v. crag, rock
Gen 11:3 served them the brick instead of p, and the
Gen 28:18 Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the p
Deu 8:9 whose p are iron, and from .. you will get copper
Deu 10:1 carve out two p tables like the first ones
Jos 4:6, 21 saying: What do these p mean?
Jos 24:27 behold this p will serve us as a witness
1Sa 17:40 He chose five smooth trees from the brook, and
1Sa 17:50 David defeated the Philistine with a sling and p
1Ki 7:10 the foundation was of costly p, great p
2Ch 1:15 the king accumulated silver and gold .. as p
Job 14:19 p’s wear out with rushing water
Job 22:24 you shall have .. like gold streams of Ophir
Job 28:3 p what is in the dark and in shadow
Psa 91:12 lest your foot stumble on p
Psa 118:22 the p that the builders rejected
Pro 3:15 more precious than precious p
Pro 8:11 Wisdom is better than precious p
Pro 27:3 heavy is the p, and the sand is heavy; more the
Pro 31:10 his esteem surpasses .. precious p
Isa 8:14 then he will be .. by p to stumble, and
Isa 28:16 I have put in Zion .. a p, p tested
Isa 51:1 look to the p from which you were cut off
Isa 54:11 I will lay your p on a carbuncle, and
Isa 62:10 remove the p, raise up a banner to the peoples
Jer 51:63 you shall tie a p to him, and throw him into the midst
Eze 11:19; 36:26
Stone (Heb. and Aram. usually ‘eben; Gr. usually líthos; Heb. tsûr and sela, and Gr. pétra are also used). Stone was used as a building material in ancient times, and in countries where timber was scarce stone craftsmen were of more value than carpenters. The monuments, the temples, the altars. public buildings and private houses of the upper classes were of this material (Exo 20:25; Lev 14:40; 2Sa 18:17; 1Ki 5:17; 2Ki 22:6; 2Ch 16:6; etc.). The builders of Egypt developed the ability to raise their buildings without mortar, the friction and weight of the structures being enough to achieve cohesion. It amazes today’s engineers how the huge stones seen in the ruins of Egypt, Syria, and Judea could have been exactly shaped and transported from purses to building sites (Mar 13:1). A farmer starting to work on land that had not been cultivated before had to first clear it of stones (Isa 5:2). Stones were used to erect fences for vineyards (cf Pro 24:30, 31) and sheepfolds, mounds or pillars to commemorate notable events (Gen 28:18; 35:14; Josh 4:9; 1Sa 7: 12) and as reminders of a treaty or covenant (Gen 31:45-47). In addition, they were used for the construction of aqueducts, ponds and bridges, to cover the mouths of wells (29:2), cover or mark graves (Jos 7:26; 2Sa 18:17; Mat 27:60; Joh 11:38 ) and as landmarks along roads (cf Jer 31:21). The pagans worshiped stones (Isa 37:19; Eze 20:32; etc.). Meteorites or aerolites were especially venerated for having fallen from the sky. The most common in Palestine were limestone and sandstone. Stones were used figuratively to represent the carnal heart (Eze 11:19), the people of God (1Pe 2:5), Christ (Luk 20:17: 1 Kings 2:6-8; etc.) and symbolically for the kingdom of God (Dan 2:43-45). See Palestine (IV); precious stones
Source: Evangelical Bible Dictionary
Greek and Latin petra. Hard and solid mineral substance. the p. since biblical times it had different uses, as a construction material, 1 R 5, 31; 7, 9-12; 2 R 12, 12; 22, 6; 1 Cro 22, 5. In the fortifications, as defense, 2 Cro 16, 6; Jdt 1, 2; 1 M 5, 47; 10, 11. Stones were used commonly, in daily life, to close the wells, Gn 29, 2; to cover the entrance of a tomb, Mt 27, 60; as a head to rest on the road, Gn 28, 18. In war stones were used as projectiles, launched with a sling, Jc 20, 16; 1 S 17, 40 and 49; when war techniques advanced, stones were thrown with catapults, 1 M 6, 51.
In the religious aspect, p. plays a fundamental role. Yahweh gave Moses, on Mount Sinai, two stones on which the decalogue was inscribed, Ex 24, 12; 31, 18; 34, 1; Dt 4, 13; 5, 22. The stones served as an altar; but they should not be carved, sacrifices were made on them, Ex 20, 25; Dt 27, 5-6; 1 Sa 6, 14-15; 14, 33; they were erected as commemorative stelae in the patriarchal era, Gn 28, 22; 35, 14; Ex 35, 20; Joshua 4, 5; 1 Sa 7, 12; as a witness, Gn 31, 51-52; Joshua 24, 26-27; however, stelae were prohibited in Ex 23, 24; Lev 26, 1; Dt 7, 5; 12, 3; 16, 22; Os 10, 1; My 5, 12, because they could be an occasion for idolatry. Zipporah, Moses’ wife, circumcised her son with a flint knife, Ex 4, 25; in the same way, Joshua circumcised the Israelites with p. knives, flint, Jos 5, 2. The pagan peoples carved their idols in p., a custom that also penetrated the people of Israel despite the prohibition made in the Law, Dt 4, 28; 28, 36; 29, 16; Is 37, 19; Jer 3, 9; Ez 20, 32; Has 2, 19.
