharisee and publican, Lu 18:9-14. Pounds, Lu 19:12-27. Good shepherd, Joh 10:1-6. Vine and branches, Joh 15:1-5. |
| Word | Easton Dictionary - Definition |
| PARABLE | (Gr. parabole), a placing beside; a comparison; equivalent to the Heb. mashal, a similitude. In the Old Testament this is used to denote (1) a proverb (1 Sam. 10:12; 24:13; 2 Chr. 7:20), (2) a prophetic utterance (Num. 23:7; Ezek. 20:49), (3) an enigmatic saying (Ps. 78:2; Prov. 1:6). In the New Testament, (1) a proverb (Mark 7:17; Luke 4:23), (2) a typical emblem (Heb. 9:9; 11:19), (3) a similitude or allegory (Matt. 15:15; 24:32; Mark 3:23; Luke 5:36; 14:7); (4) ordinarily, in a more restricted sense, a comparison of earthly with heavenly things, "an earthly story with a heavenly meaning," as in the parables of our Lord. Instruction by parables has been in use from the earliest times. A large portion of our Lord's public teaching consisted of parables. He himself explains his reasons for this in his answer to the inquiry of the disciples, "Why speakest thou to them in parables?" (Matt. 13:13-15; Mark 4:11, 12; Luke 8:9, 10). He followed in so doing the rule of the divine procedures, as recorded in Matt. 13:13. The parables uttered by our Lord are all recorded in the synoptical (i.e., the first three) Gospels. The fourth Gospel contains no parable properly so called, although the illustration of the good shepherd (John 10:1-16) has all the essential features of a parable. (See List of Parables in Appendix.) |
| Word | King James Dictionary - Definition |
| PARABLE | An utterance that involves a comparison. |
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