Rock

Some very random and preliminary associations about the word "rock" in the Bible.

I think we should remember the OT associations when thinking about Peter, the Rock.

Jesus transformed the old Kingdom of Israel from a geo-political reality into a set of spiritual relationships. He builds on an entirely new kind of rock — first Peter, then the apostles, then "living stones."

Old Testament

"Rock" = sela

crag, cliff, rock, mountain

hiding places

foundation of fortresses

water from the rock

honey from the rock

Bees apparently do nest in the rock faces of cliffs in the Holy Land.

where birds nest

mountains, high places

foundation of the Temple

stone rejected by the builders

NAB, Psalm 118:22, footnote: "The stone the builders rejected: a proverb: what is insignificant to human beings has become great through divine election. The 'stone' may originally have meant the foundation stone or capstone of the Temple. The New Testament interpreted the verse as referring to the death and resurrection of Christ (Mt 21:42; Acts 4:11; cf. Is 28:16 and Rom 9:33; 1 Pt 2:7)."

New Testament

"You are Rock."

Cephas — Aramaic

Petros — Greek translation of "Cephas."

Peter — English transliteration of "Petros." We have kept the sound of the word, but not its meaning, and so the pun is lost on us. If we had imitated the action of Matthew, we would call Simon "Rock." Instead, we have kept the letters and given up the meaning.

Jesus is the stone rejected by the builders

Mt 21:42; Acts 4:11; cf. Is 28:16 and Rom 9:33; [http://usccb.org/bible/scripture.cfm?bcv=68002007 1 Pt 2:7."

In these passages, the Hebrew word is eben rather than

apostles as foundation of the New Jerusalem

"living stones"