Rock (4073) petra by Greek Word Studies

Rock (4073) (petra feminine of the masculine noun petros) refers to a massive rock, a large expanse of bedrock or a great outcropping of rock. Vine distinguishes petra as a "mass of rock" from the masculine petros which refers to a detached stone or boulder, including a stone that might be thrown or easily moved. Jesus uses petra to refer to rocky soil in Luke 8:6, 13. NIDNTT writes that in classical Greek... petra means rock, a mass of rock, boulder, and stone as material; it is used as early as Homer for a symbol of firmness (Od. 17, 463), and from the 5th cent. B.C. onwards of hard-heartedness (Aesch., PV 2, 244; Eur., Andromache 537). petros, likewise attested from earliest times, means a (broken off) piece of rock, stone (lithos). A strict distinction of meaning cannot however be maintained: petros can mean, rock, and petra, stone (cf. Homer, Od. 9, 243; Hesiod, Theog. 675; Soph., OC 1595; O. Cullmann, petra TDNT VI 95; and Peter: Disciple, Apostle, Martyr, A Historical and Theological Study, 19622 (Brown, Colin, Editor. New International Dictionary of NT Theology. 1986. Zondervan) Here are the 15 uses of petra in the NT... Matthew 7:24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts upon them, may be compared to a wise man, who built his house upon the rock. Matthew 7:25 "And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded upon the rock. Matthew 16:18 "And I also say to you that you are Peter (petros), and upon this rock (petra) I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it. Comment: For discussion of this controversial verse see MacArthur's messages - Matthew 16:18-20: The Church that Christ Builds 1; Matthew 16:18-20: The Church that Christ Builds 2) and/or S Lewis Johnson's message Is Peter the Rock? I agree with Kenneth Wuest's interpretative translation of Mt 16:18 You are Petros, a Rock-like man, and upon this petra, this huge Gibraltar-like rock, my deity, I will build my Church. Matthew 27:51 And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, and the earth shook; and the rocks were split, Matthew 27:60 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away. Mark 15:46 And Joseph bought a linen cloth, took Him down, wrapped Him in the linen cloth, and laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. Luke 6:48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation upon the rock; and when a flood rose, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. Luke 8:6 "And other seed fell on rocky soil, and as soon as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. Comment: Compare to Mark 4:5 where the cognate petrodes (petra + eídos = shape or appearance) is used to mean rock like. The idea here seems to be a thin layer of top soil beneath which is solid rock. I have a patch like this in my front lawn and needless to say no grass grows in that spot. Jesus is presenting the picture of thin soil on top of solid rock, allowing no chance for deep roots that would enable the plants to survive just as those who heard the seed of the word on similar "soil" did not persevere (see Mk 4:16, 17). Luke 8:13 "And those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away. Romans 9:33 (see note) just as it is written, "Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, And he who believes in Him will not be disappointed." 1 Corinthians 10:4 and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. Comment: See use of petra below in the OT parallel passage, Exodus 17:6. 1 Peter 2:8 (note) and, "A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense"; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed. Revelation 6:15 (note) And the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; Revelation 6:16 (note) and they said to the mountains and to the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; Petra is used 75 times in the Septuagint (LXX) - Ex 17:6; 21-Exod.33.23" class="scriptRef">33:21f; 20.8" class="scriptRef">Nu 20:8, 11" class="scriptRef">10, 11; 24:21; Deut. 8:15; 13" class="scriptRef">32:13; Jos. 5:2; Jdg. 1:36; 6:20f; 13:19; 15:8, 11, 13; 20:45, 47; 21:13; 1 Sam. 13:6; 14:4; 23:25, 28" class="scriptRef">28; 2Sa 21:10; 22:2; 1 Ki. 19:11; 2 Ki. 14:7; 1 Chr. 11:15; 