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The specific words that are key to understanding this are "Peter" and "rock," for they are both derivatives of the same word meaning
rock. But the word translated to "Peter" in the verse above (and below) is
petros, and the word translated to "rock" is
petra. Also, the word "rock" below has the definite article in the Greek (although it is not seen in the English language translation), whereas the word "Peter" (although capitalized in the English translation) does
not have the definite article. (Illustration to follow.)
But simply stated, a
petros is a small rock; while
petra is a large rock, even a solid foundation of stone.
Below is a copy of the original Greek words of the key part of the verse. Notice the definite article (
tee-Grk. word #3588) preceding "rock":
Also, the word "and" (between "Peter" and "upon") in the above illustration is
kai in the Greek and can also be translated to the word "but" in the English. This of course changes the way that this verse is commonly understood. Observe:
But to give you a sense of the meaning of the word
petra ("rock"), there is a city carved out of the side of a mountain, located in modern day Jordan, which is called
Petra. "Peter" (
petros) was a movable stone, a smaller piece;
petra(translated "rock") was a solid foundation; and incidentally, that Rock was Christ:
NASB Lexicon
NASB © | Greek | Strong's | Origin |
Simon | Σίμων
(simōn) | 4613: Simon, the name of several Isr. | of uncertain origin |
Peter | Πέτρος
(petros) | 4074: "a stone" or "a boulder," Peter, one of the twelve apostles | a noun akin to petra, used as a proper name |
answered, | ἀποκριθεὶς
(apokritheis) | 611: to answer | from apo and krinó |
"You are the Christ, | χριστὸς
(christos) | 5547: the Anointed One, Messiah, Christ | from chrió |
the Son | υἱὸς
(uios) | 5207: a son | a prim. word |
of the living | ζῶντος
(zōntos) | 2198: to live | from prim. roots zé- and zó- |
God." | θεοῦ
(theou) | 2316: God, a god | of uncertain origin
|
KJV Lexicon
αποκριθεις verb - aorist passive deponent participle - nominative singular masculine
apokrinomai ap-ok-ree'-nom-ahee: to conclude for oneself, i.e. (by implication) to respond; by Hebraism to begin to speak (where an address is expected) -- answer.
δε conjunction
de deh: but, and, etc. -- also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).
σιμων noun - nominative singular masculine
Simon see'-mone: Simon (i.e. Shimon), the name of nine Israelites -- Simon.
πετρος noun - nominative singular masculine
Petros pet'-ros: as a name, Petrus, an apostle -- Peter, rock.
ειπεν verb - second aorist active indicative - third person singular
epo ep'-o: to speak or say (by word or writing) -- answer, bid, bring word, call, command, grant, say (on), speak, tell.
συ personal pronoun - second person nominative singular
su soo: the person pronoun of the second person singular thou -- thou.
ει verb - present indicative - second person singular
ei i: thou art -- art, be.
ο definite article - nominative singular masculine
ho ho: the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom) -- the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
χριστος noun - nominative singular masculine
Christos khris-tos': anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus -- Christ.
ο definite article - nominative singular masculine
ho ho: the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom) -- the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
υιος noun - nominative singular masculine
huios hwee-os': a son (sometimes of animals), used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship -- child, foal, son.
του definite article - genitive singular masculine
ho ho: the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom) -- the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
θεου noun - genitive singular masculine
theos theh'-os: a deity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very -- exceeding, God, god(-ly, -ward).
του definite article - genitive singular masculine
ho ho: the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom) -- the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
ζωντος verb - present active participle - genitive singular masculine
zao dzah'-o: to live -- life(-time), (a-)live(-ly), quick.
Parallel Verses