Reference: Proverb
Easton
a trite maxim; a similitude; a parable. The Hebrew word thus rendered (mashal) has a wide signification. It comes from a root meaning "to be like," "parable." Rendered "proverb" in Isa 14:4; Hab 2:6; "dark saying" in Ps 49:4; Nu 12:8. Ahab's defiant words in answer to the insolent demands of Benhadad, "Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off," is a well known instance of a proverbial saying (1Ki 20:11).
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Mouth to mouth do I speak to him openly, and not in riddles; and the form of Jehovah doth he behold. Why then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant, against Moses?
And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Let not him that girdeth on boast himself as he that putteth off!
that thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased, the exactress of gold ceased!
Shall not all these take up a proverb about him, and a taunting riddle against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and to him that loadeth himself with pledges!
Hastings
PROVERB
1. Meaning.
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And it came to pass, when all that knew him before saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets? And a man of that place answered and said, But who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets?
As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked; but my hand shall not be upon thee.
Proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: to know wisdom and instruction; to discern the words of understanding; read more. to receive the instruction of wisdom, righteousness and judgment, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. He that is wise will hear, and will increase learning; and the intelligent will gain wise counsels: to understand a proverb and an allegory, the words of the wise and their enigmas.
to understand a proverb and an allegory, the words of the wise and their enigmas. The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge: fools despise wisdom and instruction. read more. Hear, my son, the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the teaching of thy mother;
Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
The curse of Jehovah is in the house of the wicked; but he blesseth the habitation of the righteous.
Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thy heart unto my knowledge.
that I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest carry back words of truth to them that send thee?
The leech hath two daughters: Give, give. There are three things never satisfied; four which say not, It is enough:
The leech hath two daughters: Give, give. There are three things never satisfied; four which say not, It is enough: Sheol, and the barren womb; the earth which is not filled with water, and the fire which saith not, It is enough.
Sheol, and the barren womb; the earth which is not filled with water, and the fire which saith not, It is enough. The eye that mocketh at a father, and despiseth to obey a mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.
The eye that mocketh at a father, and despiseth to obey a mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it. There are three things too wonderful for me, and four that I know not:
There are three things too wonderful for me, and four that I know not: The way of an eagle in the heavens, the way of a serpent upon a rock, the way of a ship in the midst of the sea, and the way of a man with a maid.
The way of an eagle in the heavens, the way of a serpent upon a rock, the way of a ship in the midst of the sea, and the way of a man with a maid. Such is the way of an adulterous woman: she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.
Such is the way of an adulterous woman: she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness. Under three things the earth is disquieted, and under four it cannot bear up:
Under three things the earth is disquieted, and under four it cannot bear up: Under a servant when he reigneth, and a churl when he is filled with meat;
Under a servant when he reigneth, and a churl when he is filled with meat; under an odious woman when she is married, and a handmaid when she is heir to her mistress.
under an odious woman when she is married, and a handmaid when she is heir to her mistress. There are four things little upon the earth, and they are exceeding wise:
There are four things little upon the earth, and they are exceeding wise: The ants, a people not strong, yet they provide their food in the summer;
The ants, a people not strong, yet they provide their food in the summer; the rock-badgers are but a feeble folk, yet they make their house in the cliff;
the rock-badgers are but a feeble folk, yet they make their house in the cliff; the locusts have no king, yet they go forth all of them by bands;
the locusts have no king, yet they go forth all of them by bands; thou takest hold of the lizard with the hands, yet is she in kings' palaces.
thou takest hold of the lizard with the hands, yet is she in kings' palaces. There are three things which have a stately step, and four are comely in going:
There are three things which have a stately step, and four are comely in going: The lion, mighty among beasts, which turneth not away for any;
The lion, mighty among beasts, which turneth not away for any; a horse girt in the loins; or the he-goat; and a king, against whom none can rise up.
a horse girt in the loins; or the he-goat; and a king, against whom none can rise up.
Behold, every one that useth proverbs shall speak in a proverb against thee, saying, As the mother, so is her daughter!
At that time, Jesus answering said, I praise thee, Father, Lord of the heaven and of the earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them to babes.
and again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to enter a needle's eye than a rich man into the kingdom of God.
In the same hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit and said, I praise thee, Father, Lord of the heaven and of the earth, that thou hast hid these things from wise and prudent, and hast revealed them to babes: yea, Father, for thus has it been well-pleasing in thy sight.
For in this is verified the true saying, It is one who sows and another who reaps.
Morish
The word chidah is once translated 'proverb,' Hab 2:6 but is often translated 'riddle.' It signifies 'problem,' a hidden mode of speaking, which conceals the sense under figurative expressions. The parable of the great eagle in Eze 17:2-3, is also called a 'riddle.' The word commonly translated 'proverb,' and used for the Book of Proverbs is mashal, signifying 'comparison, similitude.' Proverbs are short sentences calculated to arrest attention and be retained in the memory. De 28:37; 1Sa 24:13; Ps 69:11; Pr 1:1; Ec 12:9; Isa 14:4; Jer 24:9; Eze 12:22-23; 18:2-3; etc. In the N.T. are the words
1, ????????, 'a similitude, comparison.' In the A.V. this is only once translated 'proverb,' Lu 4:23; but is often translated 'parable.'
2, ????????: this is more an obscure saying, Joh 16:25,29; 2Pe 2:22; it is translated 'parable' in Joh 10:6, but 'allegory' would be a better rendering.
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And thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword, among all the peoples whither Jehovah shall lead thee.
And moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; and he pondered, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.
that thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased, the exactress of gold ceased!
And I will give them over to be driven hither and thither unto all the kingdoms of the earth for evil, to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them;
Son of man, what is that proverb which ye have in the land of Israel, saying, The days shall be prolonged, and every vision faileth? Tell them therefore, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: I will make this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel; but say unto them, The days are at hand, and the accomplishment of every vision.
Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel, and say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: A great eagle with great wings, long-pinioned, full of feathers, which was of divers colours, came unto Lebanon, and took the highest branch of the cedar.
What mean ye, ye who use this proverb of the land of Israel, saying, The fathers eat sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge? As I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, ye shall not have any more to use this proverb in Israel.
Shall not all these take up a proverb about him, and a taunting riddle against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and to him that loadeth himself with pledges!
And he said to them, Ye will surely say to me this parable, Physician, heal thyself; whatsoever we have heard has taken place in Capernaum do here also in thine own country.
This allegory spoke Jesus to them, but they did not know what it was of which he spoke to them.
These things I have spoken to you in allegories; the hour is coming that I will no longer speak to you in allegories, but will declare to you openly concerning the Father.