Stumbling Block* — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

Term used both literally and figuratively to refer to anything that might cause one to stumble.

The phrase is used literally in Leviticus 19:14, where the people of Israel are admonished not to “put a stumbling block before the blind,” but to “fear the Lord your God.” An isolated figurative use occurs in Jeremiah 6:21, where God promises to put a stumbling block before the people of Israel if they do not heed his warnings.

Show passage in OET: LEV 19:14

OET-RV LEV 19:14

14 Don’t curse a deaf person, or put something in front of a blind person to trip them. You must respect and obey your god. I am Yahweh.

OET-LV LEV 19:14

14 Not you _will _curse a _deaf_person and_before _of a _blind_person not you _will _put a _stumbling _block and_you _will _fear from_god _of_your I am_YHWH.

Show passage in OET: JER 6:21

OET-RV JER 6:21

21 So Yahweh says this:
⇔ Listen, I’ll give this group of people a stumbling block,
⇔ and they’ll trip over it—
⇔ fathers and sons together,
⇔ ≈ both a neighbour and his friend.

OET-LV JER 6:21

21 For_so/thus/hence thus YHWH he _says HERE_I am_about _to _give to the_people the_this stumbling _blocks and_they _will _stumble over_them fathers and_sons alike a _neighbour and_friend _of_his and_they _will _perish.

Jump to OET LEV 19:14 section.

Jump to OET JER 6:21 section.

The most common OT usage, however, is found in Ezekiel, where the phrase is used to refer to idols and idolatry: “Son of man, these men have taken their idols into their hearts, and set the stumbling block of their iniquity before their faces; should I let myself be inquired of at all by them?” (Ez 14:3, rsv; also 7:19; 44:12).

Show passage in OET: EZE 14:3

OET-RV EZE 14:3

3 “Son of humanity, these men have taken their idols to be their gods, and their choice to disobey makes it very difficult for them to relate to me. Should I even let them ask me anything?

OET-LV EZE 14:3

3 Oh _son _of humankind the_men the_these they _have _brought _up idols _of_their on heart _of_their and_the _stumbling _block _of their _iniquity _of_their they _have _set in _front _of faces _of_their indeed_(be _consulted) will _I _let _myself _be _consulted to/for_them.

Show passage in OET: EZE 7:19

OET-RV EZE 7:19

19 They’ll throw their silver into the streets, and their gold will be like rubbish. Their silver and gold won’t be able to rescue them in the day of Yahweh’s rage. Their lives won’t be saved, and their hunger won’t be satisfied, because their disobedience has become a stumbling block.

OET-LV EZE 7:19

19 Silver _of_their in_streets they _will _throw and_gold _of_their (into)_an_impure _thing it _will _become silver _of_their and_gold _of_their not it _will _be _able to_deliver_them in/on_day of _the _fury _of of_YHWH appetite _of_their not they _will _satisfy and_their _inward _of_parts not they _will _fill if/because the _stumbling _block _of their _iniquity _of_their it _has _become.

Show passage in OET: EZE 44:12

OET-RV EZE 44:12

12 However, because they sacrificed to their idols, they became sinful stumbling blocks for the Israeli people, therefore I’ve promised to take action against them, and they’ll pay for their disobedience. That’s the master Yahweh’s declaration.

OET-LV EZE 44:12

12 Because that they _served them to_(the)_face _of/in _front _of/before idols _of_their and_they _will _be for_the _house _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) (into)_a_stumbling _block _of iniquity therefore yes/correct/thus/so I _lift _up hand _of_my on_them the _utterance _of my_master YHWH and_they _will _bear iniquity _of_their.

Jump to OET EZE 14:3 section.

Jump to OET EZE 7:19 section.

Jump to OET EZE 44:12 section.

In the NT the term essentially retains its Hebraic meaning. Even so, the phrase is employed figuratively to speak of the difficulties encountered by many Jews in believing Jesus to be the Son of God: “But we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles” (1 Cor 1:23, rsv; see also Rom 9:31-32). In Romans 11:11-12, Paul says that this resistance is actually part of God’s plan to spread his riches to the world. Finally, 1 Corinthians 8:9 uses “stumbling block” to speak of some practices that might in themselves be appropriate but might also have the unintended effect of offending a weaker brother (see also Rom 14:13).

Show passage in OET: CO1 1:23

OET-RV CO1 1:23

23 but we preach about how Messiah was executed—something the Yehudim can’t logic out, and which the Hellains see as total foolishness.

OET-LV CO1 1:23

23 but we are _proclaiming chosen _one /messiah having _been _executed _on _a _stake, to_the_Youdaiōns on _one _hand a_offense, on _the _other _hand to _pagans foolishness,

Show passage in OET: ROM 9:31–32

OET-RV ROM 9:31

31 but Yehudim (Jews) who chased after righteousness by obeying The Law didn’t achieve it?

OET-RV ROM 9:32

32 How come? Because they tried to reach it by actions and not by faith. They tripped over the stumbling stone,

OET-LV ROM 9:31

31 But Israaʸl/(Yisrā^ʼēl) pursuing a_law of _righteousness to the_law not attained.

OET-LV ROM 9:32

32 For/Because _reason why?
Because it _was not by faith, but as by works.
They _stumbled over _the stone of_ the _stumbling,

Show passage in OET: ROM 11:11–12

OET-RV ROM 11:11

11 So now I ask: didn’t they stumble so that they would fall? Not at all. But because of their disobedience, salvation came to non-Jews in order to make Yehudim (Jews) envious.

OET-RV ROM 11:12

12 But if their disobedience led to gain for the rest of the world, and if their loss led to gain for the non-Jews, how much more their fullness?

OET-LV ROM 11:11

11 Therefore I _am _asking not they _stumbled, in _order _that they _may _fall?
Never it _might _become.
But in _the of _them transgression, the salvation is to _the pagans, in _order that to _make _jealous them.

OET-LV ROM 11:12

12 But if the transgression of _them, riches of_the_world is, and the loss of _them, riches of_the_pagans, by _how _much more the fullness of _them?

Show passage in OET: CO1 8:9

OET-RV CO1 8:9

9 However, be careful in case your freedom becomes a reason that weaker believers might get confused and stumble in their spiritual walk.

OET-LV CO1 8:9

9 But be _watching _out lest somehow the right of _you _all this, a_stumbling may _become to _the weak.

Show passage in OET: ROM 14:13

OET-RV ROM 14:13

13 So we shouldn’t be judging each other, but instead we should be judging ourselves—that we’re not causing another believer to stumble or fall into temptation.

OET-LV ROM 14:13

13 Therefore no _longer one _another we _may _be _judging, but this judge rather, which not to _be _putting stumbling to _your brother or temptation.

Jump to OET CO1 1:23 section.

Jump to OET ROM 9:31–32 section.

Jump to OET ROM 11:11–12 section.

Jump to OET CO1 8:9 section.

Jump to OET ROM 14:13 section.