σκάνδαλον
Stumbling block
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What does σκάνδαλον (skándalon) mean in the Bible?
σκάνδαλον (skándalon) is a Greek word meaning "stumbling block". σκάνδαλον, -ου, τό (late form of the rare word σκανδάληθρον, see LS, see word) [in LXX chiefly for מוֹקֵשׁ, מִכְשׁוֹל ;] prop. Describes traps that lead others into sin.
Full entry for σκάνδαλον (G4625) · Browse the biblical lexicon
Meaning
An obstacle causing spiritual failure or offense, especially the stumbling block of Christ's crucifixion.
(late form of the rare word σκανδάληθρον, see LS, see word) [in LXX chiefly for מוֹקֵשׁ, מִכְשׁוֹל ;] prop., the bait-stick of a trap, a snare, stumbling-block (Lev.19:14, Jdth.5:1): figuratively, Rom.9:33, 1Pe.2:8 (Isa.8:14; aliter in LXX; στερεὸν σκανδάλου in Aq.). Metaphorical, of that which causes error or sin;
Why This Word Matters
Describes traps that lead others into sin.
Love preserves stability and guards against moral collapse, while hatred fosters blindness.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Biblical Occurrences
Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.
Word Pictures (Robertson)
A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.
A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain