Strong's Greek: 4624. σκανδαλίζω (skandalizó) -- To cause to stumble, to offend, to lead into sin

◄ 4624. skandalizó ►

Lexical Summary

skandalizó: To cause to stumble, to offend, to lead into sin

Original Word: σκανδαλίζω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: skandalizó
Pronunciation: skan-dal-id'-zo
Phonetic Spelling: (skan-dal-id'-zo)
KJV: (make to) offend
NASB: fall away, causes to stumble, stumble, makes stumble, took offense
Word Origin: [from G4625 (σκάνδαλον - stumbling block)]

1. to entrap, i.e. trip up
2. (figuratively) to stumble
3. (causitive) to entice to sin, apostasy or displeasure

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

to cause to stumble

From skandalon; to entrap, i.e. Trip up (figuratively, stumble (transitively) or entice to sin, apostasy or displeasure) -- (make to) offend.

see GREEK skandalon

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 4624 skandalízō – properly, set a snare ("stumbling-block"); (figuratively) "to hinder right conduct or thought; to cause to stumble" – literally, "to fall into a trap" (Abbott-Smith). See 4625 (skandalon).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from skandalon
Definition
to put a snare (in the way), hence to cause to stumble, to give offense
NASB Translation
cause (1), cause...to stumble (2), causes (2), causes...to stumble (6), fall away (7), falls away (1), led into sin (1), makes...stumble (2), offend (1), offended (1), stumble (3), stumbling (1), take (1), take offense (1), took offense (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 4624: σκανδαλίζω

σκανδαλίζω; 1 aorist ἐσκανδαλισα; passive, present σκανδαλίζομαι; imperfect ἐσκανδαλιζομην; 1 aorist ἐσκανδαλίσθην (cf. Buttmann, 52 (45)); 1 future σκανδαλισθήσομαι; (σκάνδαλον); Vulg.scandalizo; Peshitto lSK) []; properly, to put a stumbling-block or impediment in the way, upon which another may trip and fall; to be a stumbling-block; in the N. T. always metaphorically, (R. V. to cause or make to stumble; A. V. to offend (cause to offend));

a. to entice to sin (Luth. ärgern, i. e. arg, bös machen): τινα, Matthew 5:29 (); f; Mark 9:42f, 45, 47; Luke 17:2; 1 Corinthians 8:13; passive Latinoffendor (A. V. to be offended), Vulg.scandalizor, Peshitto lSK []: Romans 14:21 (R G L Tr text); 2 Corinthians 11:29 (R. V. is made to stumble; cf. Winers Grammar, 153 (145)).

b. "to cause a person to begin to distrust and desert one whom he ought to trust and obey; to cause to fall away," and in the passive, to fall away (R. V. to stumble (cf. 'Teaching etc. 16, 5 [ET]; Hermas, vis. 4, 1, 3 [ET]; mand. 8, 10 [ET])): τινα, John 6:61; passive, Matthew 13:21; Matthew 24:10; Matthew 26:33; Mark 4:17; Mark 14:29; (John 16:1); ἐν τίνι (A. V.) to be offended in one, (find occasion of stumbling in), i. e. to see in another what I disapprove of and what hinders me from acknowledging his authority: Matthew 11:6; Matthew 13:57; Matthew 26:31; Mark 6:3; Mark 14:27; Luke 7:23; to cause one to judge unfavorably or unjustly of another, Matthew 17:27. Since the man who stumbles or whose foot gets entangled feels annoyed, σκανδαλίζω means c. to cause one to feel displeasure at a thing; to make indignant: τινα, passive, to be displeased, indignant (A. V. offended), Matthew 15:12. The verb σκανδαλίζω is found neither in secular authors nor in the Sept., but only in the relies of Aq.'s version of the O. T., Psalm 63:9 (); Isaiah 8:15; (xl. 30); Proverbs 4:12 for כָּשַׁל; besides in Sir. 9:5 Sir. 23:8 Sir. 35:15 (Sir. 32:15); (Psalt. Sal. 16, 7. Cf. Winer's Grammar, 33.)

