ROCKS AND STONES***
Literal interpretations of the Bible always lead to trouble in the form of religion. This especially true in the case of rocks and stones. Because religious people have interpreted rocks and stones literally and not symbolically, unbelievable harm has come to people who were maimed or killed by religious people who threw rocks and stones at people who were judged to have broken religious laws.
STUDY TIP: See this link and this link for a history and practice of stoning as a means of execution.
Rocks and stones are very common words in the Bible. Here is a breakdown of the frequency of these words:
| Old Testament | Rock 98 verses | Rocks 18 verses | Stone 131 verses | Stones 122 verses |
| New Testament | Rock 10 verses | Rocks 4 verses | Stone 48 verses | Stones 19 verses |
The total number of references to rocks and stones in the Bible is four hundred fifty. Because of that frequency we know that these are words for which we will want understand their symbolic meaning. If we believe that all scripture is God-breathed and useful for training in righteousness, we will be highly motivated to know that meaning.
We begin our study of the meanings of these words by looking at references that are more well known:
Deuteronomy 32:18 You deserted the Rock, who fathered you; you forgot the God who gave you birth.
1 Samuel 2:2 “There is no one holy like the LORD; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.
2 Samuel 22:3 my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior— from violent people you save me.
2 Samuel 22:32 For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God?
2 Samuel 22:47 “The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be my God, the Rock, my Savior!
Psalm 18:2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Psalm 18:31 For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God?
Psalm 42:9 I say to God my Rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?”
Psalm 78:35 They remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer.
Psalm 89:26 He will call out to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, the Rock my Savior.’
Psalm 94:22 But the LORD has become my fortress, and my God the rock in whom I take refuge.
Isaiah 17:10 You have forgotten God your Savior; you have not remembered the Rock, your fortress. Therefore, though you set out the finest plants and plant imported vines,
Isaiah 44:8 Do not tremble, do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago? You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one.”
Exodus 31:18 When He had finished speaking with him upon Mount Sinai, He gave Moses the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written by the finger of God.
Deuteronomy 9:10 “The LORD gave me the two tablets of stone written by the finger of God; and on them were all the words which the LORD had spoken with you at the mountain from the midst of the fire on the day of the assembly.
Joshua 24:27 Joshua said to all the people, “Behold, this stone shall be for a witness against us, for it has heard all the words of the LORD which He spoke to us; thus it shall be for a witness against you, so that you do not deny your God.”
Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, A costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed.
Matthew 4:6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, ‘HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU’; and ‘ON their HANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.’ “
Matthew 21:42 Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures, ‘THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone; THIS CAME ABOUT FROM THE LORD , AND IT IS MARVELOUS IN OUR EYES ‘?
Luke 4:3 And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”
2 Corinthians 3:3 being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
1 Peter 2:4 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God,
Mark 13:2 And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left upon another which will not be torn down.”
John 11:38-39 So Jesus, again being deeply moved within , came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. 39 Jesus said, “Remove the stone.” Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to Him, “Lord , by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days.”
Ephesians 2:20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone,
Luke 19:40 But Jesus answered, “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!”
John 8:59 Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple.
Psalm 118:22-23 The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief corner stone. 23 This is the LORD’S doing ; It is marvelous in our eyes.
1 Peter 2:4-7 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For this is contained in Scripture: “BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.” 7 This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, “THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone,”
Isaiah 8:14-15 “Then He shall become a sanctuary; But to both the houses of Israel, a stone to strike and a rock to stumble over, And a snare and a trap for the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15 “Many will stumble over them, Then they will fall and be broken; They will even be snared and caught.”
Mark 13:1-2 As He was going out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, behold what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” 2 And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left upon another which will not be torn down.”
Matthew 16:17-18 And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
Matthew 7:24-27 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 “And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. 26 “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 “The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell -and great was its fall.”
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.
Romans 9:32 Why ? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone,
Luke 24:2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb,
Luke 20:18 “Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust.”
The symbolism of rocks and stones always refers to words.
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- God’s words spoken through his anointed messengers such as true prophets, angels, messiahs, high priests, witnesses and warriors. Or
- The words of False Prophets, Pharaohs, Kings, Queens and Princes, Pharisees and Scribes, Serpents, Devils, Satan, Adversaries, Demons, Evil Spirits, and Anti-Christs, foolish, worthless, stupid shepherds.
- The words of false prophets are stones that lead to spiritual death.
- The words of God’s messengers are stones that lead to spiritual life.
- Rocks and stones are words used in the war of words between God and his enemies.
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Old Testament scriptures that refer to stoning, therefore, are symbolic references to speaking (i.e. throwing, hurling) words at someone. The stones (i.e. words) are words that either lead to life or death — depending on who is speaking.
When spoken through God or his agents, God is sometimes called a rock of refuge, and he is often referred to as a rock. Since God and his word are inseparable, it can be said that God’s word is a rock in which we take refuge.
God and Christ are called corner stones that are rejected. What people reject, however, is God’s spoken word.
People are called “living stones” built into a spiritual house.
Buildings in Bible days were typically made of stone. People are called “God’s building.”
God’s building would also be called God’s house, or God’s home. God makes his home in the hearts of New Covenant disciples. Thus, the hearts of New Covenant disciples are also stones.
The hearts of Old/First Covenant religionists are also called stones. Due to hardening by refusing to listen to God’s voice, their hearts are as hard as stones.