Parables of both the Old & New Testament
“I have been the Lord your God ever since you came out of Egypt;
I will make you live in tents again, as in the days of your appointed festivals.
I spoke to the prophets, gave them many visions and told parables through them.”
(Hosea 12:9-10)
The word "parable" is used in three senses, 1, as an enigma, or obscure saying; 2, as any figurative discourse; and 3, as a fictitious, but possible, narrative, invented to convey and illustrate a truth.
Old Testament parables
Parable Spoken at Recorded in
Of Balaam - Concerning the Moabites and Israelites. Mount Pisgab Num 23:24
Jotham - Trees making a king. Mount Gerizim Jdg 9:7-15
Samson - Strong bringing forth sweetness. Timnath Jdg 14:14
Nathan - Poor man's ewe lamb. Jerusalem 2Sa 12:1-4
Woman of Tekoah - Two brothers striving. Jerusalem 2Sa 14:1
The Revengers of Blood 2 Sa 14:5-7, 11
The Smitten Prophet - The escaped prisoner. Near Samaria 1Ki 20:35-40
Jehoash, King of Israel - The thistle and cedar. Jerusalem 2Ki 14:9
Isaiah - Vineyard yielding wild grapes. Jerusalem Isa 5:1-6
The Almond Rod and Seething Pot Jer 1:11-4
The Marred Girdle Jer 13:1-7
The Potter's Vessel Marred Jer 17:2-6
The Potter's Vessel Broken Jer 19:1-2, 10-11
The Two Baskets of Figs Jer 24:1-2
Jeremiah's Bonds and Yokes Jer 27:2-3, 6
Hiding the Stones in the Mortar Jer 43:
Ezekiel - Lion's whelps. Babylon Eze 14:2-9
The boiling pot. Babylon Eze 24:3-5
The great eagles and the wine. Babylon Eze 17:3-10
Ezekiel i:4-16. Infolding Fire, Living Creatures and Wheels
Ezekiel i.:8-10; iii.:1-4, 14. Eating the Roll of a Book
Ezekiel iv.:1-13. The Siege of Jerusalem
Ezekiel v.:1-5. Ezekiel Cutting Off His Hair, etc.
Ezekiel viii.:1-16. Jerusalem's Idolatry
Ezekiel ix.:1-6, 11; x.:1, 2, 7. The Slaughter in Jerusalem
Ezekiel xii.:1-7. Ezekiel Removing His Goods
Ezekiel xii.:18-20. Eating with Quaking and Drinkin
Ezekiel xiii.:17-23. The False Prophetesses
Ezekiel xv. The vine of Jerusalem
Ezekiel xvii.:2-10. The Eagles and the Vine
Ezekiel xviii.:1, 2. Eating Sour Grapes
Ezekiel xix.:1-9. The Lioness and Her Whelps
Ezekiel xix.:10-14. Israel's Mother as a Vine
Ezekiel xxiv.:3-12. Jerusalem as a Boiling Flesh-Pot
Ezekiel xxxi.:3-12. The Assyrian a Cedar in Lebanon
Ezekiel xxxiv.:1-6, 9-11. The Evil Shepherd
Ezekiel xxxvii.:1-14. The Dry Bones Revived
Ezekiel xxxvii.:16-23. The Two Sticks Joined
Ezekiel xxxix.:17-21. Invitation to the Great Sacrifice
Ezekiel xlvii.:1-9. Water Flowing From the Lord's House
Daniel ii.:31-45. Nebuchadnezzar's Dream of the Great Image
Daniel iv.:10-28. Nebuchadnezzar's Dream of the Great Tree
Daniel v. The Feast. The Handwriting on the Wall
Daniel vii. : 2-19, 23-27. Vision of the Four Beasts
Daniel viii. 2-26. The Ram and He-Goat
Zechariah i.: 8-11. The Man Among the Myrtle Trees
Zechariah i.:18-21. The Horses and Four Creatures
Zechariah ii.:18-20. The Man with a Measuring-Line
Zechariah iii. Vision of Joshua, the High Priest
Zechariah iv.:1-7, 11-14. Golden Candlestick and Olive Trees
Zechariah v.:1-4. The Flying Roll
Zechariah v.:5-11. The Women and the Ephah
Zechariah vi.:1-8. Four Chariots and Horses
29 OLD TESTAMENT PARABLES with Explanations http://www.lookinguntojesus.info/BSTopics/Parables/PARABLES-OT.html
http://www.scienceofcorrespondences.com/parables.htm (suggests 48 parables)
New Testament Parables
Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. (Matthew 13:34)
100 Parables Of The New Testament http://www.lookinguntojesus.info/BSTopics/Parables/PARABLES-NT.html
* Note: Matt 13:34 & Mark 4:11, 33-34 state there are no exceptions. Therefore Jesus' public discourses in John's gospel must use parables, too.