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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0;"/><title>Topical Bible: Stumblingstone</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/topical/s/stumblingstone.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/newtopical.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-LR4HSKRP2H"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-LR4HSKRP2H'); </script><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/topical/vmenus/romans/9-32.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmcde/s/stumblingstone.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/topical/">Topical</a> > Stumblingstone</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/topical/s/stumblings.htm" title="Stumblings">◄</a> Stumblingstone <a href="/topical/s/stumbling-stone.htm" title="Stumbling-Stone">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse">Jump to: <a href="#isb" title="International Standard Bible Encyclopedia">ISBE</a> • <a href="#cnc" title="Multiversion Concordance">Concordance</a> • <a href="#thes" title="Bible Thesaurus">Thesaurus</a> • <a href="#lib" title="Library">Library</a> • <a href="#sub" title="Subtopics">Subtopics</a> • <a href="#rel" title="Related Terms">Terms</a></div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><a name="te" id="te"></a><div class="vheading2">Topical Encyclopedia</div>The term "stumblingstone" is a metaphorical expression found in the Bible, symbolizing an obstacle or hindrance that causes people to falter in their faith or understanding. This concept is deeply rooted in both the Old and New Testaments, where it is used to describe the challenges and barriers that prevent individuals from accepting divine truth.<br><br><b>Old Testament Background</b><br><br>The imagery of a stumblingstone originates in the Old Testament, particularly in the prophetic writings. In <a href="/isaiah/8-14.htm">Isaiah 8:14</a>, the prophet speaks of the Lord as a sanctuary, but also as "a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense" to both houses of Israel. This dual imagery highlights the idea that while God is a refuge for those who trust in Him, He is also a source of judgment and a challenge for those who reject His ways.<br><br><a href="/isaiah/28-16.htm">Isaiah 28:16</a> further develops this theme, where the Lord declares, "Behold, I lay in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will never be shaken." Here, the cornerstone is a symbol of stability and salvation for believers, yet it implies that those who do not believe will stumble over it.<br><br><b>New Testament Fulfillment</b><br><br>The New Testament writers, particularly the Apostle Paul and the Apostle Peter, interpret the concept of the stumblingstone in light of Jesus Christ. In <a href="/romans/9-32.htm">Romans 9:32-33</a>, Paul explains that Israel stumbled over the "stumblingstone" because they pursued righteousness by works rather than by faith. He quotes Isaiah, saying, "See, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame" . This passage underscores the idea that Christ, as the fulfillment of the prophetic cornerstone, becomes a stumbling block to those who seek righteousness through their own efforts rather than through faith in Him.<br><br>Similarly, in <a href="/1_peter/2-6.htm">1 Peter 2:6-8</a>, Peter echoes this interpretation, identifying Jesus as the cornerstone chosen by God and precious to Him. He writes, "To you who believe, then, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, 'The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,' and, 'A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense'" . Peter emphasizes that unbelief leads to stumbling, as those who reject Christ fail to recognize Him as the foundation of their faith.<br><br><b>Theological Implications</b><br><br>The concept of the stumblingstone carries significant theological implications. It highlights the necessity of faith in Christ as the means of salvation and the futility of relying on human efforts or adherence to the law for righteousness. The stumblingstone serves as a warning against pride and self-reliance, urging individuals to embrace humility and trust in God's provision through Jesus.<br><br>Moreover, the stumblingstone illustrates the paradox of the Gospel: that which is a source of salvation for believers is simultaneously a cause of offense and rejection for unbelievers. This duality reflects the broader biblical theme of God's sovereignty and the human responsibility to respond to His revelation.<br><br>In summary, the stumblingstone is a powerful biblical metaphor that encapsulates the challenge of faith and the centrality of Christ in God's redemptive plan. It calls believers to a deeper reliance on God's grace and serves as a reminder of the consequences of unbelief.<a name="isb" id="isb"></a><div class="vheading2">International Standard Bible Encyclopedia</div><span class="encheading">STUMBLING-BLOCK; STUMBLING-STONE</span><p>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.<br><br>The literal meaning of the Hebrew words-an object which causes one to stumble or fall-appears in such passages as <a href="/leviticus/19-14.htm">Leviticus 19:14</a>: "Thou shalt not.... put a stumblingblock (mikhshol) before the blind" (compare <a href="/jeremiah/6-21.htm">Jeremiah 6:21</a>). But the expression is ordinarily figurative, referring to that which causes material ruin or spiritual downfall, which were closely connected in Old Testament thought (<a href="/psalms/119-165.htm">Psalm 119:165</a> <a href="/ezekiel/21-15.htm">Ezekiel 21:15</a>). The things that lead astray are silver and gold (<a href="/ezekiel/7-19.htm">Ezekiel 7:19</a>); idols (<a href="/ezekiel/14-3.htm">Ezekiel 14:3</a> <a href="/zephaniah/1-3.htm">Zephaniah 1:3</a>, etc.).<br><br>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 (<a href="/galatians/5-11.htm">Galatians 5:11</a> <a href="/romans/11-9.htm">Romans 11:9</a>); another's liberty (<a href="/1_corinthians/8-9.htm">1 Corinthians 8:9</a>); Peter in <a href="/matthew/16-23.htm">Matthew 16:23</a>; Christ, whose life and character were so different from Jewish expectation (<a href="/romans/9-33.htm">Romans 9:33</a>).<br><br>See also <a href="../o/offence.htm">OFFENCE</a>.<br><br>George Rice Hovey<p><a name="lib" id="lib"></a><div class="vheading2">Library</div><p><a href="/library/jerome/the_principal_works_of_st_jerome/letter_lvii_to_pammachius_on.htm"><span class="l">Letter Lvii. To Pammachius on the Best Method of Translating.</span></a> <br><b>...</b> The Septuagint gives an opposite meaning, "that you fall not on a <b>stumblingstone</b><br> nor on a rock of offence." The apostle Peter agrees with Paul and the Hebrew <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter lvii to pammachius on.htm</font><a name="thes" id="thes"></a><div class="vheading2">Thesaurus</div><a href="/topical/s/stumblingstone.htm"><span class="l"><b>Stumblingstone</b> (2 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> George Rice Hovey. Multi-Version Concordance <b>Stumblingstone</b> (2 Occurrences). Romans<br> 9:32 Wherefore? <b>...