The Linguistic Genius of "Abogadong Walang Alam"

 

In the high-stakes arena of the Senate Impeachment Court, prosecution lawyer Atty. Benjamin Tolosa Jr. dropped a phrase during his examination of former DepEd Undersecretary and OVP spokesperson Atty. Michael Poa: "Abogadong walang alam."

Netizens have a grand time speculating what the statement was all about ... and here are some of their interpretations.

[ READING 1: THE ACCIDENTALLY LITERAL ]

• "He has zero legal knowledge."

• Category: Direct insult / Incompetence.

[ READING 2: THE STRATEGICALLY BLIND ]

• "He was central to operations, but claims zero knowledge."

• Category: Sarcastic irony / Weaponized ignorance.

The phrase is a textbook Double Entendre—a statement crafted to hold two distinct meanings simultaneously:

-Literal Surface Meaning: "An incompetent lawyer who lacks basic knowledge."

-Contextual Subtext Meaning: "A key insider who magically knows nothing under oath."

-The -Literal Reading: To an outsider, it sounds like a blunt, unvarnished insult questioning a legal professional's competence.

The Figurative/Sarcastic Reading: To anyone following the confidential fund saga, it is an ironic critique of a central character who held major administrative posts, acted as spokesperson, and yet claims absolute, pristine ignorance regarding how millions were spent.

Beyond being a double entendre, the statement operates across several classic literary devices:

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE CLASSIFICATION

1 LITERARY DEVICE - Dramatic Irony

APPLICATION - The public knows he was in the room, but the witness (Atty Poa) claims total amnesia on the stand.

2. LITERARY DEVICE - Antiphrasis / Sarcasm

APPLICATION - Calling him "knowing nothing" to highlight how impossible that claim actually is.

3. LITERARY DEVICE - Feigned Innocence (Prevarication)

APPLICATION - The defense technique where "I don't recall" becomes a legal shield.

The drama reached its peak when the Senate Impeachment Court ordered the phrase struck from the record for being "discourteous" to a fellow officer of the court.

[ THE PARLIAMENTARY REMOVAL FLOWCHART ]

PROSECUTION UTTERS "ABOGADONG WALANG ALAM" ──► DEFENSE OBJECTS TO THE INSULT" ──► COURT ORDERS IT STRICKEN FROM RECORD ──► RESULT: The phrase is deleted from official paper, but permanently etched into social media.

In the end, whether treated as a legal insult or a sarcastic observation, the phrase captured the central paradox of the proceedings: in modern political inquiries, the most dangerous thing a key insider can possess isn't a paper trail—it's a sudden, total loss of memory.

Then and Now

 An alert reader had this query. 

Question: "I have read, and you have written examples of figurative language before ... basing on the statements of VP and comparing the THEN and the NOW ... I felt there was some sort of discrepancy.

"Her statement "NOON": I want a bloodbath ... her statement NGAYON: I want a TRO. Is this an example of irony? If not, what figurative language is that?"

Answer: Yes, the shift from wanting a "bloodbath" to seeking a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) can be considered an example of irony, specifically situational irony.

Situational irony occurs when there is a sharp discrepancy between what is expected or intended and what actually happens.

In this context, the irony lies in the stark contradiction between her initial aggressive rhetoric and her subsequent legal strategy:

• The Expectation: By using the metaphorical term "bloodbath," VP Sara projected an image of someone eager for a fierce, open, and combative public confrontation where evidence would be laid bare.
• The Reality: Seeking a TRO or filing legal motions to block proceedings is a defensive maneuver designed to stop or delay that very confrontation.
• Other Applicable Figurative Language -Beyond irony, these statements also employ several other rhetorical devices:
  • Hyperbole: The word "bloodbath" is an exaggerated figure of speech used to emphasize intensity rather than literal violence.
  • Antithesis: The comparison between "bloodbath" (total war/chaos) and "TRO" (legal order/restraint) creates an antithesis, placing two opposing concepts side-by-side to highlight the sudden change in stance.
  • Juxtaposition: Simply placing the "Then" and "Now" statements together juxtaposes two conflicting attitudes to expose a perceived inconsistency.
  • Metaphor: "Bloodbath" serves as a metaphor for a highly destructive political or legal battle.