26.7" class="scriptRef">2 Chr. 26:7; Neh. 9:15; Job 14:8, 18; 19:24; 22:24; 24:8; 39:1, 28; Ps. 27:5; 40:2; 61:2; 78:15f, 20; 81:16; 104:18; 105:41; 114:8; 136:16; 137:9; 141:6; Prov. 30:19, 26; Song. 2:14; Isa. 2:10, 21; 5:28; 8:14; 16:1; 22:16; 31:9; 33:16; 42:11; 48:21; 50:7; 51:1; Jer. 4:29; 5:3; 13:4; 18:14; 23:29; 48:28; Ezek. 3:9; Amos 6:12; Nah. 1:6; Hab. 2:1. One of the most famous uses of petra is in Exodus where God declared to Moses... Exodus 17:6 "Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock (Heb = tsuwr = masculine noun = large rock or boulder; Lxx = petra) at Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink." And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. Comment: The physical rock in Exodus serves as what is referred to as a type of Christ (as taught by Paul in 1Co 10:4). Typology is one of those fields of study where one can go extremes - either dismissing it almost entirely ("throwing the baby out with the bath water" so to speak) or finding "types" in far more OT passages than can be reasonably substantiated by NT passages. For more discussion on the interesting study of typology see Typology - Study of Biblical types. As an aside Patrick Fairbairn in his two volume treatise on Typology of Scripture has this summary of what he considers valid OT types... Leaving out of view the tabernacle, with its furniture and services, which, as a whole, is affirmed in the epistles to the Hebrews and the Colossians to have been of a typical nature, the following examples are what the writers now referred to usually regard as having something like an explicit sanction in Scripture: 1. Persons or characters: Adam (Ro 5:11, 12; 15.22" class="scriptRef">1Co 15:22); Melchizedek (Heb 7:1, 10, 11, 15, 17); Sarah and Hagar, Ishmael and Isaac, and by implication Abraham (Ga 4:22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35); Moses (Ga 3:19; Acts 3:22, 23, 24, 25, 26); Jonah (Mt. 12:40)... 2. Transactions or events: the preservation of Noah and his family in the ark (1Pe 3:20); the redemption from Egypt and its Passover-memorial (Lk 22:15, 16; 1Co 5:7, Ex 12:21, 22, 23, 24); the exodus (Mt 2:15); the passage through the Red Sea, the giving of manna (Ex 16:31, 32, Jn 6:31, 32, 33, 34, 35), Moses veiling of his face while the law was read (2Co 3:13, 14, 15); the water flowing from the smitten rock (1Co 10:4); the serpent lifted up for healing in the wilderness (Jn 3:14, Nu 21:7, 8, 9), and some other things that befell the Israelites there (1Co 10:5, 6, 7, 8, , 9, 10, 11; Jn 5:33; Rev. 2:17). (Patrick Fairbairn. Typology of Scripture Volume 1) Numbers 20:8 "Take the rod; and you and your brother Aaron assemble the congregation and speak to the rock (Heb = cela' = crag, cliff, rock; Lxx = petra) before their eyes, that it may yield its water. You shall thus bring forth water for them out of the rock (Heb = cela' = crag, cliff, rock; Lxx = petra) and let the congregation and their beasts drink." Comment: In Nu 20:11 instead of speaking to the rock, Moses struck the rock which was judged by Jehovah as a sign of Moses' unbelief, the punishment being that Moses would not be able to physically lead Israel into the promised land of Canaan. 2Sa 22:2 And he (David) said, "The LORD is my rock (Heb = cela' = crag, cliff, rock; Lxx = petra) and my fortress and my deliverer Jehovah was the foundation and the strength of His people Israel in the OT and of believers in the NT. Do you know Him as your Rock? Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee; Let the water and the blood, From Thy wounded side which flowed, Be of sin the double cure; Save from wrath and make me pure. (Play) An illustration of our foundation on the rock. It seems that in as we turned into the 21st century, the number of hurricanes spawned in the Atlantic seemed to increase dramatically. Andrew, one of those powerful hurricanes hit southern Florida in 1992, literally leveling thousands of homes. In most areas what was left looked like the after effects of a atomic bomb, but in the backdrop of devastation, one house remained firmly anchored on its foundation. When a reporter asked the homeowner why his house had not been blown away, he replied, "I built this house myself. I