πετρώδης
petrṓdēs
G4075 substantive adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Consisting of or resembling rock, rocky in nature or texture; in context, often describing soil or terrain that is characterized by the presence of rocks or composed of thin soil overlying rock, making it unsuitable for deep rooting or cultivation. By extension, describes something unyielding or unproductive due to its stony character.
Semantic Range
rocky, stony, resembling or consisting of rock, land with thin soil over rock, unyielding or shallow (in figurative extension)
Root / Etymology
Compound formed from πέτρα ('rock, large stone, bedrock') and the adjectival suffix -ώδης, producing the sense 'rock-like' or 'rocky.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
The adjective πετρώδης is not common in classical Greek, but appears in Hellenistic and Koine usage, notably in the Synoptic Gospels' Parable of the Sower (e.g., Matt 13:5, 20; Mark 4:5, 16; Luke 8:6, 13), where it describes soil with underlying rock that inhibits plant growth—emphasizing shallowness or lack of depth. The word does not carry figurative or metaphorical nuances in secular Greek, but in biblical contexts it is often used metaphorically for unyielding or shallow responses. In standard English translations, it is typically rendered as 'rocky,' 'stony,' or 'rocky ground.' The meaning is primarily environmental/descriptive, not referring to moral or ethnic qualities. In LXX and extrabiblical Koine, it similarly designates rocky terrain, especially in descriptions of land unsuitable for agriculture.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from πέτρα and εἶδος; rock-like, i.e. rocky:--stony.
Root Family
πετρώδης (petrōdēs) — rocky, stony, rock-like
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4075-01 |
πετρώδη | petrode | ADJ.S ACC N PL |
rocky places | rocky places | 3 | |
G4075-02 |
πετρῶδες | petrodes | ADJ.S ACC N SG |
rocky | rocky ground | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4075-01 |
Matthew 13:5 | πετρώδη | petrode | ADJ.S ACC N PL |
rocky places | ||
G4075-01 |
Matthew 13:20 | πετρώδη | petrode | ADJ.S ACC N PL |
rocky places | ||
G4075-02 |
Mark 4:5 | πετρῶδες | petrodes | ADJ.S ACC N SG |
rocky | rocky ground | |
G4075-01 |
Mark 4:16 | πετρώδη | petrode | ADJ.S ACC N PL |
rocky places | rocky places |