Topical Bible: Rocks

Jump to: Concordance • Thesaurus • Greek • Hebrew • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

In the Bible, rocks hold significant symbolic and literal importance, appearing frequently throughout the Old and New Testaments. They are often used to represent strength, stability, and refuge, as well as serving as physical landmarks and tools in biblical narratives.

Symbolism and Metaphor

1. Strength and Stability: Rocks are frequently used as metaphors for strength and permanence. In the Psalms, God is often referred to as a rock, symbolizing His unchanging nature and reliability. For example, Psalm 18:2 states, "The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer. My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."

2. Foundation: In the New Testament, Jesus uses the metaphor of a rock to describe the foundation of a wise person's life. In Matthew 7:24-25 , He says, "Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because its foundation was on the rock."

3. Christ as the Rock: The Apostle Paul identifies Christ as the spiritual rock that provided for the Israelites in the wilderness. In 1 Corinthians 10:4 , he writes, "And all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ."

Literal Uses

1. Altars and Memorials: Rocks were often used to build altars and memorials. Jacob set up a stone pillar at Bethel to commemorate his vision of God (Genesis 28:18). Similarly, Joshua erected twelve stones from the Jordan River as a memorial to the Israelites' crossing (Joshua 4:20-24).

2. Shelter and Refuge: In the harsh landscapes of the biblical world, rocks and caves provided shelter and refuge. David frequently sought refuge in rocky strongholds while fleeing from Saul, as noted in 1 Samuel 23:25.

3. Judgment and Punishment: Rocks were also used in the context of judgment. Stoning was a method of capital punishment prescribed in the Law of Moses for certain offenses (Leviticus 20:2). The act of stoning involved the use of rocks to execute judgment upon the guilty.

Prophetic Imagery

1. Messianic Prophecies: Rocks appear in prophetic imagery concerning the Messiah. Isaiah 28:16 prophesies, "So this is what the Lord GOD says: 'See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will never be shaken.'" This cornerstone is understood by Christians to refer to Jesus Christ.

2. End Times: In apocalyptic literature, rocks are depicted as part of God's judgment. Revelation 6:15-16 describes people hiding in caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of the One seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb."

Cultural and Historical Context

In the ancient Near East, rocks were abundant and served various practical purposes, from building materials to tools. Their presence in the biblical text reflects both their everyday utility and their deeper spiritual significance. The imagery of rocks would have resonated with the original audience, who understood their symbolic meanings and practical applications in their daily lives.

Greek

2303. theion -- brimstone
... 2303 -- properly, sulfur ("brimstone," ie smoky, burning rocks), ie , named for
the sulphur-smell left by ; (figuratively) the, bringing down to display His ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2303.htm - 6k

858. aphelotes -- simplicity
... 858 (derived from 1 "not" and , "stony ground") -- properly, without rocks (the
opposite of , "rocky land"), ie (a level plain); (figuratively) what is ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/858.htm - 7k

4073. petra -- a (large mass of) rock
... Zodhiates, ). Word Origin a prim. word Definition a (large mass of) rock
NASB Word Usage rock (10), rocks (3), rocky (2). rock. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4073.htm - 7k

1225. diaballo -- to bring charges (usually with hostile intent)
... 1225 -- properly, "to throw across (back and forth), "either with rocks or words
(with slander, gossip, used only in Lk 16:1). The word implies malice even if ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1225.htm - 7k

5138. trachus -- rough
... rough, rugged, uneven. Word Origin a prim. word Definition rough NASB Word
Usage rocks (1), rough (1). rough. Perhaps strengthened ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5138.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

3710. keph -- a rock
... 3709, 3710. keph. 3711 . a rock. Transliteration: keph Phonetic Spelling:
(kafe) Short Definition: rocks. Word Origin perhaps of ...
/hebrew/3710.htm - 5k

5553. sela -- a crag, cliff
... from an unused word Definition a crag, cliff NASB Word Usage cliff (4), cliffs
(4), crag (2), crags (3), mountain* (1), Rock (1), rock (39), rocks (4), rocky ( ...
/hebrew/5553.htm - 6k

2288. chagavim -- places of concealment, retreats
... 3). cleft. From an unused root meaning to take refuge; a rift in rocks --
cleft. 2287, 2288. chagavim. 2289 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/2288.htm - 6k

