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Parable

World Religion
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, famously taught by Jesus in the Gospels.

Detailed Definition
Parables are teaching tools that use everyday situations to reveal profound truths about the kingdom of God, ethics, and human nature. Their simplicity masks a deeper, often challenging, meaning that requires interpretation. In poetry, the parabolic form is employed to convey wisdom indirectly, allowing the reader to discover the truth for themselves. Poets use this narrative strategy to explore complex spiritual concepts through concrete, relatable imagery, making the abstract tangible and inviting reflective engagement.
Example
Example in poetry:
In gospel poetry, the Parable reveals truth through story: “Sower scatters seed—Parable of heart’s soil”; In Rumi’s verse, Parable makes mystery accessible: “Elephant in dark room—Parable of partial knowing”; In contemporary poetry, Parable teaches ethics: “Homeless man at gate—Parable of my indifference”; Poets use Parable to subvert power: “Kingdom of God—Parable where last are first.”
Additional Notes
Parables—like the Prodigal Son or Mustard Seed—use everyday scenarios to unveil spiritual truths; their power lies in indirection, inviting listeners to “have ears to hear”; poets emulate parables through narrative minimalism, where a single image (a lost coin, a vineyard) opens into vast ethical or metaphysical reflection.
Also Known As
Allegory Mashal (Hebrew parable)
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