πέτρα G4073
Rock, bedrock, cliff; a large solid mass of stone, used literally and as a metaphor for firm foundation.
Refers to a large, immovable mass of stone—bedrock, cliff face, or rocky outcrop—as distinct from lithos, which typically denotes a detachable stone or building block. The word carries enormous theological weight in one of the New Testament's most discussed passages: 'on this petra I will build my church' (Matt 16:18). Elsewhere it appears in practical and apocalyptic contexts alike: the wise builder constructs on rock (Matt 7:24-25), Joseph of Arimathea's tomb is hewn from living rock (Matt 27:60), rocks split at the crucifixion (Matt 27:51), and terrified humanity begs the rocks to fall on them (Rev 6:15-16). Paul identifies the rock that followed Israel in the wilderness as Christ (1 Cor 10:4). Spanish distinguishes 'roca' (bedrock) from 'piedra' (stone), mirroring the petra/lithos distinction.
Senses
1. rock, bedrock, cliff — A large, solid mass of stone—bedrock, cliff, or rocky formation—as opposed to a loose or hewn stone (lithos). Used literally for the rock on which the wise man builds (Matt 7:24-25), the tomb carved from rock (Matt 27:60), and the rocks that split at the crucifixion (Matt 27:51). Metaphorically foundational in Matt 16:18 ('on this rock I will build my church') and in Paul's identification of the wilderness rock as Christ (1 Cor 10:4). Apocalyptic usage in Rev 6:15-16 pictures people hiding among rocks. Spanish 'roca' versus 'piedra' mirrors the Greek petra/lithos distinction, confirming a separate semantic profile for massive, immovable stone. 15×
AR["الصَّخْرَةِ", "الصَّخْرِ", "الصُّخورِ", "الصُّخُورُ", "صَخرَةٍ", "صَخرَةُ", "صَخرَةِ", "صَخرِ", "صَخْرٍ", "صَخْرَةَ", "صُخورِ"]·ben["পাথরগুলি", "পাথরগুলিকে,", "পাথরগুলিতে", "পাথরে", "পাথরের", "শিলা", "শিলার,"]·DE["Fels"]·EN["a-rock", "rock", "rocks"]·FR["roc", "rocher"]·heb["סְלָעִים", "סֶּלַע", "סֶלַע", "סָלַע"]·HI["चट्टान", "चट्टान-पर", "चट्टानें", "चट्टानों", "चट्टानों-से,", "चत्तअन"]·ID["batu", "batu-batu", "batu-batu,", "batu-karang", "itu", "karang"]·IT["petra", "petrais", "petras", "roccia"]·jav["karang", "parang", "parang,", "sela", "sela;", "séla", "watu"]·KO["바위", "바위-에", "바위들", "바위들-에게", "바위들-이", "바위를", "바위에서", "반석", "반석-위에", "반석은"]·PT["pedra", "rocha", "rocha,", "rochas"]·RU["-скалу", "Скала", "камень", "камне", "скала", "скалам,", "скале", "скалу", "скалы", "скалы,"]·ES["peñas", "piedra", "roca", "rocas"]·SW["miamba", "miamba,", "mwamba", "mwamba,", "mwamba."]·TR["kaya", "kaya,", "kaya-", "kaya;", "kayada", "kayadan", "kayalar", "kayalara", "kayanın", "kayasından-", "kayasını", "kayaya,"]·urd["سیلاب", "چٹان", "چٹان-میں", "چٹانوں-سے", "چٹانوں-میں", "چٹانیں"]
Matt 7:24, Matt 7:25, Matt 16:18, Matt 27:51, Matt 27:60, Mark 15:46, Luke 6:48, Luke 8:6, Luke 8:13, Rom 9:33, 1 Cor 10:4, 1 Cor 10:4 (+3 more)
Related Senses
H4325 1. water, waters (582×)H6965b 1. Qal: to rise, arise, get up (432×)H2091 1. gold (the metal) (389×)H0068 1. stone, rock (material/object) (267×)H5178a 1. bronze/copper as metal (131×)H6083 1. dust, dry earth, soil (108×)H8313 1. burn, set fire to (94×)H2734 1. anger was kindled (82×)G5204 1. water (80×)H2822 1. darkness, absence of light (80×)G5457 1. light (illumination) (71×)G0450 1. rise, stand up (physical) (69×)H6965b 2. Qal: to stand firm, endure, be valid (50×)H6999a 2. burn sacrifice on altar (Hifil) (45×)H5553 1. rock, cliff (physical feature) (43×)H6965b 4. Hifil: to establish, confirm (covenant/kingdom/word) (40×)H1197a 1. burn, be on fire (39×)H4306 1. rain, showers (38×)H1653 1. rain, precipitation (34×)G4655 1. darkness (30×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
πέτρα, Ionic dialect and Epic dialect πέτρη, ἡ, rock; frequently of cliffs, ledges, etc. by the sea, λισσὴ αἰπεῖά τε εἰς ἅλα πέτρη Refs 8th c.BC+; χῶρος λεῖος πετράων free from rocks, of a beach,Refs 8th c.BC+; χοιρὰς π. Refs 5th c.BC+; also, rocky peak or ridge, αἰγίλιψ π. Refs 8th c.BC+; λιττὰς π. Refs 6th c.BC+; π. Λευκάς, Ὠλενίη, etc., Refs 8th c.BC+; π. σύνδρομοι, Συμπληγάδες, Refs 5th…