Stone (Noun, Verb, and Adjective)

is used (I) literally, of (a) the "stones" of the ground, e.g., Mat 4:3, Mat 4:6, Mat 7:9; (b) "tombstones," e.g., Mat 27:60, Mat 27:66; (c) "building stones," e.g., Mat 21:42; (d) "a millstone," Luk 17:2; cp. Rev 18:21 (see MILLSTONE); (e) the "tables (or tablets)" of the Law, 2Co 3:7; (f) "idol images," Act 17:29; (g) the "treasures" of commercial Babylon, Rev 18:12, Rev 18:16; (II) metaphorically, of (a) Christ, Rom 9:33, 1Pe 2:4, 1Pe 2:6, 1Pe 2:8; (b) believers, 1Pe 2:5; (c) spiritual edification by scriptural teaching, 1Co 3:12; (d) the adornment of the foundations of the wall of the spiritual and heavenly Jerusalem, Rev 21:19; (e) the adornment of the seven angels in Rev 15:6, RV (so the best texts; some have linon, "linen," AV); (f) the adornment of religious Babylon, Rev 17:4; (III) figuratively, of Christ, Rev 4:3, Rev 21:11, where "light" stands for "Light-giver" (phoster).

"a smooth stone, a pebble," worn smooth as by water, or polished (akin to psao, "to rub"), denotes (a) by metonymy, a vote (from the use of "pebbles" for this purpose; cp. psephizo, "to count"), Act 26:10, RV (AV, "voice"); (b) a (white) "stone" to be given to the overcomer in the church at Pergamum, Rev 2:17 (twice); a white "stone" was often used in the social life and judicial customs of the ancients; festal days were noted by a white "stone," days of calamity by a black; in the courts a white "stone" indicated acquittal, a black condemnation. A host's appreciation of a special guest was indicated by a white "stone" with the name or a message written on it; this is probably the allusion here.

Note: In Joh 1:42 petros stands for the proper name, Peter, as the RV (AV, "a stone;" marg., "Peter"); petros denotes "a piece of a rock, a detached stone or boulder," in contrast to petra, "a mass of rock." See ROCK.

"to pelt with stones" (A, No. 1, and ballo, "to throw"), "to stone to death," occurs in Mat 21:35, Mat 23:37, Luk 13:34 (Joh 8:5 in some mss.: see No. 2); Act 1:7-59, Act 14:5, Heb 12:20.

"to stone," virtually equivalent to No. 1, but not stressing the casting, occurs in Joh 8:5 (in the most authentic mss.); Joh 1:10-33, Joh 11:8, Act 5:26, Act 14:19, 2Co 11:25, Heb 11:37.

an intensive form of No. 2, "to cast stones at," occurs in Luk 20:6.

"of stone" (akin to A, No. 1), occurs in Joh 2:6, 2Co 3:3, Rev 9:20.