</b> For they stumbled at that <b>stumblingstone</b>; (KJV DBY). <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/s/stumblingstone.htm - 9k</font><p><a href="/topical/s/stumbling-stone.htm"><span class="l">Stumbling-stone (3 Occurrences)</span></a><br>Stumbling-stone. <b>Stumblingstone</b>, Stumbling-stone. Stump . Noah Webster's<br> Dictionary <b>...</b> (YLT). <b>Stumblingstone</b>, Stumbling-stone. Stump . Reference Bible. <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/s/stumbling-stone.htm - 9k</font><p><a href="/topical/p/principle.htm"><span class="l">Principle (32 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> (DBY). Romans 9:32 Wherefore? Because it was not on the principle of faith, but<br> as of works. They have stumbled at the <b>stumblingstone</b>, (DBY). <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/p/principle.htm - 16k</font><p><a href="/topical/b/believeth.htm"><span class="l">Believeth (42 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> (KJV ASV WBS). Romans 9:33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a <b>stumblingstone</b><br> and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/b/believeth.htm - 17k</font><p><a href="/topical/s/sion.htm"><span class="l">Sion (9 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> (KJV WBS YLT). Romans 9:33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a <b>stumblingstone</b><br> and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/s/sion.htm - 10k</font><p><a href="/topical/s/stumblings.htm"><span class="l">Stumblings (1 Occurrence)</span></a><br><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/s/stumblings.htm - 6k</font><p><a href="/topical/a/ashamed.htm"><span class="l">Ashamed (131 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> Romans 9:33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a <b>stumblingstone</b> and rock<br> of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/a/ashamed.htm - 42k</font><p><a href="/topical/s/sought.htm"><span class="l">Sought (199 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> Romans 9:32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the<br> works of the law. For they stumbled at that <b>stumblingstone</b>; (KJV ASV WBS). <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/s/sought.htm - 37k</font><p><a href="/topical/s/shame.htm"><span class="l">Shame (412 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> (BBE). Romans 9:33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a <b>stumblingstone</b> and<br> rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/s/shame.htm - 43k</font><p><a href="/topical/o/offence.htm"><span class="l">Offence (27 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> Romans 9:33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a <b>stumblingstone</b> and rock<br> of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/o/offence.htm - 25k</font><p><a name="res" id="res"></a><div class="vheading2">Resources</div><a href="/concordance/">Bible Concordance</a> • <a href="/dictionary/">Bible Dictionary</a> • <a href="/encyclopedia/">Bible Encyclopedia</a> • <a href="/topical/">Topical Bible</a> • <a href="/thesaurus/">Bible Thesuarus</a></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="cnc" id="cnc"></a><div class="vheading2">Concordance</div><span class="encheading">Stumblingstone (2 Occurrences)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/romans/9-32.htm">Romans 9:32</a></span><br />Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that <span class="boldtext">stumblingstone</span>;<br /><span class="source">(KJV DBY)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/romans/9-33.htm">Romans 9:33</a></span><br />As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a <span class="boldtext">stumblingstone</span> and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.<br /><span class="source">(KJV)</span><a name="sub" id="sub"></a><div class="vheading2">Subtopics</div><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/s/stumblingstone.htm">Stumblingstone</a></p><a name="rel" id="rel"></a><div class="vheading2">Related Terms</div><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/stumbling-stone.htm">Stumbling-stone (3 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/stumbling.htm">Stumbling (51 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/stump.htm">Stump (7 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/o/offence.htm">Offence (27 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/o/offense.htm">Offense (44 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/t/trusts.htm">Trusts (35 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/d/disappointed.htm">Disappointed (69 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/p/principle.htm">Principle (32 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/b/based.htm">Based (40 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/b/believeth.htm">Believeth (42 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/sion.htm">Sion (9 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/stumbling-block.htm">Stumbling-block (20 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/stumbled.htm">Stumbled (47 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/stumblings.htm">Stumblings (1 Occurrence)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/stumblingblock.htm">Stumblingblock (14 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/b/believes.htm">Believes (34 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/a/ashamed.htm">Ashamed (131 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/stumble.htm">Stumble (89 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/stone.htm">Stone (290 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/sought.htm">Sought (199 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/shame.htm">Shame (412 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/m/makes.htm">Makes (483 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/l/laying.htm">Laying (87 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/z/zion.htm">Zion (169 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/seek.htm">Seek (368 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/r/rock.htm">Rock (176 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/w/wherefore.htm">Wherefore (448 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/w/written.htm">Written (323 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/w/works.htm">Works (379 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/t/though.htm">Though (623 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/l/lay.htm">Lay (524 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/j/judgment.htm">Judgment (430 Occurrences)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/topical/s/stumblings.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Stumblings"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Stumblings" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/topical/s/stumbling-stone.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Stumbling-Stone"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Stumbling-Stone" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div> <div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"><script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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