Reference: Stones
Fausets
Stones, large and long, but not high, are the characteristic of Jewish architecture (Mr 13:1). Robinson mentions one 24 ft. long by six broad, and only three high (Res. 1:233, note 284). Flint stones were used as knives for circumcising (Ex 4:25; Jos 5:2-3 margin). Stones were consecrated as memorials to God by anointing, as that at Bethel (Ge 28:18). The Phoenicians similarly called "meteoric stones" baetylia, and worshipped them. Isa 57:6, "among the smooth stones of the stream is thy portion" (i.e. thy gods, Ps 16:4-5). Gesenius translated "in the bore places of the valley," but what follows confirms KJV, "even to them hast thou poured a drink offering"; compare Le 26:1, "image of stone," margin figured stone.
The "white stone" in Re 2:17 is a glistering diamond, the Urim ("light" answering to "white") borne by the high priest within the "breast-plate" (choshen) of judgment, with the twelve tribes' names on the twelve precious stones, next the heart. None but the high priest knew the name written upon it, perhaps "Jehovah." He consulted it in some divinely appointed way. In our Christian dispensation the high-priest's peculiar treasure, consultation of God's light and truth, belongs to all believers as spiritual priests. If the reference be to Greek ideas, the white conveys the idea of acquittal, the stone that of election. In Zec 12:3 "I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone ... all that burden themselves with it shall be cut to pieces," alluding to the custom of testing youths' strength by lifting a massive stone (Mt 21:44). The Jews "fell" on Messiah "the rock of offense and were broken"; the rock shall fall on antichrist who "burdens himself with it" by his assault on the restored Jews, and "grind him to powder" (Zechariah 13; 14). Christians are "living stones" built up as a spiritual temple on Christ "the chief corner stone" (Eph 2:20-22; 1Pe 2:4-8).
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And Jacob stood up early in the morning and took the stone that he had laid under his head, and pitched it up on end, and poured oil on the top of it.
Then Zipporah took a stone and circumcised her son, and fell at his feet, and said, "A bloody husband art thou unto me."
Ye shall make you no idols, nor graven image, neither rear you up any pillar, neither ye shall set up any image of stone in your land to bow yourselves thereto: for I am the LORD your God;
That same time the LORD said unto Joshua, "Make thee knives of stone, and go to again and circumcise the children of Israel the second time." And Joshua made him knives of stone and circumcised the children of Israel in the hill of foreskins.
But they that run after another god shall have great trouble. Their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, neither make mention of their names within my lips. The LORD himself is the portion of mine inheritance, and of my cup; thou shalt maintain my lot.
Thy part shall be with the stony rocks by the river: Yea, even these shall be thy part. For there thou hast poured meat and drink offerings unto them. Should I delight in that?
At the same time will I make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all people, so that all such as lift it up, shall be torn and rent, and all the people of the earth shall be gathered together against it.
And whosoever shall fall on this stone, he shall be alto broken. But on whosoever it shall fall upon, it will grind him to powder."
And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples said unto him, "Master, see what stones, and what buildings are here?"
and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets - Jesus Christ being the head cornerstone - in whom every building coupled together, groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord, read more. in whom ye also are built together, and made a habitation for God in the spirit.
Let him that hath ears hear what the spirit sayth unto the congregations: To him that overcometh will I give to eat Manna that is hid, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth, saving he that receiveth it.'
Morish
PRECIOUS STONES were much valued in Palestine. They were used in the breastplate of the high priest, Solomon garnished the temple with them, and they also abound in the description of the New Jerusalem in the Revelation. As the most costly things on earth they are selected to typify the graces of Christ as reflected in His saints. Ex 28:17-20; 1Ch 29:2; Re 21:18-21.
MEMORIAL STONES. Large stones, or heaps of stones, were often raised to commemorate an event, or to be a witness of some compact. Ge 28:18; 31:45-46; Jos 7:26; 15:6; 1Sa 6:15; 7:12. In the exploration of Palestine many large stones have been found, which apparently had been erected as memorial stones. Heaps of stones are also found where some enemy was defeated, and if the circumstances are known to the Arabs, every passer by is expected to add a stone.
BUILDING STONES. For the foundation of the temple Solomon ordered "great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones." As Jerusalem was built on two or three hills, to obtain a level place for the temple much stonework had to be erected on the shelving rock, before any part of the temple itself could be commenced. Some of such stonework is still to be seen in situ. Some are 'great stones:' one measures 38 feet 9 inches. They are so beautifully squared that they need no cement between them; they have a narrow draft cut along the edges. There is a quarry under Jerusalem, from which much stone had anciently been taken. See JERUSALEM.
Stones were also used for other purposes. In early days they were made into weapons; circumcision was practised with sharp stones. Ex 4:25; Jos 5:2-3. The law was engraven on stones. Ex 24:12; Jos 8:32; 2Co 3:7. Stones were cast upon land to spoil it for agriculture. 2Ki 3:19,25. They were used in the punishment of stoning. Joh 10:31-33. And given as a token of approval, as the white stone in Re 2:17.
Metaphorically stones represent hardness, strength, firmness: as the 'stony heart.' Eze 11:19; 36:26. The Lord Jesus is the 'stone' which the Jewish builders refused, but He became the head stone of the corner. Mt 21:42. He is also the 'living stone,' to whom the saints come as 'living stones,' and are built up 'a spiritual house.' 1Pe 2:4-5.
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And Jacob stood up early in the morning and took the stone that he had laid under his head, and pitched it up on end, and poured oil on the top of it.
Then took Jacob a stone and set it up on end, and said unto his brethren, "Gather stones." And they took stones, and made a heap, and they ate there, upon the heap.
