Stumble

Stumble - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

STUMBLE, v.i. [This word is probably from a root that signifies to stop or to strike, and may be allied to stammer.]

1. To trip in walking or moving in any way upon the legs; to strike the foot so as to fall, or to endanger a fall; applied to any animal. A man may stumble, as well as a horse.

The way of the wicked is as darkness; they know not at what they stumble. Prov 4.

2. To err; to slide into a crime or an error.

He that loveth his brother, abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. 1 John 2.

3. To strike upon without design; to fall on; to light on by chance. Men often stumble upon valuable discoveries.

Ovid stumbled by some inadvertence upon Livia in a bath.

STUMBLE, v.t.

1. To obstruct in progress; to cause to trip or stop.

2. To confound; to puzzle; to put to a nonplus; to perplex.

One thing more stumbles me in the very foundation of this hypothesis.

STUMBLE, n.

1. A trip in walking or running.

2. A blunder; a failure.

One stumble is enough to deface the character of an honorable life.

Definition

The term “stumble” means “almost fall” when walking or running. Usually it involves tripping over something.

• Figuratively, to “stumble” can mean to “sin” or to “falter” in believing.
• This term can also refer to faltering or showing weakness when fighting a battle or when being persecuted or punished.

Translation Suggestions

• In contexts where the term “stumble” means to physically trip over something, it should be translated with a term that means “almost fall” or “trip over.”
• This literal meaning could also be used in a figurative context, if it communicates the correct meaning in that context.
• For figurative uses where the literal meaning would not make sense in the project language, “stumble” could be translated as “sin” or “falter” or “stop believing” or “become weak,” depending on the context.
• Another way to translate this term could be, “stumble by sinning” or “stumble by not believing.”
• The phrase “made to stumble” could be translated as “caused to become weak” or “caused to falter.”

(See also: believe, persecute, sin, stumbling block)

Bible References

• 1 Peter 2:8
• Hosea 4:5
• Isaiah 31:3
• Matthew 11:4-6
• Matthew 18:8

Word Data

• Strong’s: H1762, H3782, H4383, H5062, H5063, H5307, H6328, H6761, H8058, G06790, G43480, G43500, G44170, G46240, G46250