Topical Bible: Stumbled

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Topical Encyclopedia

In the biblical context, the term "stumbled" often refers to a spiritual or moral failing, a moment of weakness, or an error in judgment that leads one away from the path of righteousness. The concept of stumbling is frequently used metaphorically in Scripture to describe the challenges and pitfalls that believers may encounter in their walk with God.

Old Testament References

The imagery of stumbling is prevalent in the Old Testament, where it is often associated with sin and disobedience. In Isaiah 8:14-15, the prophet speaks of the Lord as both a sanctuary and a stone of stumbling: "He will be a sanctuary, but to both houses of Israel, He will be a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. Many will stumble over these; they will fall and be broken; they will be ensnared and captured." Here, the stumbling stone represents the consequences of rejecting God's ways.

In Proverbs, the concept of stumbling is linked to the path of the wicked. Proverbs 4:19 states, "The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know over what they stumble." This verse highlights the spiritual blindness that accompanies a life of sin, leading to repeated moral failures.

New Testament References

In the New Testament, stumbling continues to be a significant theme, particularly in the teachings of Jesus and the apostles. Jesus Himself warns against causing others to stumble in their faith. In Matthew 18:6, He says, "But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea." This severe warning underscores the importance of nurturing and protecting the faith of believers, especially those who are young or vulnerable.

The Apostle Paul also addresses the issue of stumbling in his letters. In Romans 14:13, he advises, "Therefore let us stop judging one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way." Paul emphasizes the responsibility of believers to live in a manner that edifies others and avoids actions that might lead them into sin.

Spiritual Implications

Stumbling, in a spiritual sense, is often a result of neglecting one's relationship with God or failing to adhere to His commandments. It serves as a reminder of human frailty and the constant need for divine guidance and strength. The Bible encourages believers to remain vigilant and steadfast in their faith to avoid stumbling. In 1 Corinthians 10:12, Paul warns, "So the one who thinks he is standing firm should be careful not to fall."

The concept of stumbling also points to the grace and mercy of God, who provides a way for believers to recover and continue their spiritual journey. Psalm 37:23-24 offers reassurance: "The steps of a man are ordered by the LORD who takes delight in his journey. Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, for the LORD is holding his hand."

Conclusion

The biblical theme of stumbling serves as both a caution and a comfort to believers. It highlights the reality of human weakness while also pointing to the hope and restoration found in God's unwavering support. Through vigilance, prayer, and reliance on the Holy Spirit, believers are encouraged to navigate the challenges of life without falling away from their faith.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

(imp. & p. p.) of Stumble.

Greek

4350. proskopto -- to strike against, to stumble
... Word Origin from pros and kopto Definition to strike against, to stumble NASB Word
Usage slammed against (1), strike (2), stumble (2), stumbled over (1 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4350.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

3782. kashal -- to stumble, stagger, totter
... fail (1), failed (1), failing (1), fall (4), fall down (1), feeble (3), feeble*
(1), overthrown (1), stumble (26), stumble badly (1), stumbled (12), stumbles (2 ...
/hebrew/3782.htm - 6k

Library

John Chapter i. 19-33
... When they were hoping that He would come, they were offended at Him when
He was present, and stumbled at Him as on a low stone. ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate iv john chapter i.htm

Marah; Or, the Bitter Waters Sweetened
... was very great, our exhilaration at finding the Savior was something never to be
forgotten, and yet only a day or so after we were stumbled with great ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/marah or the bitter waters.htm

1 John ii. 18-27
... Christ was hoped for by the people of the Jews: and because He came in lowliness,
He was not acknowledged; because the stone was small, they stumbled at it and ...
/.../ten homilies on the epistle of john to the parthians/homily iii 1 john ii.htm

Christ's Boyhood
... They stumbled at the stumbling-block of the manger in Bethlehem, as they did at
the stumbling-block of the cross on Calvary; and they wanted to make out that ...
/.../kingsley/the good news of god/sermon xix christs boyhood.htm

The Battle of Carchemish
... is on every side, saith the LORD, Let not the swift flee away, nor the mighty man
escape: In the north by the river Euphrates have they stumbled and fallen. 2. ...
/.../select masterpieces of biblical literature/viii the battle of carchemish.htm

On the Words of the Gospel, John i. 48,"When Thou Wast under the ...
... Whosoever shall stumble against This Stone shall be shaken; but on whomsoever That
Stone shall fall, It will crush him." [3645] It is stumbled against as It ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon lxxii on the words.htm

A Discourse which was in the Presence of Antoninus C??sar
... For, in the same manner as the blind, so men also, when they were seeking after
God, stumbled upon stones and blocks of wood; and such of them as were rich ...
//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/the decretals/i a discourse which was.htm

Psalm XLVIII.
... if we are members of the King, who is the head of the same city....For there was
a certain corner-stone contemptible, whereat the Jews stumbled, [1560] cut out ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm xlviii.htm