also built it according to the Florida state building code. When the code called for 2" x 6" roof trusses, I used 2" x 6" roof trusses. I was told that a house built according to code could withstand a hurricane-- and it did." After explaining the righteousness necessary to enter the Kingdom of Heaven to the multitudes, our Lord sought a decision from each hearer. Would they be wise men and build their "spiritual home" on the "Solid Rock" of His message, by acting (by grace through faith in Christ) on what He had taught. Jesus' message on that Mount gives us the code that will withstand all storms and His message on the other Mount (Calvary) gives us the power to carry this out in our lives. If we build according to His code, which calls for obedience to His Word (in the power of His Spirit and for the glory of His Father), we will not be swept away when the crises hit with hurricane-like force. The tempests of temptation and the storms of suffering will not be able to sweep us off the solid foundation of faith and obedience in Christ Alone. Adversity may come, yet because we have built according to the code of the unshakable Rock, Jesus Christ, we can emerge with our character strengthened. As someone has said, smooth seas don't make skillful sailors! Are you building your live according to Jesus' code? The storms of our life prove the strength of our anchor. ><>><>><> A Rock-Solid Foundation - As Christians we can become so preoccupied with our earthly affairs that we shift our confidence from Jesus Christ to faith in our own intellect. Then something happens to shake the foundation on which we had been building. Phillip E. Johnson, a gifted lawyer and primary spokesman for the Intelligent Design movement, suffered a stroke and was likely to have another. Plagued by frightening thoughts during those first few days after his stroke, he was profoundly touched when a friend came and sang, "On Christ, the solid rock, I stand—all other ground is sinking sand." Johnson writes, "What was the solid rock on which I stood? I had always prided myself on being self-reliant, and my brain was what I had relied on. Now the self with its brain was exposed as the shaky instrument it had always been. I was a Christian, even an ardent one in my worldly fashion, but now all the smoke was blown away, and I saw Truth close up." He resolved to keep Jesus at the center of his life and is now a different man. How quickly we rely on our intellect and reasoning, only to find that it is a "shaky instrument." Let's never forget that Jesus is the only rock-solid foundation of truth on which we can always depend. —Herbert Vander Lugt (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved) My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus' blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus' name. —Mote Build your life on the solid foundation—Jesus Christ. ><>><>><> A century ago an ocean liner sank off the southwest coast of England, taking many people down with it. A 16-year-old galley boy, who was tossed up along the rugged shore, survived by clinging to a rock all night long. When he was finally rescued, he was asked, "Didn't you shake as you were clinging all night to that rock?" The boy replied, "Yes, of course. But the rock never shook once." The ancient Israelites learned from their experiences in the desert that rocks were more than masses of stone. A rock could serve as shelter from a sudden storm. It could provide a cool shadow from oppressive heat. It was a stronghold and a place of safety from enemies (Ps. 61:2,3; 62:1,2; Isa 32:2). Just as the Hebrews found the rock of their salvation in the Lord who brought them up out of Egypt, so we find our rock of salvation in the One who through His Son delivered us from bondage to sin. When storms of trouble threaten to overwhelm us, we can cling to Him in faith, thankful that our Rock is our unshakable refuge. —V. C. Grounds (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved) ><>><>><> Edward Mote the writer of "My Hope is Built" gives the following account related to the writing... "One morning it came into my mind as I went to labor, to write an hymn on the "Gracious Experience of a Christian." As I went up Holborn I had the