3942. paroimia
Berean Strong's Lexicon
paroimia: Proverb, parable, figure of speech, allegory

Original Word: παροιμία
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: paroimia
Pronunciation: pah-roy-MEE-ah
Phonetic Spelling: (par-oy-mee'-ah)
Definition: Proverb, parable, figure of speech, allegory
Meaning: a cryptic saying, an allegory; a proverb, figurative discourse.

Word Origin: Derived from παρά (para, "beside") and οἶμος (oimos, "way" or "path"), indicating something that is alongside the direct path, often implying a figurative or indirect meaning.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The Hebrew equivalent often associated with "paroimia" is מָשָׁל (mashal, Strong's H4912), which also means proverb or parable.

Usage: The term "paroimia" is used in the New Testament to denote a saying that conveys a deeper or hidden meaning, often through metaphor or allegory. It is typically employed to communicate spiritual truths in a manner that requires contemplation and insight to understand fully. In the context of Jesus' teachings, "paroimia" often refers to parables or figurative language used to reveal truths about the Kingdom of God.

Cultural and Historical Background: In the ancient Near Eastern and Greco-Roman cultures, proverbs and parables were common teaching tools. They were used to convey wisdom and moral lessons in a memorable and engaging way. Jewish tradition, in particular, valued parables as a means of teaching the Torah and illustrating complex theological concepts. Jesus' use of parables was consistent with this tradition, allowing Him to communicate profound truths to those willing to seek understanding while concealing them from those who were not receptive.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from paroimos (by the way)
Definition
a byword, a parable, an allegory
NASB Translation
figurative language (2), figure of speech (2), proverb (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 3942: παροιμία

παροιμία, παροιμίας, (παρά by, aside from (cf. παρά, IV. 2), and οἶμος way), properly, a saying out of the usual course or deviating from the usual manner of speaking (cf. Suidas 654, 15; but Hesychius under the word, et al., 'a saying heard by the wayside' (παρά, IV. 1), i. e. a current or trite saying, proverb; cf. Curtius, § 611; Stephanus' Thesaurus, under the word), hence,

1. a clever and sententious saying, a proverb (Aeschylus Ag. 264; Sophocles, Plato, Aristotle, Plutarch, others; examples from Philo are given by Hilgenfeld, Die Evangelien, p. 292f (as de ebriet. § 20; de Abr. § 40; de vit. Moys. i. § 28; ii. § 5; de exsecrat. § 6); for מָשָׁל in Proverbs 1:1; Proverbs 25:1 the Alex. manuscript; Sir. 6:35, etc.): τό τῆς παροιμίας, what is in the proverb (Lucian, dial. mort. 6, 2; 8, 1), 2 Peter 2:22.

2. any dark saying which shadows forth some didactic truth, especially a symbolic or figurative saying: παροιμίαν λέγειν, John 16:29; ἐν παροιμίαις λαλεῖν, ibid. 25; "speech or discourse in which a thing is illustrated by the use of similes and comparisons; an allegory, i. e. extended and elaborate metaphor": John 10:6.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
parable, proverb.

From a compound of para and perhaps a derivative of oiomai; apparently a state alongside of supposition, i.e. (concretely) an adage; specially, an enigmatical or fictitious illustration -- parable, proverb.

see GREEK para

see GREEK oiomai

Forms and Transliterations
παροιμίαι παροιμιαις παροιμίαις παροιμιαν παροιμίαν παροιμιας παροιμίας παροινήσουσιν paroimiais paroimíais paroimian paroimían paroimias paroimías
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
John 10:6 N-AFS
GRK: Ταύτην τὴν παροιμίαν εἶπεν αὐτοῖς
NAS: This figure of speech Jesus spoke
KJV: This parable spake Jesus
INT: This the allegory spoke to them

John 16:25 N-DFP
GRK: Ταῦτα ἐν παροιμίαις λελάληκα ὑμῖν
NAS: I have spoken to you in figurative language;
KJV: unto you in proverbs: but the time
INT: These things in allegories I have spoken to you

John 16:25 N-DFP
GRK: οὐκέτι ἐν παροιμίαις λαλήσω ὑμῖν
NAS: to you in figurative language; an hour
KJV: unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew
INT: no more in alegories I will speak to you

John 16:29 N-AFS
GRK: λαλεῖς καὶ παροιμίαν οὐδεμίαν λέγεις
NAS: and are not using a figure of speech.
KJV: speakest no proverb.
INT: you speak and allegory not speak

2 Peter 2:22 N-GFS
GRK: τῆς ἀληθοῦς παροιμίας Κύων ἐπιστρέψας
NAS: to them according to the TRUE proverb, A DOG
KJV: the true proverb, The dog
INT: of the true proverb [The] dog having returned

Strong's Greek 3942
5 Occurrences


παροιμίαις — 2 Occ.
παροιμίαν — 2 Occ.
παροιμίας — 1 Occ.

















3941
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