The Greek expression pa·ra·bo·le´ (literally, a placing beside or together) has a wider latitude of meaning than the English "proverb" or "parable." However, "illustration" covers a wide range that can include "parable" and, in many cases, "proverb." A "proverb" embodies a truth in expressive language, often metaphorically, and a "parable" is a comparison or similitude, a short, usually fictitious, narrative from which a moral or spiritual truth is drawn.
That the Scriptures use the word pa·ra·bo·le´ with a wider meaning than the English "parable" is shown at Matthew 13:34, 35, where Matthew points out that it had been foretold concerning Jesus Christ that he would speak with "illustrations" (NW), "parables" (KJ, RS).
Psalm 78:2, quoted by Matthew in this connection, refers to "a proverbial saying" (Heb., ma·shal´), and for this term the Gospel writer employed the Greek word pa·ra·bo·le´. As the literal meaning of the Greek term implies, the pa·ra·bo·le´ served as a means of teaching or communicating an idea, a method of explaining a thing by ‘placing it beside’ another similar thing. (Compare Mr 4:30.)
Most English translations simply use the anglicized form "parable" to render the Greek term.
However, this translation does not serve to convey the full meaning in every instance.
For example, at Hebrews 9:9 and 11:19 most translations find it necessary to resort to expressions other than "parable." In the first of these texts the tabernacle, or tent, used by Israel in the wilderness, is called by the apostle Paul "an illustration [pa·ra·bo·le´; "figure," KJ; "similitude," Ro; "symbolic," AT, RS] for the appointed time." In the second text Abraham is described by the apostle as having received Isaac back from the dead "in an illustrative way" (NW) (en pa·ra·bo·lei´; "figuratively speaking," JB, RS).
The saying, "Physician, cure yourself," is also termed a pa·ra·bo·le´. (Lu 4:23)
In view of this, a more basic term such as "illustration" (NW) serves for a consistent rendering of pa·ra·bo·le´ in all cases.
Another related term is "allegory" (Gr., al·le·go·ri´a), which is a prolonged metaphor in which a series of actions are symbolic of other actions, while the characters often are types or personifications.
Paul uses the Greek verb al·le·go·re´o (allegorize) at Galatians 4:24, concerning Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar.
It is translated ‘be an allegory’ (KJ), ‘be an allegorical utterance’ (AT), and "stand as a symbolic drama" (NW).
The apostle John also used a distinct term (pa·roi·mi´a) that denotes "comparison" (Joh 10:6; 16:25, 29); it is variously translated "figure," "figurative language," "parable," "proverb," and "comparison" (AT, KJ, NW).
Peter employed the same term with regard to the "proverb" of the dog returning to its vomit and the sow to rolling in the mire.—2Pe 2:22.
