or מִכְשֹׁל; masculine from כָּשַׁל; a stumbling-block, literally or figuratively (obstacle, enticement (specifically an idol), scruple); caused to fall, offence, [idiom] (no-) thing offered, ruin, stumbling-block.
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew noun מִכְשׁוֹל (mikshôwl), transliterated as mikshôwl (or mikshōl), is a masculine noun derived from the verb כָּשַׁל (kāshal) `{{H3782}}`, which means "to stumble, totter, falter, or fall." Consequently, mikshôwl fundamentally denotes "a stumbling-block" or "an obstacle." Its semantic range extends beyond the literal physical impediment to encompass figurative meanings with significant moral and spiritual implications. It can refer to:
* A literal object that causes one to trip or fall (e.g., a stone).
* A cause of ruin or downfall.
* An enticement or snare, particularly one that leads to sin or moral failure.
* Specifically, an idol, as something that causes people to stumble into idolatry and its associated sins.
* An occasion for offense or a moral trap.
* In some contexts, it can imply a "scruple" or a cause for hesitation due to moral considerations, though this is less prominent.
The overarching concept conveyed by mikshôwl is anything that hinders progress, causes a fall, or leads one astray from a righteous path, whether physically, morally, or spiritually.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term mikshôwl appears approximately 20 times in the Old Testament, predominantly in prophetic and legal literature, illustrating its diverse applications:
* **Literal Stumbling-Block:** In [[Leviticus 19:14]], the law commands, "You shall not put a stumbling-block before the blind," which is a clear literal usage, emphasizing the ethical responsibility to protect the vulnerable.
* **Moral and Spiritual Offense:** The word frequently denotes something that causes moral or spiritual downfall. [[Psalm 119:165]] declares, "Great peace have those who love your law; nothing causes them to stumble," implying that adherence to God's Torah prevents moral pitfalls.
* **Idolatry as a Stumbling-Block:** The prophet Ezekiel notably uses mikshôwl to describe idols and the practice of idolatry. In [[Ezekiel 14:3-4]], the Lord speaks of those who "set up their idols in their heart and put before them a stumbling-block of their iniquity." Here, idols are not merely objects of worship but active hindrances and causes of sin, leading the people to spiritual ruin. Similarly, [[Ezekiel 44:12]] states that the Levites who served idols became a "stumbling-block of iniquity" for the house of Israel, highlighting the severe consequences of spiritual leadership failing to uphold purity.
* **Divine Judgment:** Remarkably, God Himself is sometimes depicted as laying a mikshôwl. In [[Jeremiah 6:21]], the Lord declares, "Behold, I will lay stumbling-blocks before this people; fathers and sons alike shall stumble over them." This signifies divine judgment, where God uses their own wickedness or the consequences of their choices as a means by which they fall. Similarly, [[Isaiah 8:14]] refers to the Lord of hosts as a "stone of offense and a rock of stumbling" for both houses of Israel, indicating that His presence and truth become an obstacle for those who reject Him.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary lexical connection for mikshôwl is its root verb, כָּשַׁל (kāshal) `{{H3782}}`, "to stumble, falter, or fall." This root emphasizes the action or consequence of encountering a mikshôwl.
Other related Hebrew terms that convey similar concepts of obstacles or snares include:
* מוֹקֵשׁ (môqēš) `{{H4170}}`: "snare, trap," often used for literal traps but also figuratively for moral or spiritual snares (e.g., [[Psalm 140:5]]).
* פַּח (paḥ) `{{H6341}}`: "snare, trap," often a bird trap, also used metaphorically for danger or temptation (e.g., [[Psalm 141:9]]).
In the New Testament, the Greek equivalent that closely parallels mikshôwl is σκάνδαλον (skandalon) `{{G4625}}`, which also means "stumbling-block, trap, or occasion for sin." This conceptual continuity between the Old and New Testaments underscores the enduring biblical concern with anything that causes one to fall from faith or righteousness. The theological concept of "offense" or "cause of sin" is central to both mikshôwl and skandalon.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of mikshôwl is profound, touching upon divine justice, human responsibility, and the nature of sin.
* **Divine Sovereignty and Judgment:** The instances where God Himself lays a mikshôwl (e.g., [[Jeremiah 6:21]], [[Isaiah 8:14]]) reveal His sovereignty in judgment. For those who persist in rebellion, God's very holiness and the consequences of their sin become an unavoidable obstacle leading to their downfall. This is not arbitrary cruelty but a just response to hardened hearts and persistent idolatry.
* **The Gravity of Idolatry:** The repeated association of mikshôwl with idols in Ezekiel highlights idolatry as a primary cause of spiritual and national ruin. Idols are not inert objects but active spiritual dangers that entice people away from the true God, leading them into deep sin and incurring divine wrath. This underscores the First Commandment's absolute prohibition against false gods.
* **Human Moral Responsibility:** The command in [[Leviticus 19:14]] to not put a stumbling-block before the blind extends to a broader ethical principle: individuals are responsible for not causing others to stumble, whether physically or morally. Conversely, individuals are also accountable for the "stumbling-blocks of their iniquity" that they place before themselves (e.g., [[Ezekiel 14:3]]). This emphasizes the internal nature of sin and the need for a pure heart.
* **Path of Righteousness:** The concept of avoiding mikshôwl reinforces the biblical emphasis on walking in God's ways without deviation. Those who love God's law are promised to have "no stumbling-block" ([[Psalm 119:165]]), indicating that adherence to divine instruction provides a safeguard against moral and spiritual pitfalls.
### Summary
The Hebrew word מִכְשׁוֹל (mikshôwl) `{{H4383}}` signifies a "stumbling-block" or "obstacle," encompassing both literal impediments and, more significantly, figurative causes of moral and spiritual downfall. Derived from the verb "to stumble" (כָּשַׁל `{{H3782}}`), it frequently describes anything that leads to sin, particularly idolatry, which is portrayed as a profound spiritual snare. Mikshôwl also features in contexts of divine judgment, where God Himself lays obstacles for the disobedient, underscoring His justice. The term highlights the critical importance of moral purity, the dangers of spiritual compromise, and the individual's responsibility to avoid placing or encountering anything that causes oneself or others to fall from God's righteous path. Its conceptual continuity with the New Testament's σκάνδαλον `{{G4625}}` demonstrates an enduring biblical concern for anything that occasions sin or spiritual ruin.
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