Word study · Greek
petra
rock, bedrock
Say it: PET-rah (approximate)
πέτρα
What it means
A mass of rock or bedrock, in contrast to a loose stone. Jesus plays on Peter's name: Petros (a masculine name form) and petra. Many readers have noted that in Aramaic the same word would stand for both. In Matthew it also means the rock a wise builder chooses (7:24) and the rock cut for Jesus' tomb (27:60).
Open question Debated
What "this rock" refers to (Peter himself, his confession, or Jesus) has been debated among Christian traditions for centuries.
Range of meaning
- BedrockSolid rock, a foundation.
- Cliff or outcropA rock face or ledge.
- Figure for GodIn the Psalms, God as a rock and refuge.
In Matthew
- Chapter 16
"On this rock I will build my church" (16:18).
Every verse (5)
Verses where G4073 is tagged in the Hebrew text: STEPBible Data (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. About our sources