מִכְשׁוֹל (mikh.shol)
mikh.shol
stumbling
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 6 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun mikhshol refers to a physical obstacle that causes someone to trip or fall. In the Hebrew Bible, it describes a stone or rock placed in a path that disrupts movement, creating a hazard for the traveler. This concrete image grounds its broader metaphorical use: an object or circumstance that leads to moral failure or spiritual error.
Its six occurrences span different contexts, linking physical danger with ethical consequence. In Leviticus 26:39, it describes how Israelites might stumble due to their iniquity, suggesting a causal link between behavior and downfall. Similarly, Psalm 119:165 associates peace with those who love God’s law, implying that obedience removes such obstacles. Isaiah often uses the term to warn against idolatry or false trust, presenting these as traps that hinder right relationship with God.
The word’s root relates to tripping or stumbling, emphasizing suddenness and unintended harm. Unlike a deliberate trap, a mikhshol is often an unexpected barrier. Translators render it variously as "stumbling block," "obstacle," or "snare," depending on context. Its theological weight lies in its warning: what seems minor can become a decisive point of failure.
Understanding mikhshol helps readers grasp how ancient Hebrew thought connected physical and spiritual realms. An obstacle in the path was not just an inconvenience but a potential cause of ruin. This perspective encourages careful attention to both visible and hidden barriers in life.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word mikhshol describes a stone or obstacle placed in a path, causing a traveler to trip unexpectedly. In ancient times, such hazards were not merely inconveniences but serious dangers that could lead to injury or ruin. This concrete image helps us understand how the biblical writers viewed moral and spiritual failures: often as unexpected barriers we encounter when we are not paying attention.
For your faith life, this word invites careful reflection on what might hinder your walk with God. It is not always a deliberate trap set by others; sometimes it is an attitude, a habit, or a false trust that catches us off guard. The Bible encourages us to remove these obstacles from our own paths and to avoid placing them in the way of others, especially those who are vulnerable.
When you feel like you are stumbling, remember that God’s law is described as a source of peace (Psalm 119:165). Loving His guidance helps clear the path ahead. This word reminds us to walk with humility and awareness, trusting that God prepares the way for those who seek Him faithfully.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 6 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a stumbling block2×
- stumbling blocks1×
- stumbling1×
- obstacle[s]1×
- and/ <into>/ stumbling of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מִכְשֽׁוֹל\׃1×
- מִכְשֹׁלִ֑ים1×
- מִכְשֹׁ֑ל1×
- מִכְשׁ֜וֹל1×
- מִכְשׁ֖וֹל1×
- וּ/לְ/מִכְשׁ֨וֹל1×
Key Verses
-
Leviticus 19:14
“‘You shall not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind; but you shall fear your God. I am Yahweh.
This verse establishes a moral duty to avoid creating obstacles for the vulnerable, linking physical safety with reverence for God.
-
Psalms 119:165
Those who love your law have great peace. Nothing causes them to stumble.
Here the word describes the stability and peace found by those who love God’s law, contrasting obedience with the chaos of stumbling.
-
Isaiah 8:14
He will be a sanctuary, but for both houses of Israel, he will be a stumbling stone and a rock that makes them fall. For the people of Jerusalem, he will be a trap and a snare.
This striking passage shows that even God Himself can become a stumbling stone to those who reject His sanctuary, highlighting the danger of unbelief.