Lexical Summary ptaió: To stumble, to fall, to err, to sin Original Word: πταίω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance offend, cause to stumble. A form of pipto; to trip, i.e. (figuratively) to err, sin, fail (of salvation) -- fall, offend, stumble. see GREEK pipto NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. word Definition to cause to stumble, to stumble NASB Translation stumble (4), stumbles (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4417: πταίωπταίω; future πταίσω; 1 aorist ἐπταισα; (akin to ΠΑΤΩ and πίπτω (cf. Vanicek, p. 466)); from (Pindar), Aeschylus, and Herodotus down; 1. transitive, τινα, to cause one to stumble or fall. 2. intransitive, to stumble: δίς πρός τόν αὐτόν λίθον, Polybius 31, 19, 5. tropically (cf. English trip, stumble) a. to err, to make a mistake (Plato, Theact c. 15, p. 160 d.); to sin: absolutely Romans 11:11 (ἴδιον ἀνθρώπου φιλεῖν καί τούς πταιοντας, Antoninus 7, 22); πολλά, in many ways, James 3:2; ἐν ἑνί (namely, νόμῳ), to stumble in, i. e. sin against, one law, James 2:10 (but see εἷς, 2 a. at the end); ἐν λόγῳ (for the (more common) simple dative), to sin in word or speech, James 3:2. b. to fall into misery, become wretched (often so in Greek writings): of the loss of salvation, 2 Peter 1:10. Topical Lexicon Overview Strong’s Greek 4417 conveys the idea of stumbling, tripping, or faltering—both literally and, more often, metaphorically in relation to sin, error, or spiritual failure. Though occurring only five times in the Greek New Testament, the verb forms a rich theological thread that moves from Israel’s redemptive history through the ethical exhortations of James to the assurance offered by Peter. Old Testament Foreshadows The Hebrew Scriptures frequently describe sin and idolatry as stumbling (for example, Isaiah 8:14–15; Hosea 14:1). These texts prepare the reader to recognize that human frailty often manifests as a misstep that leads away from covenant faithfulness. By the time the New Testament authors write, “to stumble” has become a stock expression for moral or spiritual failure. New Testament Usage • Romans 11:11 – Paul asks, “Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery?” and immediately answers, “By no means! Rather, because of their trespass, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous.” Here the stumble is real but not final. Israel’s misstep becomes the very occasion for wider gospel advance, demonstrating God’s sovereign ability to overrule failure for redemptive purposes. • James 2:10; 3:2 – James links stumbling with violating the law and with uncontrolled speech. “For whoever keeps the whole law, yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it” (James 2:10). The universality of the verb—“we all stumble in many ways” (James 3:2)—exposes every believer’s need for grace while underscoring the seriousness of even a single lapse. • 2 Peter 1:10 – Peter urges diligence in confirming one’s calling, promising, “If you practice these things you will never stumble.” The context lists virtues that flow from faith and culminate in love (2 Peter 1:5–7). Growth in these qualities provides surefootedness on the pilgrim path. Romans 11:11—Israel’s Temporary Stumble Paul interprets Israel’s stumble against the backdrop of Deuteronomy 32:21 and Isaiah 59:20. It is neither accidental nor outside divine providence; it is temporary and purposeful. Gentile inclusion magnifies God’s mercy and sets the stage for Israel’s eventual restoration (Romans 11:25–29). Pastors and teachers can therefore preach both the seriousness of rejecting Messiah and the hope of future mercy, holding both truths in tension without compromising either. James—Ethical Stumbling in Community James moves the verb from redemptive history to everyday conduct. Legalistic pride (“I kept the rest of the law”) and careless speech both reveal the same root problem: divided allegiance. The solution is wholehearted devotion that integrates faith and works, bridling the tongue, and submitting to heavenly wisdom (James 3:13–18). 2 Peter 1:10—The Believer’s Stability Peter counters the threat of false teaching by stressing moral progress. The call to add virtue to faith is not self-generated moralism but a response to “His divine power [that] has given us everything we need for life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). Assurance of never stumbling rests on cultivating Spirit-empowered qualities, not on passive security. Theological Significance 1. Universality of Human Weakness – All people, Jew and Gentile alike, are prone to misstep. Historical Reflection Early church fathers saw Israel’s stumble as evidence of God’s faithfulness, not rejection. Augustine cited Romans 11:11 to argue against replacement theology, stressing eventual Jewish inclusion. The Reformers emphasized James’s use to uphold the need for active obedience alongside justification by faith, while Puritan writers frequently appealed to 2 Peter 1:10 as the ground of experiential assurance. Pastoral and Practical Implications • Preaching should balance warning and hope: warn against the danger of stumbling, yet proclaim God’s willingness to uphold and restore. Ministry Application A church that takes 2 Peter 1:10 seriously will emphasize discipleship pathways that cultivate virtue. Small groups, catechesis, and accountability relationships become preventive measures against stumbling. Simultaneously, mercy ministries illustrate Romans 11:11 by extending gospel hope beyond the congregation, turning previous failures into platforms for witness. Related Concepts • Skandalon (offense, snare) Each shares overlap with Strong’s 4417 yet carries its own nuance, enriching the Bible’s multi-faceted portrayal of human frailty and divine remedy. Forms and Transliterations επταίκασιν επταισαν έπταισαν ἔπταισαν έπταισεν πταιει πταίει πταιομεν πταίομεν πταίσαι πταίσει πταιση πταίσῃ πταίσης πταισητε πταίσητέ πταρμώ eptaisan éptaisan ptaiei ptaíei ptaiomen ptaíomen ptaise ptaisē ptaísei ptaísēi ptaisete ptaisēte ptaíseté ptaísētéLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Romans 11:11 V-AIA-3PGRK: οὖν μὴ ἔπταισαν ἵνα πέσωσιν NAS: then, they did not stumble so KJV: Have they stumbled that INT: then not Did they stumble that they might fall James 2:10 V-ASA-3S James 3:2 V-PIA-1P James 3:2 V-PIA-3S 2 Peter 1:10 V-ASA-2P Strong's Greek 4417 |
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