This parable. See note on "and we", &c. (Joh_1:14).
parable = wayside saying. Greek paroimia. Not parable, which is parabole. Paroimia Occurs in John here; and translated "proverb" in Joh_16:25, Joh_16:25, Joh_16:29, and 2Pe_2:22. Parabole occurs fifty times, but is not used in John. Paroimia is the Septuagint word for mashal = proverb in Pro_1:1. See note there.
Jesus. App-98.
understood not = did not get to know. Greek. ginosko.App-132. See note on Joh_1:10.
what things they were = what it was, or what it meant.