The use of parables as an effective means of illustration didn't start with Jesus. The English word parable derives from the Greek parabole, which comes from a verb meaning "to throw alongside," or "to liken." In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word mashal—which is similar to parabole—is often rendered "parable" or "proverb" in English. Mashal can refer to anything from a plausible story to an allegory to an aphoristic saying.
With the rise of rhetorical analysis in the Greco-Roman world, a new, and much more limited, definition of parabole appeared. The Greek philosopher Aristotle said that the parable fits into a larger framework of methods of rhetorical analysis, each of which is distinct from the next. Above is Aristotle's classification of parables and their relationship with other forms of creative communication.
