Brief Overview of πετρώδης (Strong’s G4075: petrōdēs)

Strong’s G4075: An adjective meaning “rocky” or “stony,” derived from πέτρα (rock) and -ώδης (like). In biblical contexts, particularly used in Jesus’s parable of the sower to describe shallow soil over rock, symbolizing superficial reception of God’s word.

U- Unveiling the Word

Πετρώδης (petrōdēs) describes ground characterized by underlying rock with thin soil coverage. In the New Testament, it appears specifically in Jesus’s parable of the sower, representing hearts that initially receive God’s word with joy but lack depth for lasting growth. Early church writers used this term to discuss the dangers of superficial faith and the importance of spiritual depth. Today, it continues to warn against shallow spiritual commitment and emphasizes the need for deep spiritual roots.

N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: πετρώδης, petrōdēs, pet-ro’-dace
• Detailed pronunciation: pet (as in “pet”) + ro (as in “row”) + dace (as in “face”)
• Part of Speech: Adjective

Etymology:

• πέτρα (petra) – rock
• -ώδης (-ōdēs) – suffix meaning “like” or “resembling”

D – Defining Meanings

• Rocky
• Stony
• Full of rocks
• Having a rocky nature
• Having shallow soil over rock

For compound words:
Base word πέτρα provides the concept of rock
Suffix -ώδης indicates resemblance or character

Translation Options:

1. Rocky ground – emphasizes terrain
2. Stony places – describes general condition
3. Rocky soil – specific to agricultural context

E – Exploring Similar Words

• λιθώδης (lithōdēs) [lith-o’-dace] – stony, more general
• τραχύς (trachys) [trakh-oos’] – rough, rugged
• σκληρός (sklēros) [sklay-ros’] – hard, harsh

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Adjective Features:

• Case: Nominative, Accusative, Genitive, Dative
• Number: Singular, Plural
• Gender: Masculine, Feminine, Neuter
• Third Declension

Example forms:
Masculine nominative singular: πετρώδης
Neuter accusative plural: πετρώδη
Feminine genitive singular: πετρώδους

Cross-references:

• Root noun: πέτρα (rock)
• Related adjective: πέτρινος (made of rock)

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes its agricultural significance. Thayer’s notes its parabolic usage. LSJ documents its use in describing terrain. Vine’s connects it to spiritual application. Strong’s emphasizes its compound nature. Moulton and Milligan note its technical use in land descriptions.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:

“Other seeds fell on rocky ground [πετρώδης], where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil.” (Matthew 13:5)

Additional References:
Matthew 13:20
Mark 4:5
Mark 4:16

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

Πετρώδης powerfully illustrates the danger of superficial faith. The good news of King Jesus calls for deep, lasting transformation, not mere surface acceptance. This word challenges us to examine whether our faith has deep roots that can sustain spiritual growth through trials and persecution.

D – Did You Know?

1. Used in ancient agricultural manuals for land assessment.
2. Early church fathers used it to describe spiritual immaturity.
3. Influenced development of soil classification terminology.

Strong’s G4075: An adjective combining “rock” (πέτρα) with “-like” (-ώδης), describing rocky ground with shallow soil. Used metaphorically in Jesus’s parables to represent superficial faith lacking spiritual depth.

Part of speech: Adjective

Tags: #rocky #soil #parable #sower #faith #depth #growth #Jesus #teaching #NewTestament #BiblicalGreek #Theology #spiritualGrowth​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​