King James Bible Dictionary

Fable - Applied in the New Testament to the traditions and speculations, "cunningly devised fables", of the Jews on religious questions (1 Timothy 1:4; 4:7; 2 Timothy 4:4; Titus 1:14; 2 Peter 1:16). In such passages the word means anything false and unreal. But the word is used as almost equivalent to parable. Thus we have (1) the fable of Jotham, in which the trees are spoken of as choosing a king (Judges 9:8-15); and (2) that of the cedars of Lebanon and the thistle as Jehoash's answer to Amaziah (2 Kings 14:9).

1 Timothy 1:4; 1 Timothy 4:7; 2 Timothy 4:4; Titus 1:14; 2 Peter 1:16

A fable is a narrative in which being irrational, and sometimes inanimate, are, for the purpose of moral instruction, feigned to act and speak with human interests and passions.

Encyc. Brit. The fable differs from the parable in that

1. The parable always relates what actually takes place, and is true to fact, which the fable is not; and
2. The parable teaches the higher heavenly and spiritual truths, but the fable only earthly moralities. Of the fable, as distinguished from the parable [PARABLE], we have but two examples in the Bible:
3. That of the trees choosing their king, addressed by Jotham to the men of Shechem, (Judges 9:8-15)
4. That of the cedar of Lebanon and the thistle, as the answer of Jehoash to the challenge of Amaziah. (2 Kings 14:9) The fables of false teachers claiming to belong to the Christian Church, alluded to by writers of the New Testament, (1 Timothy 1:4; 4:7; Titus 1:14; 2 Peter 1:16) do not appear to have had the character of fables, properly so called.

FABLE, noun [Latin , Gr. The radical sense is that which is spoken or told.]

1. A feigned story or tale, intended to instruct or amuse; a fictitious narration intended to enforce some useful truth or precept.

Jothams fable of the trees is the oldest extant, and as beautiful as any made since.

2. Fiction in general; as, the story is all a fable

3. An idle story; vicious or vulgar fictions.

But refuse profane and old wives fables. 1 Timothy 4:7.

4. The plot, or connected series of events, in an epic or dramatic poem.

The moral is the first business of the poet; this being formed, he contrives such a design or fable as may be most suitable to the moral.

5. Falsehood; a softer term for a lie.

FABLE, verb intransitive

1. To feign; to write fiction.

Vain now the tales which fabling poets tell.

2. To tell falsehoods; as, he fables not.

FABLE, verb transitive To feign; to invent; to devise and speak of, as true or real.

The hell thou fablest.

FABLED, participle passive

1. Feigned; invented, as stories.

2. adjective Told or celebrated in fables.

Hail, fabled grotto.

FABLER, noun A writer of fables or fictions; a dealer in feigned stories.