Quick Definition
an allegory, proverb
Strong's Definition
apparently a state alongside of supposition, i.e. (concretely) an adage; specially, an enigmatical or fictitious illustration
Derivation: from a compound of G3844 (παρά) and perhaps a derivative of G3633 (οἴομαι);
KJV Usage: parable, proverb
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
παροιμία, παροιμίας, ἡ (παρά by, aside from (cf. παρά, IV. 2), and οἶμος way), properly, a saying out of the usual course or deviating from the usual manner of speaking (cf. Suidas 654, 15; but Hesychius under the word, et al., 'a saying heard by the wayside' (παρά, IV. 1), i. e. a current or trite saying, proverb; cf. Curtius, § 611; Stephanus' Thesaurus, under the word), hence,
1. a clever and sententious saying, a proverb (Aeschylus Ag. 264; Sophocles, Plato, Aristotle, Plutarch, others; examples from Philo are given by Hilgenfeld, Die Evangelien, p. 292f (as de ebriet. § 20; de Abr. § 40; de vit. Moys. i. § 28; ii. § 5; de exsecrat. § 6); for ξΘωΘΡμ in Pro_1:1; Pro_25:1 the Alex. manuscript; Sir_6:35, etc.): τό τῆς παροιμίας, what is in the proverb (Lucian, dial. mort. 6, 2; 8, 1), 2Pe_2:22.
2. any dark saying which shadows forth some didactic truth, especially a symbolic or figurative saying: παροιμίαν λέγειν, Joh_16:29; ἐν παροιμίαις λαλεῖν, ibid. 25; "speech or discourse in which a thing is illustrated by the use of similes and comparisons; an allegory, i. e. extended and elaborate metaphor": Joh_10:6.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
παροιμία paroimia 5x
a by-word, proverb, adage, 2Pe_2:22 ; in NT an obscure saying, enigma, Joh_16:25 ; Joh_16:29 ; a parable, similitude, figurative discourse, Joh_10:6
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
παροιμία , -ας , ἡ
( < πάροιμος , by the way),
[in LXX . Pr title Pro_1:1 ; Pro_25:1 , ( H4911 ) subscr., Sir_6:35 ; Sir_8:8 ; Sir_18:29 ; Sir_39:3 ; Sir_47:17 * ;]
1. a wayside saying (Hesych.; v. LS , s.v. ), a byword, maxim, proverb: 2Pe_2:22 .
2. In NT, of figurative discourse (as H4911 , Isa_14:4 , al. ), a parable, allegory: Joh_10:6 ; Joh_16:25 ; Joh_16:29 ( v. Abbott, Essays , 82 ff .).†
SYN.: παραβολή G3850 , q.v.
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
παροιμία [page 496]
In accordance with its derivation from παρά and οἶμος , παροιμία denotes literally by the way. Apart from 2Pe_2:22 , it is found in the NT only in Jn (10:6; 16:25; 16:29), where Abbott ( Joh. Voc. p. 219 f.) understands it as a brief, general (rather than a dark) saying. See also T. K. Abbott Essays p. 82 ff., and Headlam on Herodas II. 61 ἐγὼ δ᾽ ὅκως ἂν μὴ μακρηγορέων ὑμέας . . . τῇ παροιμίῃ τρύχω . Not to beat about the bush and weary you with general remarks and allusions by the way , but to get on the main road come to the point.
Liddell-Scott — Intermediate Greek Lexicon
παροιμία παρ-οιμία, ἡ, [Etym: οἶμος] "a by-word, common saying, proverb, maxim, saw", Aesch. , Soph. , etc.; κατὰ τὴν π. as "the saying" goes, Plat. "a parable", NTest.
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon
παροιμία, -ας, ἡ
(πάροιμος, by the way), [in LXX. Pr title Pro.1:1 25:1, (מָשַׁל) subscr., Sir.6:35 8:8 18:29 39:3 47:17 * ;]
__1. a wayside saying (Hesych.; see LS, see word), a byword, maxim, proverb: 2Pe.2:22.
__2. In NT, of figurative discourse (as מָשַׁל, Isa.14:4, al.), a parable, allegory: Jhn.10:6 16:25, 29 (see Abbott, Essays, 82 ff.).†
SYN.: παραβολή, q.v (AS)