Ezekiel 17:2
New King James Version
2 “Son of man, pose a riddle, and speak a (A)parable to the house of Israel,
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Ezekiel 20:49
New King James Version
49 Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! They say of me, ‘Does he not speak (A)parables?’ ”
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Matthew 13:35
New King James Version
35 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:
(A)“I will open My mouth in parables;
(B)I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world.”
1 Corinthians 13:12
New King James Version
12 For (A)now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then (B)face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
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Mark 4:33-34
New King James Version
Jesus’ Use of Parables
33 (A)And with many such parables He spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it. 34 But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone, (B)He explained all things to His disciples.
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Matthew 13:13-14
New King James Version
13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:
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Hosea 12:10
New King James Version
10 (A)I have also spoken by the prophets,
And have multiplied visions;
I have given [a]symbols [b]through the witness of the prophets.”
Footnotes
- Hosea 12:10 Or parables
- Hosea 12:10 Lit. by the hand
Ezekiel 24:3
New King James Version
3 (A)And utter a parable to the rebellious house, and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God:
(B)“Put on a pot, set it on,
And also pour water into it.
2 Samuel 12:1-4
New King James Version
Nathan’s Parable and David’s Confession
12 Then the Lord sent Nathan to David. And (A)he came to him, and (B)said to him: “There were two men in one city, one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had exceedingly many flocks and herds. 3 But the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb which he had bought and nourished; and it grew up together with him and with his children. It ate of his own food and drank from his own cup and lay in his bosom; and it was like a daughter to him. 4 And a traveler came to the rich man, who refused to take from his own flock and from his own herd to prepare one for the wayfaring man who had come to him; but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.”
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Judges 14:12-19
New King James Version
12 Then Samson said to them, “Let me (A)pose a riddle to you. If you can correctly solve and explain it to me (B)within the seven days of the feast, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty (C)changes of clothing. 13 But if you cannot explain it to me, then you shall give me thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing.”
And they said to him, (D)“Pose your riddle, that we may hear it.”
14 So he said to them:
“Out of the eater came something to eat,
And out of the strong came something sweet.”
Now for three days they could not explain the riddle.
15 But it came to pass on the [a]seventh day that they said to Samson’s wife, (E)“Entice your husband, that he may explain the riddle to us, (F)or else we will burn you and your father’s house with fire. Have you invited us in order to take what is ours? Is that not so?”
16 Then Samson’s wife wept on him, and said, (G)“You only hate me! You do not love me! You have posed a riddle to the sons of my people, but you have not explained it to me.”
And he said to her, “Look, I have not explained it to my father or my mother; so should I explain it to you?” 17 Now she had wept on him the seven days while their feast lasted. And it happened on the seventh day that he told her, because she pressed him so much. Then she explained the riddle to the sons of her people. 18 So the men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down:
“What is sweeter than honey?
And what is stronger than a lion?”
And he said to them:
“If you had not plowed with my heifer,
You would not have solved my riddle!”
19 Then (H)the Spirit of the Lord came upon him mightily, and he went down to Ashkelon and killed thirty of their men, took their apparel, and gave the changes of clothing to those who had explained the riddle. So his anger was aroused, and he went back up to his father’s house.
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- Judges 14:15 So with MT, Tg., Vg.; LXX, Syr. fourth
Judges 9:8-15
New King James Version
8 “The(A) trees once went forth to anoint a king over them.
And they said to the olive tree,
(B)‘Reign over us!’
9 But the olive tree said to them,
‘Should I cease giving my oil,
(C)With which they honor God and men,
And go to sway over trees?’
10 “Then the trees said to the fig tree,
‘You come and reign over us!’
11 But the fig tree said to them,
‘Should I cease my sweetness and my good fruit,
And go to sway over trees?’
12 “Then the trees said to the vine,
‘You come and reign over us!’
13 But the vine said to them,
‘Should I cease my new wine,
(D)Which cheers both God and men,
And go to sway over trees?’
14 “Then all the trees said to the bramble,
‘You come and reign over us!’
15 And the bramble said to the trees,
‘If in truth you anoint me as king over you,
Then come and take shelter in my (E)shade;
But if not, (F)let fire come out of the bramble
And devour the (G)cedars of Lebanon!’
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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