λίθος (G3037) — Greek Lexicon

λίθος

líthos

G3037 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A generally hard, naturally occurring solid mineral material; stone, rock. In specific contexts, refers to a worked stone, a building block, a milestone, a precious stone, or an object made from stone. Figuratively, used of a person or concept that represents strength, stability, or obstruction (e.g., stumbling block). In funerary contexts, denotes a stone used to close a tomb. May also designate an object of small size such as a pebble but most commonly refers to a stone of practical use or symbolic significance.

Semantic Range

stone, rock, building block, millstone, tombstone, stumbling block (figurative), precious stone, marker stone, small stone/pebble

Root / Etymology

Primary Greek word; not derived from another Greek term. No clear Indo-European antecedents; etymology uncertain.

Historical & Contextual Notes

λίθος is attested in classical Greek with the meaning 'stone' for natural and worked materials, from pebbles to large rocks, including building stones, millstones, and boundary markers. In the Septuagint, λίθος frequently translates Hebrew אֶבֶן (ʾeven, stone), maintaining the primary sense and often used in religious, legal, or everyday contexts. In the New Testament, λίθος appears literally (e.g., stones for building, millstones, tomb closure stones) and figuratively (e.g., 'stumbling stone' as a metaphor for that which causes offence or spiritual failure; as a symbol of foundational significance). English 'stone' generally conveys the literal meaning, but figurative uses—such as obstacles, cornerstones, or objects of testing/choice—are common and sometimes under-translated in English Bibles. λίθος also distinguishes from πέτρα (mass of rock or rocky ground), with λίθος typically meaning a discrete stone or stone object rather than an expanse of rock.

Translation Consistency

primary "stone" 59 occurrences

Stone is the most natural, common English equivalent for λίθος across its primary senses (rock, building/block, tombstone, marker, pebble, precious stone). It matches the majority of occurrences, handles plural/inflected forms naturally, and fits both literal and common figurative uses (e.g., a stumbling stone or memorial stone).

Alternatives (1 occurrence):

"linen" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

apparently a primary word; a stone (literally or figuratively):--(mill-, stumbling-)stone.

Root Family

λίθος (lithos) — stone, rock, building material

Root λίθ- stone, rock (as an object), building material

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G3037-04`	λίθων	lithon	`N GEN M PL`	stone	of stones	stone	29
`G3037-01`	λίθῳ	litho	`N DAT M SG`	stone	to a stone	to a stone	10
`G3037-05`	λίθος	lithos	`N NOM M SG`	stone	stone	stone	9
`G3037-02`	λίθοι	lithoi	`N NOM M PL`	stones	stones	stones	4
`G3037-03`	λίθοις	lithois	`N DAT M PL`	stones	to stones	with stones	3
`G3037-07`	λίθους	lithous	`N ACC M PL`	stones	stones	stones	3
`G3037-06`	λίθου	lithou	`N GEN M SG`	a stone's	of a stone	of a precious stone	2