Topical Lexicon

Overview

Strong’s Greek 4624 (skandalizō) describes the act of tripping up a person’s faith, conscience, or moral walk. In Scripture it ranges from inner disillusionment with Christ to deliberate inducement of sin in others. It occurs twenty-nine times in the Greek New Testament.

Old Testament and Jewish Background

The Septuagint often uses cognate forms for “stumbling block” or “snare” (for example, Isaiah 8:14). Within Second-Temple Judaism a σκάνδαλον was anything that led Israel away from covenant loyalty. This background sharpens the New Testament warnings: to “scandalize” someone is to divert that person from steadfast trust in the Lord.

New Testament Distribution and Representative Contexts

1. Personal offense at Jesus and His message
• “Blessed is the one who is not offended by Me.” (Matthew 11:6; Luke 7:23)
• Hometown unbelief: “They took offense at Him.” (Matthew 13:57; Mark 6:3)
2. Apostolic failure under persecution
• “You will all fall away because of Me this night.” (Matthew 26:31; Mark 14:27)
3. Causing others to sin or abandon faith
• Millstone warning concerning children (Matthew 18:6; Mark 9:42; Luke 17:2)
• Food offered to idols and the weak conscience (1 Corinthians 8:13)
4. Radical self-discipline against inward sin
• “If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away.” (Matthew 5:30; cf. Mark 9:43-47)
5. Eschatological falling away
• “Many will fall away and will betray one another.” (Matthew 24:10)

Theological Significance

Christ as Touchstone: Jesus Himself is both the chief cornerstone and, to the unbelieving, “a stone of stumbling” (compare 1 Peter 2:8). Skandalizō therefore reveals the heart’s posture toward divine revelation; acceptance leads to blessedness, rejection to ruin.

Human Responsibility: Scripture distinguishes between unavoidable offense created by truth (Galatians 5:11) and culpable offense created by believers. The latter incurs severe judgment (Matthew 18:6) because it usurps God’s role as guardian of His little ones.

Perseverance and Apostasy: Predictive sayings in the Gospels expose the fragility of discipleship when not anchored in grace. Yet Jesus also promises restoration (Matthew 26:32), showing that failure need not be final.

Christian Liberty and Love: Paul applies skandalizō to ethical gray areas. Liberty that wounds a brother becomes sin against Christ (1 Corinthians 8:12-13). Thus the principle of edification governs freedoms.

Pastoral and Ministry Applications

Safeguarding the Vulnerable: Children and new believers require intentional protection from teachings or behaviors that could derail nascent faith. Ministries must evaluate curricula, leadership conduct, and community culture in light of the millstone warning.

Self-Examination: Personal holiness is non-negotiable. Jesus’ hyperbolic language about amputation underscores the costliness of sanctification. Leaders model decisive action against besetting sins that might scandalize others.

Handling Controversial Liberties: Dietary choices, entertainment, and cultural practices must be filtered through the law of love. If an action “causes my brother to stumble,” the mature response is voluntary restraint.

Preparing for Persecution: Congregations should be equipped to endure social ostracism or state opposition so that they “may not fall away” (John 16:1). Teaching on suffering, lament, and eschatological hope strengthens resilience.

Proclaiming an Unoffensive Gospel Offensively Received: The cross will offend worldly sensibilities; the messenger must ensure that offense rests solely in the message, not in personal harshness or hypocrisy.

Historical Notes

Early Church debates over idol meat (Acts 15; 1 Corinthians 8–10) illustrate practical outworking. Patristic writers (e.g., Tertullian) later employed skandalon language against moral laxity. Reformers echoed the theme when warning against ecclesial abuses that led believers astray.

Summary

Skandalizō calls the church to discern between the inevitable offense of gospel truth and the avoidable offense of ungodly conduct. Faithful discipleship embraces the former while vigorously eliminating the latter, thereby fostering communities where none need stumble and all may persevere to the glory of God.