Political Meme

Ang mga tao nga naman. Of all  the animals in the land and in the water ... sa pusit pa talaga ninyo ikinumpara si VP Inday? Ano ba ang logic kung bakit sa pusit siya kinumpara?

Squid use their ink as a defensive mechanism against potential enemies. They release a dark, smoky cloud that obscures the predator's vision and allows the squid to escape. The ink can also temporarily disorient or irritate predators, making it harder for them to pursue the squid. 

Is that how they compare Inday with her confidential fund controversies? Ganyan ba umasta si Inday, na ugali ng bumubuga ng tinta para makatakbo at makaiwas sa panganib?

If you were to ask me ... I would rather compare her to an electric eel. Unlike most fish, eels have no scales. Instead, their smooth, slimy skin helps them glide through narrow crevices and slither into tight spaces to escape predators. 

Electric eels defend themselves by leaping from the water, directly shocking the threat or stunning the potential prey. Eh ilang beses na ba nakuryente ang mga congressmen sa pagiging bratinella ni Inday?

Inday was slippery indeed, and she is difficult to catch and you can't get any information from her like what happened in the hearings.

It is funny how people perceive ITIM and make it a horror story- ginawa pa nilang props ang full moon, bats, and an old gnarled tree.

It is doubly funny at gumawa pa sila ng PIATTOS na ang flavor ay pusit. Ang hindi nila alam ang makakain niyan  ay magiging anak ng kadiliman, madulas, evasive at palaging umiiwas. 

By the way, going back to our previous posts about figures of speech ... When you say "as slippery as an eel,"  or as dark as the squid's ink" ... what FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE was used?

They were using SIMILE - a rhetorical device that compares two things using the words "like", "as", or than. Similes are used to make a description more emphatic or vivid. (Example: as brave as a lion ... eyes like a hawk ... sweeter than sugar.)

Mga Oksimoron in Tagalog

Guys ... did you know that even in Tagalog, nahawa na rin ito at nakipagsabayang gumamit ng oksimoron. Ayaw talaga magpaawat ang mga Pinoy. Kung ano ang ginagawa ng iba ... nakikiuso rin sila. More often than not mas nahihigitan pa nga nila ang mga English equivalents nito.

As we said in our previous posts, ang mga oksimoron ay gumagamit ng mga salitang magkasalungat para lalo maging makulay at mapaganda ang kanilang mensaheng gustong iparating.  Nilalaro nila ang mga salita para lalong tumingkad ang mga gustong ihatid na mga madamdaming emosyon at mapanindig balahibong pagsasadula at pakipagpahayag.

Tingnan mo ang mga oksimoron sa listahan.

1. batang ama

2. nakakabinging katahimikan

3. santong kabayo

4. masakit na masarap

5. totoong kasinungalingan

6. matandang bata

7. edukadong palengkero

8. maginoo pero bastos

9. patay na buhay

10. klarong malabo

11. papalit-palit palipat-lipat

12. kamay na bakal

13. kulang labis

14. nakakiliting kirot

15. siguradong hindi

16. matandang dalaga

17. desenteng balahura

18. kasal ... kasali ...  kasalo

19. lumang balita

20. banal na aso

21. mister-yosong miss

22. misis na miss

Oxymora Galore

An oxymoron (plural is oxymora) is a figure of speech that makes a word salad out of contradictory words with opposite meanings.  

Once combined the readers get confused ... but in the long run the reader realizes the words can fit in ... and are compatible to make a thought or a meaning.  Or a new concept. 

Oxymorons may seem illogical at first, but they usually make sense in context.

Examples are: 

1. old news - if it is news ...it has to be new. Old news however refers to information that everybody is aware of.

