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Greek Word Study

Strong's G3850 παραβολή (parabole)

Parabole means “parable” — full meaning, definition, and every linked Bible usage across the indexed canon.

Same number, other testament: Strong's H3850 — lod in the Hebrew Bible.

Strong's Number G3850
Language Greek
Linked Usages 93
Books 21

Strong's G3850 Quick Answer

Strong's G3850 παραβολή (parabole) is a Greek Strong's word-study entry. parabole (par-ab-ol-ay') n. 1. a similitude ("parable") 2. (symbolic) fictitious narrative (of common life conveying a moral), apothegm or adage It has 93 linked Bible usages across 21 books. Visible English usage signals include parable. Indexed coverage on this page includes New Testament, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha, and 1 Enoch.

Meaning
parabole (par-ab-ol-ay') n. 1. a similitude ("parable") 2. (symbolic) fictitious narrative (of common life conveying a moral), apothegm or adage
Usage
93 linked usages
Books
21 indexed books
Corpus
New Testament, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha, and 1 Enoch
Usage Words
parable

Meaning and Definition

parabole (par-ab-ol-ay') n. 1. a similitude ("parable") 2. (symbolic) fictitious narrative (of common life conveying a moral), apothegm or adage [from G3846] KJV: comparison, figure, parable, proverb Root(s): G3846

Original Word
παραβολή
Transliteration
parabole
Derivation
Root: παραβάλλω R1: 3846
Morphology
noun

Across Lexicons

How independent scholarly lexicons define Strong's G3850. Each definition is shown with its source so you can compare and cite the original reference works.

Extended Strong's Greek Lexicon (Abbott-Smith based)

parable

Usage: παραβολή, -ῆς, ἡ (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 ;] __1. a placing beside, juxtaposition (Polyb., al.). __2. a comparing, comparison (Plat., Arist., al.). __3. a 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 __4 4 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 SYN.: παροιμία (see Abbott, Essays, 82 ff.) (AS)

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How Strong's G3850 Is Translated

The English word each shown verse actually uses to render parabole, taken from the interlinear word alignment (the same word underlined in the excerpts below). Where a rendering is used more than once, the count is shown.

parable Matthew 13:18 31×

How Strong's G3850 Usage Compares

Indexed coverage includes New Testament, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha, and 1 Enoch. Each section below keeps corpus counts and sample passages visible so readers can compare the word across contexts instead of reading one flat concordance list.

  • The largest indexed corpus on this page is New Testament with 48 linked usages.
  • This page lets readers compare New Testament usage with Septuagint / Greek Old Testament usage, which is a key THF advantage over narrower Strong's pages.
  • Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha rows are counted separately so readers can decide how those texts relate to the main word study.
  • 1 Enoch rows are separated from the other corpora rather than being hidden inside a generic apocrypha bucket.

In the Septuagint (LXX)

Strong's G3850 (παραβολή) appears 46 times in the Greek Septuagint — the Old Testament the New Testament authors quoted.

Sample Septuagint occurrences:

Read the full Greek Septuagint interlinear with Strong's →

Strong's G3850 by Corpus

Indexed usage grouped by testament and extended corpus so readers can compare this word across the Bible, Septuagint, deuterocanonical books, and 1 Enoch where present.

Strong's G3850 in the New Testament

48 indexed usages in New Testament.

Matthew 13:3 KJV

And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;

Matthew 13:10 KJV

And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?

Matthew 13:13 KJV

Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

Strong's G3850 in the Septuagint / Greek Old Testament

32 indexed usages in Septuagint / Greek Old Testament.

Numbers 23:7 Septuagint / Brenton

And he took up his parable, and said, Balak king of Moab sent for me out of Mesopotamia, Out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, And Come, call for a curse for me upon Israel.

Numbers 23:18 Septuagint / Brenton

And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; Hearken as a witness, thou son of Zippor.

Numbers 24:3 Septuagint / Brenton

And he took up his parable and said, Balaam son of Beor says, The man who sees truly says,

Strong's G3850 in the deuterocanonical books / Apocrypha

11 indexed usages in Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha.

