Topical Bible: Simile

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Topical Encyclopedia

A simile is a figure of speech that draws a comparison between two different things, often using the words "like" or "as" to highlight similarities. In the Bible, similes are frequently employed to convey spiritual truths, illustrate moral lessons, and enhance the vividness of the narrative. The use of similes in Scripture serves to make abstract or complex ideas more relatable and understandable to the reader.

Old Testament Examples

The Old Testament is rich with similes, particularly in poetic books such as Psalms and Proverbs. For instance, in Psalm 1:3, the righteous man is compared to a tree: "He is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers in all he does." This simile emphasizes stability, nourishment, and prosperity as characteristics of a life rooted in God's law.

In Proverbs 25:11, the value of well-spoken words is illustrated: "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver." Here, the simile underscores the beauty and worth of timely and wise speech.

The prophetic books also utilize similes to convey messages from God. In Isaiah 1:18, the Lord invites Israel to reason together: "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." This simile powerfully communicates the transformative power of divine forgiveness.

New Testament Examples

The New Testament continues the use of similes, often in the teachings of Jesus. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus uses a simile to describe the influence of His followers: "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden" (Matthew 5:14). This simile highlights the visibility and guidance that believers are to provide in a dark world.

In the parables, similes are frequently employed to illustrate the Kingdom of Heaven. For example, in Matthew 13:31-32, Jesus compares the Kingdom to a mustard seed: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man planted in his field. Although it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches." This simile illustrates the growth and expansive nature of God's Kingdom from humble beginnings.

The apostle Paul also uses similes to explain spiritual truths. In 1 Corinthians 13:12, he writes, "For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face." This simile conveys the partial understanding of divine mysteries in this life compared to the full revelation that will come in eternity.

Theological Significance

Similes in the Bible are not merely literary devices but serve a theological purpose. They bridge the gap between the divine and human understanding, making the transcendent truths of God accessible to finite minds. By comparing spiritual realities to familiar earthly experiences, similes invite believers to reflect deeply on their faith and relationship with God.

In the biblical narrative, similes often reveal the character of God, the nature of humanity, and the principles of the Kingdom of Heaven. They challenge readers to see beyond the literal and engage with the spiritual dimensions of the text. Through similes, the Bible communicates its timeless message in a way that resonates across cultures and generations.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

(n.) An expression that relates two unlike things (using like or as); as, she is like a flower; a similitude; a poetical or imaginative comparison.

Strong's Hebrew

4928. mishmaath -- an obedient band, body of subjects
... Word Origin from shama Definition an obedient band, body of subjects NASB
Word Usage guard (3), subject (1). simile. Feminineal sense ...
/hebrew/4928.htm - 6k

4912. mashal -- a proverb, parable
... Apparently from mashal in some original sense of superiority in mental action; properly,
a pithy maxim, usually of metaphorical nature; hence, a simile (as an ...
/hebrew/4912.htm - 6k

Library

The Simile Reformed in Accordance with Truth.
... Book III. Chapter 6."The Simile Reformed in Accordance with Truth. Well,
now, you ought to have thought of all this when you were ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 6 the simile reformed in.htm

A Simile to Show that God's Grace is Necessary for Doing any Good ...
... A Treatise on nature and grace, against pelagius; Chapter 29 [XXVI.]"A Simile to
Show that God's Grace is Necessary for Doing Any Good Work Whatever. ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 29 xxvi a simile to.htm

By a Like Simile, the Reasonableness of the Work of Redemption is ...
... On the Incarnation of the Word. Section 10. By a like simile, the
reasonableness of the work of redemption is shewn. How Christ ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/section 10 by a like.htm

victor's Simile to Show that God Can Create by Breathing Without ...
... Book III. Chapter 4 [IV.]"Victor's Simile to Show that God Can Create by
Breathing Without Impartation of His Substance. "But," you ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 4 iv victors simile to.htm

Examination of victor's Simile: Does Man Give Out Nothing by ...
... Book III. Chapter 5."Examination of Victor's Simile: Does Man Give Out
Nothing by Breathing? Prove now yourself what I say, for ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 5 examination of victors simile .htm

Origin of Errors; a Simile Sought from the Foreskin of the ...
... Book III. Chapter 16."Origin of Errors; A Simile Sought from the Foreskin
of the Circumcised, and from the Chaff of Wheat. "But ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 16 origin of errors a.htm

