παροιμία

From the study of John 16:29

Range of meaning

In Greek generally: a proverb, a common saying, a byword. In Jewish Greek it also stands for the whole range of the Hebrew mashal: a comparison, an image, a parable, a riddle, a "dark saying" whose meaning has to be worked out. BDAG defines it here as a "veiled saying, figure of speech" whose sense is not obvious.

Against the English

KJV "proverb" (from the Vulgate's proverbium) makes modern readers picture a short maxim like those in the book of Proverbs, which is not what Jesus had been doing. BSB, WEB, NIV and others say "figures of speech", ESV "figurative speech", YLT "similitude". The supplied interlinear gloss "allegory" is too narrow: the word covers veiled images in general, not only extended allegories.

How it drifted

In English, "proverb" narrowed to mean a pithy folk saying. In 1611 it could still loosely mean an obscure or figurative saying, so the KJV was less misleading to its first readers than to us.

Used elsewhere in the period

The Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament) titles the book of Proverbs Παροιμίαι Σαλωμῶντος ("Proverbs of Solomon"), and Proverbs 1:6 links wise sayings with riddles and "dark words". Sirach 39:3 describes the wise scribe who "seeks out the hidden meanings of paroimiai" and is "at home with the obscurities of parables". Sirach 47:17 praises Solomon for his paroimiai and riddles. In the New Testament the word appears only in John (10:6; 16:25 twice; 16:29) and in 2 Peter 2:22, where it means a proverb in the ordinary sense. John never uses the Synoptic word parabolē ("parable"). Paroimia is his equivalent.

From the study of 2 Peter 2:22

Range of meaning

A proverb or byword: a short popular saying, or more broadly a figurative or veiled saying. John uses it for Jesus' 'figures of speech' (John 10:6; 16:25, 29).

Against the English

BSB and NIV make it plural ('the proverbs are true'), which hides the Greek singular, 'the true proverb'. KJV, WEB and YLT ('similitude') keep the singular.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Septuagint, paroimiai is the Greek title of the book of Proverbs. Greek writers used paroimia for folk sayings that collectors gathered.

From the study of John 10:6

Range of meaning

In ordinary Greek a paroimia is a proverb, a saying that is passed around, a byword (LSJ). The word is often linked to oimos, 'way, path,' as a 'saying by the way,' though that origin is uncertain. In Jewish Greek it takes on the range of the Hebrew mashal: proverb, comparison, figurative saying, and also a dark or veiled saying that needs interpreting. BDAG gives, for John, 'figure of speech, in which esoteric ideas are concealed,' that is, ideas hidden from outsiders.

Against the English

KJV and WEB say 'parable,' YLT 'similitude,' BSB and NLT 'illustration,' NIV, ESV and NASB 'figure of speech.' 'Figure of speech' comes closest but sounds flat. It misses the riddle quality that runs through John's uses of the word.

How it drifted

'Parable' points the modern reader to the story parables of Matthew, Mark and Luke, a word John never uses. 'Illustration' suggests a sermon device meant to make an idea easier. In John the paroimia does the opposite: it veils the meaning until it is explained.

Used elsewhere in the period

The Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint, or LXX) titles the book of Proverbs Paroimiai Salōmōntos, translating Hebrew mishlê. Sirach 39:3 describes the scribe who 'seeks out the hidden things of proverbs (apokrypha paroimiōn) and is at home with the riddles of parables,' so the word sits beside riddle and hidden meaning. Sirach 47:17 praises Solomon for songs, paroimiai, parables and interpretations. In the New Testament it appears only in John 10:6, John 16:25 and 16:29, and 2 Peter 2:22, where it means a plain folk proverb. In John 16:25 Jesus contrasts speaking 'in paroimiai' with speaking 'plainly' (parrēsia), a day still to come.