2. organized chaos - it is amazing to say something is organized amid chaos. Organized chaos means a situation that appears chaotic ... but despite the high complexity, everything worked efficiently and effectively.

3. cruel kindness - how can cruelty become kindness? Cruel kindness is when a person acts rudely and people perceive the action as harsh ... but the recipient of the cruelty will ultimately benefit from it ... and learn a lesson.

4. random order - what is random ... is not in order. Random order means something is arranged without a pattern or an observed sequence ... and there was a lack of plan.

5. awfully good - if it is good how can it be awful? Awfully good however means VERY GOOD. The person might just feel awful ... because he was not used to saying very good in his reviews or comments when he critiqued the lead's acting or the direction of the movie.

Definition

Euphemisms are a common part of everyday language. They can be used to make something sound more pleasant, to present an idea in a certain way, or to disguise the purpose of something. Euphemisms are substitutes to topics considered taboo or embarrassing, such as using the toilet.

Euphemisms are important because they allow individuals to discuss challenging topics while still being polite.

A euphemism is a figure of speech. Instead of using a word or phrase that is considered to be offensive or that some may consider derogatory, a euphemism is used instead.

While euphemisms can be idiomatic they have a more specific purpose. Euphemisms are typically used to soften the tone for politeness or diplomacy. They are especially effective when speaking or writing about sensitive topics.

Examples of euphemisms:

• A bun in the oven: pregnant.
• No longer with us: dead.
• Let go: fired.
• Plastered: drunk.
• Time of the month: menstruation.

Oxymoron 101

           

Oxymorons are figures of speech that are contradictory, antithetical ... opposing  ... and are at odds when grouped together. To understand it better ... it is a phrase that combines two words that seem in conflict ... or incompatible with each other.

The classic example of an oxymoron is DEAFENING SILENCE. The night is silent or quiet... and you can almost hear the pin drop.  How could you possibly combine silence with deafening? Meron bang " nakakabinging katahimikan" in real life? The two words are "in opposition" to each other ... no question about it. 

But there was a time in my life when I agreed I could use deafening to describe silence. That was the time when I was sick ... and I was left alone in the house.  The situation was so surreal ... because I even saw myself covering my ears. The tranquility was so eerie ... it was deafening because I could even hear my heartbeat ... and the house gecko making that guttural "squawk" was magnified ten times more ... enough to give me a good scare.

So oxymoron's words clash ... and if you just pause for a while and clear your thoughts ... the doubting Thomas in you will make your hands up and retreat at the end ... and become a new convert ... yes oxymoron's two words can be combined to make a phrase. Take these examples:

1. EXACT ESTIMATE - Estimate means you roughly CALCULATED ... it is an "EDUCATED GUESS".  All you did was APPROXIMATE ... so how on earth could you possibly say ... it is EXACT? How could you possibly say it is CORRECT and ACCURATE in every detail ... when what you did is only SPECULATE and ESTIMATE?

Exact Estimate is an oxymoron.

2. FOUND MISSING - This is another oxymoron. Is this for real? How can you found something that is missing? If you are missing ... you are GONE ... you were LOST ... you were MISPLACED. You are nowhere to be found. Placing found next to missing seems incongruent.

The phrase "found missing" is correct and usable in written English. You can use this phrase to indicate that something has been absent ... missing ... or can't be found. For instance, "The championship trophy was found missing from the glass case in an empty hallway of the university's athletic building."

See English language can welcome all kinds of abnormality ... oddity and irregularity into its tent ... making it an anomaly if you start asking questions. 

Oxymoron Part 2

 

I spent the whole night thinking what other oxymorons I can write here ...  just to drive home a point. 

Just like idiomatic expressions ... oxymorons can be CLEARLY CONFUSING (hey guys ... if you are not following you almost missed the capitalized word is another example of oxymoron - a phrase that consists of two ill-matched words ... very uncomplimentary with each other ... sounding discordant in every way. Confusing is a baffling puzzle ... and using clearly as an adverb to describe confusing seems poles apart.

