PARABLE (wapaeoae, " a comparison or similitude"), is defined by Bishop Lowth as " a continued narrative of a fictitious event, applied by way of simile to the illustration of some important truth." (‘ Prmlect.; x.) It is a species of fable, and differs from the apologne by narrating events which, though fictitious, are not impossible to have happened. [Flame.) This mode of instruction is of great antiquity, especially among the eastern nations. In the Old Testament we have examples of it in the parable of Nathan to David (2 Sam., xii. 1.9), in that of the woman of Tekoah (2 Sam., xiv. 1.13), and repeatedly in the writings of the prophets (Is., v. 1-7 ; Ezek., xv., mei., xix., xxxiii., The parable of Jotham, which is often spoken of as the moat ancient parable in existence (Judges, ix. 7.15), is properly an apologue. In the New Testament parables form a most marked feature of our Saviour's teaching. (See the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.)
Lowth lays down as the essential qualities of a parable, that the image must be well known and applicable to the subject, and its meaning clear and definite; it must be elegant and beautiful in itself ; all its parts and appendages must be perspicuous and pertinent; and the literal must never be confounded with the metaphorical sense.
Many of the Scripture parables are accompanied by an explanation, which, of course, fixes the sense. Where this is not the case, the intended meaning must be gathered from a consideration of the sub jectenatter of the parable itself, the context in which it occurs, and the circumstances under which it was uttered.
Besides its usual signification, this word is employed in the Scrip tures in the following senses :—a proverb, a famous saying, a thing darkly or figuratively expressed, and a visible type or emblem.