Of the Nature of Gluttony, which May be Illustrated by the Simile ...
... II. Second Conference of Abbot Moses. Chapter XX. Of the nature of gluttony,
which may be illustrated by the simile of the eagle. ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter xx of the nature.htm

Analogy Between Fevers and Heresies Heresies not to be Wondered At ...
... Weakness of Men's Faith. They Have Not the Truth. Simile of Pugilists and
Gladiators in Illustration. Taking the similar case [1856 ...
/.../the prescription against heretics/chapter ii analogy between fevers and.htm

How the Incarnation did not Limit the Ubiquity of the Word, nor ...
... On the Incarnation of the Word. Section 17. How the Incarnation did not limit the
ubiquity of the Word, nor diminish His Purity. (Simile of the Sun.). ...
/.../select works and letters or athanasius/section 17 how the incarnation.htm

Table of Contents.
... Fac-simile of the Title-page and First Page of Preface of the 'Book of Concord'. . ...
Fac-simile of the Title-page and First Page of the Westminster Confession. . ...
/.../schaff/the creeds of the evangelical protestant churches/table of contents.htm

Thesaurus

Simile (61 Occurrences)
... comparison. Multi-Version Concordance Simile (61 Occurrences). Matthew 13:18
Ye, therefore, hear ye the simile of the sower: (YLT). Matthew ...
/s/simile.htm - 22k

Similes (22 Occurrences)
... (n.) Plural of Simile. ... Matthew 13:34 All these things spake Jesus in similes to the
multitudes, and without a simile he was not speaking to them, (YLT). ...
/s/similes.htm - 12k

Affirmation (335 Occurrences)
... Numbers 24:3 and he taketh up his simile, and saith: 'An affirmation of Balaam son
of Beor -- And an affirmation of the man whose eyes are shut -- (YLT). ...
/a/affirmation.htm - 39k

Speaking (376 Occurrences)
... (WEB ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV). Matthew 13:34 All these things spake Jesus in similes
to the multitudes, and without a simile he was not speaking to them, (YLT). ...
/s/speaking.htm - 34k

Questioning (65 Occurrences)
... YLT). Mark 7:17 And when he entered into a house from the multitude, his
disciples were questioning him about the simile, (YLT). Mark ...
/q/questioning.htm - 24k

Addeth (44 Occurrences)
... (YLT). Job 27:1 And Job addeth to lift up his simile, and saith: -- (YLT). Job
29:1 And Job addeth to lift up his simile, and saith: -- (YLT). ...
/a/addeth.htm - 18k

Reign (468 Occurrences)
... (YLT). Matthew 13:24 Another simile he set before them, saying: 'The reign of the
heavens was likened to a man sowing good seed in his field, (YLT). ...
/r/reign.htm - 42k

Using (88 Occurrences)
... BBE). Ezekiel 16:44 Lo, every one using a simile, Doth use a simile concerning
thee, saying: As the mother -- her daughter! (YLT). ...
/u/using.htm - 31k

Shut (237 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Numbers 24:3 and he taketh up his simile, and saith: 'An affirmation of Balaam
son of Beor -- And an affirmation of the man whose eyes are shut -- (YLT). ...
/s/shut.htm - 39k

Questioned (57 Occurrences)
... Mark 7:17 And when he entered into a house from the multitude, his disciples
were questioning him about the simile, (See NAS). Mark ...
/q/questioned.htm - 22k

Resources

What does it mean to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves (Matthew 10:16)? | GotQuestions.org

Was some of Proverbs copied from the Instruction of Amenemope? | GotQuestions.org

What is emblematic parallelism in Hebrew poetry? | GotQuestions.org

Simile: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Simile (61 Occurrences)

Matthew 13:18
Ye, therefore, hear ye the simile of the sower:
(YLT)

Matthew 13:24
Another simile he set before them, saying: 'The reign of the heavens was likened to a man sowing good seed in his field,
(YLT)

Matthew 13:31
Another simile he set before them, saying: 'The reign of the heavens is like to a grain of mustard, which a man having taken, did sow in his field,
(YLT)

Matthew 13:33
Another simile spake he to them: 'The reign of the heavens is like to leaven, which a woman having taken, hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.'
(YLT)

