"a stumbling, Rom. 9:32, 33; 1 Pet. 2:8; met. a stumbling block, an occasion of sinning, means of inducing to sin, Rom. 14:13; 1 Cor. 8:9; met. a moral stumbling, a shock to the moral or religious sense, a moral embarrassment, Rom. 14:20*"
Definition and meaning
a stumbling, Rom. 9:32, 33; 1 Pet. 2:8; met. a stumbling block, an occasion of sinning, means of inducing to sin, Rom. 14:13; 1 Cor. 8:9; met. a moral stumbling, a shock to the moral or religious sense, a moral embarrassment, Rom. 14:20*
In the original Greek the word is written: πρόσκομμα
Historical context
Paul wrote Romans from Corinth, one of the most important commercial cities in the empire. Rome had a Jewish population of around 50,000. The letter addresses real tensions between Jewish believers with centuries of Torah tradition and Gentile believers with no such background. Emperor Nero was on the throne. Within ten years he would execute both Paul and Peter.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of proskomma (G4348) across the King James Bible.
Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.
But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
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Common questions
Strong's G4348 (proskomma) is a Greek word that means: a stumbling, Rom. 9:32, 33; 1 Pet. 2:8; met. a stumbling block, an occasion of sinning, means of inducing to sin, Rom. 14:13; 1 Cor. 8:9; met. a moral stumbling, a shock to the moral or religious sens... It appears 4 times in the King James Bible.
The word proskomma (G4348) appears 4 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G4348 is proskomma, a Greek word defined as: a stumbling, Rom. 9:32, 33; 1 Pet. 2:8; met. a stumbling block, an occasion of sinning, means of inducing to sin, Rom. 14:13; 1 Cor. 8:9; met. a moral. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
proskomma is a Greek word found in the New Testament.