Then Zipporah took a stone and circumcised her son, and fell at his feet, and said, "A bloody husband art thou unto me."
And the LORD said unto Moses, "Come up to me in to the hill and be there, and I will give thee tables of stone and a law and commandments, which I have written to teach them."
And thou shalt fill it with four rows of stones. In the first row shall be a Sardius, a Topaz and Smaragdus. The second row, a Ruby, Sapphire and Diamond. read more. The third, Ligurius, an Agate and Amethyst. The fourth, a Turquoise, Onyx and Jasper. And they shall be set in gold in their enclosures.
That same time the LORD said unto Joshua, "Make thee knives of stone, and go to again and circumcise the children of Israel the second time." And Joshua made him knives of stone and circumcised the children of Israel in the hill of foreskins.
And they cast upon him a great heap of stones that remaineth unto this day. And so the LORD turned from his fierce wrath. Wherefore the name of the place is called the valley of Achor unto this day.
And he wrote there, upon the stones, the second law of Moses which he wrote in the presence of the children of Israel.
And went up to Bethhoglah and went along by the north side of Betharabah and went up to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben.
And ye shall destroy all strong towns and all goodly cities, and shall fall all pleasant trees and stop all the wells of water, and mar all good plots of ground with stones."
And they overthrew the cities, and on every good parcel of land, cast every man his stone and over-covered it, and stopped all the wells of water, and felled all the good trees. And as long as the stones thereof did remain in the walls of brick the slingers went upon it and beat it.
And I will give you one heart, and will plant a new spirit within your bowels. That stony heart will I take out of your body, and give you a fleshly heart:
And I will give you a new heart, and will put a new spirit in you. And will take away that stony heart out of your flesh, and give you a fleshly heart.
Jesus said unto them, "Did ye never read in the scriptures? 'The same stone which the builders refused, the same is set in the principal part of the corner: this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes.'
Then the Jews again took up stones, to stone him withal. Jesus answered them, "Many good works have I showed you from my father: for which of them will ye stone me?" read more. The Jews answered him saying, "For thy good works' sake we stone thee not: but for thy blasphemy, and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God."
to whom ye come as unto a living stone, disallowed of men, but chosen of God and precious: and ye, as living stones, are made a spiritual house, and a holy priesthood, for to offer up spiritual sacrifice, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
Let him that hath ears hear what the spirit sayth unto the congregations: To him that overcometh will I give to eat Manna that is hid, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth, saving he that receiveth it.'
And the building of the wall of it was of jasper. And the city was pure gold like unto clear glass and the foundations of the wall of the city was garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third a chalcedony, the fourth an emerald: read more. the fifth sardonyx: the sixth sardius: the seventh chrysolite: the eighth beryl: the ninth a topaz: the tenth a chrysoprasus: the eleventh a jacinth: the twelfth an amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls, every gate was of one pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, as through shining glass.
Smith
Stones.
Besides the ordinary uses to which stones were applied, we may mention that large stones were set up to commemorate any remarkable event.
Ge 28:18; 35:14; 31:45; Jos 4:9; 1Sa 7:12
Such stones were occasionally consecrated By anointing.
Heaps of stones were piled up on various occasions, as in token of a treaty,
or over the grave of some notorious offender.
The "white stone" noticed in
has been variously regarded as referring to the pebble of acquittal used in the Greek courts; to the lot cast in elections in Greece to both these combined; to the stones in the high priest's breastplate; to the tickets presented to the victor at the public games; or, lastly, to the custom of writing on stones. The notice in
of the "burdensome stone" is referred by Jerome to the custom of lifting stones as an exercise of strength, comp. Ecclus. 6:21; but it may equally well be explained of a large corner-stone as a symbol of strength.
Stones are used metaphorically to denote hardness or insensibility,
as well as firmness or strength.
The members of the Church are called "living stones," as contributing to rear that living temple in which Christ, himself "a living stone," is the chief or head of the corner.
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And Jacob stood up early in the morning and took the stone that he had laid under his head, and pitched it up on end, and poured oil on the top of it.
And Jacob stood up early in the morning and took the stone that he had laid under his head, and pitched it up on end, and poured oil on the top of it.
And Jacob set up a mark in the place where he talked with him; even a pillar of stone, and poured drink offering thereon and poured also oil thereon,
and yet his bow bode fast, and his arms and his hands were strong, by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob: out of him shall come a herdsman, a stone in Israel.
And thereto Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood. And there they be, even unto this day.
And they cast upon him a great heap of stones that remaineth unto this day. And so the LORD turned from his fierce wrath. Wherefore the name of the place is called the valley of Achor unto this day.
And the king of Ai he hanged on tree, until evening. And as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded and they took the carcass down off the tree, and cast it in the entering of the gate of the city, and cast thereon a great heap of stones, that remaineth unto this day.
But in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, his wife told him these words, and his heart died within him, and he became as a stone,
Therefore thus sayeth the LORD God: "Behold, I will lay a stone in Zion, a great stone, a costly corner stone, for a sure foundation: that whoso putteth his trust in him, shall not be confounded.
And I will give you one heart, and will plant a new spirit within your bowels. That stony heart will I take out of your body, and give you a fleshly heart:
And I will give you a new heart, and will put a new spirit in you. And will take away that stony heart out of your flesh, and give you a fleshly heart.
At the same time will I make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all people, so that all such as lift it up, shall be torn and rent, and all the people of the earth shall be gathered together against it.
and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets - Jesus Christ being the head cornerstone - in whom every building coupled together, groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord, read more. in whom ye also are built together, and made a habitation for God in the spirit.
Let him that hath ears hear what the spirit sayth unto the congregations: To him that overcometh will I give to eat Manna that is hid, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth, saving he that receiveth it.'