Parables in the Old Testament
Habakkuk 2:6 - Won't all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, 'Woe to him who increases that which is not his, and who enriches himself by extortion! How long?'
There were many parables spoken in ancient times and especially in the Bible. The Hebrew word "mashal" referred to a comparison of a familiar earthly thing with a heavenly or spiritual truth that was to be understood.
Parables pointed to the fact that man is made in God's image, he is of the earth but also of the divine. The power of a parable lies in its ability to use a simple every day experience to help the hearer to understand a truth set forth about God's kingdom. Parables help man to perceive the difference between man's kingdom and God's kingdom. The parable leads the listener to a choice, to choose this day whom to serve.
Jesus confirmed all of the parables mentioned in the Old Testament (Luke 11:49-51).
Below is a list of several Old Testament parables.
| List of Parables in the Old Testament | ||
| The Parables | The Speakers | The Bible Verses |
| The Poor Man's Lamb | Nathan to King David | 2 Samuel 12:1-4 |
| The 2 Fighting Brothers and the Avengers of Blood | The Wise Widow from Tekoa | 2 Samuel 14:1-11 |
| The Escaped Prisoner | A Prophet to King Ahab | 1 Kings 20:35-40 |
| The Fruitless Vineyard | Isaiah to the house of Israel and the men of Judah | Isaiah 5:1-7 |
| The 2 Eagles and the Vine | Ezekiel to the house of Israel | Ezekiel 17:3-10 |
| The Lioness and her Cubs | Ezekiel to the house of Israel | Ezekiel 19:2-9 |
| The Boiling Cauldron | Ezekiel to the house of Israel | Ezekiel 24:3-5 |
2 Samuel 12:7 - "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says..."
The Story of the Bible - Part One - The Old Testament
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Table of Contents
The Story of the Bible
- The Old Testament
- Quick Summary
- About
- Divisions
- Timeline
- Charts
- Maps
- Creation
- Adam and Eve
- The Flood
- The Tower of Babel
- Abraham the First Hebrew
Isaac, Son of Promise
- Jacob and the 12 Tribes
- Joseph and Egypt
- Moses and the Exodus
- The Giving of the Law
- The Tabernacle
- The Wilderness Wanderings
- Joshua and the Promised Land
- The Judges
- Samuel the Prophet
- Saul, Israel's First King
- King David
- King Solomon
- The Divided Kingdom
- The Northern Kingdom of Israel
- The Southern Kingdom of Judah
- The Assyrian Captivity
- The Babylonian Captivity
- The Return From Babylon
- The Prophets
- The Messiah
- Conclusion
- Bibliography and Credits
Summary of the Old Testament Books
- Genesis
- Exodus
- Leviticus
- Numbers
- Deuteronomy
- Joshua
- Judges
- Ruth
- Samuel
- Kings
- Chronicles
- Ezra
- Nehemiah
- Esther
- Job
- Psalms
- Proverbs
- Ecclesiastes
- Song of Solomon
- Isaiah
- Jeremiah
- Lamentations
- Ezekiel
- Daniel
- Hosea
- Joel
- Amos
- Obadiah
- Jonah
- Micah
- Nahum
- Habakkuk
- Zephaniah
- Haggai
- Zechariah
- Malachi
Read the Old Testament Stories
Bibliography Resources on the Old Testament
- A Survey of Old Testament Introduction, Revised and Expanded by Archer, 508 Pages, Pub. 2007
- The Old Testament: A Historical, Theological, and Critical Introduction
- Introducing the Old Testament: A Historical, Literary, and Theological Survey
- A Survey of the Old Testament
- An Introduction to the Old Testament: Second Edition
- Old Testament Theology
- A Biblical-Theological Introduction to the Old Testament: The Gospel Promised
Old Testament Charts to Help with the Study of the Bible
- Old Testament Books
- Old Testament Books in English Order
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- Old Testament Books - Hebrew Meanings
- Divisions of the Old Testament
- Timeline of the Pentateuch
- Adam and Eve, a Type of Christ and the Church
- The Table of Nations in Genesis 10
- Lifespans in Genesis
- The Lineage of Christ in Genesis
- The Family Tree of Esau
- The 12 Tribes of Israel
- Joseph, A Type of Christ
- The Encampment of Israel
- The Hebrew Calendar of Months
- The 7 Feasts and God's Calendar
- The Feasts and Festivals of Israel
- Scriptures and Procedures of the Feasts
- Chapters, Verses, and Words in the Old Testament
- Miracles in the Old Testament
- Parables in the Old Testament
- Gentile Nations in the Old Testament
- The Servant of the LORD, Israel and the Messiah
- The Distinction Between Kings and Chronicles
- The Judges who Delivered Israel
- The Royal House of David
- The Kings of Israel
- The Kings of Judah
- Chronology of Israel and Judah's Kings and Prophets
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- Kings of the Assyrian Empire
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Bible Study Questions
- The Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV): Historical Significance, Translation Methodology, and Lasting Impact
- Exploring the English Standard Version (ESV): Its Aspects, Comparisons, Impact on Biblical Studies, and Church Use
- A Detailed Historical Analysis of Language Updates in the KJ21: Comparison with Other Versions
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