Lexical Summary skandalizó: To cause to stumble, to offend, to lead into sin Original Word: σκανδαλίζω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance to cause to stumbleFrom skandalon; to entrap, i.e. Trip up (figuratively, stumble (transitively) or entice to sin, apostasy or displeasure) -- (make to) offend. see GREEK skandalon HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 4624 skandalízō – properly, set a snare ("stumbling-block"); (figuratively) "to hinder right conduct or thought; to cause to stumble" – literally, "to fall into a trap" (Abbott-Smith). See 4625 (skandalon). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom skandalon Definition to put a snare (in the way), hence to cause to stumble, to give offense NASB Translation cause (1), cause...to stumble (2), causes (2), causes...to stumble (6), fall away (7), falls away (1), led into sin (1), makes...stumble (2), offend (1), offended (1), stumble (3), stumbling (1), take (1), take offense (1), took offense (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4624: σκανδαλίζωσκανδαλίζω; 1 aorist ἐσκανδαλισα; passive, present σκανδαλίζομαι; imperfect ἐσκανδαλιζομην; 1 aorist ἐσκανδαλίσθην (cf. Buttmann, 52 (45)); 1 future σκανδαλισθήσομαι; (σκάνδαλον); Vulg.scandalizo; Peshitto lSK) [ a. to entice to sin (Luth. ärgern, i. e. arg, bös machen): τινα, Matthew 5:29 ( b. "to cause a person to begin to distrust and desert one whom he ought to trust and obey; to cause to fall away," and in the passive, to fall away (R. V. to stumble (cf. 'Teaching etc. 16, 5 [ET]; Hermas, vis. 4, 1, 3 [ET]; mand. 8, 10 [ET])): τινα, John 6:61; passive, Matthew 13:21; Matthew 24:10; Matthew 26:33; Mark 4:17; Mark 14:29; (John 16:1); ἐν τίνι (A. V.) to be offended in one, (find occasion of stumbling in), i. e. to see in another what I disapprove of and what hinders me from acknowledging his authority: Matthew 11:6; Matthew 13:57; Matthew 26:31; Mark 6:3; Mark 14:27; Luke 7:23; to cause one to judge unfavorably or unjustly of another, Matthew 17:27. Since the man who stumbles or whose foot gets entangled feels annoyed, σκανδαλίζω means c. to cause one to feel displeasure at a thing; to make indignant: τινα, passive, to be displeased, indignant (A. V. offended), Matthew 15:12. The verb σκανδαλίζω is found neither in secular authors nor in the Sept., but only in the relies of Aq.'s version of the O. T., Psalm 63:9 Topical Lexicon Overview Strong’s Greek 4624 (skandalizō) describes the act of tripping up a person’s faith, conscience, or moral walk. In Scripture it ranges from inner disillusionment with Christ to deliberate inducement of sin in others. It occurs twenty-nine times in the Greek New Testament. Old Testament and Jewish Background The Septuagint often uses cognate forms for “stumbling block” or “snare” (for example, Isaiah 8:14). Within Second-Temple Judaism a σκάνδαλον was anything that led Israel away from covenant loyalty. This background sharpens the New Testament warnings: to “scandalize” someone is to divert that person from steadfast trust in the Lord. New Testament Distribution and Representative Contexts 1. Personal offense at Jesus and His message Theological Significance Christ as Touchstone: Jesus Himself is both the chief cornerstone and, to the unbelieving, “a stone of stumbling” (compare 1 Peter 2:8). Skandalizō therefore reveals the heart’s posture toward divine revelation; acceptance leads to blessedness, rejection to ruin. Human Responsibility: Scripture distinguishes between unavoidable offense created by truth (Galatians 5:11) and culpable offense created by believers. The latter incurs severe judgment (Matthew 18:6) because it usurps God’s role as guardian of His little ones. Perseverance and Apostasy: Predictive sayings in the Gospels expose the fragility of discipleship when not anchored in grace. Yet Jesus also promises restoration (Matthew 26:32), showing that