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

Letter Lvii. To Pammachius on the Best Method of Translating.
... The Septuagint gives an opposite meaning, "that you fall not on a stumblingstone
nor on a rock of offence." The apostle Peter agrees with Paul and the Hebrew ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter lvii to pammachius on.htm

Stumblingstone (2 Occurrences)
... George Rice Hovey. Multi-Version Concordance Stumblingstone (2 Occurrences). Romans
9:32 Wherefore? ... For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; (KJV DBY). ...
/s/stumblingstone.htm - 9k

Stumbling-stone (3 Occurrences)
Stumbling-stone. Stumblingstone, Stumbling-stone. Stump . Noah Webster's
Dictionary ... (YLT). Stumblingstone, Stumbling-stone. Stump . Reference Bible.
/s/stumbling-stone.htm - 9k

Principle (32 Occurrences)
... (DBY). Romans 9:32 Wherefore? Because it was not on the principle of faith, but
as of works. They have stumbled at the stumblingstone, (DBY). ...
/p/principle.htm - 16k

Believeth (42 Occurrences)
... (KJV ASV WBS). Romans 9:33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone
and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. ...
/b/believeth.htm - 17k

Sion (9 Occurrences)
... (KJV WBS YLT). Romans 9:33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone
and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. ...
/s/sion.htm - 10k

Stumblings (1 Occurrence)

/s/stumblings.htm - 6k

Ashamed (131 Occurrences)
... Romans 9:33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock
of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. ...
/a/ashamed.htm - 42k

Sought (199 Occurrences)
... Romans 9:32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the
works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; (KJV ASV WBS). ...
/s/sought.htm - 37k

Shame (412 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Romans 9:33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and
rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. ...
/s/shame.htm - 43k

Offence (27 Occurrences)
... Romans 9:33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock
of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. ...
/o/offence.htm - 25k

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