Forms and Transliterations

εσκανδαλιζοντο εσκανδαλίζοντο ἐσκανδαλίζοντο εσκανδαλισθησαν εσκανδαλίσθησαν ἐσκανδαλίσθησαν σκανδαλιζει σκανδαλίζει σκανδαλιζεται σκανδαλίζεται σκανδαλίζη σκανδαλίζῃ σκανδαλιζονται σκανδαλίζονται σκανδαλιση σκανδαλίση σκανδαλίσῃ σκανδαλισθη σκανδαλισθή σκανδαλισθῇ σκανδαλισθησεσθε σκανδαλισθήσεσθε σκανδαλισθησομαι σκανδαλισθήσομαι σκανδαλισθησονται σκανδαλισθήσονται σκανδαλισθητε σκανδαλισθήτε σκανδαλισθῆτε σκανδαλισω σκανδαλίσω σκανδαλισωμεν σκανδαλίσωμεν eskandalisthesan eskandalisthēsan eskandalísthesan eskandalísthēsan eskandalizonto eskandalízonto skandalise skandalisē skandalísei skandalísēi skandaliso skandalisō skandalíso skandalísō skandalisomen skandalisōmen skandalísomen skandalísōmen skandalisthe skandalisthē skandalisthêi skandalisthē̂i skandalisthesesthe skandalisthēsesthe skandalisthḗsesthe skandalisthesomai skandalisthēsomai skandalisthḗsomai skandalisthesontai skandalisthēsontai skandalisthḗsontai skandalisthete skandalisthête skandalisthēte skandalisthē̂te skandalize skandalizē skandalizei skandalízei skandalízēi skandalizetai skandalízetai skandalizontai skandalízontai

Links

Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 5:29 V-PIA-3S
GRK: ὁ δεξιὸς σκανδαλίζει σε ἔξελε
NAS: eye makes you stumble, tear
KJV: right eye offend thee, pluck
INT: right cause to stumble you pluck out

Matthew 5:30 V-PIA-3S
GRK: σου χεὶρ σκανδαλίζει σε ἔκκοψον
NAS: hand makes you stumble, cut it off
KJV: right hand offend thee, cut
INT: of you hand cause to stumble you cut off

Matthew 11:6 V-ASP-3S
GRK: ἐὰν μὴ σκανδαλισθῇ ἐν ἐμοί
NAS: is he who does not take offense at Me.
KJV: shall not be offended in me.
INT: if not shall fall away in me

Matthew 13:21 V-PIM/P-3S
GRK: λόγον εὐθὺς σκανδαλίζεται
NAS: immediately he falls away.
KJV: of the word, by and by he is offended.
INT: word immediately he falls away

Matthew 13:57 V-IIM/P-3P
GRK: καὶ ἐσκανδαλίζοντο ἐν αὐτῷ
NAS: And they took offense at Him. But Jesus
KJV: And they were offended in him.
INT: And they were offended at him

Matthew 15:12 V-AIP-3P
GRK: τὸν λόγον ἐσκανδαλίσθησαν
NAS: that the Pharisees were offended when they heard
KJV: the Pharisees were offended, after they heard
INT: the saying were offended

Matthew 17:27 V-ASA-1P
GRK: δὲ μὴ σκανδαλίσωμεν αὐτούς πορευθεὶς
NAS: so that we do not offend them, go
KJV: lest we should offend them,
INT: moreover not we might offend them having gone

Matthew 18:6 V-ASA-3S
GRK: δ' ἂν σκανδαλίσῃ ἕνα τῶν
NAS: but whoever causes one of these
KJV: But whoso shall offend one of these
INT: moreover anyhow shall cause to stumble one of the

Matthew 18:8 V-PIA-3S
GRK: πούς σου σκανδαλίζει σε ἔκκοψον
NAS: your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off
KJV: thy foot offend thee, cut them
INT: foot of you cause to sin you cut off