Clearly confusing means - Malinaw pa sa tanghaling tapat that the situation lacks clarity of meaning ... causing confusion and perplexity. 

Here are other oxymoronic examples:

1. BIG BABY - babies are supposed to be small ... and in this oxymoron ... big was the adjective ... used to describe the baby. At first glance ... the words seemed at odds when placed side by side ... but after critical thinking, it makes perfect sense - a big baby - is a phrase coined to mean an adult that is prone to immature behavior associated with babies ... like crying or temper tantrums.

2. FULLY EMPTY -is another example.  Are you crazy? How can it be FULL when it is almost EMPTY a novice asked ... because she was confused about what its literal meaning is all about? But fully empty here means ... completely empty. Do you get the drift?

3. PRETTY UGLY - I always hear this oxymoron that pairs words that contradict each other. Small kids use this ... when they start describing somebody as pretty ... but at the end add the word ugly as a punch line ... or as an afterthought?

Pretty ugly means someone has a great figure and a sexy body ... but she has a face ... only her mother could love. In Tagalog sila yong mga hipon - maganda ang katawan ... pero ang mukha ... matatakot ka.

Double Meaning

 

                                                           Pardon the image ... I am just trying to drive home a point

Why is it that you say one thing ... and the other person misinterprets it to mean another thing?  Why is it that a simple word becomes so complex to some? It behooves and opens the lock to a lot of various interpretations.

There are a lot of explanations to it, so consider these terms that seem alien to you and add more confusion ... and make the phrase blossom into a myriad of rainbow-colored simplification and interpretation.

1. Ambiguous statement - a statement that has two meanings, but those meanings are unrelated. Example: "She sat at the bank" may mean the person may be working as a manager of the BANK. Or it may mean the person is sitting on the BANK of a river or a creek.

2. Polysemous statement - a statement that has two meanings, but those meanings are related. Example: "She beat the man with a cane..." may mean she is using the cane to beat the man. Or it may mean she whacked the man using a walking stick/cane. And by the way who owns the cane - the one beating ... or the one beaten?

3. Double entendre - is a form of wordplay. It relies on the ambiguity in the phrasing and use of words in a statement. The word or phrase can be read in two ways ... at times, multiple ways. Example: Groucho Marx once said, "If I said you have a beautiful body would you hold it against me?

There is a dual meaning of the phrase 1. 'to hold (something) 2. against (someone). If you are not used to double entendre ... more often than not ... you will slap the man ... until his face turns crimson.

Lost In Translation

It is really pun and fun to play on words.  It sometimes involves risque dual meanings. If the writer says one thing ... but at the back of your mind ... your gut-feel screams something sinister is written all over the place ... you might as well play with him.  If the writer is creating more hocus pocus on a simple statement presented ... and you sense some cryptic hidden meanings ... you might as well join and start the horseplay.

There are other ways why you get lost in translation while somebody is talking to you ... and one them is getting stressed out while wrestling with the English language.

1. Polysemy- Semantic changes result as a rule in new meanings being added to the ones already existing in the semantic structure of the word. The verb "get" is a good example of polysemy — it can mean "procure," "become," or "understand."

2. Homonyms and homophones - they are words that are spelled alike ... or sound identical ... and are pronounced the same  ... but have different meanings and origins. Example: write and right. they're and their, two and too, knew and new, cite, sight or site.

3. Homographs - they are words that are written and spelled the same ... but have different meanings and are sometimes pronounced differently. 

When the words are the same for a noun and a verb, the pronunciation is often just a shift in the stressed syllable, from the first syllable (noun) to the last syllable (verb). For example, RE-cord (noun) which means a written account), to re-CORd (verb) which means to write or copy. 

Other examples: Con-TENT (adjective) which means happy or satisfied and CON-tent (noun)- all that is contained inside the bag or crate. DE-sert - a hot, arid region (noun), and DEE-sert - to leave (verb)

• 
  

Hindi Naintiedihan ang Tagalog?

