Quick Definition
λίθος, ου, ὁ n.m. a stone
Strong's Definition
apparently a primary word; a stone (literally or figuratively)
KJV Usage: (mill-, stumbling-)stone
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
noun, m. | -ου | λιθάζω
2.24 · Natural Substances · Earth, Mud, Sand, Rock
stone a piece of rock, whether shaped or natural Some languages make an important distinction between ‘stone’ as a substance (as in ACT 17:29) and ‘stones’ as individual pieces of rock (as in MAT 4:3). The term λίθος in the NT may be employed in speaking of rather large stones, for example, the stone placed in front of the tomb of Jesus (MAT 27:60) and the stones of the foundation of the Temple buildings (MAT 24:2). In all such contexts, however, the reference is to stones which have been moved into position or which are capable of being moved, even though with some difficulty.
In some languages an important distinction is made between stones which are shaped for use in building and stones which occur in a natural form, for example, ‘field stones.’ In each instance the biblical context must be studied to determine what type of expression should be used.
MAT 3:9 · MAT 4:3 · MAT 4:6 · MAT 7:9 · MAT 21:44 · MRK 5:5 · LUK 3:8 · LUK 4:3 · LUK 4:11 · LUK 17:2 · LUK 19:40 · LUK 20:17 · LUK 20:18 · LUK 22:41 · JHN 8:7 · JHN 8:59 · JHN 10:31 · ROM 9:32 · ROM 9:33 · 2CO 3:7 · 1PE 2:8 · REV 18:21
2.29 · Natural Substances · Precious and Semiprecious Stones and Substances
Collocation: λίθος τίμιος
precious stone, gem valuable stones and hard substances, especially gems and jewels For another interpretation of τίμιος in 1CO 3:12, see 65.2.
Precious stones are often distinguished on the basis of cost, appearance, or function, for example, ‘stones that cost much’ or ‘stones that are beautiful’ or ‘stones that are worn for decoration.’
A number of precious and semiprecious stones (see 2.30-2.43) are mentioned in one NT passage, namely, REV 21:19, and though there are certain differences of opinion among scholars as to the precise reference of certain of these terms, there is more or less general agreement as to the color of the stones in question.
In languages in which terms such as ‘jasper,’ ‘sapphire,’ ‘agate,’ etc. exist, one may simply borrow such terms and explain their color in a glossary or word list. For languages in which such terms are not known, translators normally borrow the names from a dominant language of the area and likewise provide an explanation of the color in a glossary. Some translators have attempted to introduce the corresponding color terms in the text of REV 21:19, but this often results in a rather extended and somewhat awkward set of descriptive expressions.
1CO 3:12 · REV 4:3 · REV 17:4 · REV 18:12 · REV 18:16 · REV 21:11 · REV 21:11 · REV 21:19
94.13
tomb cover, tomb stone A large, heavy stone used to close the entrance to a cave or tomb cut out of the rock
MAT 27:60 · MAT 27:66 · MAT 28:2 · MRK 15:46 · MRK 16:3 · MRK 16:4 · LUK 24:2 · JHN 11:38 · JHN 11:39 · JHN 11:41 · JHN 20:1
94.14
building stone block of stone, either fully square or not; found in nature or hewn from a quarry; used for building houses, walls, and other constructions
MAT 21:42 · MAT 24:2 · MAT 24:2 · MRK 12:10 · MRK 13:1 · MRK 13:2 · MRK 13:2 · LUK 19:44 · LUK 19:44 · LUK 20:17 · LUK 20:18 · LUK 21:5 · LUK 21:6 · LUK 21:6 · ACT 4:11 · 1PE 2:4 · 1PE 2:5 · 1PE 2:6 · 1PE 2:7
1 A distinction is made here between λίθος[a] stone as a substance (2.23) and λίθος[b] stone as a particular piece of rock (2.24). It would be possible to combine these two meanings, since in so many instances there is an almost automatic shift between a substance and an object consisting of such a substance. Since, however, a number of languages make clear distinctions between terms for substances and those referring to corresponding objects, this difference in meaning is retained in the case of λίθος and in most instances of similar semantic associations.
