Word Study for G4350 (προσκόπτω)

proskóptō /pros-kop'-to/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom πρός and κόπτω

Meaningto strike at, i.e. surge against (as water); specially, to stub on, i.e. trip up (literally or figuratively)

KJV usagebeat upon, dash, stumble (at).

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of proskóptō — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word proskóptō, represented by G4350, means to strike at or trip up. Its base definition is "to strike at, i.e. surge against (as water); specially, to stub on, i.e. trip up (literally or figuratively):--beat upon, dash, stumble (at)." It appears 8 times in 8 unique verses, illustrating both physical and spiritual concepts of collision and failure.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In scripture, G4350 is used in both literal and figurative ways. Literally, it describes the tempter's challenge to Jesus to dash his foot against a stone (Matthew 4:6; Luke 4:11) and the powerful force of a storm that beat upon a house Matthew 7:27. It also describes the simple act of a person who stumbleth when walking in the night without light John 11:10. Figuratively, the term is used to describe those who stumbled at the "stumblingstone" by seeking righteousness through works instead of faith Romans 9:32. It also signifies causing a fellow believer to fall, as in the warning not to do anything whereby a brother stumbleth Romans 14:21.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words expand on the theme of stumbling and offense:

G4348 próskomma (stumbling): Defined as a stub or, figuratively, an occasion of apostasy. It is used to describe the "stumblingstone" that people stumbled at Romans 9:32 and as a warning not to put a stumblingblock in a brother's way Romans 14:13.
G4624 skandalízō (to offend): This term means to entrap or trip up, often by enticing to sin. It is used alongside proskóptō in the exhortation that a brother should not be offended by another's actions Romans 14:21.
G4625 skándalon (offence, stumblingblock): Literally a trap-stick or snare, it is used figuratively as a cause of displeasure or sin. It is described as a "rock of offence" for those who stumble at the word 1 Peter 2:8.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G4350 is seen in its application to spiritual truths.

Physical Action as Metaphor: The word's literal use, such as walking in darkness John 11:10 or a storm beating on a house Matthew 7:27, provides a clear picture for its figurative spiritual meanings.
Stumbling at Christ: The concept is central to why some reject the gospel. They stumble at the word because they are disobedient 1 Peter 2:8 or because they sought righteousness through works of the law instead of faith Romans 9:32.
Responsibility to Believers: G4350 highlights the believer's duty to care for others in the faith. The warning is not to do anything that would cause a brother to stumble, be offended, or be made weak Romans 14:21.

Summary

In summary, G4350 proskóptō is a dynamic word that moves from a physical act to a profound spiritual metaphor. It illustrates everything from dashing a foot against a stone Matthew 4:6 and a storm beating on a house Matthew 7:27 to the spiritual failure of those who stumble at the word 1 Peter 2:8. It serves as a powerful reminder of the danger of disobedience and the importance of not causing a fellow believer to fall.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a verb across 8 occurrences, inflected in 4 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Present Active Indicative 3rd Singular 3×
Aorist Active Indicative 3rd Plural 2×
Aorist Active Subjunctive 2nd Singular 2×
Present Active Indicative 3rd Plural 1×

Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
2nd: Second person — the one addressed ("you").
3rd: Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Present: Action in progress or repeated — happening now or continually.
Aorist: Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Active: The subject performs the action.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.
Subjunctive: Possibility or purpose — "might", "should".

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 8 verses across 5 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Matthew, John, and Romans (2 verses each); never once in the other 22.

Matthew

Luke

John

Romans

1 Peter

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.