Matthew 18:9 V-PIA-3S
GRK: ὀφθαλμός σου σκανδαλίζει σε ἔξελε
NAS: your eye causes you to stumble, pluck
KJV: thine eye offend thee, pluck
INT: eye of you cause to sin you pluck out

Matthew 24:10 V-FIP-3P
GRK: καὶ τότε σκανδαλισθήσονται πολλοὶ καὶ
NAS: many will fall away and will betray
KJV: shall many be offended, and
INT: And then will fall away many and

Matthew 26:31 V-FIP-2P
GRK: Πάντες ὑμεῖς σκανδαλισθήσεσθε ἐν ἐμοὶ
NAS: to them, You will all fall away because
KJV: All ye shall be offended because of me
INT: All you will fall away because of me

Matthew 26:33 V-FIP-3P
GRK: Εἰ πάντες σκανδαλισθήσονται ἐν σοί
NAS: all may fall away
KJV: all [men] shall be offended because
INT: If all will fall away because of you

Matthew 26:33 V-FIP-1S
GRK: ἐγὼ οὐδέποτε σκανδαλισθήσομαι
NAS: may fall away because
KJV: [yet] will I never be offended.
INT: I never will fall away

Mark 4:17 V-PIM/P-3P
GRK: λόγον εὐθὺς σκανδαλίζονται
NAS: immediately they fall away.
KJV: immediately they are offended.
INT: word immediately they fall away

Mark 6:3 V-IIM/P-3P
GRK: ἡμᾶς καὶ ἐσκανδαλίζοντο ἐν αὐτῷ
NAS: here with us? And they took offense at Him.
KJV: us? And they were offended at him.
INT: us and they took offense at him

Mark 9:42 V-ASA-3S
GRK: ὃς ἂν σκανδαλίσῃ ἕνα τῶν
NAS: Whoever causes one of these
KJV: whosoever shall offend one
INT: whoever anyhow might cause to stumble one of the

Mark 9:43 V-ASA-3S
GRK: Καὶ ἐὰν σκανδαλίζῃ σε ἡ
NAS: your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off;
KJV: thy hand offend thee, cut
INT: And if should cause to stumble you the

Mark 9:45 V-PSA-3S
GRK: πούς σου σκανδαλίζῃ σε ἀπόκοψον
NAS: your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off;
KJV: thy foot offend thee, cut
INT: foot of you should cause to stumble you cut off

Mark 9:47 V-PSA-3S
GRK: ὀφθαλμός σου σκανδαλίζῃ σε ἔκβαλε
NAS: your eye causes you to stumble, throw
KJV: thine eye offend thee, pluck
INT: eye of you should cause to stumble you cast out

Mark 14:27 V-FIP-2P
GRK: ὅτι Πάντες σκανδαλισθήσεσθε ἐν ἐμοὶ
NAS: to them, You will all fall away, because
KJV: All ye shall be offended because of
INT: All you will fall away in me

Mark 14:29 V-FIP-3P
GRK: καὶ πάντες σκανδαλισθήσονται ἀλλ' οὐκ
NAS: all may fall away, yet
KJV: all shall be offended, yet
INT: Even all will fall away yet not

Luke 7:23 V-ASP-3S
GRK: ἐὰν μὴ σκανδαλισθῇ ἐν ἐμοί
NAS: is he who does not take offense at Me.
KJV: shall not be offended in me.
INT: if not shall fall away in me

Luke 17:2 V-ASA-3S
GRK: ἢ ἵνα σκανδαλίσῃ τῶν μικρῶν
NAS: than that he would cause one
KJV: that he should offend one
INT: than that he should cause to stumble little

John 6:61 V-PIA-3S
GRK: Τοῦτο ὑμᾶς σκανδαλίζει
NAS: to them, Does this cause you to stumble?
KJV: unto them, Doth this offend you?
INT: This you does offend