Lexical Summary petra: Rock, large stone, cliff Original Word: πέτρα Strong's Exhaustive Concordance rock. Feminine of the same as Petros; a (mass of) rock (literally or figuratively) -- rock. see GREEK Petros HELPS Word-studies 4073 pétra (a feminine noun) – "a mass of connected rock," which is distinct from 4074 (Pétros) which is "a detached stone or boulder" (A-S). 4073 (pétra) is a "solid or native rock, rising up through the earth" (Souter) – a huge mass of rock (a boulder), such as a projecting cliff. 4073 (petra) is "a projecting rock, cliff (feminine noun) . . . 4074 (petros, the masculine form) however is a stone . . . such as a man might throw" (S. Zodhiates, Dict). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. word Definition a (large mass of) rock NASB Translation rock (10), rocks (3), rocky (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4073: πέτραπέτρα, πέτρας, ἡ, from Homer down; the Sept. for סֶלַע and צוּר; a rock, ledge, cliff; a. properly: Matthew 7:24; Matthew 27:51, 60; Mark 15:46; Luke 6:48; 1 Corinthians 10:4 (on which see πνευματικός, 3 a.); a projecting rock, crag, Revelation 6:15f, rocky ground, Luke 8:6, 13. b. a rock, large stone: Romans 9:33; 1 Peter 2:8 (7). c. metaphorically, a man like a rock, by reason of his firmness and strength of soul: Matthew 16:18 (some interpretations regard the distinction (generally observed in classic Greek; see the commentaries and cf. Schmidt, Syn., chapter 51, §§ 4-6) between πέτρα, the massive living rock, and πέτρος, a detached but large fragment, as important for the correct understanding of this passage; others explain the different genders here as due first to the personal then to the material reference. Cf. Meyer, Keil, others; Green, Critical Note on John 1:43). In the Mediterranean world “rock” evokes immovable bedrock rather than a loose stone. Houses hewn into limestone hillsides, fortified cities set on rocky heights, and tombs carved from solid strata all reflect this image. A structure resting on bedrock survived storms; a grave cut into rock deterred thieves and beasts. Scripture takes that everyday reality and lifts it into theology and discipleship. Foundational Stability • Matthew 7:24-25; Luke 6:48 present the obedient hearer as one who “built his house on the rock.” The imagery stresses not mere profession but active submission to Christ’s words. Christological Fulfillment Old Testament passages such as Psalm 18:2 and Isaiah 26:4 already hail the Lord as “Rock.” The New Testament applies the title directly to Jesus. He is the Rock who follows His people (1 Corinthians 10:4), the tested cornerstone (Romans 9:33), and the enduring basis of the church (Matthew 16:18). This unifies the testaments: what Yahweh is called in the Hebrew Scriptures, Jesus embodies in the gospel era. Stumbling and Judgment Romans 9:33 and 1 Peter 2:8 quote Isaiah to explain why many Israelites rejected Messiah: the very Rock meant for salvation became a “rock of offense.” The fault lies not in the Rock but in unbelief. Those who refuse to submit to God’s righteousness trip over the One who fulfills it. The dual aspect—secure foundation for faith, stumbling block for unbelief—underscores the moral gravity of responding to Christ. Burial and Resurrection Setting The term frames the burial of Jesus (Matthew 27:60; Mark 15:46). Joseph of Arimathea laid the body in a tomb “cut out of the rock.” The same word appears when “the rocks were split” at the crucifixion (Matthew 27:51), testifying that Creation itself responded to the atoning death. The stable finality symbolized by a rock-hewn tomb was overturned by resurrection, reinforcing Christ’s triumph over the seemingly immovable barrier of death. Apocalyptic Terror and Refuge Revelation 6:15-16 depicts kings and slaves alike crying to “the mountains and the rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of the One seated on the throne.’” The imagery reverses the usual sense of refuge; when divine wrath arrives, former shelters become instruments of dread. The passage presses the necessity of finding protection in the Rock, not from Him. Discipleship and Heart Soil Luke 8:6, 13 employs “rock” for shallow soil. Seed springs up quickly but withers for lack of depth, illustrating an emotional yet rootless response to the word. Genuine discipleship demands the deep penetration of truth into the heart, paralleling the house built on rock (Luke 6:48) rather than on sand. Occurrence Survey Matthew 7:24, 25; 16:18; 27:51, 60 Luke 6:48; 8:6, 13 1 Corinthians 10:4 (twice) Historical and Archaeological Notes First-century builders often excavated to bedrock before laying a foundation, a labor-intensive process accentuating Jesus’ call to diligent obedience. Tombs outside Jerusalem’s walls, including the traditional site of the Holy Sepulcher, exhibit chambers chiseled from limestone, aligning with the gospel descriptions. Early Christian art depicts Christ as the stricken rock pouring living water, a visual catechism rooted in 1 Corinthians 10:4. Pastoral and Homiletical Insights 1. Proclaim Christ as the sole permanent foundation amid cultural flux. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 7:24 N-AFSGRK: ἐπὶ τὴν πέτραν NAS: built his house on the rock. KJV: house upon a rock: INT: upon the rock Matthew 7:25 N-AFS Matthew 16:18 N-DFS Matthew 27:51 N-NFP Matthew 27:60 N-DFS Mark 15:46 N-GFS Luke 6:48 N-AFS Luke 8:6 N-AFS Luke 8:13 N-GFS Romans 9:33 N-AFS 1 Corinthians 10:4 N-GFS 1 Corinthians 10:4 N-NFS 1 Peter 2:8 N-NFS Revelation 6:15 N-AFP Revelation 6:16 N-DFP Strong's Greek 4073 |
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