Tobit 3:4 Septuagint / Brenton

for they obeyed not thy commandments: wherefore thou hast delivered us for a spoil, and unto captivity, and unto death, and for a proverb of reproach to all the nations among whom we are dispersed.

Wisdom of Solomon 5:4 Septuagint / Brenton

We fools accounted his life madness, And his end to be without honor:

Strong's G3850 in 1 Enoch

2 indexed usages in 1 Enoch.

1 Enoch 1:2 Septuagint / Brenton

living in the day of tribulation, when all the wicked and godless are to be removed. And he took up his parable and said -Enoch a righteous man, whose eyes were opened by God, saw the vision of the Holy One in the heavens, which the angels showed me, and from them I heard everything, and from them I understood as I saw, but not for this generation, but for a remote one which is

1 Enoch 1:3 Septuagint / Brenton

for to come. Concerning the elect I said, and took up my parable concerning them: The Holy Great One will come forth from His dwelling,

Usage Excerpts

First 93 linked usage excerpts for Strong's G3850.

Numbers 23:7 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
And he took up his parable, and said, Balak king of Moab sent for me out of Mesopotamia, Out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, And Come, call for a curse for me upon Israel.
Numbers 23:18 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; Hearken as a witness, thou son of Zippor.
Numbers 24:3 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
And he took up his parable and said, Balaam son of Beor says, The man who sees truly says,
Numbers 24:15 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
And he took up his parable and said, Balaam the son of Beor says, The man who sees truly says,
Numbers 24:20 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
And having seen Amalek, he took up his parable and said, Amalek is the first of the nations; Yet his seed shall perish.
Numbers 24:21 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
And having seen the Kenite, he took up his parable and said, Thy dwelling place is strong; Yet though thou shouldest put thy nest in a rock,
Numbers 24:23 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
And he looked upon Og, and took up his parable and said, Oh, oh, who shall live, when God shall do these things?
Deuteronomy 28:37 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
And thou shalt be there for a wonder, and a parable, and a tale, among all the nations, to which the Lord thy God shall carry thee away.
1 Kingdoms 10:12 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
And one of them answered and said, And who is his father? and therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets?
1 Kingdoms 24:14 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
As the old proverb says, Transgression will proceed from the wicked ones: but my hand shall not be upon thee.
2 Kingdoms 23:3 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
The God of Israel says, A watchman out of Israel spoke to me a parable: I said among men, How will ye strengthen the fear of the anointed?
3 Kingdoms 5:12 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
And Solomon spoke three thousand proverbs, and his songs were five thousand.
2 Chronicles 7:20 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
then will I remove you from the land which I gave them; and this house which I have consecrated to my name I will remove out of my sight, and I will make it a proverb and a byword among all nations.
Psalms 43:15 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
Thou hast made us a proverb among the Gentiles, A shaking of the head among the nations.
Psalms 48:5 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my riddle on the harp.
Psalms 68:12 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
And I put on sackcloth for my covering; And I became a proverb to them.
Psalms 77:2 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
I will open my mouth in parables: I will utter dark sayings which have been from the beginning.
Proverbs 1:6 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
And will understand a parable, and a dark speech; The sayings of the wise also, and riddles.
Ecclesiastes 1:17 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
And my heart knew much—wisdom, and knowledge, Parables and understanding: I perceived that this also is waywardness of spirit.
Ecclesiastes 12:9 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
And because the Preacher was wise above others, So it was that he taught man excellent knowledge, And the ear will trace out the parables.
Jeremiah 24:9 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
And I will cause them to be dispersed into all the kingdoms of the earth, and they shall be for a reproach, and a proverb, and an object of hatred, and a curse, in every place whither I have driven them out.
Ezekiel 12:22 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
Son of man, what is your parable on the land of Israel, that ye say, The days are long, the vision has perished?
Ezekiel 12:23 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
Therefore say to them, Thus saith the Lord; I will even set aside this parable, and the house of Israel shall no more at all use this parable: for thou shalt say to them, The days are at hand, and the import of every vision.
Ezekiel 16:44 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
These are all the things they have spoken against thee in a proverb, saying,
Ezekiel 17:2 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
Son of man, relate a tale, and speak a parable to the house of Israel:
Ezekiel 18:2 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
Son of man, what mean ye by this parable among the children of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten unripe grapes, and the children’s teeth have been set on edge?
Ezekiel 18:3 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
As I live, saith the Lord, surely this parable shall no more be spoken in Israel.
Ezekiel 19:14 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
And fire is gone out of a rod of her choice boughs, and has devoured her; and there was no rod of strength in her. Her race is become a parable of lamentation, and it shall be for a lamentation.
Ezekiel 21:5 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
And I said, Not so, O Lord God! they say to me, Is not this that is spoken a parable?
Ezekiel 24:3 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
And speak a parable to the provoking house, and thou shalt say to them, Thus saith the Lord; Set on the caldron, and pour water into it:
Micah 2:4 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
In that day shall a parable be taken up against you, and a plaintive lamentation shall be uttered, saying, We are thoroughly miserable: the portion of my people has been measured out with a line, and there was none to hinder him so as to turn him back; your fields have been divided.
Habakkuk 2:6 Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Septuagint / Brenton