Would you believe kahit sa loob ng bahay si Nanay or yong bunso mong kapatid can be lost in translation ... yon bang para bang hindi kayo magkakilalang pamilya - para kayong mga Filipino na may halong Hapon or Tsekwa.

Sa simpleng request ba naman na "isaksak mo ang electric fan" (plug in the electric fan) tingnan mo kung ano ang ginawa ng isang tamad or pilosopong family member. 

Aba sinaksak nga ... pero utang na loob saan ka ba makakita ng ganoon? Di bale sana kung mga idiomatic expressions lang ang atin pinagusapan ... na nakalilito nga ... pero ito sinto-sinto lang ang makagawa niyan.

Or baka naman confused lang ... at hindi talaga naintiendihan. Honest mistake baga ... Sigi palusot pa!

What Cormorants Mean As An Adjective

 

Do you know that using Cormorant as a word in literature or in writing .... has a positive and negative connotation? Based on the way the bird behaves it can even used to describe a person.

Cormorant as an adjective symbolizes a person who is a go-getter... action-oriented, resourceful, and brave. This regal bird knows exactly what it wants and how to get it. Cormorant is when a person dives deep ... to catch what he wants.

In the same vein ... the word can also mean negative in some aspects and in some respects. Because this bird is a voracious eater ... it could mean to describe a person as greedy ... or a hefty eater.

The adjective "cormorous" is used to mean unsatiable, ravenous, and greedy. In his plays ... Shakespeare used the word cormorant as synonymous with being selfish.

Oxymorons In Movie Titles Part 1

As promised ,,, I burned my midnight candle last night to add more examples of oxymorons in movie titles.

Hollywood productions make use of oxymorons to entice the movie-going public by placing congruent words side by side and extracting their differences, They sound improbable having two differing words or phrases being combined in one sentence.

When oxymorons are being offered to you and when you exert an effort to understand them... you will realize... it makes sense ... and will eventually bring the reader to a concealed but detectable truth.

Oxymorons can be FIGURATIVELY TRUE but not LITERALLY TRUE. Take these movie titles and see for yourself.

In the list, you see The Civil War - To be civil means you are polite, courteous, well-bred, well-mannered, or gentlemanly. And war is an uprising, a fight, and a battle. If you heard of a gentleman's fight ... that's an aberration. But they were able to combine two contrasting words and coin them to bring out a different meaning.

Then the movie Asphalt Jungle is not literally true. For one a jungle is a dense forest or wilderness with tangled vegetation. On the other hand, Asphalt is a black tarry substance used to pave roads. Normal thinking usually dictates a jungle is not a jungle if it is asphalt-paved. See what I mean? But here the story may mean a modern city - a concrete jungle that is harsh, highly competitive, and dangerous.

1. A I - Artificial Intelligence

2. The Asphalt Jungle

3. Begin Again

4. Best Worst Movie

5.  Big Doll House

6.  Bitter Sweet

7. Blast of Silence

8.  Blind Eye

9. Blue Blood

10. Brain Dead

11. The Civil War

12. Cold Heart

13. Man of Steel

14. Sexy Beast

15. Reality Bites

Oxymorons In Movie Titles 2

Oxymorons are addicting ... once I thought the list above is enough to prove my point ... then comes the torrent of movie titles cascading down my memory lane ... commanding me " Hey you ... don't exclude this title ...  or else ... "

Last night was an exhausting night as movie titles haunted and woke me up in my already disturbed sleep like it was a matter of life and death that I needed to include them. I was already cursing myself for starting this topic ... and after a bated breath ... here comes another string of movie titles nagging me: "I am an oxymoron too ... where is justice ... if you don't include us?

Just like the Fairy Tale: A True Story ... tales are usually fictitious or imaginary narratives or stories and flagging it as a true story is a stroke of genius.

