Bible Dictionary: Stumbling-block

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

(n.) Any cause of stumbling, perplexity, or error.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

STUMBLING-BLOCK; STUMBLING-STONE

stum'-bling-blok, (mikhshol, makhshelah; proskomma, skandalon): These are the most important of the varied renderings of either of two cognate Hebrew words, or of two different Greek words. Sometimes the Greek word for "stone" (lithos) accompanies the principal word. There is no important difference in the meaning of the words or of their renderings. the Revised Version (British and American) generally substitutes "stumbling" for "offence" of the King James Version.

The literal meaning of the Hebrew words-an object which causes one to stumble or fall-appears in such passages as Leviticus 19:14: "Thou shalt not.... put a stumblingblock (mikhshol) before the blind" (compare Jeremiah 6:21). But the expression is ordinarily figurative, referring to that which causes material ruin or spiritual downfall, which were closely connected in Old Testament thought (Psalm 119:165 Ezekiel 21:15). The things that lead astray are silver and gold (Ezekiel 7:19); idols (Ezekiel 14:3 Zephaniah 1:3, etc.).

One of the New Testament words, skandalon, literally means the stick of a trap to which the bait is attached, and which when touched springs the trap. Figuratively either word refers to a thing or a person that leads one to fall into error, into sin or into destruction: the cross of Christ (Galatians 5:11 Romans 11:9); another's liberty (1 Corinthians 8:9); Peter in Matthew 16:23; Christ, whose life and character were so different from Jewish expectation (Romans 9:33).

See also OFFENCE.

George Rice Hovey

Greek

4625. skandalon -- a stick for bait (of a trap), generally a snare ...
... stumbling block. ... ie Snare (figuratively, cause of displeasure or sin) -- occasion
to fall (of stumbling), offence, thing that offends, stumblingblock. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4625.htm - 8k

4348. proskomma -- a stumbling, an occasion of stumbling
... of stumbling. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: proskomma Phonetic Spelling:
(pros'-kom-mah) Short Definition: a stumbling-block Definition: a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4348.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

4383. mikshol -- a stumbling, means or occasion of stumbling, a ...
... a stumbling, means or occasion of stumbling, a stumbling block. Transliteration:
mikshol or mikshol Phonetic Spelling: (mik-shole') Short Definition: block. ...
/hebrew/4383.htm - 6k

4384. makshelah -- something overthrown, a stumbling block
... something overthrown, a stumbling block. Transliteration: makshelah Phonetic Spelling:
(mak-shay-law') Short Definition: ruins. ... ruin, stumbling-block. ...
/hebrew/4384.htm - 6k

1848. dophi -- a blemish, fault
... slanders. From an unused root (meaning to push over); a stumbling-block --
slanderest. 1847, 1848. dophi. 1849 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/1848.htm - 5k

6330. puqah -- tottering, staggering
... Word Origin from puq Definition tottering, staggering NASB Word Usage grief (1).
grief. From puwq; a stumbling-block -- grief. see HEBREW puwq. 6329, 6330. ...
/hebrew/6330.htm - 6k

Library

Peter as a Stumbling-Block to Jesus.
... Book XII. 23. Peter as a Stumbling-Block to Jesus. Next we must inquire
how He said to Peter, "Thou art a stumbling-block unto Me ...
/.../origens commentary on the gospel of matthew/23 peter as a stumbling-block.htm

My Spirit Bows in Adoration to the Cross, which is a Stumbling ...
... Chapter XVIII. My spirit bows in adoration to the cross, which is a
stumbling-block to those who� My spirit bows in adoration ...
/.../chapter xviii my spirit bows.htm

How Brother Conrad of Offida Converted a Young Brother, who was a ...
... HERE BEGIN THE LITTLE FLOWERS OF SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI CHAPTER XLIII HOW BROTHER
CONRAD OF OFFIDA CONVERTED A YOUNG BROTHER, WHO WAS A STUMBLING BLOCK TO THE ...
/.../the little flowers of st francis of assisi/chapter xliii how brother conrad.htm