chorus, 'On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.' "In the day, I had the first four verses complete, and wrote them off. On the Sabbath following, I met Brother King as I came out of the Lisle Street Meeting ... who informed me that his wife was very ill, and asked me to call and see her. I had an early tea and called afterwards. He said that it was his usual custom to sing a hymn, read a portion, and engage in prayer, before he went to the meeting. He looked for his hymnbook, but could find it nowhere. I said, 'I have some verses in my pocket; if you like, we could sing them.' We did, and his wife enjoyed them so much that after the service he asked me, as a favor, to leave a copy of them for his wife. I went home, and by the fireside composed the last two verses, wrote them off, and took them to Sister King. As these verses so met the dying woman's case, my attention to them was the more arrested, and I had a thousand of them printed for distribution. I sent one to the Spiritual Magazine, without my initials, which appeared some time after this. Brother Rees, of Crown Street, Soho, brought out an edition of hymns, in 1836, and this hymn was in it. David Denham introduced it, in 1837, with Rees' name given as the author." Life with Christ is an endless hope; Without Him a hopeless end. Play and Sing it unto the Lord our Rock... My Hope is Built (by Edward Mote, play hymn) My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name. Refrain On Christ the solid Rock I stand, All other ground is sinking sand; All other ground is sinking sand. When darkness seems to hide His face, I rest on His unchanging grace. In every high and stormy gale, My anchor holds within the veil. His oath, His covenant, His blood, Support me in the whelming flood. When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my Hope and Stay. When He shall come with trumpet sound, Oh may I then in Him be found. Dressed in His righteousness alone, Faultless to stand before the throne. ><>><>><> A Fortified House - According to an article in The Wall Street Journal, some people in the US are building houses stronger than ever before. Hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes have caused billions of dollars in property damage in states across the nation. So, at the urging of businesses, government, and hard-pressed insurance companies, some builders are constructing fortress-like homes with windows that can withstand 130 mile-per-hour winds, roof nails so strong they can only be cut off, and framing material that can weather the tremendous forces faced by a supersonic jet. In Bolingbrook, Illinois, a community damaged by a tornado in the 1990s, a company is constructing such a “fortified” house in hopes that the idea will catch on. We who know the Lord Jesus realize that when it comes to building our spiritual foundation, it must be strong and secure. In today’s Scripture, Christ made it clear what that foundation must be when He referred to “these sayings of Mine” (Matt. 7:24), which included His teaching in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7). When we receive by faith Christ’s words and His work on our behalf, our spiritual lives are “founded on the Rock,” Christ Jesus. —David C. Egner (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved) I do not stand on shifting sand And fear the storm that rages; But calm and sure, I stand secure Upon the Rock of Ages. —Anon. To survive the storms of life, be anchored to the Rock of Ages ><>><>><> BUILDING TO CODE - No other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. --1 Corinthians 3:11 In 1992, Hurricane Andrew destroyed thousands of homes in South Florida. Yet in an area where the wreckage looked like a war zone, one house remained standing, still firmly anchored to its foundation. When a reporter asked the homeowner why his house had not been blown away, he replied, "I built this house myself. I also built it according to the Florida state building code. When the code called for 2" x 6" roof trusses, I used 2" x 6" roof trusses. I was told that a house built according to code could withstand a hurricane -- and it did." Jesus talked about the importance of building our lives on a solid foundation. He said