Lexical Summary proskoptó: To stumble, to strike against, to offend Original Word: προσκόπτω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance beat upon, dash, stumbleFrom pros and kopto; to strike at, i.e. Surge against (as water); specially, to stub on, i.e. Trip up (literally or figuratively) -- beat upon, dash, stumble (at). see GREEK pros see GREEK kopto NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom pros and koptó Definition to strike against, to stumble NASB Translation slammed against (1), strike (2), stumble (2), stumbled over (1), stumbles (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4350: προσκόπτωπροσκόπτω; 1 aorist προσεκοψα; to strike against (cf. πρός, IV. 4): absolutely of those who strike against a stone or other obstacle in the path, to stumble, John 11:9, 10; πρός λίθον τόν πόδα, to strike the foot against a stone, i. e. (dropping the figure) to meet with some harm, Matthew 4:6; Luke 4:11 (from Psalm 90:12 Topical Lexicon Meaning and Thematic RangeStrong’s Greek 4350 describes the action of striking against an object and, by extension, experiencing a setback that may be moral, spiritual, or relational. The verb therefore moves from a concrete mishap (hitting one’s foot) to the figurative idea of stumbling in faith or conduct. Occurrences and Literary Distribution Eight New Testament verses employ the word, spanning Gospel narrative, Johannine discourse, Pauline instruction, and Petrine exhortation: Matthew 4:6; Matthew 7:27; Luke 4:11; John 11:9; John 11:10; Romans 9:32; Romans 14:21; 1 Peter 2:8. These passages fall naturally into two groups—literal danger and figurative offense—yet together they testify to a unified biblical doctrine of human frailty and divine preservation. Literal Danger in the Temptation Accounts Matthew 4:6 and Luke 4:11 quote Psalm 91:12: “they will lift You up in their hands, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.” Satan twists the promise of angelic care to entice Jesus into presumption. Christ refuses, thereby affirming that divine protection is never a license to abandon obedient trust. The wording highlights the ordinary hazard of Palestinian pathways while pointing to a deeper Messianic safeguarding. Walking in Light: Johannine Imagery In John 11:9-10 Jesus contrasts daylight with night: “If anyone walks in the daytime, he will not stumble … But if anyone walks at night, he will stumble, because there is no light.” The verb illustrates how spiritual illumination from Christ prevents moral missteps, whereas the absence of that light leaves a person exposed to ruin. The passage places stumbling within a worldview where revelation and obedience are inseparable. Israel’s Misstep over the Messiah Romans 9:32 laments Israel’s failure to attain righteousness: “They stumbled over the stumbling stone.” By approaching the law as a works-system, they collided with the very Rock who fulfills the law. The verse echoes Isaiah 8:14, demonstrating continuity between Old and New Testament witness: unbelief, not divine inconsistency, explains Israel’s fall. Conscience and Christian Liberty Romans 14:21 widens the application: “It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything to cause your brother to stumble.” Here the verb marks an avoidable injury within the body of Christ. Liberty must yield to love lest a weaker believer be hindered in discipleship. Christ the Cornerstone and Scandal 1 Peter 2:8 weaves prophecy and pastoral exhortation: “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” To the obedient, Christ is “precious,” yet to the disobedient He becomes the very obstacle that exposes unbelief. The verb underlines divine sovereignty—“to this they were appointed”—while still holding individuals responsible for rejecting the Word. Matthean Warning of Structural Collapse Matthew 7:27, within the Sermon on the Mount, closes the parable of the two builders. Though the form differs slightly, the idea of colliding with destructive forces remains: the house without a firm foundation meets unyielding reality and falls. The theme parallels the other uses—misplaced confidence leads to ruin. First-Century Background Travelers on uneven Roman roads and rocky village streets knew the pain of a bruised foot. Builders likewise dreaded structural failure. Scripture harnesses these everyday dangers to depict higher stakes: the peril of unbelief, reckless testing of God, careless use of freedom, and disregard of divine light. Ministry Significance • Guarding against presumption—leaders must trust God’s promises without manipulating them (Matthew 4:6). Hebrew Parallels Psalm 91:12 and Isaiah 8:14 form the primary Old Testament backdrop, employing the imagery of stone and stumbling to portray God’s protective care and, conversely, the hazard of rejecting His chosen foundation. Theological Reflection Stumbling illustrates the intersection of divine sovereignty and human responsibility. God appoints Christ as both cornerstone and potential offense; humanity decides whether that Stone supports or shatters. The verb thus invites sober self-examination and confident reliance on God’s enabling grace. Conclusion Strong’s 4350 unites practical caution with theological depth. From the wilderness temptation to apostolic instruction, Scripture warns against testing God, walking in darkness, pursuing works righteousness, and flaunting liberty. At the same time it promises sustaining grace: those who build on and walk with the true Cornerstone “will never be put to shame.” Forms and Transliterations προσεκοψαν προσέκοψαν προσκοπτει προσκόπτει προσκόπτονται προσκόπτουσι προσκοπτουσιν προσκόπτουσιν προσκόψαι προσκόψει προσκόψη προσκοψης προσκόψης προσκόψῃς προσκρούσει prosekopsan prosékopsan proskópseis proskópsēis proskopses proskopsēs proskoptei proskóptei proskoptousin proskóptousinLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 4:6 V-ASA-2SGRK: μή ποτε προσκόψῃς πρὸς λίθον NAS: YOU UP, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT KJV: lest at any time thou dash thy INT: lest ever you strike against a stone Matthew 7:27 V-AIA-3P Luke 4:11 V-ASA-2S John 11:9 V-PIA-3S John 11:10 V-PIA-3S Romans 9:32 V-AIA-3P Romans 14:21 V-PIA-3S 1 Peter 2:8 V-PIA-3P Strong's Greek 4350 |