Stone of contention
The phrase stumbling block refers to an object or a topic that, figuratively, represents the center, the trigger of a dispute or annoyance between different parties. In Adelung's grammatical-critical dictionary of the High German dialect of 1801 it is said that it is "a thing that causes offense in others".
origin
The source of this phrase can be found in Luther's translation of the Bible . There it says:
- "He will be a snare and a stumbling block and a rock of offense to the two houses of Israel, a trap and a snare for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, [...]." ( Isaiah 8:14 LUT )
This passage is taken up again in the New Testament when it says:
- "They struck each other on the stumbling block, [...]." ( Rom. 9.32 EU )
- "[...] a stumbling block and a rock of offense; they stumble at him because they do not believe in the word, for which they are also destined. ”( 1 Pet 2,8 LUT )