Shall not all these take up a parable against him? and a proverb to tell against him? and they shall say, Woe to him that multiplies to himself the possessions which are not his! how long? and who heavily loads his yoke.
Matthew 13:3 New Testament, KJV
And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
Matthew 13:10 New Testament, KJV
And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
Matthew 13:13 New Testament, KJV
Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
Matthew 13:18 New Testament, KJV
Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
Matthew 13:24 New Testament, KJV
Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
Matthew 13:31 New Testament, KJV
Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:
Matthew 13:33 New Testament, KJV
Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
Matthew 13:34 New Testament, KJV
All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:
Matthew 13:35 New Testament, KJV
That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.
Matthew 13:36 New Testament, KJV
Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.
Matthew 13:53 New Testament, KJV
And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence.
Matthew 15:15 New Testament, KJV
Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable.
Matthew 21:33 New Testament, KJV
Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:
Matthew 21:45 New Testament, KJV
And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.
Matthew 22:1 New Testament, KJV
And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,
Matthew 24:32 New Testament, KJV
Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
Mark 3:23 New Testament, KJV
And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?
Mark 4:2 New Testament, KJV
And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,
Mark 4:10 New Testament, KJV
And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.
Mark 4:11 New Testament, KJV
And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
Mark 4:13 New Testament, KJV
And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?
Mark 4:30 New Testament, KJV
And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?
Mark 4:33 New Testament, KJV
And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.
Mark 4:34 New Testament, KJV
But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.
Mark 7:17 New Testament, KJV
And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.
Mark 12:1 New Testament, KJV
And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country.
Mark 12:12 New Testament, KJV
And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.
Mark 13:28 New Testament, KJV
Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near:
Luke 4:23 New Testament, KJV
And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.
Luke 5:36 New Testament, KJV
And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old.
Luke 6:39 New Testament, KJV
And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?
Luke 8:4 New Testament, KJV
And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:
Luke 8:9 New Testament, KJV
And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?
Luke 8:10 New Testament, KJV
And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.
Luke 8:11 New Testament, KJV
Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
Luke 12:16 New Testament, KJV
And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
Luke 12:41 New Testament, KJV
Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?
Luke 13:6 New Testament, KJV
He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
Luke 14:7 New Testament, KJV
And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them.
Luke 15:3 New Testament, KJV
And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
Luke 18:1 New Testament, KJV
And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
Luke 18:9 New Testament, KJV
And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
Luke 19:11 New Testament, KJV
And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.
Luke 20:9 New Testament, KJV
Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time.
Luke 20:19 New Testament, KJV
And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them.
Luke 21:29 New Testament, KJV
And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;
Hebrews 9:9 New Testament, KJV
Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
Hebrews 11:19 New Testament, KJV
Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
Tobit 3:4 Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha, Septuagint / Brenton
for they obeyed not thy commandments: wherefore thou hast delivered us for a spoil, and unto captivity, and unto death, and for a proverb of reproach to all the nations among whom we are dispersed.
Wisdom of Solomon 5:4 Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha, Septuagint / Brenton
We fools accounted his life madness, And his end to be without honor:
Wisdom of Sirach 1:25 Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha, Septuagint / Brenton
But godliness is an abomination to a sinner.
Wisdom of Sirach 3:29 Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha, Septuagint / Brenton
The heart of the prudent will understand a parable; And an attentive ear is the desire of a wise man.
Wisdom of Sirach 13:26 Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha, Septuagint / Brenton
A cheerful countenance is a token of a heart that is in prosperity; And the finding out of parables is a wearisome labor of the mind.
Wisdom of Sirach 20:20 Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha, Septuagint / Brenton
A wise sentence shall be rejected when it cometh out of a fool’s mouth; For he will not speak it in due season.
Wisdom of Sirach 38:34 Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha, Septuagint / Brenton
But they will maintain the state of the world, And all their desire is in the work of their craft. But he that giveth his mind to the law of the most High, And is occupied in the meditation thereof,
Wisdom of Sirach 39:2 Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha, Septuagint / Brenton
He will keep the sayings of the renowned men: And where subtle parables are, he will be there also.
Wisdom of Sirach 39:3 Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha, Septuagint / Brenton
He will seek out the secrets of grave sentences, And be conversant in dark parables.
Wisdom of Sirach 47:15 Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha, Septuagint / Brenton
Thy soul covered the whole earth, And thou filledst it with dark parables.
Wisdom of Sirach 47:17 Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha, Septuagint / Brenton
The countries marveled at thee for thy songs, And proverbs, and parables, and interpretations.
1 Enoch 1:2 1 Enoch, Septuagint / Brenton
living in the day of tribulation, when all the wicked and godless are to be removed. And he took up his parable and said -Enoch a righteous man, whose eyes were opened by God, saw the vision of the Holy One in the heavens, which the angels showed me, and from them I heard everything, and from them I understood as I saw, but not for this generation, but for a remote one which is
1 Enoch 1:3 1 Enoch, Septuagint / Brenton
for to come. Concerning the elect I said, and took up my parable concerning them: The Holy Great One will come forth from His dwelling,