The Very Simplicity of God's Means of Working, a Stumbling-Block ...
... Chapter II."The Very Simplicity of God's Means of Working, a Stumbling-
Block to the Carnal Mind. Well, but how great is the force ...
/.../tertullian/on baptism/chapter ii the very simplicity of.htm

Where There is Only one Woman, the Father Does not Make a Stay ...
... And, that we may not give a pretext to those who desire to get a pretext against
us and to speak evil of us, and that we may not be a stumbling-block to any one ...
/.../clement/two epistles concerning virginity/chapter v where there is only.htm

When Confessing the Divinity of Christ we Ought not to Pass Over ...
... But we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling-block, to the Gentiles
foolishness: but to them that are saved, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power ...
/.../cassian/the seven books of john cassian /chapter viii when confessing the.htm

Christ Crucified is an Offence and Foolishness to those who ...
... And where is that saying of yours, O Apostle Paul: "But we preach Christ crucified,
to the Jews indeed a stumbling block, but to the Gentiles foolishness: but ...
/.../cassian/the seven books of john cassian /chapter xii christ crucified is.htm

The Offending Hand, or Foot, or Eye.
... which are becoming to itself, may not be able to say to the feet, "I have no need
of you." If, however, any foot be found to become a stumbling-block to the ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of matthew/24 the offending hand or.htm

The Little Ones and their Stumbling-Blocks.
... he falls short of the disposition of children towards the passions, of which we
have spoken, to whom we ought not to give occasions of stumbling-block; but, if ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of matthew/17 the little ones and.htm

How those are to be Admonished who do Bad Things Secretly and Good ...
... eating put a stumbling-block of temptation in the way of the imperfect, Take heed,
lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/chapter xxxv how those are.htm

Thesaurus

Stumblingblock (14 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia STUMBLING-BLOCK; STUMBLING-STONE. ... put a
stumblingblock (mikhshol) before the blind" (compare Jeremiah 6:21). ...
/s/stumblingblock.htm - 13k

Stumbling-block (20 Occurrences)
... Stumblingblock, Stumbling-block. Stumblingblocks . Noah Webster's Dictionary ...
(DBY YLT). Stumblingblock, Stumbling-block. Stumblingblocks . Reference Bible
/s/stumbling-block.htm - 15k

Block (22 Occurrences)
... me, and takes his idols into his heart, and puts the stumblingblock of his ... from
all your transgressions; so shall they not be a stumblingblock of iniquity ...
/b/block.htm - 16k

Offence (27 Occurrences)
... (2.) A stumbling-block or cause of temptation (Isaiah 8:14; Matthew 16:23; 18:7).
Greek skandalon, properly that at which one stumbles or takes offence. ...
/o/offence.htm - 25k

Stumbling (51 Occurrences)
... a stumblingblock of iniquity unto you. (Root in JPS YLT NAS). Ezekiel 44:12 Because
they ministered to them before their idols, and became a stumblingblock of ...
/s/stumbling.htm - 21k

Offend (24 Occurrences)
... etc., or a sin. In Scripture we have the special significance of a
stumbling-block, or cause of falling, sin, etc. 1. Old Testament ...
/o/offend.htm - 23k

Stumbling-stone (3 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. STUMBLING-BLOCK; STUMBLING-STONE. ... put a
stumblingblock (mikhshol) before the blind" (compare Jeremiah 6:21). ...
/s/stumbling-stone.htm - 9k

Obstacle (6 Occurrences)
... Romans 14:13 Therefore let's not judge one another any more, but judge this rather,
that no man put a stumblingblock in his brother's way, or an occasion for ...
/o/obstacle.htm - 8k

Blocks (9 Occurrences)
... for there is a necessity for the stumbling-blocks to come, but wo to that
man through whom the stumbling-block doth come! (YLT NAS). ...
/b/blocks.htm - 9k

