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).
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had under his head. He set it up as a marker and poured oil on top of it.
Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son's foreskin and threw it at Moses' feet. She said: You are indeed a bridegroom of blood to me.
Do not make idols or set up statues, stone pillars, or carved stones to worship. I am Jehovah your God!
Jehovah said to Joshua: Make sharp knives, and circumcise the men of Israel. Joshua made sharp knives, and circumcised the men of Israel at the Hill of Circumcision.
Those who quickly pursue other gods multiply their sorrows. I will not pour out their sacrificial offerings of blood or use my lips to speak their names. Jehovah is the portion of my inheritance and my cup. You determine my position in life.
Is your portion among the smooth stones of the stream? They indeed are your lot! Even to them you have poured a drink offering. You have offered a grain offering. Should this give me comfort?
It will happen in that day! I will make Jerusalem a heavy weight for all the people. All who lift it will be severely injured. All the nations of the earth will gather against her.
Any man falling on this stone will be broken. Any man having this stone fall on him will be crushed to dust.
As he left the temple one of his disciples said to him: Teacher look at these stones and the great buildings!
You are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets. Christ Jesus is the chief corner stone. In him each building fits together and grows into a holy Temple for Jehovah. (Zechariah 6:12) read more. In Christ you are assembled together as a place for God's Spirit to dwell.
He who can hear should listen to what the Spirit says to the congregations! To those who overcome in victory I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give each of them a white stone on which is written a new name that no one knows except the one who receives 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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Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had under his head. He set it up as a marker and poured oil on top of it.
Jacob took a stone and set it up as a marker. Jacob said to his relatives: Gather some stones. They took stones, put them into a pile, and ate there by the pile of stones.
Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son's foreskin and threw it at Moses' feet. She said: You are indeed a bridegroom of blood to me.
Jehovah said to Moses: Come up on the mountain and stay here for a while. I will give you the two stone tablets on which I have written the laws that my people must obey.
Fasten four rows of precious stones on it. Put red quartz, topaz, and emerald in the first row. Place turquoise, sapphire, and crystal in the second row. read more. In the third row put jacinth, agate, and amethyst. In the fourth row put beryl, onyx, and gray quartz. Mount them in gold settings.
Jehovah said to Joshua: Make sharp knives, and circumcise the men of Israel. Joshua made sharp knives, and circumcised the men of Israel at the Hill of Circumcision.
They raised over them a great heap of stones that is there to this day. So Jehovah turned from the fierceness of his anger. The name of that place was called, the Valley of Achor, to this day.
He wrote upon the stones a copy of the Law of Moses. He did this in the presence of the children of Israel.
Their border continued to Beth-hogla, and passed along by the north of Beth-arabah. The border went up to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben:
You will conquer all their beautiful fortified cities. You will cut down all their fruit trees, stop all their springs, and ruin all their fertile fields by covering them with stones.
They destroyed their cities. As they passed by a fertile field, every Israelite would throw a stone on it until finally all the fields were covered with stones. They also stopped up the springs and cut down the fruit trees. At last only the capital city of Kir Heres was left. The slingers surrounded it and attacked it.
I will give them one (united) heart, and put a new spirit within them. I will take the heart of stone (unkind attitude) out of them and give them a heart of flesh (loving disposition).
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. I will remove your stubborn hearts and give you obedient hearts.
Jesus said to them: Have you read the Scriptures, 'The stone the builders rejected has been made the chief cornerstone of the building. This was Jehovah's doing, and it is wonderful in our eyes.' (Isaiah 28:16)
The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. Jesus replied to them: I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of those works do you stone me? read more. The Jews answered him: We do not stone you for good work but for blasphemy. You are a man and you make yourself like God. (John 1:1)
You came to him, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen and precious with God. You also as living stones are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
He who can hear should listen to what the Spirit says to the congregations! To those who overcome in victory I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give each of them a white stone on which is written a new name that no one knows except the one who receives it.'
The structure of the wall was jasper: and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; read more. the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, hyacinth; the twelfth, amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls. Each individual gate was one pearl. The street of the city was pure gold, as transparent 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.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had under his head. He set it up as a marker and poured oil on top of it.
Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had under his head. He set it up as a marker and poured oil on top of it.
In his language, Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha (Witness Pile), but Jacob called it Galeed.
So Jacob set up a memorial, a stone marker, to mark the place where God had spoken with him. He poured a wine offering and olive oil on it.
His bow stayed steady! His arms remained limber because of the help of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the name of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,
Joshua set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan River, in the place where the feet of the priests who carried the Ark of the Covenant stood, and they are there to this day.
They raised over them a great heap of stones that is there to this day. So Jehovah turned from the fierceness of his anger. The name of that place was called, the Valley of Achor, to this day.
He hung the king of Ai on a tree until evening. As soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they take his carcass down from the tree and throw it at the entering gate of the city. They raised a large pile of rocks over it that is there to this day.
In the morning after the effects of the wine wore off his wife told him what had happened. Nabal had a stroke. He could not move.
Therefore this is what The Sovereign Lord Jehovah says: Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation. It is a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; whoever believes will not act hastily.
I will give them one (united) heart, and put a new spirit within them. I will take the heart of stone (unkind attitude) out of them and give them a heart of flesh (loving disposition).
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. I will remove your stubborn hearts and give you obedient hearts.
It will happen in that day! I will make Jerusalem a heavy weight for all the people. All who lift it will be severely injured. All the nations of the earth will gather against her.
You are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets. Christ Jesus is the chief corner stone. In him each building fits together and grows into a holy Temple for Jehovah. (Zechariah 6:12) read more. In Christ you are assembled together as a place for God's Spirit to dwell.
He who can hear should listen to what the Spirit says to the congregations! To those who overcome in victory I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give each of them a white stone on which is written a new name that no one knows except the one who receives it.'