Offence

originally was "the name of the part of a trap to which the bait is attached, hence, the trap or snare itself, as in Romans 11:9 , RV, 'stumblingblock,' quoted from Psalm 69:22 , and in Revelation 2:14 , for Balaam's device was rather a trap for Israel than a stumblingblock to them, and in Matthew 16:23 , for in Peter's words the Lord perceived a snare laid for Him by Satan.

"an obstacle against which one may dash his foot" (akin to proskopto, "to stumble" or "cause to stumble;" pros, "to or against," kopto, "to strike"), is translated "offense" in Romans 14:20 , in Romans 14:13 , "a stumblingblock," of the spiritual hindrance to another by a selfish use of liberty (cp. No. 1 in the same verse); so in 1—Corinthians 8:9 . It is used of Christ, in Romans 9:32,33 , RV, "(a stone) of stumbling," and 1—Peter 2:8 , where the AV also has this rendering. Cp. the Sept. in Exodus 23:33 , "these (the gods of the Canaanites) will be an offense (stumblingblock) unto thee."

like No. 2, and formed from the same combination, occurs in 2—Corinthians 6:3 , RV, "occasion of stumbling" (AV, "offense"), something which leads others into error or sin. Cp. the Sept. in Proverbs 16:18 , "a haughty spirit (becomes) a stumblingblock" (i.e., to oneself).

akin to A, No. 3, with a, negative, prefixed, is used (a) in the Active sense, "not causing to stumble," in 1—Corinthians 10:32 , metaphorically of "refraining from doing anything to lead astray" either Jews or Greeks or the church of God (i.e., the local church), RV, "no occasion of stumbling" (AV, "none offense"); (b) in the Passive sense, "blameless, without stumbling;" Acts 24:16 , "(a conscience) void of offense;" Philippians 1:10 , "void of (AV, without) offense." The adjective is found occasionally in the papyri writings.