5585. saiph -- a cleft, branch
... outmost branch, clift, top. From ca'aph; a fissure (of rocks); also a bough (as
subdivided) -- (outmost) branch, clift, top. see HEBREW ca'aph. 5584, 5585. ...
/hebrew/5585.htm - 6k

68. eben -- a stone
... 1), death (1), differing weights (3), hailstones* (4), jeweler* (1), lapis lazuli*
(1), line* (1), plumb line (1), plumb* (1), rock (2), rocks (1), slingstones ...
/hebrew/68.htm - 6k

2521. Chelqath Hatstsurim -- a place near the pool of Gibeon
... From Chelqath and the plural of tsuwr, with the article inserted; smoothness of
the rocks; Chelkath Hats-tsurim, a place in Palestine -- Helkath-hazzurim. ...
/hebrew/2521.htm - 6k

6697. tsur -- rock, cliff
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition rock, cliff NASB Word Usage Rock
(10), rock (54), rocks (7), rocky (1), stones (1), strength (1). ...
/hebrew/6697.htm - 6k

Library

Heresy Compared to -1 the Stormy Ocean, -2 the Rocks of the Sirens ...
... Book VII. Chapter I."Heresy Compared to (1) the Stormy Ocean, (2) the
Rocks of the Sirens; Moral from Ulysses and the Sirens. ...
/.../hippolytus/the refutation of all heresies/chapter i heresy compared to -1.htm

The Sixth Seal.
... and the nobles, and the rich, and the commanders, and the strong men, and every
bond-man, and every freeman, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the sixth seal.htm

Of the Predicted Rejection of Idols.
... And now enter ye into the rocks, and hide yourselves in the earth from before the
fear of the Lord, and from the majesty of His power, when He arises to crush ...
/.../the harmony of the gospels/chapter xxviii of the predicted rejection.htm

How Joppa was Taken, and Tiberias Delivered Up.
... But the north wind opposes and beats upon the shore, and dashes mighty waves against
the rocks which receive them, and renders the haven more dangerous than ...
/.../chapter 9 how joppa was.htm

Patmos
... concerning every nation on the earth. Among the cliffs and rocks of Patmos,
John held communion with his Maker. He reviewed his past life ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 56 patmos.htm

The Fortress of the Faithful
... 'He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks; bread
shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.'"Isaiah 33:16. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the fortress of the faithful.htm

The City of the "Elegant Gate"[*]
... "This part of Amoy island is rugged and mountainous, and interspersed with
large granite rocks. Some of them are of immense size. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/fagg/forty years in south china/iii the city of the.htm

The Pilgrim's Progress of 1352
... The "book of the nine rocks," written by Rulman Merswin, dark, superstitious, and
ignorant, as in many respects he was, may well be called the Pilgrim's ...
/.../bevan/three friends of god/chapter xlvii the pilgrims progress.htm

The Treasure Cave
... After a time the fat servitor, rousing out of his swoon, came forth from here, and
another, who had been lurking in the rocks, joined him, and the pair, in ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xx the treasure cave.htm

The Earthquake (Preached October 11, 1863. )
... man and his works, must literally turn the earth upside down; that the ground must
open, swallowing up houses, vomiting fire and water; that rocks must be cast ...
/.../the water of life and other sermons/sermon xv the earthquake preached.htm

Thesaurus

Rocks (48 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Rocks (48 Occurrences). ... The earth quaked and the rocks
were split. (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/r/rocks.htm - 21k

Geology
... geology. (b) Of its history as regards rocks, minerals, rivers, valleys,
mountains, climates, life, etc.; historical geology. (c ...
/g/geology.htm - 16k

Crags (10 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 24:2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went
to seek David and his men on the rocks of the wild goats. (See NIV). ...
/c/crags.htm - 9k

Clefts (10 Occurrences)
... strongholds. (See NIV). Job 30:6 So that they dwell in frightful valleys,
In holes of the earth and of the rocks. (See JPS WBS YLT). ...
/c/clefts.htm - 9k

Cliffs (10 Occurrences)
... and in pits. (DBY NAS). Job 30:6 To dwell in the cliffs of the valleys,
in caves of the earth, and in the rocks. (KJV). Psalms 104 ...
/c/cliffs.htm - 9k