At three o'clock in the morning, I was still pounding my keyboard like my life depended on them ... because missing one would be misconstrued as bias or prejudice ... or worse bigotry. So here we go ... if you have something to add to the list ... please do so in the comment section:

1. Buried Alive

2. Cold In July

3. Dark Light

4. Dead Again

5. The Dead Don't Die

6. The Death of Superman Lives

7. Fairy Tale - A True Story

8. The Fallen Idol

9.  Far Away ... So Close

10. A Fine Mess

11. Frozen Fever

12.  Giant Little Ones

13. Hell's Angels

14. Higher Ground

15. I know Who Killed Me

Oxymoron Trivia

The word oxymoron is actually an oxymoron (a literary device that presents two contrasting ideas.

Oxymoron stems out from two Greek words - Oksus (meaning sharp or keen) and moros (meaning stupid or a moron). The contrasting words are sharp and stupid.

So how on earth ... did you describe a stupid person as sharp or keen?

Oxymorons In Movie Titles

The use of oxymorons is considered "the salt and pepper" of delectable writing. If you plan on doing an essay, a poem, a story, and a script ... or better still if you are into writing or describing life's peculiarities, weirdness, and incongruities ... stir up a boring and lifeless scenario into something more alive in the hard-to-please minds of your target audience.

Oxymorons serve akin to herbs, spices, and condiments ... and when you daub a little of this ... and a little of that into whatever you write... to your surprise ... it provokes a smile on somebody's face ... a giggle here and snickers there ... an expansion of awareness ...  or just pure awe.

That's precisely how this flavorful figurative language has been utilized by penpushers and speechwriters. It adds more verve, style, originality, flair, and fun to any sentence you write. 

Why even the titles of movies succumb to the use of oxymorons (defined as using two contradictory words) ... to make an impact, grab more attention, or create an impression.

Classical examples are: 

1. Eyes Wide Shut - contradictory words are wide and shut.  Eyes are not wide when shut. It should be Eyes Wide Open!

2. You Only Live Twice - contradictory words are life and twice ... not unless you are like a cat with nine lives.

3. Dead Man Walking - contradictory words are dead and walking ... if you are dead you can't walk and if you can walk you are alive.

4. True Lies - Contradictory words are true and lies.  If it is true ... then it is not a lie.

5. Back To The Future - contradictory words are back and future ... you can't go back to the future ... you have to fast forward.

See how the title tricked you ... and you end up shaking your head. The title did not just add flavor ... but it has intrigued you and aroused your interest and curiosity.

I'll try to add more movie titles, and literary works that employ the use of oxymorons next issue.

The Parable Of The Wheat and Weeds: What It Means

Parables are easy to understand, and to those people whose brain cells are on eternal rest and need little stimulation ... let us simplify what it says and what it meant.

Just like last Sunday, the parable of the sower, this parable is meant to further emphasize how the man received the word of God ...  will the faith grow ... or will it fall on deaf ears?

The one who sows the good seed symbolizes Jesus and the Church, the field represents the world, the good seed or the wheat are those obedient children who listen to Jesus' teachings, and the weeds or tares are the children who preferred to ignore and has given the word a cold shoulder, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil ... who sowed weeds in order to corrupt the minds of the people and the Church teachings.

Most plants only produce several hundred seeds, but weeds are a "rare avis".  One single weed can produce anywhere from 10,000 to over 100,000 seeds. With these odds. it is just like playing the lotto ... it is easy to see how weeds can quickly overtake your garden, your mind, and your soul ... if left untreated.

To our readers who are clueless about what we are saying here ... here is the meaning of our LIFE's WEEDS. They are those uninvited visitors who gate-crashed into our lives (emotions, feelings, thoughts, and deeds) and have crept into us without even knocking at the door.  Before we knew it they have full throttle and choked us to death.

Weeds and Life's weeds for that matter are unwanted because they are not a good influence in our garden, in our being, and in our soul. Weeds rob water and nutrients from your plants ... in the same as life's weeds make a stunted growth in us. Some weeds are so vigorous in their growth habits they can choke and shade the whole field ... in the same way the life weeds shadow and darkens your faith and the TRUTH.

