### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb ἀλληγορέω (allēgoréō, `{{G238}}`) derives from two root words: ἄλλος (allos, "other") and ἀγορεύω (agoreuō, "to speak in the assembly" or "to speak publicly"). Thus, its core meaning is "to speak otherwise," "to speak in a veiled manner," or "to speak by means of another." In a hermeneutical context, it signifies the act of interpreting a narrative or text in a way that reveals a deeper, non-literal meaning, where the elements of the story (characters, events, settings) stand for abstract ideas, moral principles, or spiritual truths. It is the process of treating something as an allegory, a sustained metaphor where one set of events or characters represents another. This differs from a purely literal reading, seeking a symbolic or spiritual correspondence beyond the historical or plain sense.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The verb ἀλληγορέω (allēgoréō, `{{G238}}`) occurs only once in the New Testament, found in Paul's Epistle to the Galatians:
* **[[Galatians 4:24]]**: "Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar."
In this pivotal verse, the Apostle Paul explicitly states that the narrative of Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, Isaac, and Ishmael "is an allegory" (ἅτινά ἐστιν ἀλληγορούμενα, *hatina estin allēgoroumena*). He employs this interpretive method to draw a profound theological parallel between the Old Testament figures and the two covenants: Hagar and Ishmael represent the covenant from Mount Sinai, leading to bondage under the Law, while Sarah and Isaac represent the covenant of promise, leading to freedom in Christ. Paul's use of ἀλληγορέω here is not to deny the historical reality of the Old Testament account but to demonstrate its deeper spiritual significance and application to the theological debate concerning justification by faith versus justification by works of the Law. It serves as a powerful rhetorical device to persuade the Galatian believers to embrace the freedom of the Gospel and reject the legalistic demands of the Judaizers. This single occurrence demonstrates that allegorical interpretation, when properly applied and guided by apostolic insight, was a legitimate, albeit selective, hermeneutical tool within early Christian thought.
### Related Words & Concepts
Understanding ἀλληγορέω (allēgoréō, `{{G238}}`) is enhanced by considering related concepts:
* **Typology (τύπος, typos, `{{G5179}}`)**: Often confused with allegory, typology is a distinct hermeneutical approach. Typology sees historical correspondences, where an earlier person, event, or institution (the "type") foreshadows a later, greater fulfillment (the "antitype"), typically in Christ or the New Covenant. While both involve drawing connections, typology emphasizes historical progression and divine prefiguration, whereas allegory often applies a symbolic meaning to a narrative without necessarily implying a direct historical foreshadowing. Paul's use in Galatians has elements that lean towards typology (historical figures representing covenants) but he explicitly labels it an "allegory."
* **Parable (παραβολή, parabolē, `{{G3850}}`)**: A parable is a short, illustrative story that conveys a moral or spiritual lesson. While parables are inherently symbolic and require interpretation beyond the literal narrative, they are distinct from allegory. A parable presents a story *with* a meaning, whereas an allegory *is* the meaning conveyed through a symbolic narrative. Jesus frequently used parables to teach.
* **Figurative Language**: This is a broader category encompassing various non-literal expressions, including metaphor, simile, hyperbole, and symbolism. Allegory is a sophisticated form of extended figurative language, where the entire narrative functions as a symbol.
* **Hermeneutics**: The science and art of biblical interpretation. Allegory is a specific method within hermeneutics. The historical use of allegorical interpretation, particularly in the Alexandrian school (e.g., Philo, Origen), sometimes extended to finding multiple layers of meaning in every text, which could obscure the plain sense and lead to subjective interpretations.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of ἀλληγορέω (allēgoréō, `{{G238}}`) primarily stems from its singular, yet authoritative, use by the Apostle Paul in [[Galatians 4:24]].
* **Apostolic Validation of Allegory**: Paul's direct application of the term "allegory" to an Old Testament narrative demonstrates that this interpretive method is not inherently unbiblical. It shows that some biblical texts, or aspects of them, can legitimately bear a deeper, non-literal significance that illuminates theological truths. This counters the notion that all biblical interpretation must be strictly literal.
* **Understanding the Covenants**: In Galatians, Paul uses allegory to powerfully articulate the fundamental distinction between the Old Covenant of Law (represented by Hagar and Ishmael, leading to slavery) and the New Covenant of Grace (represented by Sarah and Isaac, leading to freedom in Christ). This allegorical reading serves to underscore the superiority and liberating power of the Gospel.
* **Warning Against Excess**: While Paul legitimizes allegory, his limited and specific use also implicitly warns against its indiscriminate application. The historical trajectory of allegorical interpretation, particularly in later Christian tradition, often led to arbitrary or fanciful readings that divorced the text from its historical and grammatical context. Paul's use is always grounded in clear theological purpose and serves to illuminate, not obscure, the central message of salvation.
* **The Depth of Scripture**: The presence of ἀλληγορέω in the New Testament reminds us that Scripture is multi-layered and profound. While the grammatical-historical method remains foundational, discerning the inspired authors' intent sometimes requires recognizing symbolic or typological dimensions that point to Christ and the unfolding plan of salvation.
### Summary
The Greek verb ἀλληγορέω (allēgoréō, `{{G238}}`) signifies "to allegorize" or "to be an allegory," referring to the interpretation of a narrative where elements represent deeper, non-literal meanings. Its sole occurrence in the New Testament is in [[Galatians 4:24]], where the Apostle Paul applies it to the Old Testament account of Abraham's two sons. Paul utilizes this allegorical interpretation to illustrate the profound theological distinction between the covenant of Law (leading to bondage) and the covenant of Promise (leading to freedom in Christ). While distinct from typology and parables, ἀλληγορέω highlights the multi-layered nature of biblical truth. Paul's use validates allegorical interpretation as a legitimate, though carefully employed, hermeneutical tool within Christian scholarship, serving to illuminate profound theological realities, particularly concerning the nature of the covenants and the liberating power of the Gospel.
TRV