Bible Strands
1 Peter 2:8
and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word—and to this they were appointed.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Peter writes to early Christian believers navigating social hostility, explaining the Messiah’s divergent impact immediately after contrasting his preciousness to the faithful with his rejection by unbelievers. He addresses this at the moment of defining how the same figure functions for both groups.
The words — The text employs λίθος (lithos, a stone) and προσκόμματος (proskommatos, of stumbling) to identify the cause of the fall. It pairs σκανδάλου (skandalou, of offense) with πέτρα (petra, a rock) to mark the obstacle that triggers the stumble.
The thread — Isaiah 8:14 applies the identical stumbling stone and rock of offense imagery to God’s presence among Israel. Paul later redirects the motif in 1 Corinthians 1:23 to describe Christ crucified as a stumbling block to Jewish listeners.
Why it lands — The text states that unbelievers stumble specifically because they disobey the word, adding that this disobedience corresponds to their appointment. It requires a reader to acknowledge that rejection of Christ is both a deliberate act of disobedience and a foreknown outcome.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 8:14 And He will be a sanctuary—but to both houses of Israel a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, to the dwellers of Jerusalem a trap and a snare.
- 1 Corinthians 1:23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,
- 1 Peter 2:7 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,”
- Romans 9:32 Why not? Because their pursuit was not by faith, but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone,
- Romans 9:22 What if God, intending to show His wrath and make His power known, bore with great patience the vessels of His wrath, prepared for destruction?
- Jude 1:4 For certain men have crept in among you unnoticed—ungodly ones who were designated long ago for condemnation. They turn the grace of our God into a license for immorality, and they deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:9 For God has not appointed us to suffer wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
- 2 Peter 2:3 In their greed, these false teachers will exploit you with deceptive words. The longstanding verdict against them remains in force, and their destruction does not sleep.
- Luke 2:34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary: “Behold, this Child is appointed to cause the rise and fall of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against,
- Exodus 9:16 But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display My power to you, and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.