Quick Definition
παροιμία, ας, ἡ n.f. an allegory, proverb
Strong's Definition
from a compound of 3844 and perhaps a derivative of 3633; apparently a state alongside of supposition, i.e. (concretely) an adage; specially, an enigmatical or fictitious illustration
KJV Usage: parable, proverb
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
noun, f. | -ας | παρομοιάζω
33.14 · Communication · Discourse Types
proverb, saying a short saying in fixed form, emphasizing some general truth In a context such as 2PE 2:22 one may render ‘saying’ as ‘what people so often say’ or ‘what is often said.’
33.15 · Communication · Discourse Types
parable, figure, allegory, figure of speech a relatively short narrative with symbolic meaning In almost all languages there is some way of speaking about parables or allegories. The equivalent in some languages may be ‘a likeness story’ or ‘a story that teaches’ or ‘a story that points the way’ or ‘words that have another meaning’ or ‘words that are saying something else important.’
Some scholars have insisted that in the NT παραβολή is used only in the sense of a story with one level of symbolic meaning, but in some contexts παραβολή is also used to identify allegories in which each element of the account has a symbolic significance. It is therefore extremely difficult to make a rigid distinction between parables and allegories.
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
παροιμία, -as, 7, (παρά by, aside from [cf. παρά, IV. 2], and οἶμος way), prop. a saying out of the usual course or deviating from the usual manner of speaking [cf. Suidas 654, 15; but Hesych. s. v. et al. ‘a saying heard by the wayside’ (παρά, IV.1), i. 6. a current or trite saying, proverb; ef. Curtius §611; Steph. Thes. 5. v.], hence als a clever and sententious saying, a proverb, (Aeschyl. Ag. 264; Soph., Plat., Aristot., Plut., al.; exx. fr. Philo are given by Hilgenfeld, Die Evangelien, p. 292 sq. [as de ebriet. § 20; de Abr. § 40; de vit. Moys. i. § 28; ii. § 5; de exsecrat. § 6]; for own in Prov. i. 1; xxv. 1 cod. Alex.; Sir. vi. 35, ete.) : τὸ τῆς παροιμίας, what is in the proverb (Leian. dial. mort. 6, 2; 8,1), 2 Pet.ii. 22. 2 any dark saying which shadows forth some didactic truth, esp. a symbolic or figurative saying: παροιμίαν λέγειν, Jn. Xvi. 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: Jn. x. 6.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
παροιμία paroimia 5x
a by-word, proverb, adage, 2 Pet. 2:22; in NT an obscure saying, enigma, Jn. 16:25, 29; a parable, similitude, figurative discourse, Jn. 10:6*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
παροιμία, -ας, ἡ
(< πάροιμος, by the way), [in LXX. Pr tit 1:1 25:1, (מָשָׁל) subscr., Si 6:35 8:8 18:29 39:3 47:17*;]
a wayside saying (Hesych.; v. LS, s.v.), a byword, maxim, proverb: II Pe 2:22.
In NT, of figurative discourse (as מָשָׁל, Is 14:4, al.), a parable, allegory: Jo 10:6 16:25, 29 (v. Abbott, Essays, 82 ff.).†
SYN.: παραβολή, q.v.
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
παροιμία. In accordance with its derivation from παρά and otpos, παροιμία denotes literally ‘‘ by the way.” Apart from 2 Pet 253. it is found in the NT only in Jn (τοῦ, 16729), where Abbott (Jo. 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 pakpnyopéwy ὑμέας... τῇ παροιμίῃ τρύχω. “ΝΟΥ to beat about the bush and weary you with general remarks and allusions dy the way, but to get on the mazn road and come to the point.” md powos, ““one given to too much wine,” is found ézs in the Pastorals (1 Tim 3%, Tit 17). For the corr. verb cf. PSI IV. 352° (B.C 254-3), where Artemidorus complains to Zeno regarding certain companions~ ἐν οἴνωι yap εἰσιν καὶ ἐμ. πόρναις διὰ παντός, and not only so but ἐπαρώινησάμ. (for augment, cf Cronert Adem. Herc. p. 209 n.1) pe. . καὶ εἰς αὐτά pe ἤγαγον, ‘“‘ hey have made me drunken and led me on to the same thing.” He ‘then asks Zeno’s aid, Wa μὴ πάλιν συμβαίνηι μοι. . . παροινεῖσθαι. Cf. P Loni 1914?” (A.D. 335?) ἡμάρτησα Kal ἐπαρυνήθην ἐν τῇ νυκτὶ ὅτι τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς ὕβρισα, “1 sinned and was drunken in the night, in that I maltreated the brethren” (Bell). This prepires us for the wider meaning ‘‘assault with drunken violence,” as in P Petr III. 32 (9) ve¢o (4)? (Ptol.) ἐπιπαραγενόμενος Kal παροινήσας ἡμᾶς ἀφείλετο τὰ κτήνη, and P Eleph 12% (B.c 223-2) γεγράφαμεν Πλειστάρχωι
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
παροιμία (paroimia) — proverb. παροιμ-ία, ἡ, proverb, maxim, saw, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; κατὰ τὴν π. as the saying goes, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; καθάπερ ἡ π.[Refs 5th c.BC+]: in plural, of the Proverbs of Solomon, LXX
2. figure, comparison, [NT]
3. digression, incidental remark, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]