Holes (36 Occurrences)
... and the rulers, and the chief captains, and the men of wealth, and the strong, and
every servant and free man, took cover in the holes and the rocks of the ...
/h/holes.htm - 17k

Trachonitis (1 Occurrence)
... It was well known to the ancients; but there was nothing to attract even a sparse
population to its dark and forbidding rocks, burning under the suns of the ...
/t/trachonitis.htm - 13k

Crevices (3 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 2:21 to go into the caverns of the rocks, and into the clefts of the ragged
rocks, from before the terror of Jehovah, and from the glory of his majesty ...
/c/crevices.htm - 7k

Caves (17 Occurrences)
... of the earth, the princes, the commanding officers, the rich, the strong, and every
slave and free person, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the ...
/c/caves.htm - 11k

Cracks (9 Occurrences)
... men of Israel saw the danger they were in, (for the people were troubled,) they
took cover in cracks in the hillsides and in the woods and in rocks and holes ...
/c/cracks.htm - 9k

Resources

What does it mean that “the rocks will cry out” in Luke 19:40? | GotQuestions.org

What does Psalm 137:9 mean when it says, “Happy is the one who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks”? | GotQuestions.org

How does the geologic timescale fit with the view of a young earth? | GotQuestions.org

Rocks: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Rocks (48 Occurrences)

Matthew 27:51
Behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Acts 27:29
Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.
(KJV WEY BBE WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Hebrews 11:38
Wandering in waste places and in mountains and in holes in the rocks; for whom the world was not good enough.
(BBE)

Jude 1:12
These men--sunken rocks! --are those who share the pleasure of your love-feasts, unrestrained by fear while caring only for themselves; clouds without water, driven away by the winds; trees that cast their fruit, barren, doubly dead, uprooted;
(WEY ASV BBE YLT)

Revelation 6:15
The kings of the earth, the princes, the commanding officers, the rich, the strong, and every slave and free person, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Revelation 6:16
They told the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb,
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 23:9
For from the top of the rocks I see him. From the hills I see him. Behold, it is a people that dwells alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS)

Deuteronomy 8:9
a land in which you shall eat bread without scarceness, you shall not lack anything in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you may dig copper.
(See NIV)

Joshua 7:26
They raised over him a great heap of stones that remains to this day. Yahweh turned from the fierceness of his anger. Therefore the name of that place was called "The valley of Achor" to this day.
(See NIV)

Joshua 8:29
He hanged the king of Ai on a tree until the evening, and at the sundown Joshua commanded, and they took his body down from the tree, and threw it at the entrance of the gate of the city, and raised a great heap of stones on it that remains to this day.
(See NIV)

Joshua 10:18
Joshua said, "Roll large stones to the mouth of the cave, and set men by it to guard them;
(See NIV)

Joshua 10:27
It happened at the time of the going down of the sun, that Joshua commanded, and they took them down off the trees, and cast them into the cave in which they had hidden themselves, and laid great stones on the mouth of the cave, which remain to this very day.
(See NIV)

Judges 6:2
And Midian was stronger than Israel; and because of the Midianites, the children of Israel made holes for themselves in the mountains, and hollows in the rocks, and strong places.
(BBE)

1 Samuel 13:6
When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait (for the people were distressed), then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in coverts, and in pits.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS YLT RSV NIV)

1 Samuel 24:2
Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men on the rocks of the wild goats.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

1 Samuel 24:10
Look! you have seen today how the Lord gave you up into my hands even now in the hollow of the rocks: and some would have had me put you to death, but I had pity on you: for I said, Never will my hand be lifted up against my lord, who has been marked with the holy oil.
(BBE)

2 Samuel 18:17
They took Absalom, and cast him into the great pit in the forest, and raised over him a very great heap of stones. Then all Israel fled everyone to his tent.
(See NIV)

1 Kings 19:11
He said, "Go out, and stand on the mountain before Yahweh." Behold, Yahweh passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before Yahweh; but Yahweh was not in the wind. After the wind an earthquake; but Yahweh was not in the earthquake.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Job 8:17
His roots are wrapped around the rock pile. He sees the place of stones.
(See RSV NIV)

Job 18:4
Thou that tearest thyself in thine anger, shall the earth be forsaken for thee? Or shall the rock be removed out of its place?
(See NIV)

Job 22:24
And put your gold in the dust, even your gold of Ophir among the rocks of the valleys;
(BBE NIV)

