Smith's Bible Dictionary

(Frankie) #1

parables note— (1) The analogies must be real, not arbitrary; (2) The parables are to be considered
as parts of a whole, and the interpretation of one is not to override or encroach upon the lessons
taught by others; (3) The direct teaching of Christ presents the standard to which all our
interpretations are to be referred, and by which they are to be measured.
Paradise
This is a word of Persian origin, and is used in the Septuagint as the translation of Eden. It
means “an orchard of pleasure and fruits,” a “garden” or “pleasure ground,” something like an
English park. It is applied figuratively to the celestial dwelling of the righteous, in allusion to the
garden of Eden. (2 Corinthians 12:4; Revelation 2:7) It has thus come into familiar use to denote
both that garden and the heaven of the just.
Parah
(heifer-town) one of the cities in the territory allotted to Benjamin, named only in the lists of
the conquest. (Joshua 18:23)
Paran, Elparan
(peace of caverns), a desert or wilderness, bounded on the north by Palestine, on the east by
the valley of Arabah, on the south by the desert of Sinai, and on the west by the wilderness of
Etham, which separated it from the Gulf of Suez and Egypt. The first notice of Paran is in connection
with the invasion of the confederate kings. (Genesis 14:6) The detailed itinerary of the children of
Israel in (Numbers 33:1) ... does not mention Paran because it was the name of a wide region; but
the many stations in Paran are recorded, chs. 17-36. and probably all the eighteen stations were
mentioned between Hazeroth and Kadesh were in Paran. Through this very wide wilderness, from
pasture to pasture as do modern Arab tribes, the Israelites wandered in irregular lines of march.
This region through which the Israelites journeyed so long is now called by the name it has borne
for ages—Bedu et-Tih, “the wilderness of wandering.” (“Bible Geography,” Whitney.) “Mount”
Paran occurs only in two poetic passages, (33:2); Habb 3:3 It probably denotes the northwestern
member of the Sinaitic mountain group which lies adjacent to the Wady Teiran. (It is probably the
ridge or series of ridges lying on the northeastern part of the desert of Paran, not far from
Kadesh.—ED.)
Parbar
(open apartment), a word occurring in Hebrew and Authorized Version only in (1 Chronicles
26:18) It would seem that Parbar was some place on the west side of the temple enclosure, probably
the suburb mentioned by Josephus as lying in the deep valley which separated the west wall of the
temple from the city opposite it.
Parchment
[Writing]
Parlor
a word in English usage meaning the common room of the family, and hence probably in
Authorized Version denoting the king’s audience-chamber, so used in reference to Eglon. (Judges
3:20-25)
Parmashta
(superior), one of the ten sons of Haman slain by the Jews in Shushan. (Esther 9:9) (B.C. 473.)
Parmenas
(abiding), one of the seven deacons, “men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom.”
(Acts 8:5) There is a tradition that he suffered martyrdom at Philippi in the reign of Trajan.

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