How many times is rock mentioned in the Bible? (what does the Bible say about rock?)

As a Christian who has been in the ministry for long, I love reading the Bible every chance I get. Last evening, while reading the book of Psalms through the New King James Version (NKJV), I noted that the word rock had appeared twenty-nine times. The author of this book used this word to refer to God, and I couldn’t help but wonder, “How many times is rock mentioned in the bible?”

So, join me until the end as I explore more about this topic. I will explain bible verses about rock, what it means that God is the rock of salvation, and where the term rock first appears in the Bible, among other topics.

Where does the term rock first appear in the Bible?

The term rock first appears in the Bible in Exodus 17:5-6 where God directed Moses to strike the rock in Horeb to produce water for the Israelites. Moses was with the Israelites in the desert after their journey from Egypt. However, the people started complaining to him of thirst, as they could not find water in the wilderness.

Moses then called out to God and asked for his guidance. The Lord then instructed Moses to take some of the elders of Israel with him and his rod and head to the rock in Horeb. Moses was to strike the rock with his hand for water to come out. Moses did so, and the Israelites quenched their thirst.

Bible verse about rock

Judges 6:20-21 explains how the angel of God commanded Gideon to lay the unleavened bread he had prepared on the rock and pour the broth over it. Gideon did what the angel commanded him, and using the end of his staff, the angel touched the meat and the unleavened bread, and fire came out of the rock and consumed it. This is the sacrifice Gideon had prepared for God after he was informed that he was going to war against the Midianites and would defeat them.

King David writes in Psalms 18:2 that the Lord is his rock, fortress, and deliverer. David uses the term rock to equate the strength and power of his God.

Luke 8:6 records the parable of the Sower, where the Sower sows his seeds, but some ended up falling on the rock. The scripture reveals that as soon as the seeds that fell on the rock sprang up, they withered and died because of lack of moisture because the rock was not a good place for the seeds to be planted.

Hannah prays in 1 Samuel 2:2 and states that no one is holy like the Lord and that there is no rock like her God.

What does the term rock mean according to the Bible?

The term rock has been used in the Bible to mainly refer to God and Jesus Christ. The term rock has also been used in the Bible to mean the literal rock we have on earth. Moses describes God as the rock in Deuteronomy 32:4, for his work is perfect and his ways just.

Paul also refers to Jesus Christ as the rock in 1 Corinthians 10:1-4 when he makes a reference in the Old Testament about their forefathers and how they ate spiritual food and even drank spiritual drinks. Paul states that their fathers, including Moses and the rest, drank of the spiritual rock that followed them and that the rock was Jesus Christ.

In Psalms 62:2, David refers to God as his rock and salvation and says that he is his defense and, therefore, he shall not be greatly moved.

What does it mean that God is the rock of salvation?

The term rock of salvation has been used severally in the Bible. For instance, King David in 2 Samuel 22:47 refers to God as the rock of his salvation because he had delivered him from his enemies and the hands of Saul.

1 Samuel 19 records the many times’ King Saul wanted to kill David because he knew that David had found favor before God. On these occasions, David had to flee and hide to not be killed. Scholars suggest that there is a possibility that David used to hide in caves made from rocks, yet he was afraid of being found. He then refers to God as his rock of salvation because he knew that only God protected him from evil and not the physical rocks.

The author of Psalms 95 also refers to God as the rock of salvation because he is great and trustworthy.

How could God be a rock?

Because of his strength

God has been referred to as the rock in the Bible because he is strong and mighty. David speaks of God’s power and strength in Psalms 65:1-6. God created heavens and earth from his might and power.

A rock, as a physical element, is known to be so big and can act as a shield when one hides behind it. In this sense, God is referred to as a rock because of how he protected his people from different calamities. For instance, God protected Moses and the people of Israel when they were fleeing from Egypt when he brought the red sea back to normalcy and drowned all the Egyptian soldiers. God also protects us from our enemies and from evil in our daily lives by giving us the grace to overcome temptations.

Who is the rock mentioned in the Bible?

Scholars suggest that the rock mentioned in the Bible is Peter, Jesus’ disciple. This is mentioned in Matthew 16:18 during Peter’s confession on who Jesus Christ really was. Jesus had come down in Philippi with his disciples and asked them who people said he was.

Many disciples gave him different answers to who people said he was, but Peter boldly told him that he was Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus knew that it was not Peter as a person who had received this revelation but from God. This showed Peter’s faith in Christ, and he vowed to build his church on him, “the rock,” because he knew how strong the foundation would be.