Parable — Meaning in the Bible
A short story or comparison from everyday life that teaches about God and his kingdom. Jesus taught often in parables.
What it means
Jesus told parables about seeds, sheep, coins, sons, servants and feasts. Mark says he did not speak to the crowds without a parable, but explained them to his disciples privately. Mark 4:2Mark 4:33–34
Parables appear in the Old Testament too: Nathan's story of the poor man's lamb made David see his own sin. 2 Samuel 12:1–7
Key passages
- 2 Samuel 12:1–7 — Nathan's parable to David.
- Mark 4:1–20 — The sower, with its explanation.
- Luke 10:25–37 — The good Samaritan.
- Luke 15:1–32 — The lost sheep, coin and son.
- Matthew 13:44–46 — The treasure and the pearl.
Original language
παραβολή parabolē
Greek · Strong’s G3850 · gloss: “parable”
The Greek word parabole, a comparison placed alongside. Mark 4:2
A Strong’s number is a reference identifier, not a complete definition: what a word means in a passage depends on its context. Lexical data: STEPBible.org, based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).
For children
A parable is a story Jesus told to teach something about God. The lost sheep is one of his parables. Luke 15:3–7
Study further
- Mark 4:1–34 Why Jesus used parables.
- Luke 15 Three parables of the lost.