Matthew 13:34
All these things spake Jesus in similes to the multitudes, and without a simile he was not speaking to them,
(Root in YLT)

Matthew 13:36
Then having let away the multitudes, Jesus came to the house, and his disciples came near to him, saying, 'Explain to us the simile of the darnel of the field.'
(YLT)

Matthew 15:15
And Peter answering said to him, 'Explain to us this simile.'
(YLT)

Matthew 24:32
And from the fig-tree learn ye the simile: When already its branch may have become tender, and the leaves it may put forth, ye know that summer 'is' nigh,
(YLT)

Mark 4:10
And when he was alone, those about him, with the twelve, did ask him of the simile,
(YLT)

Mark 4:13
And he saith to them, 'Have ye not known this simile? and how shall ye know all the similes?
(YLT)

Mark 4:30
And he said, 'To what may we liken the reign of God, or in what simile may we compare it?
(YLT)

Mark 4:34
and without a simile he was not speaking to them, and by themselves, to his disciples he was expounding all.
(YLT)

Mark 7:17
And when he entered into a house from the multitude, his disciples were questioning him about the simile,
(YLT)

Mark 12:12
And they were seeking to lay hold on him, and they feared the multitude, for they knew that against them he spake the simile, and having left him, they went away;
(YLT)

Mark 13:28
And from the fig-tree learn ye the simile: when the branch may already become tender, and may put forth the leaves, ye know that nigh is the summer;
(YLT)

Luke 4:23
And he said unto them, 'Certainly ye will say to me this simile, Physician, heal thyself; as great things as we heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country;'
(YLT)

Luke 5:36
And he spake also a simile unto them -- 'No one a patch of new clothing doth put on old clothing, and if otherwise, the new also doth make a rent, and with the old the patch doth not agree, that 'is' from the new.
(YLT)

Luke 6:39
And he spake a simile to them, 'Is blind able to lead blind? shall they not both fall into a pit?
(YLT)

Luke 8:4
And a great multitude having gathered, and those who from city and city were coming unto him, he spake by a simile:
(YLT)

Luke 8:9
And his disciples were questioning him, saying, 'What may this simile be?'
(YLT)

Luke 8:11
And this is the simile: The seed is the word of God,
(YLT)

Luke 12:16
And he spake a simile unto them, saying, 'Of a certain rich man the field brought forth well;
(YLT)

Luke 12:41
And Peter said to him, 'Sir, unto us this simile dost thou speak, or also unto all?'
(YLT)

Luke 13:6
And he spake this simile: 'A certain one had a fig-tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit in it, and he did not find;
(YLT)

Luke 14:7
And he spake a simile unto those called, marking how they were choosing out the first couches, saying unto them,
(YLT)

Luke 15:3
And he spake unto them this simile, saying,
(YLT)

Luke 18:1
And he spake also a simile to them, that it behoveth 'us' always to pray, and not to faint,
(YLT)

Luke 18:9
And he spake also unto certain who have been trusting in themselves that they were righteous, and have been despising the rest, this simile:
(YLT)

Luke 19:11
And while they are hearing these things, having added he spake a simile, because of his being nigh to Jerusalem, and of their thinking that the reign of God is about presently to be made manifest.
(YLT)

Luke 20:9
And he began to speak unto the people this simile: 'A certain man planted a vineyard, and gave it out to husbandmen, and went abroad for a long time,
(YLT)

Luke 20:19
And the chief priests and the scribes sought to lay hands on him in that hour, and they feared the people, for they knew that against them he spake this simile.
(YLT)

Luke 21:29
And he spake a simile to them: 'See the fig-tree, and all the trees,
(YLT)

Hebrews 9:9
which 'is' a simile in regard to the present time, in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered, which are not able, in regard to conscience, to make perfect him who is serving,
(YLT)

Numbers 23:7
And he taketh up his simile, and saith: 'From Aram he doth lead me -- Balak king of Moab; From mountains of the east: Come -- curse for me Jacob, And come -- be indignant 'with' Israel.
(YLT)

Numbers 23:18
And he taketh up his simile, and saith: 'Rise, Balak, and hear; Give ear unto me, son of Zippor!
(YLT)

Numbers 24:3
and he taketh up his simile, and saith: 'An affirmation of Balaam son of Beor -- And an affirmation of the man whose eyes are shut --
(YLT)

