Parables

How Nave’s arranged it

• Of the treesJudges 9:8–15
• Of the lamb2 Samuel 12:1–6
• Of the woman of Tekoa2 Samuel 14:5–12
• Of the garment which was torn in pieces1 Kings 11:30–32
• Of the prisoner of war1 Kings 20:39–41
• Of the thistle and cedar2 Kings 14:9
• Of a vine of EgyptPsalms 80:8–16
• Of the vineyardIsaiah 5:1–7Isaiah 27:2Isaiah 27:3
• Of the husbandmanIsaiah 28:23–29
• Of the skins filled with wineJeremiah 13:12–14
• Of the vineEzekiel 15Ezekiel 17:5–10Ezekiel 19:10–14
• Of the two eaglesEzekiel 17

The passages, in Bible order (30)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 16 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. Judges 9:8–15

   One day the trees set out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’

   ›Commentary on Judges 9:8–151 voice

   “The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them,.... This is an apologue or fable, and a very fine and beautiful one; it is fitly expressed to answer the design, and the most ancient of the kind, being made seven hundred years before the times of Aesop, so famous for his fables, and exceeds anything written by him.

   Everything gathered on Judges 9:8–15→

   Verse page →Original language →

2. 2 Samuel 12:1–6

   Then the LORD sent Nathan to David, and when he arrived, he said, “There were two men in a certain city, one rich and the other poor.

   ›Commentary on 2 Samuel 12:1–62 voices

   “But sometimes, when the powerful of this world are taken to task, they are first to be searched by certain similitudes, as on a matter not concerning them; and, when they have pronounced a right sentence as against another man, then in fitting ways they are to be smitten with regard to their own guilt; so that the mind puffed up with temporal power may in no wise lift itself up against the reprover, having by its own judgment trodden on the neck of pride, and may not try to defend itself, being bound by the sentence of its own mouth.

   “Nathan came to David as if to ask his judicial decision on the case about to be submitted to him (compare 2Sa 14:2-11; 1Ki 20:35-41). The circumstances of the story are exquisitely contrived to heighten the pity of David for the oppressed, and his indignation against the oppressor 1Sa 25:13, 1Sa 25:22.

   Everything gathered on 2 Samuel 12:1–6→

   Verse page →Original language →

3. 2 Samuel 14:5–12

   “What troubles you?” the king asked her. “Indeed,” she said, “I am a widow, for my husband is dead.

   ›Commentary on 2 Samuel 14:5–121 voice

   “I am indeed a widow woman - It is very possible that the principal facts mentioned here were real, and that Joab found out a person whose circumstances bore a near resemblance to that which he wished to represent.

   Everything gathered on 2 Samuel 14:5–12→

   Verse page →Original language →

4. 1 Kings 11:30–32

   And Ahijah took hold of the new cloak he was wearing, tore it into twelve pieces,

   ›Commentary on 1 Kings 11:30–322 voices

   “And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him,.... This looks as if it was Jeroboam's garment, having got a new one to appear before the king in; though the sense may be this, that the prophet took hold of his own garment that was upon himself: and rent it in twelve pieces; as symbolical of the twelve tribes of Israel.

   “The first instance of the “acted parable.” Generally this mode was adopted upon express divine command (see Jer 13:1-11; Eze 3:1-3). A connection may be traced between the type selected and the words of the announcement to Solomon (1Ki 11:11-13. Compare 1Sa 15:26-28).

   Everything gathered on 1 Kings 11:30–32→

   Verse page →Original language →

5. 1 Kings 20:39–41

   As the king passed by, he cried out to the king: “Your servant had marched out into the middle of the battle, when suddenly a man came over with a captive and told me, ‘Guard this man! If he goes missing for any reason, your life will be exchanged for his life, or you will weigh out a talent of silver.’

   Verse page →Original language →

6. 2 Kings 14:9

   But Jehoash king of Israel replied to Amaziah king of Judah: “A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ Then a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle.

   ›Commentary on 2 Kings 14:92 voices

   “The thorn bush [mentioned here] is a tiny plant and herb and is not the blackberry bush, [whose fruits] we eat. "Since, if ever," he says, "the thorn bush were sent to a cedar, saying, 'Give your daughter to my son for a wife,' it …

   “The Oriental use of apologues on the most solemn and serious occasions is well known to all, and scarcely needs illustration (compare marginal reference). It is a common feature of such apologues that they are not exact parallels to the case whereto they are applied, but only general or partial resemblances. Hence, there is need of caution in applying the several points of the illustration.

   Everything gathered on 2 Kings 14:9→

   Verse page →Original language →

7. Psalms 80:8–16

   You uprooted a vine from Egypt; You drove out the nations and transplanted it.

   ›Commentary on Psalms 80:8–161 voice

   “Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt,.... The house of Israel, who are like unto a vine, as the Targum paraphrases it; and to a vine or vineyard are they often compared; see Isa 5:1, Jer 2:

   Everything gathered on Psalms 80:8–16→

   Verse page →Original language →

8. Isaiah 5:1–7

   I will sing for my beloved a song of his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill.