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
λίθος, -ov, 6, Sept. for 738, [fr. Hom. down]; a stone: of small stones, Mt. iv. 6; vii. 9; Lk. iii. 8; iv. [3], 11; ΧΙ. 11; xxii. 41; Jn. viii. 7; plur., Mt. iii. 9; iv.3; Mk. v.55 Lk. iii. 8; xix. 40; Jn. viii. 59; x. 31; of a large stone, Mt. xxvii. 60, 66; xxviii. 2; Mk.xv.46; xvi. 3 sq.; Lk. xxiv. 2; Jn. xi. 38 sq. 41; xx.1; of building stones, Mt. xxi. 42,44 [T om. L WH Trmrg. br. the vs.]; xxiv. 2; Mk. xii.10; xiii. 1 sq.; Lk. xix. 44; xx. 17sq.3 xxi. 5 sq.; Acts iv. 11; 1 Pet. ii. 7; metaph. of Christ: λίθος ἀκρογωνιαῖος (q. ν.), ἐκλεκτός (ef. 2 Esdr. v. 8), ἔντιμος, 1 Pet. ii. 6 (Is. xxviii. 16); ζῶν (see (aw, II.b.), 1 Pet. ii. 4; λίθος προσκόμματος, one whose words, acts, end, men (so stumble at) take such offence at, that they reject him and thus bring upon themselves ruin, ibid. 8 (7); Ro. ix. 33; of Christians: λίθοι ζῶντες, living stones (see (aw, τι. s.), of which the temple of God is built, 1 Pet. ii. 5; of the truths with which, as with building materials, a teacher builds Christians up in wisdom, λίθοι τίμιοι, costly stones, 1 Co. iii. 12. λίθος μυλικός, Mk. ix. 42 RG; Lk. xvii. 2 LT Tr WH, cf. Rev. xviii. 21. of precious stones, gems: AiO. τίμιος, Rev. xvii. 4; xviii. 12,16; xxi. 11, 19, (2S. xii. 30; 1 K. x. 2,11); ἴασπις, Rev. iv. 3; ἐνδεδυμένοι λίθον (for RG Τ' λίνον) καθαρόν, Rey. xv. 6 LTrtxt. WH (Ezek. xxviii. 13 πάντα [or πᾶν] λίθον χρηστὸν ἐνδέδεσαι; [see WH. Intr. ad 1. c.]); but (against the reading λίθον) [ οἵ. Scrivener, Plain Introduction ete. Ρ. 605]. spec. stones cut in a certain form: stone tablets (engraved with letters), 2 Co. iii. 7; statues of idols, Acts xvii. 29 (Deut. iv. 28; Ezek. xx. 32).
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
λίθος lithos 59x
a stone, Mt. 3:9; 4:3, 6; used figuratively, of Christ, Eph. 2:20; 1 Pet. 2:6; of believers, 1 Pet. 2:5; meton. a tablet of stone, 2 Cor. 3:7; a precious stone, Rev. 4:3
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
λίθος, -ου, ὁ
(and, in Att., of precious stones, ἡ.), [in LXX for אֶבֶן, Ge 11:3, al.; λ. τίμιος, for פָּז, Ps 18 (19):10 20 (21):3, Pr 8:19, al.;]
a stone: Mt 4:6, al.; pl., Mt 3:9, al.; at the entrance of a tomb, Mt 27:60, 66 28:2, Mk 15:46 16:3, 4, Lk 24:2, Jo 11:38, 39, 41 20:1; λ. μυλικός, Lk 17:2, cf. Re 18:21; of building stones, Mt 21:42, [44] 24:2, Mk 12:10 13:1, 2, Lk 19:44 20:17, 18 21:5, 6 Ac 4:11, I Pe 2:7; metaph., of Christ, λ. ἀκρογωναῖος, ἐκλεκτός, ἔντιμος, I Pe 2:6(LXX); λ. ζῶν, I Pe 2:4; προσκόμματος, I Pe 2:8, Ro 9:33; of Christians, λ. ζῶντες, I Pe 2:5; of precious stones, λ. τίμιος, Re 17:4 18:12, 16 21:11, 19; ἴασπις, Re 4:3; ἐνδεδυμένοι λ. καθαρόν, Re 15:6 (λίνον, Rec., R, mg., v. Swete, in l.); metaph., λ. τίμιοι, I Co 3:12; of the tables of the law, II Co 3:7; of idols, Ac 17:29.
