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παροιμία

paroimía

G3942 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A concise saying, maxim, or metaphorical expression; in some contexts, an enigmatic saying or figurative speech requiring interpretation. Primary meaning is a proverbial or pithy saying, with extended senses including metaphorical illustrations, riddles, or parables used to convey moral, practical, or spiritual lessons.

Semantic Range

proverb, maxim, adage, saying, metaphor, figurative speech, enigmatic utterance, riddle, parable (in a broad sense)

Root / Etymology

From παρά (beside, alongside) and the root οἶμος (way, path), or possibly from a related notion to οἴομαι (to suppose, think), though the precise etymology is debated. The term denotes something said 'alongside' or 'in comparison to', hence a comparison, saying, or figure.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, παροιμία predominantly denotes a proverb or maxim—concise sayings generally accepted as expressing common wisdom (e.g., in Plato, Aristophanes). In the LXX (especially Proverbs), it translates Hebrew מָשָׁל (mashal), typically expressing gnomic, instructive sayings or parables. In the New Testament (John 10:6; 16:25, 29; 2 Pet 2:22), it conveys the nuance of a figurative, enigmatic, or allegorical utterance—more indirect in meaning than an open statement, occasionally overlapping with αἴνιγμα (riddle) or παραβολή (parable), though distinct in generally being shorter and more proverbial. English translations sometimes render it as 'parable', but this can obscure its broader application to sayings, figures of speech, and proverbs, beyond the narrative parables designated by παραβολή.

Translation Consistency

primary "saying" 4 occurrences

Saying is the most natural, general English term that covers the full semantic range of παροιμία (proverb, maxim, adage, enigmatic/figurative expression, or short parable). It is simple and idiomatic, fitting typical usage more broadly than the narrower 'proverb' or 'parable.'

Alternatives (1 occurrence):
"proverb" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from a compound of παρά and perhaps a derivative of οἴομαι; apparently a state alongside of supposition, i.e. (concretely) an adage; specially, an enigmatical or fictitious illustration:--parable, proverb.

Root Family

οιμ- (paroimía) — road, way, path, comparison, to suppose

Root οιμ- road, way, path, comparison, to suppose

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G3942-01 παροιμίαις paroimiais N DAT F PL proverbs in proverbial sayings proverbial sayings 2
G3942-02 παροιμίαν paroimian N ACC F SG figure of speech a proverbial saying a proverbial saying 2
G3942-03 παροιμίας paroimias N GEN F SG proverb of a figurative saying proverb 1

Occurrences in Scripture

5 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G3942-02 John 10:6 παροιμίαν paroimian N ACC F SG figure of speech a proverbial saying a proverbial saying
G3942-01 John 16:25 παροιμίαις paroimiais N DAT F PL proverbs in proverbial sayings proverbial sayings
G3942-01 John 16:25 παροιμίαις paroimiais-2 N DAT F PL proverbs in proverbial sayings proverbial sayings
G3942-02 John 16:29 παροιμίαν paroimian N ACC F SG proverb a proverbial saying a proverbial saying
G3942-03 2 Peter 2:22 παροιμίας paroimias N GEN F SG proverb of a figurative saying proverb
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