that the person who obeys His Word is like "a wise man who built his house on the rock" (Matt. 7:24). If we build according to His code of obedience, we will not be swept away when crises hit with hurricane-like force. The tempests of temptation and the storms of suffering will not be able to sweep us off a solid foundation of faith and obedience. Adversity may come, yet because we have built according to the code of the unshakable Rock, Jesus Christ, we can emerge with our character strengthened. Are we building our lives according to Jesus' code? - Vernon C. Grounds (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved) Living for the Lord, serving Him each day, Best prepares the soul for the stormy way; Then as trials come, tempting to despair, We can rest secure, safe within His care.--DJD The storms of our life prove the strength of our anchor. ><>><>><> In context the rock metaphor clearly symbolizes genuine faith in Christ as evidenced by one's obedience to His words (and God's Word in general). The metaphor of Christ as a Stone or Rock is intimately woven by the Spirit throughout both the Old and New Testaments and makes for a fascinating and encouraging study Suggestion: This study would make an edifying series in a Sunday School class and would be very enlightening to those who are not that familiar with the Old Testament. Remember to carefully observe the context to arrive at the most accurate interpretation, interrogating each each "base" verse with questions such as... When does this take place? Where does this take place? What are the circumstances surrounding the use of this metaphor? Who is in the "cast of characters"? Who used the name Rock? What attributes do you discover about the Rock or Stone? How should we apply this truth to our life today -- not Can we? - it is God's Word of Truth and it is ALWAYS applicable to our life. The more relevant question is "Will we allow the Spirit to speak the Word of Truth to our innermost being and respond with unhesitating obedience"?)...here are the Scriptures...and as they say when your delicious meal is served, "Enjoy!" Genesis 49:24 > Exodus 17:6 > Exodus 33:21 > Numbers 20:11 > Deut 32:4 > 2Samuel 23:3 > Psalm 18:2 > Psalm 18:31 > Psalm 18:46 > Psalm 19:14 > Psalm 27:5 > Psalm 28:1 > Psalm 31:2-3 > Psalm 40:2 > Psalm 42:9 > Psalm 61:2 >Psalm 62:2 >Psalm 62:6-7 >Psalm 71:3 >Psalm 78:16 > Psalm 78:20 > Psalm 78:35 > Psalm 81:16 > Psalm 89:26 > Psalm 92:15 > Psalm 94:22 >Psalm 95:1 >Psalm 105:41 >Psalm 114:8 >Psalm 118:22 >Psalm 144:1 >Isaiah 8:14 > Isaiah 17:10 > Isaiah 26:4 >Isaiah 28:16 >Isaiah 30:29 >Isaiah 32:2 >Isaiah 33:16 >Isaiah 44:8 >Isaiah 48:21 >Isaiah 51:1 > Da 2:34 > Da 2:35, 44, 45, 46 > Hab 1:12 > Zech 4:7 > Mt 7:24,25> Mt 16:18 >Mt 21:42 >Mk 12:10 >Luke 20:17 > Acts 4:11 >Ro 9:32-33 > Acts 4:11 >1Cor 1:23>1Cor 10:4 >Ephesians 2:20 >1Pe 2:4-5, 6, 7, 8 (Which book of the Bible has the most allusions to Rock? Why might that be the case?) CHRIST THE ROCK THE CORNERSTONE (1) To God Jesus is... Smitten Stone Exodus 17:6, 1Cor 10:4, cp John 4:13, John 4:14 (2) To Israel Messiah is... Stumbling Stone 1 Peter 2:8 (note), Romans 9:32 (note) Romans 9:33 (note); 1Cor 1:23 (3) To the Church the Lord Jesus is... Cornerstone 1 Peter 2:6 (note), Eph 2:20 (note), 1Cor 3:10, 11, 12 (foundation) (4) To all the Gentile world powers Jesus the King of kings is the... Stone cut without hands Da 2:34 Stone that grows and fills the earth Da 2:35, cf Da 2:44, 45 (5) To Israel at Second coming Messiah is... Capstone of the corner Zech 4:7 (6) To unbelievers the Lord Jesus Christ is the... Crushing Stone of judgment Mt 21:44 "Copy and paste the address below into your web browser in order to go to the original page which will allow you to access live links related to the material on this page - these links include Scriptures (which can be read in context), Scripture pop-ups on mouse over, and a variety of related resources such as Bible dictionary articles, commentaries, sermon notes and theological journal articles related to the topic under discussion." http://www.preceptaustin.org/matthew_724-25.htm#r

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Rock (4073) petra

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