In his story, Jesus said that we shouldn't worry about pulling up the weeds that grow around us. If we do, we may do more harm than good. He suggests that we leave the weeds for God to take care of - and concentrate on doing what he wants us to do which is producing good fruit.  

We have to do what we must to let the good seed of His Word grow in our hearts and bear fruit in our lives. So, if we see the weeds and the tares in our midst... we should not shake like a leaf or break out in cold sweat.  God wants the wheat and the weeds to grow together ... as He wants good and bad people to blend together in one bowl like a fruit salad ... just as he wants truth, happiness, and virtue to collide with lies, pain, and sin. The Lord does not want to eliminate the enemy right away ... He wants us to know them ... learn from them in order to become a better person.

The harvest time in this parable refers to the end of the world when Jesus will return and judge the living and the dead, At that time, the righteous will be separated from the unrighteous, just as the wheat is separated from the tares. This day is Judgment Day.

The harvest workers are the angels. Collecting the weeds and tying them and placing them in a fiery furnace to be burned are vivid visuals of hell. And the wheat being placed in the barn ... the way it was described only mean one thing ... heaven.

In summary, the parable is about a farmer who plants seeds and can do nothing about the weeds ... until harvest time. Once the seed of the word of God is sown ... only time will tell how the person's faith will grow and populate.

The Parable of the Weeds

 

Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.  But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.  When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.

 “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’

“‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.

“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’

 “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them.  Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”

What Are Parables?

Are parables figurative language? Yes ... parables use literary devices such as similies, and metaphors in order to convey their meaning. The word itself comes from the Greek meaning “comparison".

A parable is more akin to a metaphor because it uses specific and definite situations to demonstrate abstract concepts. A parable is a metaphor that is a little bit longer to form a brief, coherent narrative. Both parables and metaphors have hidden meanings. A parable however is lengthy and uses a story to convey a deeper message. Metaphors are typically shorter.

Parables are also much like similes. The meaning is implied even though they were not voiced out loud. Even though the purpose of parables was left unsaid, their meaning is well understood anyway. Even though they were not explicitly stated ... it was implied indirectly though not articulated in words. However, their meanings are nevertheless relatively obvious and evident.

A parable is a short story that teaches a moral principle and a spiritual lesson. The parables in the Bible taught by Jesus are classic examples. An example of parables that are not extracted from the Holy Book is the story of the "Boy Who Cried Wolf" where the mischievous lead character plays a prankster who tricks and jokes about a wolf coming ... and when the real wolf appeared from nowhere and nobody listened ... that resulted in chaos and panic in the village.

Another popular parable that has no religious and biblical undertones is the story of Jack and Jill. And the moral lesson of their story is to remind kids not to wander away from home. Their story was told to young children to try and prevent them from going out alone after dark.

Parables should not be confused or used interchangeably as "fables" or allegory which are in themselves a tale that teaches moral lessons at the end. The characters in the parable are people ... whereas the fable's main and central protagonists are animals, plants, or inanimate objects. The best example of a fable is "The Tortoise and the Hare" which were animals. And the moral of its story is ... he who is slow but sure ... wins the race (the slow tortoise beating the fast but inattentive and preoccupied rabbit.)

Allegory on the other hand is a work of art that has hidden meaning to it ... usually with moral importance. It has a surface story and a hidden story.  One good example is The Sneetches ... which is an allegory for racism and other forms of prejudice. The story is all about star-bellied sneetches who treated non star-bellied creatures as inferior.

This book by Dr. Seuss helps children see how absurd and foolish it is to judge people by their appearance rather than by their character. "Sneetches" encourages the reader to be fair and treat practically everybody in an impartial way possible. Like all of Dr. Seuss's stories, the story was written in a playful manner so it can easily be understood by children, but it still contains an important political message for us to learn.

The Parable of The Sower

(Matthew 13:1-9) That same day, Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore.  

Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, 

1. Some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 

2. Some fell on rocky places, where they did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no roots.

3. Other seeds fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.

4 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.”