All Indexed Usage Links

Every indexed verse link for Strong's G3850, grouped by book.

Numbers 7 usages, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
Deuteronomy 1 usage, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
1 Kingdoms 2 usages, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
2 Kingdoms 1 usage, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
3 Kingdoms 1 usage, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
2 Chronicles 1 usage, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
Psalms 4 usages, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
Proverbs 1 usage, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
Ecclesiastes 2 usages, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
Jeremiah 1 usage, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
Ezekiel 9 usages, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
Micah 1 usage, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
Habakkuk 1 usage, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament
Matthew 16 usages, New Testament
Mark 12 usages, New Testament
Luke 18 usages, New Testament
Hebrews 2 usages, New Testament
Tobit 1 usage, Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha
Wisdom of Solomon 1 usage, Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha
Wisdom of Sirach 9 usages, Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha
1 Enoch 2 usages, 1 Enoch

Strong's G3850 FAQ

What does parabole (παραβολή) mean?

Parabole (Strong's G3850) is a Greek word most simply glossed "parable". parabole (par-ab-ol-ay') n. 1. a similitude ("parable") 2. (symbolic) fictitious narrative (of common life conveying a moral), apothegm or adage

How many times is parabole (παραβολή) used in the Bible?

This page currently indexes 93 linked usages for Strong's G3850 across 21 books.

Where can I study parabole (παραβολή) in context?

Use the linked verse references on this page to study Strong's G3850 in context. The indexed coverage includes New Testament, Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha, and 1 Enoch.

What English words translate parabole (παραβολή)?

The visible usage excerpts most often surface English words such as parable. These are scanning signals from the displayed verses, not replacements for the original-language definition.

Does Strong's G3850 appear in the Septuagint or deuterocanonical books?

Yes. The current local index includes 32 in Septuagint / Greek Old Testament, 11 in Deuterocanonical / Apocrypha, and 2 in 1 Enoch for Strong's G3850, with linked reader references where each row is available.