Stumblingstone (2 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia STUMBLING-BLOCK; STUMBLING-STONE. ... put a
stumblingblock (mikhshol) before the blind" (compare Jeremiah 6:21). ...
/s/stumblingstone.htm - 9k

Bible Concordance

Stumbling-block (20 Occurrences)

Matthew 16:23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art a stumbling-block unto me: for thou mindest not the things of God, but the things of men.
(ASV YLT)

Matthew 18:7 Wo to the world from the stumbling-blocks! for there is a necessity for the stumbling-blocks to come, but wo to that man through whom the stumbling-block doth come!
(Root in YLT)

Romans 11:9 And David says, "Let their very food become a snare and a trap to them, a stumbling-block and a retribution.
(WEY WBS YLT)

Romans 14:13 Therefore let us no longer judge one another; but, instead of that, you should come to this judgement--that we must not put a stumbling-block in our brother's path, nor anything to trip him up.
(WEY DBY WBS)

1 Corinthians 1:23 while we proclaim a Christ who has been crucified--to the Jews a stumbling-block, to Gentiles foolishness,
(WEY WBS YLT)

1 Corinthians 8:9 But see lest anywise this your right to eat itself be a stumbling-block to the weak.
(DBY WBS YLT)

Galatians 5:11 As for me, brethren, if I am still a preacher of circumcision, how is it that I am still suffering persecution? In that case the Cross has ceased to be a stumbling-block!
(WEY ASV YLT)

1 John 2:10 He who loves his brother man continues in the light, and his life puts no stumbling-block in the way of others.
(WEY YLT)

Revelation 2:14 Yet I have a few things against you, because you have with you some that cling to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling-block in the way of the descendants of Israel--to eat what had been sacrificed to idols, and commit fornication.
(WEY WBS YLT)

Leviticus 19:14 Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling-block before the blind, but shalt fear thy God: I am the LORD.
(KJV JPS DBY WBS)

1 Samuel 25:31 that this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood without cause, or that my lord hath avenged himself. And when Jehovah shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember thy handmaid.
(See JPS DBY YLT)

Psalms 119:165 Abundant peace have those loving Thy law, And they have no stumbling-block.
(YLT)

Isaiah 57:14 He will say, "Cast up, cast up, prepare the way, take up the stumbling-block out of the way of my people."
(WEB ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Ezekiel 3:20 Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling-block before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
(KJV DBY WBS YLT)

Ezekiel 7:19 They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be as an impurity: their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of Jehovah's wrath; they shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their belly; for it hath been the stumbling-block of their iniquity.
(DBY WBS YLT)

Ezekiel 14:3 Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumbling-block of their iniquity before their face: should I be inquired of at all by them?
(DBY WBS YLT)

Ezekiel 14:4 Therefore speak to them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumbling-block of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet, I Jehovah will answer him according to this, according to the multitude of his idols:
(DBY WBS YLT)

Ezekiel 14:7 For every one of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, who separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumbling-block of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet to inquire of me by him, I Jehovah will answer him by myself;
(DBY WBS YLT)

Ezekiel 18:30 Therefore, each according to his ways I judge you, O house of Israel? An affirmation of the Lord Jehovah, Turn ye back, yea, turn yourselves back, From all your transgressions, And iniquity is not to you for a stumbling-block,
(YLT)

Ezekiel 44:12 Because they ministered unto them before their idols, and were unto the house of Israel a stumbling-block of iniquity; therefore have I lifted up my hand against them, saith the Lord Jehovah, that they shall bear their iniquity.
(DBY YLT)

Subtopics

Stumbling-Block

Related Terms

Stumbling-block (20 Occurrences)

Block (22 Occurrences)

Offence (27 Occurrences)

Stumbling (51 Occurrences)

Offend (24 Occurrences)

Stumbling-stone (3 Occurrences)

Obstacle (6 Occurrences)

Blocks (9 Occurrences)

Stumblingstone (2 Occurrences)