Dictionary of Bible Themes: 4354 rock

4354 rock

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Dictionary of Bible Themes » 4000 Creation » 4300 Metals and minerals » 4354 rock

A symbol of strength and permanence and a place where people in danger often took refuge. God is depicted as the Rock of Israel, being the strength, security and deliverance for his people.

Rock as a symbol of strength, stability and permanence

Zechariah 12:3 See also Job 18:4; Job 19:23-24; Job 41:24; Nahum 1:6

Rocks as places of refuge and shelter

1 Samuel 13:6; Samuel 23:25 David's hiding-place from Saul; Job 24:8; Job 30:6; Psalm 27:5; Psalm 40:2; Songs 2:14; Isaiah 2:10,19,21; Isaiah 32:2; Jeremiah 4:29; Jeremiah 16:16; Jeremiah 48:28; Jeremiah 49:16 pp Ob 3; Revelation 6:15-16

God as a rock

Symbolising his strength and faithfulness

Isaiah 26:4 See also Genesis 49:23-25; Deuteronomy 32:3-4; 1 Samuel 2:2; 2 Samuel 23:2-4; Psalm 28:1; Psalm 42:9; Psalm 62:6; Psalm 92:14-15; Isaiah 44:8; Habakkuk 1:12

Symbolising safety and refuge in him

Associated with salvation and deliverance

Deuteronomy 32:15-18; 2 Samuel 22:47 pp Psalm 18:46; Psalm 19:14; Psalm 62:2; Psalm 78:35; Psalm 89:26; Psalm 95:1

Associated with judgment and punishment

Isaiah 8:13-15; Romans 9:33; 1 Peter 2:8

Other gods as rocks

Deuteronomy 32:31 See also Deuteronomy 32:36-38

Water from the rock

Numbers 20:8 See also Exodus 17:6; Numbers 20:10-13; Deuteronomy 8:15; Nehemiah 9:15; Psalm 78:15-16,20; Psalm 105:41; Isaiah 48:21; 1 Corinthians 10:3-4

Rocks as foundations

Matthew 7:24-25 pp Luke 6:47-48 See also Matthew 16:13-20

Rocks in mining, quarrying and building

Deuteronomy 8:9; Job 28:5-6,9-10; Isaiah 51:1-2; Jeremiah 23:29; Jeremiah 51:26; Daniel 2:34-35,45

Rocks used as altars

Judges 6:20-21; Judges 13:19-20

Rock and burial places

Rocks erected over graves

Joshua 7:26; Joshua 8:29; 2 Samuel 18:17

Tombs quarried in rock

Luke 23:53 pp Matthew 27:59-60 pp Mark 15:46 See also Isaiah 22:16

Rocks used to seal caves and tombs

Joshua 10:17-18,27; Matthew 27:59-60 pp Mark 15:46; Matthew 27:66; Matthew 28:2; Mark 16:2-4 pp Luke 24:2 pp John 20:1

Rocky soil in the parable of the sower

Matthew 13:20-21 pp Mark 4:16-17 pp Luke 8:13 See also Matthew 13:5 pp Mark 4:5 pp Luke 8:6

Rocks in place-names

Judges 7:25; Judges 15:8-13; Judges 20:45-47; Judges 21:13; 2 Samuel 20:8; 1 Chronicles 11:15