πταίω G4417
To stumble, trip, fall; to fail morally or spiritually, to sin or go wrong in conduct.
A verb meaning to stumble or trip, used almost exclusively in the NT in its metaphorical sense of moral or spiritual failure. Romans 11:11 asks the pivotal question: 'Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery?' — distinguishing a temporary stumble from a permanent collapse. James employs the word to underscore the universality of human failure: 'we all stumble in many ways' (3:2), and whoever keeps the whole law yet stumbles at one point is guilty of all (2:10). The Spanish 'tropezar,' French 'trébucher,' and German 'straucheln' all preserve the physical stumbling image behind the moral metaphor.
Senses
1. sense 1 — To stumble, trip, or fail — used metaphorically of moral and spiritual failure rather than literal physical tripping. In Rom 11:11, Paul explores whether Israel's 'stumble' is final, answering emphatically no — their transgression brings riches to the Gentiles. James 2:10 uses the word to teach the indivisibility of the law: stumbling at one point means guilt in all. James 3:2 offers pastoral realism: 'we all stumble in many ways,' and the one who does not stumble in speech is perfect. Second Peter 1:10 encourages believers to make their calling sure so they 'never stumble.' The convergence of Spanish 'tropezar,' French 'trébucher,' and German 'straucheln' — all primary stumbling verbs in their languages — confirms that the physical-to-moral metaphor is cross-linguistically natural. 5×
AR["تَزِلّوا", "عَثَرَ", "عَثَرُوا", "نَعثُرُ", "يَعثُرُ"]·ben["তারা-হোঁচট-খেয়েছে", "তোমরা-হোঁচট-খাবে", "হোঁচট-খাই", "হোঁচট-খায়"]·DE["straucheln"]·EN["did-they-stumble", "stumbles", "we-stumble", "you-will-stumble"]·FR["straucheln", "trébucher"]·heb["יִכָּשֵׁל", "נִכְשְׁלוּ", "נִכְשָׁל", "נִכְשָׁלִים", "תִּכָּשְׁלוּ"]·HI["चूकता", "चूकते-हैं", "ठोकर-खाई", "ठोकर-खाए", "ठोकर-खाओगे"]·ID["kamu-akan-tersandung", "kita-tersandung", "mereka-tersandung", "tersandung", "tersandung,"]·IT["inciampare", "ptaiei", "ptaiomen", "ptaisē", "ptaisēte"]·jav["kesandhung", "kesandhung,", "kesandung", "sami-kesandung"]·KO["넘어졌다", "실수하면,", "실수한다", "실족하리라", "어기면"]·PT["tropeça", "tropeçamos", "tropeçar", "tropeçaram", "tropeçareis"]·RU["-преткнулись", "преткнётесь", "согрешаем", "согрешает,", "согрешит"]·ES["tropecéis", "tropezamos", "tropezaron", "tropiece", "tropieza"]·SW["akijikwaa", "hamtajikwaa", "jikwai", "tunajikwaa", "walijikwaa"]·TR["sürçerse", "tökezlediler", "tökezlemezsiniz", "tökezleriz", "tökezlerse"]·urd["ٹھوکر-کھاؤ-گے", "ٹھوکر-کھائی", "ٹھوکر-کھائے", "ٹھوکر-کھاتا٬", "ٹھوکر-کھاتے-ہیں"]
Related Senses
H0935 1. come, arrive (Qal) (2413×)G1473 1. first person singular pronoun (2084×)H3318 1. Qal: go out, depart, come forth (891×)H7725 1. to return, come/go back (Qal) (874×)H5927 1. go up, ascend (Qal) (779×)H7971 1. to send, dispatch (Qal) (701×)G2064 1. come / arrive (physical movement toward) (588×)H5307 1. Qal: fall down physically (339×)H5375 1. Qal: to lift up, raise (330×)H5975 1. to stand, stand up (310×)H5674a 1. Qal: pass by, pass through (256×)H3381 1. Qal: to go down, descend (physical movement) (242×)G1831 1. go/come out physically (193×)H5337 1. deliver, rescue, save (Hifil) (188×)H7901 1. lie down, rest, sleep (183×)G1525 1. enter a place physically (179×)H7812 1. prostrate oneself, bow down, worship (173×)H3318 2. Hifil: bring out, lead out, take out (persons) (172×)H7725 2. to bring back, restore (Hifil) (151×)H5674a 2. Qal: cross over (134×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
πταίω, Refs 5th c.BC+: future πταίσω Refs 4th c.BC+: aorist ἔπταισα Refs 5th c.BC+: perfect ἔπταικα Refs 5th c.BC+ — passive, see #1: __I transitive, cause to stumble or fall, σύνθεσιν ποτὶ ψεύδει LXX+5th c.BC+:—passive, to be missed, of things, Refs 2nd c.AD+; τὰ πταισθέντα failures, errors, Refs 2nd c.AD+; ἃ ἐπταίσθη his failures, Refs 1st c.AD+ __II intransitive, stumble, trip, fall, π. πρός…