Bible Dictionaries
Stone

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

is used (I) literally, of (a) the "stones" of the ground, e.g., Matthew 4:3,6; 7:9; (b) "tombstones," e.g., Matthew 27:60,66; (c) "building stones," e.g., Matthew 21:42; (d) "a millstone," Luke 17:2; cp. Revelation 18:21 (see MILLSTONE); (e) the "tables (or tablets)" of the Law, 2 Corinthians 3:7; (f) "idol images," Acts 17:29; (g) the "treasures" of commercial Babylon, Revelation 18:12,16; (II) metaphorically, of (a) Christ, Romans 9:33; 1 Peter 2:4,6,8; (b) believers, 1 Peter 2:5; (c) spiritual edification by scriptural teaching, 1 Corinthians 3:12; (d) the adornment of the foundations of the wall of the spiritual and heavenly Jerusalem, Revelation 21:19; (e) the adornment of the seven angels in Revelation 15:6 , RV (so the best texts; some have linon, "linen," AV); (f) the adornment of religious Babylon, Revelation 17:4; (III) figuratively, of Christ, Revelation 4:3; 21:11 , where "light" stands for "Light-giver" (phoster).

"a smooth stone, a pebble," worn smooth as by water, or polished (akin to psao, "to rub"), denotes (a) by metonymy, a vote (from the use of "pebbles" for this purpose; cp. psephizo, "to count"), Acts 26:10 , RV (AV, "voice"); (b) a (white) "stone" to be given to the overcomer in the church at Pergamum, Revelation 2:17 (twice); a white "stone" was often used in the social life and judicial customs of the ancients; festal days were noted by a white "stone," days of calamity by a black; in the courts a white "stone" indicated acquittal, a black condemnation. A host's appreciation of a special guest was indicated by a white "stone" with the name or a message written on it; this is probably the allusion here.

Note: In John 1:42 petros stands for the proper name, Peter, as the RV (AV, "a stone;" marg., "Peter"); petros denotes "a piece of a rock, a detached stone or boulder," in contrast to petra, "a mass of rock." See ROCK.

"to pelt with stones" (A, No. 1, and ballo, "to throw"), "to stone to death," occurs in Matthew 21:35; 23:37; Luke 13:34 ( John 8:5 in some mss.: see No. 2); Acts 7:58,59; 14:5; Hebrews 12:20 .

"to stone," virtually equivalent to No. 1, but not stressing the casting, occurs in John 8:5 (in the most authentic mss.); 10:31-33; 11:8; Acts 5:26; 14:19; 2 Corinthians 11:25; Hebrews 11:37 .

an intensive form of No. 2, "to cast stones at," occurs in Luke 20:6 .

"of stone" (akin to A, No. 1), occurs in John 2:6; 2 Corinthians 3:3; Revelation 9:20 .