Job 24:8
They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter.
(See NIV)

Job 28:6
Sapphires come from its rocks. It has dust of gold.
(WEB NAS NIV)

Job 28:10
He cuts out channels among the rocks. His eye sees every precious thing.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Job 30:6
So that they dwell in frightful valleys, and in holes of the earth and of the rocks.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 78:15
He split rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink abundantly as out of the depths.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 104:18
The high mountains are for the wild goats. The rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS YLT RSV)

Psalms 137:9
Happy is the man who takes your little ones, crushing them against the rocks.
(BBE NIV)

Psalms 141:6
When their judges are thrown down from the rocks, they shall hear my words, for they are sweet.
(DBY)

Proverbs 30:26
The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks.
(WEB KJV ASV BBE WBS NAS RSV)

Isaiah 2:19
Men shall go into the caves of the rocks, and into the holes of the earth, from before the terror of Yahweh, and from the glory of his majesty, when he arises to shake the earth mightily.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 2:21
To go into the caverns of the rocks, and into the clefts of the ragged rocks, from before the terror of Yahweh, and from the glory of his majesty, when he arises to shake the earth mightily.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 7:19
They shall come, and shall all rest in the desolate valleys, in the clefts of the rocks, on all thorn hedges, and on all pastures.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT RSV NIV)

Isaiah 33:16
he will dwell on high. His place of defense will be the fortress of rocks. His bread will be supplied. His waters will be sure.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS RSV)

Isaiah 57:5
you who inflame yourselves among the oaks, under every green tree; who kill the children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks?
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Jeremiah 4:29
Every city flees for the noise of the horsemen and archers; they go into the thickets, and climb up on the rocks: every city is forsaken, and not a man dwells therein.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 13:4
Take the girdle that thou hast got, that 'is' on thy loins, and rise, go to Phrat, and hide it there in a hole of the rock;
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 16:16
Behold, I will send for many fishermen, says Yahweh, and they shall fish them up; and afterward I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the clefts of the rocks.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 48:28
Leave the cities, and dwell in the rocks, ye inhabitants of Moab, and be like the dove, that maketh her nest in the sides of the cave's mouth.
(DBY NIV)

Jeremiah 49:16
Thy terribleness hath lifted thee up, The pride of thy heart, O dweller in clefts of the rock, Holding the high place of the height, For thou makest high as an eagle thy nest, From thence I bring thee down, An affirmation of Jehovah.
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 51:25
Behold, I am against you, destroying mountain, says Yahweh, which destroys all the earth; and I will stretch out my hand on you, and roll you down from the rocks, and will make you a burnt mountain.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT)

Ezekiel 33:27
This is what you are to say to them: The Lord has said, By my life, truly, those who are in the waste places will be put to the sword, and him who is in the open field I will give to the beasts for their food, and those who are in the strong places and in holes in the rocks will come to their death by disease.
(BBE)

Hosea 10:14
So a great outcry will go up from among your people, and all your strong places will be broken, as Beth-arbel was broken by Shalman in the day of war, as the mother was broken on the rocks with her children.
(BBE)

Hosea 13:16
Samaria will be made waste, for she has gone against her God: they will be cut down by the sword, their little children will be broken on the rocks, their women who are with child will be cut open.
(BBE)

Amos 6:12
Shall horses run upon the rock? will one plow there with oxen? that ye have turned justice into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood;
(See JPS NAS RSV)

Obadiah 1:3
The pride of thy heart hath lifted thee up, O dweller in clifts of a rock, (A high place 'is' his habitation, He is saying in his heart, 'Who doth bring me down 'to' earth?')
(See NIV)

Micah 6:2
Hear, O ye mountains, Jehovah's controversy, and ye enduring foundations of the earth; for Jehovah hath a controversy with his people, and he will contend with Israel.
(See JPS)

Nahum 1:6
Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the fierceness of his anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken apart by him.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Rocks

Rocks used as Altars

Rocks used as Places for Idolatrous Worship

Rocks used as Places for Shelter by the Poor in Their Distress

Rocks used as Places of Observation

Rocks used as Places of Safety in Danger

Rocks were a Defence to a Country

Rocks: A Place of Safety

Rocks: Adullam

Rocks: Barren

Rocks: Bees often Made Their Honey Amongst