4354 rock

A symbol of strength and permanence and a place where people in danger often took refuge. God is depicted as the Rock of Israel, being the strength, security and deliverance for his people.

Rock as a symbol of strength, stability and permanence

Zec 12:3 See also Job 18:4; Job 19:23-24; Job 41:24; Na 1:6

Rocks as places of refuge and shelter

1Sa 13:6; 1Sa 23:25 David’s hiding-place from Saul; Job 24:8; Job 30:6; Ps 27:5; Ps 40:2; SS 2:14; Isa 2:10,19,21; Isa 32:2; Jer 4:29; Jer 16:16; Jer 48:28; Jer 49:16 pp Ob 3; Rev 6:15-16

God as a rock

Symbolising his strength and faithfulness Isa 26:4 See also Ge 49:23-25; Dt 32:3-4; 1Sa 2:2; 2Sa 23:2-4; Ps 28:1; Ps 42:9; Ps 62:6; Ps 92:14-15; Isa 44:8; Hab 1:12

Symbolising safety and refuge in him Ps 71:3 See also Dt 32:30; 2Sa 22:31-32 pp Ps 18:30-31; Ps 31:2-3; Ps 61:1-3; Ps 62:7; Ps 94:22; Ps 144:1-2; Isa 17:10

Associated with salvation and deliverance Dt 32:15-18; 2Sa 22:47 pp Ps 18:46; Ps 19:14; Ps 62:2; Ps 78:35; Ps 89:26; Ps 95:1

Associated with judgment and punishment Isa 8:13-15; Ro 9:33; 1Pe 2:8

Other gods as rocks

Dt 32:31 See also Dt 32:36-38

Water from the rock

Nu 20:8 See also Ex 17:6; Nu 20:10-13; Dt 8:15; Ne 9:15; Ps 78:15-16,20; Ps 105:41; Isa 48:21; 1Co 10:3-4

Rocks as foundations

Mt 7:24-25 pp Lk 6:47-48 See also Mt 16:13-20

Rocks in mining, quarrying and building

Dt 8:9; Job 28:5-6,9-10; Isa 51:1-2; Jer 23:29; Jer 51:26; Da 2:34-35,45

Rocks used as altars

Jdg 6:20-21; Jdg 13:19-20

Rock and burial places

Rocks erected over graves Jos 7:26; Jos 8:29; 2Sa 18:17

Tombs quarried in rock Lk 23:53 pp Mt 27:59-60 pp Mk 15:46 See also Isa 22:16

Rocks used to seal caves and tombs Jos 10:17-18,27; Mt 27:59-60 pp Mk 15:46; Mt 27:66; Mt 28:2; Mk 16:2-4 pp Lk 24:2 pp Jn 20:1

Rocky soil in the parable of the sower

Mt 13:20-21 pp Mk 4:16-17 pp Lk 8:13 See also Mt 13:5 pp Mk 4:5 pp Lk 8:6

Rocks in place-names

Jdg 7:25; Jdg 15:8-13; Jdg 20:45-47; Jdg 21:13; 2Sa 20:8; 1Ch 11:15

See also