On the Same Words of the Gospel, Matt. xxii. 42
... Yea, not despised only, but slain moreover. He was that stone that lay on
the ground, the Jews stumbled against it, and were shaken. ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon xlii on the same.htm

Attributes of Love.
... For example: how universalists have stumbled for want of consideration upon this
subject! God is love! ... Unitarians have stumbled in the same way. ...
/.../finney/systematic theology/lecture xiv attributes of love.htm

Thesaurus

Stumbled (47 Occurrences)
...Stumbled (47 Occurrences). Matthew 11:6 and happy is he who may not be stumbled
in me.' (YLT). ... (YLT). Matthew 13:57 and they were stumbled at him. ...
/s/stumbled.htm - 19k

Uzzah (10 Occurrences)
... When the oxen stumbled, Uzzah, in direct violation of the divine law (Numbers
4:15), put forth his hand to steady the ark, and was immediately smitten unto ...
/u/uzzah.htm - 13k

Stumbles (8 Occurrences)
... Hosea 5:5 And humbled hath been the excellency of Israel to his face, And Israel
and Ephraim stumble by their iniquity, Stumbled also hath Judah with them. ...
/s/stumbles.htm - 8k

Nearly (13 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 6:6 When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put forth his
hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the cattle stumbled. ...
/n/nearly.htm - 10k

Upset (9 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 6:6 When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put forth his
hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the cattle stumbled. ...
/u/upset.htm - 9k

Temporary (13 Occurrences)
... Matthew 13:21 and he hath not root in himself, but is temporary, and persecution
or tribulation having happened because of the word, immediately he is stumbled...
/t/temporary.htm - 10k

Stumble (89 Occurrences)
... Because they didn't seek it by faith, but as it were by works of the law. They stumbled
over the stumbling stone; (Root in WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/s/stumble.htm - 34k

Uzza (10 Occurrences)
... The word which describes what happened to the oxen is variously translated; the
Revised Version (British and American) has "stumbled"; others render it, "They ...
/u/uzza.htm - 13k

Happy (143 Occurrences)
... (BBE YLT). Matthew 11:6 and happy is he who may not be stumbled in me.' (YLT). ... (BBE
YLT). Luke 7:23 and happy is he whoever may not be stumbled in me.' (YLT). ...
/h/happy.htm - 34k

Warrior (36 Occurrences)
... (See JPS RSV NIV). Jeremiah 46:6 The swift do not flee, nor do the mighty escape,
Northward, by the side of the river Phrat, They have stumbled and fallen. ...
/w/warrior.htm - 16k

Resources

Why did God strike Uzzah dead for touching the Ark of the Covenant? | GotQuestions.org

Are the Jews cursed because they killed Christ and asked for “His blood to be on us,” according to Matthew 27:25? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that the church has been grafted in Israel's place? | GotQuestions.org

Stumbled: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Stumbled (47 Occurrences)

Matthew 11:6
and happy is he who may not be stumbled in me.'
(YLT)

Matthew 13:21
and he hath not root in himself, but is temporary, and persecution or tribulation having happened because of the word, immediately he is stumbled.
(YLT)

Matthew 13:57
and they were stumbled at him. And Jesus said to them, 'A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, and in his own house:'
(YLT)

Matthew 15:12
Then his disciples having come near, said to him, 'Hast thou known that the Pharisees, having heard the word, were stumbled?'
(YLT)

Matthew 24:10
and then shall many be stumbled, and they shall deliver up one another, and shall hate one another.
(YLT)

Matthew 26:31
then saith Jesus to them, 'All ye shall be stumbled at me this night; for it hath been written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad;
(YLT)

Matthew 26:33
And Peter answering said to him, 'Even if all shall be stumbled at thee, I will never be stumbled.'
(YLT)

Mark 4:17
and have not root in themselves, but are temporary; afterward tribulation or persecution having come because of the word, immediately they are stumbled.
(YLT)

Mark 6:3
Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James, and Joses, and Judas, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us?' -- and they were being stumbled at him.
(YLT)

Mark 14:27
and Jesus saith to them -- 'All ye shall be stumbled at me this night, because it hath been written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered abroad,
(YLT)

Mark 14:29
And Peter said to him, 'And if all shall be stumbled, yet not I;'
(YLT)

Luke 7:23
and happy is he whoever may not be stumbled in me.'
(YLT)

John 16:1
These things I have spoken to you, that ye may not be stumbled,
(YLT)

Romans 9:32
Why? Because they didn't seek it by faith, but as it were by works of the law. They stumbled over the stumbling stone;
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Romans 11:11
I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
(KJV WEY DBY WBS RSV)

2 Corinthians 11:29
Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is stumbled, and I burn not?
(DBY YLT)

Leviticus 26:37
And they have stumbled one on another, as from the face of a sword, and there is none pursuing, and ye have no standing before your enemies,
(YLT)

