PARABLE1. This Word is formed from the Greek Parabole, which comes from the Verb Paraballein, signifying to compare Things together, or to make a Parallel or Similitude of them with any Thing else. In Scripture are often confounded Comparison, Simile, Parable, the sententious Manner of speaking by Proverbs, Sentences, or Similitudes. What we call the Proverbs of Solomon, which are moral Maxims and Sentences, are by the Greeks called the Parables of Solomon. And when St. Jerome would express the poetick and sententious Style of the false Prophet Balaam, he says he began to speak in a Parable. Assumptâ Numb. xxiii. 7. 18, &c. Job. xxvii. 1. xxix. 1.parabolâ, dixit. And in like Manner when Job makes Answer to his Friends, ‘tis said he began to take up his Parable: Assumens parabolam suam, dixit. The parabolical, enigmatical, figurative, and sententious Way of speaking was the Language of the Eastern Sages and learned Men; and nothing was more insupportable than to hear a Fool utter Prov. xxvi. 7.Parables. The Legs of the Lame are not equal; so is a Parable in the Mouth of Fools.
2 Sam. xii. 2, 3, &c. 2 Sam. xiv. 2, 3, &c. Judg. ix. 7, 8, &c.The Prophets made Use of Parables, to give a stronger Impression to Prince and People, of the Threatnings or of the Promises they made to ‘em. Nathan reproves David under the Parable of a rich Man that had taken away and killed the Lamb of a poor Man. The Woman of Tekoah, that was hired by Joab to reconcile the Mind of the same Prince towards his Son Absalom, proposed to him the Parable of her two Sons that fought together in the Field, and one of which having killed the other, they were going to put the Murtherer to Death, and so to deprive her of both her Sons at once. Jotham, Son of Gideon, proposed to the Men of Shechem the Parable of the Bramble of Libanus, whom the Trees had a Mind to choose for their King. The Prophets often reprove the Infidelity of Jerusalem under the Parable of an adulterous Wife. They describe the Violence of such Princes as are Enemies to the People of God, under the Representations of Lions, Eagles, Bears, &c.
Matth. xiii. 10. Isai. vi. 9.Our Saviour in the Gospel seldom speaks otherwise to the People but in Parables. He made Use of ‘em to verify the Prophecy of Isaiah, who foretold, that the People should see without knowing, and hear without understanding, and should continue in their Blindness and Hardness of Heart, in the Midst of the Instructions they should receive. St. Jerome2 observes, that this Manner of instructing and speaking by Similitudes and Parables was very common among the Syrians, and especially among the People of Palestine. It is certain that the antient Sages made Use of this Stile, if I may so say, even to Affectation.
There are some Parables in the New Testament which are supposed to be true Histories. As that of Lazarus and the wicked rich Man, that of the good Samaritan, who found on the Road to Jericho the Man wounded by Thieves, that of the Prodigal Son. There are others in which our Saviour seems to allude to some Points of the History of those Times; as that wherein it is said, that a King went into a far Country, there to receive a Kingdom. This may hint at the History of Archelaus, who after the Death of his Father Herod the Great went to Rome, to receive from Augustus the Confirmation of his Father’s Will, by which he had the Kingdom of Judæa left to him.
Lastly, the Word Parable is sometimes used in Scripture in a Sense of Reproach and Contempt. God threatens his People to scatter them among the Nations, and to make them a Parable or a Fable to the People. He says he will make his Temple 2 Chron. vii. 20.a Parable to all People, if Israel does not continue faithful to him3. When any one would express a Nation hated of God, and which has suffered the utmost Degree of his Anger, he shall say, May you become like to the Israelites!
Read this article in its place on the printed pages