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fable

Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:

(spoken). A narrative in which inanimate things are personalized (Judg. 9:8-15⁸The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us. ⁹But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honor God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? ¹⁰And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us. ¹¹But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees? ¹²Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us. ¹³And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? ¹⁴Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us. ¹⁵And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon. (Judges 9:8‑15); 2 Kings 14:9⁹And Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle. (2 Kings 14:9)).

Concise Bible Dictionary:

Lit. “a word, a speech.” The English word is not used in the N. T. in the sense in which it is now often employed, signifying a supposed incident to teach some moral truth; but has the sense rather of myths, false stories (as the Greek word was used by later writers), which in one passage are called "profane and old wives' fables" (1 Tim. 1:4⁴Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do. (1 Timothy 1:4); 1 Tim. 4:7⁷But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. (1 Timothy 4:7); 2 Tim. 4:4⁴And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (2 Timothy 4:4); Titus 1:14¹⁴Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. (Titus 1:14); 2 Pet. 1:16¹⁶For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. (2 Peter 1:16)).

Strong’s Dictionary of Greek Words:

Number:

3454 (find all occurrences in KJV Bible)

Greek:

μῦθος

Transliteration:

muthos

Phonic:

moo’-thos

Meaning:

perhaps from the same as 3453 (through the idea of tuition); a tale, i.e. fiction ("myth")

KJV Usage:

fable