The Greek noun parabolē (παραβολή) means a placing side-by-side — a comparison, parable, proverb, or illustrative saying. Jesus's primary teaching method in the Synoptic Gospels was the parable. Parabolē translates the Hebrew mashal (proverb, parable) in the Septuagint. The word encompasses brief sayings, extended narratives, and enigmatic utterances.
Jesus's use of parabolē was deliberately revelatory and concealing simultaneously. When asked why He taught in parables, He quoted Isaiah 6:9–10 — the parables both revealed to those with ears to hear and concealed from those who had hardened their hearts (Matthew 13:10–17). The parables are therefore not simply illustrations but Kingdom proclamations with a built-in judgment function. The Parable of the Sower, the Prodigal Son, the Lost Sheep — each reveals an aspect of God's Kingdom reign. Hebrews 9:9 uses parabolē for the tabernacle itself as a symbolic representation of heavenly realities.