As for the precious stones, these were part of the priestly ornaments, the breastplate of judgment had four rows of three precious stones each, twelve in total, corresponding to the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, Ex 28, 17-20; 39, 10-13. The prophet Ezekiel says that, in the Garden of Eden, man’s mantle was made up of all kinds of precious stones, Ez 28, 13. In Palestine it is very rare to find precious stones, so that they were brought from other places, as it says in various places, of Ammon, 2 Samuel 12, 30; from Sheba, 1 Kings 10, 1-2; from Ophir, 1 R 10, 11; of Edom, Ez 27, 16; of Rama, Ez 27, 22. In the messianic Jerusalem of the Apocalypse the walls and its symbolic pillars will be made of precious stones, Rev 21, 18-20.
Figuratively metaphorically. It is a very used term in the Scriptures.
To signify insensitivity hardness of heart, 1 S 25, 37; Ezek 11, 19; 36, 26. p. angular, which forms the corner of a building, which is placed to join two walls at an angle, or which is the starting point of a construction, is mentioned in Ps 118 (117), 22; against Samaria, Yahweh says that he put a p. angular in Zion, that of the new Jerusalem based on law and justice, whoever has faith in her will not waver, Is 28, 16. In the NT, this same image on p. angular, p. fundamental, it applies to Christ, since it is the foundation of our faith and our salvation, Mt 21, 42; Acts 4, 11; Eph 2, 20; 1 Cor 3, 11; 1 Pet 2, 4-8. When Jesus institutes his Church, he names the apostle Peter as his head, and tells him: “You are Peter and on this p. I will build my Church† , Mt 16, 18; the Greek term Pétros, from petra, in Aramaic Kefa, p., from this New Testament episode is used as a proper name. Pilate Pontius, Roman procurator of Judea, Idumea and Samaria, from the year 26 to 36 of our era. Nothing is known about the life of this character before he became the procurator of Judea. Flavius Josephus, a Jewish historian, paints him as a tough administrator who did not understand the religious convictions of the Jews and their national pride. He was harshly criticized as cruel and ruthless in defending Roman interests. Vitellius, who was governor in Syria, watched and pressured him, because he was a friend of the Jews and the Samaritans. When the rebellion of the Galileans and the Samaritans arose, P. violently and bloodily put it down, giving Vitellius the opportunity to accuse him of maladministration. P. had to present himself in Rome to give an account of what had happened before the emperor Tiberius, who died before P’s appearance. After this, P.’s life fades into legend; according to Eusebio de Cesarea, historian of the Church, he committed suicide, being emperor Caligula.
After arresting Jesus and condemning him to death for blasphemy, the high priests with the elders, the scribes and the Sanhedrin, took him to the praetorium, before the procurator P., Mt 27, 1-2; Mark 15, 1; Lk 23, 1; Jn 18, 28; for Rome reserved the right to impose the death penalty in its provinces, and in this case the procurator was the competent authority to confirm the death sentence passed by the Sanhedrin, Jn 18, 31.
The intervention of P. in the trial of Jesus has two nuances in Mark it is said that P. asked Jesus if he was the king of the Jews, to which he replied: “Yes, you say so”; the procurator continued asking questions about the accusations of the Jews, but Jesus remained silent, leaving P surprised. At Easter it was customary to release a prisoner, the one the people asked for, and the people approached the praetorium to demand what was usually granted, without thinking of Jesus. P., then, seeing that they had handed him over out of envy, believed that it was the opportunity to propose the pardon of Jesus and get rid of a troublesome case; but the high priests spoiled his plan, for when he asked if they wanted him to release Jesus, they immediately incited the crowd to demand the release of a criminal, Barabbas. P., to please the people, released the offender and condemned Jesus, Mk 15, 2-15. According to Matthew, P. makes the mistake of making people choose between Barabbas and Jesus. He also talks about the message that his wife sent to P., so that she would not mess with that just man, since she had suffered a lot in dreams for her cause. P., who wanted to save Jesus, given that nothing was progressing, because the people asked for his crucifixion, he washed his hands, declaring himself innocent of that blood. The town, then, accepted the responsibility of the death that he requested, Mt 27, 11-26. Luke says that Pilate found no fault in Jesus to condemn him to death, and knowing that he was a Galilean, he refers him to King Herod Antipas, Tetrarch of Galilee, before whom Jesus remains silent. Returned to P., he insists that neither he nor Herod have found fault with Jesus, and that after a few lashes he would release him. The people shouted to release Barrabas. P. spoke again, thinking to save Jesus, and yet for the third time, but he intensified the shouting asking that Jesus be crucified. P. finally agreed, Lk 23, 2 25. John presents a longer episode, the same as the dialogue between the prosecutor and Jesus. P. considers Jesus free from all crime. But here comes the political pressure of the Jews, who tell him that if he releases Jesus, he is not a friend of Caesar; for everyone who makes himself a king faces Caesar. These evangelical narratives have caused controversy about the role of P. in the death of Christ, the ancient Church tended to load most of the blame on the Jews, who throw the blood of Jesus on their heads; others have judged that P. acted for petty personal interests, put before the manifest conviction of the innocence of Jesus.
Digital Bible Dictionary, Grupo C Service & Design Ltda., Colombia, 2003
Source: Digital Bible Dictionary
When they entered Canaan, the Hebrews, who had made bricks in Egypt (Exo 5:7), promptly turned to the abundant supply of stones, both from quarries and streambeds.
Long flat stones were used to cover wells (Gen 29:2-10), as doors to caves (Jos 10:18), and for cave-tombs (Mat 27:60). Stones were also used as signs (2Sa 20:8) and boundaries (Deu 19:14; Deu 27:17; Jos 15:6; 1Ki 1:9; Pro 22:28)….