1 Samuel 2:4
"The bows of the mighty men are broken. Those who stumbled are girded with strength.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NIV)

2 Samuel 6:6
When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the cattle stumbled.
(WEB JPS ASV DBY RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 13:9
When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS RSV NIV)

Job 4:4
The stumbling one do thy words raise up, And bowing knees thou dost strengthen.
(See NIV)

Psalms 9:3
When mine enemies turned back, they stumbled and perished at thy presence:
(DBY RSV)

Psalms 27:2
When evildoers came at me to eat up my flesh, even my adversaries and my foes, they stumbled and fell.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS)

Psalms 73:2
But as for me, my feet were almost gone. My steps had nearly slipped.
(See RSV)

Psalms 105:37
And he brought them forth with silver and gold; And there was not one feeble person among his tribes.
(See JPS NAS RSV)

Psalms 107:12
Therefore he brought down their heart with labor; They fell down, and there was none to help.
(See JPS DBY NAS NIV)

Isaiah 3:8
For stumbled hath Jerusalem, and Judah hath fallen, For their tongue and their doings 'are' against Jehovah, To provoke the eyes of His glory.
(YLT NAS RSV)

Isaiah 8:15
And many among them have stumbled and fallen, And been broken, and snared, and captured.
(YLT)

Isaiah 28:7
But these also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are they gone astray. The priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink; they are overpowered by wine, they are gone astray through strong drink; they have erred in vision, they have stumbled in judgment.
(DBY YLT)

Isaiah 28:13
And to whom a word of Jehovah hath been, Rule on rule, rule on rule, line on line, line on line, A little here, a little there, So that they go and have stumbled backward, And been broken, and snared, and captured.
(YLT)

Isaiah 31:3
And the Egyptians 'are men', and not God, And their horses 'are' flesh, and not spirit, And Jehovah stretcheth out His hand, And stumbled hath the helper, And fallen hath the helped one, And together all of them are consumed.
(YLT)

Isaiah 59:10
We feel like the blind 'for' the wall, Yea, as without eyes we feel, We have stumbled at noon as at twilight, In desolate places as the dead.
(YLT)

Isaiah 59:14
And justice is turned away backward, and righteousness standeth afar off; for truth is fallen in the street, and uprightness cannot enter.
(See JPS NAS NIV)

Isaiah 63:13
that led them through the depths, as a horse in the wilderness, so that they stumbled not?
(ASV DBY)

Jeremiah 6:21
Therefore thus said Jehovah: Lo, I do give to this people stumbling blocks, And stumbled against them have fathers and sons together, The neighbour and his friend do perish.
(YLT)

Jeremiah 18:15
But My people have forgotten Me, to a vain thing they make perfume, And they cause them to stumble in their ways -- paths of old, To walk in paths -- a way not raised up,
(See NAS RSV)

Jeremiah 46:6
Don't let the swift flee away, nor the mighty man escape; in the north by the river Euphrates have they stumbled and fallen.
(WEB JPS ASV DBY YLT NAS RSV)

Jeremiah 46:12
The nations have heard of your shame, and the earth is full of your cry; for the mighty man has stumbled against the mighty, they are fallen both of them together.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS NAS RSV)

Jeremiah 46:16
He hath multiplied the stumbling, Yea one hath fallen upon his neighbour, And they say: Rise, and we turn back to our people, And unto the land of our birth, Because of the oppressing sword.
(See NAS RSV)

Jeremiah 50:32
And stumbled hath pride, And he hath fallen, and hath no raiser up, And I have kindled a fire in his cities, And it hath devoured all round about him.
(YLT)

Lamentations 5:13
The young men bare the mill; The children stumbled under the wood.
(WEB JPS ASV DBY YLT NAS)

Daniel 11:14
and in those times many do stand up against the king of the south, and sons of the destroyers of thy people do lift themselves up to establish the vision -- and they have stumbled.
(YLT)

Daniel 11:19
And he turneth back his face to the strongholds of his land, and hath stumbled and fallen, and is not found.
(YLT)

Daniel 11:33
And the teachers of the people give understanding to many; and they have stumbled by sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil -- days.
(YLT)

Hosea 4:5
And thou hast stumbled in the day, And stumbled hath also a prophet with thee in the night, And I have cut off thy mother.
(YLT)

Hosea 5:5
And humbled hath been the excellency of Israel to his face, And Israel and Ephraim stumble by their iniquity, Stumbled also hath Judah with them.
(YLT NAS)

Hosea 14:1
O Israel, return unto Jehovah thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.
(See JPS YLT NAS RSV)

Subtopics

Stumbled

Related Terms

Stumble (89 Occurrences)

Guilty (131 Occurrences)

Stumbled (47 Occurrences)

Yet (1244 Occurrences)

Keeps (154 Occurrences)

Offence (27 Occurrences)

Offended (26 Occurrences)

Oppression (67 Occurrences)