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
λίθος is always masc. in the NT even when it means a gem (Rev 211} αἱ, LXX), whereas Attic after B.c. 385 preferred the fem. (Meisterhans Gy. p. 129). This is in keeping with the Kow 7 usage, e.g P Petr 11. 13 (6)® (B.c. 258-253) τοὺς λίθους of stones for building, P Oxy III. 498? (ii/a.D.) τῶν οἰκοδομουμένων λίθων κύβων καμηλικῶν, “ squared buildingstones transportable by camel (Ὁ) ” (Edd.), 16. 5281? (1Π|,---ii/A.D.) ἔπεμσάς pu ἐπιστολὰς δυναμένου λίθον σαλεῦσε, *“you sent me letters which would have shaken a stone” (Edd.), P Tebt 11. 34217 (late ii/A.D.) kepapetov . . λίθοις ἀρεστοῖς ἐξηρτισμί(ένον), ‘‘a pottery fitted with stones in good order” (Edd.), P Oxy X. 12737 (A.D. 260) περιτραχήλιον . . ἔχον λίθον ὁλκῆς χωρὶς τοῦ [λί]θ[ο]υ τετάρτων lA λιθόστρωτος δεκατριῶν, ‘a necklace having a stone and weighing apart | from the stone 13 quarters’’ (Edd.), OGZS οοὔ! (Rosetta stone—B.C. 196) σ]τερεοῦ λίθου, Preisighe 1114° (A.D. 147-8) ἐκόψαμεν τοὺς μεγάλους λίθους. In connexion with the imprecatory inscrr. on limestone found in Palestine, Wiinsch remarks that limestone had probably a superstitious significance there, though of what kind we do not know, and compares the ‘‘ white stone” {ψῆφον λευκήν) with a “new ”’ spell given as an amulet in Rev 217: see Blissand Macalister Excavations in Palestine, 1902, p. 186. Reference should also be made to the striking new saying ascribed to Jesus, P Oxy I. 1 No. 5 ἔγει[ρ]ον τὸν λίθον κἀκεῖ εὑρήσεις pe, σχίσον τὸ ξύλον κἀγὼ ἐκεῖ εἰμί, though we cannot enter here upon its interpretation.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
λίθος (lithos) — stone. λίθος [ῐ], ου, o((see. below 11), stone, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; especially of the stones thrown by warriors, τρηχὺς λ., λ. ὀκριόεις, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; also, stonequoit, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; of building- stones, λίθοι βασιλικοί [Refs 5th c.BC+]; λίθον ἕψειν 'to lose one's labour', [Refs 5th c.BC+]; also of stupid persons, 'blockheads', λίθοι [Refs 6th c.BC+]; λ. τις, ou) dou/lh [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; προσηγορεύθη διὰ τὸ μὴ φρονεῖν λ., of Niobe, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; λίθῳ λαλεῖς proverbial of ἀναίσθητοι, [Refs]
2. stone as a substance, opposed to wood, flesh, etc., ἐπεὶ οὔ σφι λ. χρὼς οὐδὲ σίδηρος [Refs 8th c.BC+]; λαοὺς δὲ λίθους ποίησε turned into stone, petrified,[Refs 8th c.BC+]; as an emblem of hard-heartedness, σοὶ δ᾽ αἰεὶ κραδίη στερεωτέρη ἐστὶ λίθοιο [Refs 3rd c.BC+]
II. λίθος, ἡ, twice in [Refs 8th c.BC+]: later mostly of some special stone, as the magnet is called Μαγνῆτις λ. by [Refs 5th c.BC+]; also Λυδία λ. by [Refs 5th c.BC+] = touchstone); Ἡρακλεία λ. by [Refs 5th c.BC+]; so of a touchstone, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἡ διαφανὴς λ. a piece of crystal used for a burning-glass, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; χυτὴ λ. was perhaps a kind of glass, and so an older name for ὕαλος, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; λ. = precious stone is feminine in [Refs 5th c.BC+]; in the sense of marble mostly masculine, λευκὸς λ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; Πάριος λ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; λ. Θάσιος, Αἰγύπτιος, etc., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; compare λυχνίας, -ίτη; πώρινος λ. tufa, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.2. collectively, πέφυκε λίθος.. ἄφθονος, ἐξ οὗ.. [Refs 5th c.BC+]
III. grave-stone (feminine), [Refs 3rd c.BC+]
IV. at Athens, λίθος, ὁ, was a name for various blocks of stone used for rostra or platforms, as,
IV.1. the βῆμα (which see) of the Pnyx, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
IV.2. another in the ἀγορά used by the κήρυκες, [Refs 1st c.AD+]; probably the same as ὁ πρατὴρ λ., on which the auctioneer stood when selling slaves, etc., [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
IV.3. an altar in the ἀγορά, at which the Thesmothetae, arbitrators, and witnesses took their oaths, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; compare λιθωμότης.
IV.4. two stones on which litigants stood in the Areopagus, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
V. piece on a draughtboard, [Refs 7th c.BC+]
VI. in Medicine texts, stone in the bladder, calculus, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
VII. Δία λίθον ὀμνύναι, = Latin Jovem lapidem jurare, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]
VIII. λίθοι χαλάζης hail- stones, [LXX]
IX. λ. ὁ οὐ λ. the philosophers' stone, [Refs 5th c.BC+]