Stumbling Block

Bridgeway Bible Dictionary

In the figurative language of the Bible, a stumbling block is some kind of obstacle that either causes people to fall or hinders them in doing what they should. (In some older English versions the word is sometimes translated ‘offence’.)

The crucifixion of Jesus was a stumbling block to the Jews, because they would not believe that a person who died on a cross could be the Messiah sent by God. They expected the Messiah to be a mighty saviour who would rescue the nation Israel from its enemies and bring in an era of peace, joy and prosperity. A person who died on a cross, by contrast, was under the curse of God ( Deuteronomy 21:23).

What the Jews did not understand was that when Jesus died on the cross, he bore God’s curse in the place of those who had broken God’s law. He did not die because of any wrong that he himself had committed ( Galatians 3:13).

The Jews refused to trust in Jesus’ death on the cross for their forgiveness, but tried instead to win God’s favour by their good deeds. As a result the cross of Christ was to them a stumbling block ( Romans 9:32-33;  1 Corinthians 1:23;  Galatians 5:11;  1 Peter 2:8). Jesus was always a stumbling block (offence) to those who had a wrong idea of his mission ( Matthew 11:6;  Matthew 15:12;  Matthew 16:23;  Mark 6:3;  John 6:61).

Something that causes a person to sin may also be called a stumbling block ( Mark 9:42-43;  Luke 17:1). Idolatry, for example, was a stumbling block to Jews of Old Testament times ( Exodus 23:33;  Ezekiel 7:19-20;  Ezekiel 14:3-4), and to some Christians of New Testament times. Through joining in idol feasts, these Christians were tempted to fall into idolatry and immorality ( Revelation 2:14).

Even if those who joined in idol feasts did not engage in idolatrous practices, others who followed them to the feasts may not have been able to resist the temptations to idolatry. Christians are therefore warned to be careful of their behaviour in everything they do. A bad example can be a stumbling block to those of weaker faith ( Matthew 17:27;  Matthew 18:6-8;  Romans 14:13;  1 Corinthians 8:7-12;  2 Corinthians 6:3).

Morrish Bible Dictionary

mikshol, πρόσκομμα.Anything placed in the way of another over which he might stumble and fall. It was forbidden in the law, and such things were to be removed out of the way of Israel.  Leviticus 19:14;  Isaiah 57:14 . Their iniquity, however, became a stumbling block to them.  Ezekiel 7:19;  Ezekiel 14:3-7 . In the church there should be care that nothing is practised by one that might cause another to stumble.  Romans 14:13;  1 Corinthians 8:9 .

Jehovah of hosts was to be a sanctuary for the believing remnant, but He would be "for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel," that is, He would become such through their unbelief in Jehovah's intervention through the virgin's child.  Isaiah 8:14 (where the word is negeph, 'the act of stumbling'). When the Lord was on earth He became this stone of stumbling to the Jews, and remains the same to them and to the house of Israel where, through disobedient unbelief, He is still rejected.  Romans 9:32,33;  1 Peter 2:8 . Any who through grace receive the gospel become Christians and are merged in the church. In connection with the same, the word σκάνδαλον is employed: this is literally 'the catch of a trap,' which being touched ensnares.  Romans 9:33 (offence);   Romans 11:9;  1 Corinthians 1:23;  1 Peter 2:8 (offence).

The same word is used for the snare that Balaam taught Balak to lay for the Israelites.  Revelation 2:14 . It is also the word employed for the 'offences,' or snares, that must, by the nature of things, exist in the world for the feet of the saints.  Matthew 18:7;  Luke 17:1; and in the remarkable instance when the Lord said to Peter, "Thou art an 'offence' unto me."  Matthew 16:23 .

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Leviticus 19:14 Ezekiel 7:19 Jeremiah 6:21 Isaiah 8:14 Romans 14:13 1 Corinthians 8:9 Romans 9:32-33 1 Corinthians 1:23 1 Peter 2:8 skandalon

Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology

See Offense

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

( מַכְשׁוֹל , Mikshol, Πρόσκομμα , which literally denote any object over which a person may trip the foot, and hence, figuratively, a cause of ruin or disgust; but מִכְשֵׁלָה , Makshelah, is only used of a physical "Ruin " [Isaiah 3, 6], or an idol ["stumbling block," i.e. incitement to apostasy,  Zephaniah 1:6]; and Σκάνδαλον [ 1 Corinthians 1:23;  1 John 2:10;  Revelation 2:14; elsewhere "offense"] is properly the Trap Stick to which the bait is fastened in a snare). The roads in Eastern countries are, for the most part, nothing more than accustomed tracks, worn to something like a level by the passing of travelers and caravans. (See Road). When rocks and stones are placed in these tracks, riders are exposed to great danger from the stumbling of the horses; and hence Isaiah ( Isaiah 43:13), describing God's glorious deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt, says, "He led them through the deep, as a horse in the wilderness, that they should not stumble." Robbers and plundering hordes frequently placed huge stones and branches of trees across the roads, as stumbling blocks to check and perplex caravans, in order that they might attack them during the confusion which such impediments would necessarily create. Thus ( Jeremiah 6:21), "Therefore thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will lay stumbling blocks before this people, and the father and the sons together shall fall upon them; the neighbor and his friend shall perish" (see Hackett, Illust. Of Script. p. 19, 22). (See Offense).