failure need not be final. Christian Liberty and Love: Paul applies skandalizō to ethical gray areas. Liberty that wounds a brother becomes sin against Christ (1 Corinthians 8:12-13). Thus the principle of edification governs freedoms. Pastoral and Ministry Applications Safeguarding the Vulnerable: Children and new believers require intentional protection from teachings or behaviors that could derail nascent faith. Ministries must evaluate curricula, leadership conduct, and community culture in light of the millstone warning. Self-Examination: Personal holiness is non-negotiable. Jesus’ hyperbolic language about amputation underscores the costliness of sanctification. Leaders model decisive action against besetting sins that might scandalize others. Handling Controversial Liberties: Dietary choices, entertainment, and cultural practices must be filtered through the law of love. If an action “causes my brother to stumble,” the mature response is voluntary restraint. Preparing for Persecution: Congregations should be equipped to endure social ostracism or state opposition so that they “may not fall away” (John 16:1). Teaching on suffering, lament, and eschatological hope strengthens resilience. Proclaiming an Unoffensive Gospel Offensively Received: The cross will offend worldly sensibilities; the messenger must ensure that offense rests solely in the message, not in personal harshness or hypocrisy. Historical Notes Early Church debates over idol meat (Acts 15; 1 Corinthians 8–10) illustrate practical outworking. Patristic writers (e.g., Tertullian) later employed skandalon language against moral laxity. Reformers echoed the theme when warning against ecclesial abuses that led believers astray. Summary Skandalizō calls the church to discern between the inevitable offense of gospel truth and the avoidable offense of ungodly conduct. Faithful discipleship embraces the former while vigorously eliminating the latter, thereby fostering communities where none need stumble and all may persevere to the glory of God. Forms and Transliterations εσκανδαλιζοντο εσκανδαλίζοντο ἐσκανδαλίζοντο εσκανδαλισθησαν εσκανδαλίσθησαν ἐσκανδαλίσθησαν σκανδαλιζει σκανδαλίζει σκανδαλιζεται σκανδαλίζεται σκανδαλίζη σκανδαλίζῃ σκανδαλιζονται σκανδαλίζονται σκανδαλιση σκανδαλίση σκανδαλίσῃ σκανδαλισθη σκανδαλισθή σκανδαλισθῇ σκανδαλισθησεσθε σκανδαλισθήσεσθε σκανδαλισθησομαι σκανδαλισθήσομαι σκανδαλισθησονται σκανδαλισθήσονται σκανδαλισθητε σκανδαλισθήτε σκανδαλισθῆτε σκανδαλισω σκανδαλίσω σκανδαλισωμεν σκανδαλίσωμεν eskandalisthesan eskandalisthēsan eskandalísthesan eskandalísthēsan eskandalizonto eskandalízonto skandalise skandalisē skandalísei skandalísēi skandaliso skandalisō skandalíso skandalísō skandalisomen skandalisōmen skandalísomen skandalísōmen skandalisthe skandalisthē skandalisthêi skandalisthē̂i skandalisthesesthe skandalisthēsesthe skandalisthḗsesthe skandalisthesomai skandalisthēsomai skandalisthḗsomai skandalisthesontai skandalisthēsontai skandalisthḗsontai skandalisthete skandalisthête skandalisthēte skandalisthē̂te skandalize skandalizē skandalizei skandalízei skandalízēi skandalizetai skandalízetai skandalizontai skandalízontaiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 5:29 V-PIA-3SGRK: ὁ δεξιὸς σκανδαλίζει σε ἔξελε NAS: eye makes you stumble, tear KJV: right eye offend thee, pluck INT: right cause to stumble you pluck out Matthew 5:30 V-PIA-3S Matthew 11:6 V-ASP-3S Matthew 13:21 V-PIM/P-3S Matthew 13:57 V-IIM/P-3P Matthew 15:12 V-AIP-3P Matthew 17:27 V-ASA-1P Matthew 18:6 V-ASA-3S Matthew 18:8 V-PIA-3S Matthew 18:9 V-PIA-3S Matthew 24:10 V-FIP-3P Matthew 26:31 V-FIP-2P Matthew 26:33 V-FIP-3P Matthew 26:33 V-FIP-1S Mark 4:17 V-PIM/P-3P Mark 6:3 V-IIM/P-3P Mark 9:42 V-ASA-3S Mark 9:43 V-ASA-3S Mark 9:45 V-PSA-3S Mark 9:47 V-PSA-3S Mark 14:27 V-FIP-2P Mark 14:29 V-FIP-3P Luke 7:23 V-ASP-3S Luke 17:2 V-ASA-3S John 6:61 V-PIA-3S Strong's Greek 4624 |