   ›Commentary on Isaiah 5:1–71 voice

   “Now will I sing - This is an indication that what follows is poetic, or is adapted to be sung or chanted. To my well-beloved - The word used here - ידיד yedı̂yd - is a term of endearment. It properly denotes a friend; a favorite; one greatly beloved. It is applied to saints as being the beloved, or the favorites of God, in Psa 127:2; Deu 33:12. In this place, it is evidently applied to Yahweh, the God of the Jewish people.

   Everything gathered on Isaiah 5:1–7→

   Verse page →Original language →

9. Isaiah 27:2

   In that day: “Sing about a fruitful vineyard.

   ›Commentary on Isaiah 27:21 voice

   “Sing ye unto her - אנו לה anu lah. Bishop Lowth translates this, Sing ye a responsive song; and says that ענה anah, to answer, signifies occasionally to sing responsively; and that this mode of singing was frequently practiced among the ancient Hebrews. See De Poes. Sac. Hebrews Prael. xix., at the beginning. This, indeed, was the ancient method of singing in various nations. The song was divided into distinct portions, and the singers sang alternately.

   Everything gathered on Isaiah 27:2→

   Verse page →Original language →

10. Isaiah 27:3

    I, the LORD, am its keeper; I water it continually. I guard it night and day so no one can disturb it;

    ›Commentary on Isaiah 27:32 voices

    You have in Isaiah the speech made by the soul of a just man or of the church: "I am a strong city, I am a city besieged," defended by Christ and besieged by the devil. But one whom Christ aids ought not to be fearful of a siege. [Such a person] is defended by spiritual grace and is besieged by the perils of this world. Hence also it is said in the Song of Songs, "I am a wall, and my breasts are as a tower."

    “I the Lord do keep it - There is understood here or implied an introduction; as ‘Yahweh said’ (compare Psa 121:3-5). I will water it every moment - That is, constantly, as a vinedresser does his vineyard.

    Everything gathered on Isaiah 27:3→

    Verse page →Original language →

11. Isaiah 28:23–29

    Listen and hear my voice. Pay attention and hear what I say.

    Verse page →Original language →

12. Jeremiah 13:12–14

    Therefore you are to tell them that this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Every wineskin shall be filled with wine.’ And when they reply, ‘Don’t we surely know that every wineskin should be filled with wine?’

    Verse page →Original language →

13. Ezekiel 15:1

    Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

    ›Commentary on Ezekiel 15:11 voice

    “And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying. The destruction of Jerusalem had been represented under various types and similes before, as of a siege, and a sharp razor; and here of a fruitless and useless vine, only fit for the fire; which was delivered out by a spirit of prophecy. The Targum calls it the word of prophecy, as usual.

    Everything gathered on Ezekiel 15:1→

    Verse page →Original language →

14. Ezekiel 17:1

    Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

    ›Commentary on Ezekiel 17:12 voices

    “When it is said of the prophets: Present an enigma, tell a parable, or as the Septuagint translated: tell a narration, it is shown that what is said is obscure. For there is no doubt that to present an enigma and a parable is to express something in words and hold something in meaning. And indeed the Savior spoke to the people in parables, which he explained in secret to the apostles. Therefore, we must understand enigma and parable in such a way that... Two enigmas and parables are presented in the prophecy of Ezekiel at present.

    “Ezekiel, after describing by a figure the circumstances and conditions of the Jews and Zedekiah, the vassal of the Assyrian monarch, warns them of the delusive character of their hopes of help from Egypt, protests against the perfidy which must accompany such alliance, and points out that the restoration of the people of God will be effected by a very different son of David. The close of this chapter is a striking prediction of the kingdom of the Messiah.

    Everything gathered on Ezekiel 17:1→

    Verse page →Original language →

15. Ezekiel 17:5–10

    He took some of the seed of the land and planted it in fertile soil; he placed it by abundant waters and set it out like a willow.

    ›Commentary on Ezekiel 17:5–101 voice

    “The seed of the land - Zedekiah, brother of Jehoiachin. Planted it in a fruitful field - Made him king of Judea in place of his brother. Placed it by great waters - Put him under the protection of Babylon, situated on the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates. And set it as a willow tree - Made him dependent on this city of great waters, as the willow is on humidity.

    Everything gathered on Ezekiel 17:5–10→

    Verse page →Original language →

16. Ezekiel 19:1–9

    “As for you, take up a lament for the princes of Israel

    ›Commentary on Ezekiel 19:1–91 voice

    “Princes of Israel - Israel is the whole nation over which the king of Judah was the rightful sovereign. Compare Eze 2:3; Eze 3:1, Eze 3:7.

    Everything gathered on Ezekiel 19:1–9→

    Verse page →Original language →