Numbers 24:15
And he taketh up his simile, and saith: 'An affirmation of Balaam son of Beor -- And an affirmation of the man whose eyes 'are' shut --
(YLT)

Numbers 24:20
And he seeth Amalek, and taketh up his simile, and saith: 'A beginning of the Goyim 'is' Amalek; And his latter end -- for ever he perisheth.'
(YLT)

Numbers 24:21
And he seeth the Kenite, and taketh up his simile, and saith: 'Enduring 'is' thy dwelling, And setting in a rock thy nest,
(YLT)

Numbers 24:23
And he taketh up his simile, and saith: 'Alas! who doth live when God doth this?
(YLT)

Deuteronomy 28:37
and thou hast been for an astonishment, for a simile, and for a byword among all the peoples whither Jehovah doth lead thee.
(YLT)

1 Samuel 10:12
And a man thence answereth and saith, 'And who 'is' their father?' therefore it hath been for a simile, 'Is Saul also among the prophets?'
(YLT)

1 Samuel 24:13
as saith the simile of the ancients, From the wicked goeth out wickedness, and my hand is not on thee.
(YLT)

1 Kings 9:7
then I have cut off Israel from the face of the ground that I have given to them, and the house that I have hallowed for My name I send away from My presence, and Israel hath been for a simile and for a byword among all the peoples;
(YLT)

Job 27:1
And Job addeth to lift up his simile, and saith: --
(YLT)

Job 29:1
And Job addeth to lift up his simile, and saith: --
(YLT)

Psalms 44:14
Thou makest us a simile among nations, A shaking of the head among peoples.
(YLT)

Psalms 49:4
I incline to a simile mine ear, I open with a harp my riddle:
(YLT)

Psalms 69:11
And I make my clothing sackcloth, And I am to them for a simile.
(YLT)

Psalms 78:2
I open with a simile my mouth, I bring forth hidden things of old,
(YLT)

Isaiah 14:4
That thou hast taken up this simile Concerning the king of Babylon, and said, How hath the exactor ceased,
(YLT)

Jeremiah 24:9
And I have given them for a trembling, For evil -- to all kingdoms of the earth, For a reproach, and for a simile, For a byword, and for a reviling, In all the places whither I drive them.
(YLT)

Ezekiel 12:22
Son of man, what 'is' this simile to you, concerning the land of Israel, saying, Prolonged are the days, and perished hath every vision?
(YLT)

Ezekiel 12:23
therefore say unto them: Thus said the Lord Jehovah: I have caused this simile to cease, And they use it not as a simile again in Israel, But speak to them: Drawn near have the days, And spoken hath every vision.
(YLT)

Ezekiel 16:44
Lo, every one using a simile, Doth use a simile concerning thee, saying: As the mother -- her daughter!
(YLT)

Ezekiel 17:2
Son of man, put forth a riddle, and use a simile unto the house of Israel,
(YLT)

Ezekiel 18:2
What -- to you, ye -- using this simile Concerning the ground of Israel, saying: Fathers do eat unripe fruit, And the sons' teeth are blunted?
(YLT)

Ezekiel 18:3
I live -- an affirmation of the Lord Jehovah, Ye have no more the use of this simile in Israel.
(YLT)

Ezekiel 24:3
and use unto the rebellious house a simile, and thou hast said unto them: Thus said the Lord Jehovah: To set on the pot, to set 'it' on, and also to pour into it water,
(YLT)

Micah 2:4
In that day doth 'one' take up for you a simile, And he hath wailed a wailing of wo, He hath said, We have been utterly spoiled, The portion of my people He doth change, How doth He move toward me! To the backslider our fields He apportioneth.
(YLT)

Habakkuk 2:6
Do not these -- all of them -- against him a simile taken up, And a moral of acute sayings for him, And say, Wo 'to' him who is multiplying 'what is' not his? Till when also is he multiplying to himself heavy pledges?
(YLT)

Subtopics

Simile

Related Terms

Simile (61 Occurrences)

Speaking (376 Occurrences)

Similitude (18 Occurrences)

Using (88 Occurrences)

Vine-growers (13 Occurrences)

Under-winevat (1 Occurrence)

Lebanon (66 Occurrences)

Wherefore (448 Occurrences)

Wall (227 Occurrences)