4:2a

And He taught them many things in parables: This expression indicates that Jesus used parables to teach the people many things.

parables: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as parables is literally “comparisons.” Parables teach a lesson or truth by showing how it is like something that people already know about. In this chapter, Jesus used several types of parables, including a symbolic story, metaphors, and wise sayings.

Here are some ways to translate parables in this context:

• Use a general term in your language that can be used to describe the different types of parables in this chapter. Here are some English examples:

illustrations
-or-
metaphors

• Use a descriptive term. For example:

symbolic sayings/words/stories

• Use more than one word or descriptive term for the different types of parables that Jesus used. For example:

stories and illustrations
-or-
symbols and sayings

The word parables was used in 3:23b to describe specific illustrations that Jesus used. See also parable, Type 2, in the Glossary.

4:2b

and in His teaching He said: This expression introduces one of the parables that Jesus taught.

Here are some other ways to translate this expression:

…telling many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: (New Living Translation)
-or-
As he taught he said: (Revised English Bible)
-or-
One parable he taught them was this:

© 2008 by SIL International®

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.