Occurrences in Scripture

60 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G3037-04`	Matthew 3:9	λίθων	lithon	`N GEN M PL`	stones	of stones	stones
`G3037-02`	Matthew 4:3	λίθοι	lithoi	`N NOM M PL`	stones	stones	stones
`G3037-04`	Matthew 4:6	λίθον	lithon	`N ACC M SG`	a stone	of stones	a stone
`G3037-04`	Matthew 7:9	λίθον	lithon	`N ACC M SG`	a stone	of stones	stone
`G3037-04`	Matthew 21:42	λίθον	lithon	`N ACC M SG`	stone	of stones	stone
`G3037-04`	Matthew 21:44	λίθον	lithon	`N ACC M SG`	stone	of stones	stone
`G3037-05`	Matthew 24:2	λίθος	lithos	`N NOM M SG`	stone	stone	stone
`G3037-04`	Matthew 24:2	λίθον	lithon	`N ACC M SG`	another	of stones	of stones
`G3037-04`	Matthew 27:60	λίθον	lithon	`N ACC M SG`	stone	of stones	stone
`G3037-04`	Matthew 27:66	λίθον	lithon	`N ACC M SG`	stone	of stones	stone
`G3037-04`	Matthew 28:2	λίθον	lithon	`N ACC M SG`	stone	of stones	stone
`G3037-03`	Mark 5:5	λίθοις	lithois	`N DAT M PL`	with-stones	to stones	with stones
`G3037-04`	Mark 12:10	λίθον	lithon	`N ACC M SG`	stone	of stones	stone
`G3037-02`	Mark 13:1	λίθοι	lithoi	`N NOM M PL`	stones	stones	stones
`G3037-05`	Mark 13:2	λίθος	lithos	`N NOM M SG`	stone	stone	stone
`G3037-04`	Mark 13:2	λίθον	lithon	`N ACC M SG`	stone	of stones	stone
`G3037-04`	Mark 15:46	λίθον	lithon	`N ACC M SG`	a stone	of stones	a stone
`G3037-04`	Mark 16:3	λίθον	lithon	`N ACC M SG`	stone	of stones	stone
`G3037-05`	Mark 16:4	λίθος	lithos	`N NOM M SG`	stone	stone	stone
`G3037-04`	Luke 3:8	λίθων	lithon	`N GEN M PL`	stones	of stones	stones
`G3037-01`	Luke 4:3	λίθῳ	litho	`N DAT M SG`	stone	to a stone	to a stone
`G3037-04`	Luke 4:11	λίθον	lithon	`N ACC M SG`	a stone	of stones	a stone
`G3037-05`	Luke 17:2	λίθος	lithos	`N NOM M SG`	stone	stone	stone
`G3037-02`	Luke 19:40	λίθοι	lithoi	`N NOM M PL`	stones	stones	stones
`G3037-04`	Luke 19:44	λίθον	lithon	`N ACC M SG`	stone	of stones	stone
`G3037-04`	Luke 19:44	λίθον	lithon-2	`N ACC M SG`	stone	of stones	stone
`G3037-04`	Luke 20:17	λίθον	lithon	`N ACC M SG`	stone	of stones	stone
`G3037-04`	Luke 20:18	λίθον	lithon	`N ACC M SG`	stone	of stones	stone
`G3037-03`	Luke 21:5	λίθοις	lithois	`N DAT M PL`	stones	to stones	with stones
`G3037-05`	Luke 21:6	λίθος	lithos	`N NOM M SG`	stone	stone	stone
`G3037-01`	Luke 21:6	λίθῳ	litho	`N DAT M SG`	stone	to a stone	to a stone
`G3037-06`	Luke 22:41	λίθου	lithou	`N GEN M SG`	a stone's	of a stone	of a stone
`G3037-04`	Luke 24:2	λίθον	lithon	`N ACC M SG`	stone	of stones	stone
`G3037-04`	John 8:7	λίθον	lithon	`N ACC M SG`	a stone	of stones	a stone
`G3037-07`	John 8:59	λίθους	lithous	`N ACC M PL`	stones	stones	stones
`G3037-07`	John 10:31	λίθους	lithous	`N ACC M PL`	stones	stones	stones
`G3037-05`	John 11:38	λίθος	lithos	`N NOM M SG`	stone	stone	stone
`G3037-04`	John 11:39	λίθον	lithon	`N ACC M SG`	stone	of stones	stone
`G3037-04`	John 11:41	λίθον	lithon	`N ACC M SG`	stone	of stones	stone
`G3037-04`	John 20:1	λίθον	lithon	`N ACC M SG`	stone	of stones	stone
`G3037-05`	Acts 4:11	λίθος	lithos	`N NOM M SG`	stone	stone	stone
`G3037-01`	Acts 17:29	λίθῳ	litho	`N DAT M SG`	stone	to a stone	to a stone
`G3037-01`	Romans 9:32	λίθῳ	litho	`N DAT M SG`	stone	to a stone	to a stone
`G3037-04`	Romans 9:33	λίθον	lithon	`N ACC M SG`	a stone	of stones	a stone
`G3037-07`	1 Corinthians 3:12	λίθους	lithous	`N ACC M PL`	stones	stones	stones
`G3037-03`	2 Corinthians 3:7	λίθοις	lithois	`N DAT M PL`	stones	to stones	on stones
`G3037-04`	1 Peter 2:4	λίθον	lithon	`N ACC M SG`	stone	of stones	a stone
`G3037-02`	1 Peter 2:5	λίθοι	lithoi	`N NOM M PL`	stones	stones	stones
`G3037-04`	1 Peter 2:6	λίθον	lithon	`N ACC M SG`	a stone	of stones	a stone
`G3037-05`	1 Peter 2:7	λίθος	lithos	`N NOM M SG`	stone	stone	stone
`G3037-05`	1 Peter 2:8	λίθος	lithos	`N NOM M SG`	stone	stone	stone
`G3037-01`	Revelation 4:3	λίθῳ	litho	`N DAT M SG`	stone	to a stone	to a stone
`G3037-04`	Revelation 15:6	λίθον	lithon	`N ACC M SG`	linen	of stones	linen
`G3037-01`	Revelation 17:4	λίθῳ	litho	`N DAT M SG`	stones	to a stone	with a stone
`G3037-06`	Revelation 18:12	λίθου	lithou	`N GEN M SG`	of stone	of a stone	of a precious stone
`G3037-01`	Revelation 18:16	λίθῳ	litho	`N DAT M SG`	precious stones	to a stone	to a stone
`G3037-04`	Revelation 18:21	λίθον	lithon	`N ACC M SG`	stone	of stones	a stone
`G3037-01`	Revelation 21:11	λίθῳ	litho	`N DAT M SG`	to a stone	to a stone	to a stone
`G3037-01`	Revelation 21:11	λίθῳ	litho-2	`N DAT M SG`	to a stone	to a stone	to a stone
`G3037-01`	Revelation 21:19	λίθῳ	litho	`N DAT M SG`	stone	to a stone	precious stone

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