verb
skandalizomō
Strong’sG4624
I cause to stumble
stem skandaliz-30 times in the New Testamentin 7 of 27 books14 forms occur
What it means
A plain-English reading of the word, with the lexicons it draws on — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, and Liddell-Scott-Jones — right below it, in full.
AI Summary
σκανδαλίζω means to cause someone to stumble — literally to put a snare or stumbling-block in someone's way, and in actual usage always used of hindering a person's right conduct or thought: to cause offense, to trip someone up morally, or to entice into sin or falling away 13. Used with a direct object, it means to make a person stumble in this way 13; Dodson's short gloss is simply "I cause to stumble" 4, and Strong's likewise glosses it as entrapping or tripping someone up, whether that means causing an actual stumble or enticing someone toward sin, apostasy, or displeasure 2.
In the passive, the word means to be made to stumble — that is, to stumble, to be offended, or to take offense 13.
Sources: 1 Abbott-Smith 2 Strong's 3 LSJ 4 Dodson. Condensed by anthropic/claude-sonnet-5 on 2026-09-23 — it may still misstate what these say; check them yourself if it matters to you.
The lexicons it was drawn from, in full:
Abbott-Smith — the 1922 lexicon entry, in full
† σκανδαλίζω
(< σκάνδαλον), [in LXX: Da LXX 11:41 (כּשׁל ni.), Si 9:5 35 (32):15 (יקשׁ ho.) ib. 23:8 (also in Aq., Sm., Th., and in Ps Sol 16:7; not elsewhere, except NT and eccl.)*;]
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G4624 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saidskan-dal-id'-zo
to entrap, i.e. trip up (figuratively, stumble (transitively) or entice to sin, apostasy or displeasure)
Fromfrom G4625;
King James(make to) offend.
James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 1890 — public domain. The numbers in it link to the entries here.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — the classical dictionary this word appears in
cause to stumble, give offence or scandal to any one, τινα NT:— passive, to be made to stumble, take offence, Refs, etc.; ἔν τινι LXX+NT
H. G. Liddell, R. Scott, H. S. Jones, A Greek-English Lexicon (9th ed., 1925–1940) — digitised by the Perseus Digital Library and corrected and expanded by Tyndale House, Cambridge, via STEPBible-Data's TFLSJ table, CC BY 4.0. Covers all of Greek literature, not just the Bible.
Translated as
Every occurrence, sorted by the English it was actually given — the evidence for what the word means, not a gloss of it.
Berean Standard Bible (BSB), dedicated to the public domain — berean.bible.
Biblang forms
What the New Testament actually uses, first — the whole system this verb is built from is one click further down.
| Form and the Greek behind it | What it is | Usually | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| skandalizatōσκανδαλίζει | happening now · he/she/itpresent active indicative 3rd person singular | causes … tosin | 6× |
| skandalizotōσκανδαλίζεται | happening now · he/she/itpresent middle or passive indicative 3rd person singular | falls away | 3× |
| skandalizolōσκανδαλίζονται | happening now · theypresent middle or passive indicative 3rd person plural | fall away | 1× |
| skandalizoleἐσκανδαλίζοντο | was happening · theyimperfect middle or passive indicative 3rd person plural | offended | 2× |
| skandalizimiσκανδαλισθήσομαι | will happen · Ifuture passive indicative 1st person singular | fall away | 1× |
| skandaliziviσκανδαλισθήσεσθε | will happen · yefuture passive indicative 2nd person plural | fall away | 2× |
| skandaliziliσκανδαλισθήσονται | will happen · theyfuture passive indicative 3rd person plural | fall away | 3× |
| skandalizilaἐσκανδαλίσθησαν | happened · theyaorist passive indicative 3rd person plural | offended | 1× |
| skandalizateiōσκανδαλίζῃ | happening now · he/she/itpresent active subjunctive 3rd person singular | causes … tosin | 3× |
| skandalizameiaσκανδαλίσω | happened · Iaorist active subjunctive 1st person singular | cause … tofall | 1× |
| skandalizateiaσκανδαλίσῃ | happened · he/she/itaorist active subjunctive 3rd person singular | causes … tosin | 3× |
| skandalizaneiaσκανδαλίσωμεν | happened · weaorist active subjunctive 1st person plural | offend | 1× |
| skandaliziteiaσκανδαλισθῇ | happened · he/she/itaorist passive subjunctive 3rd person singular | offended | 2× |
| skandaliziveiaσκανδαλισθῆτε | happened · yeaorist passive subjunctive 2nd person plural | made to stumble | 1× |
Every form the New Testament uses, in paradigm order. What the system can build beyond them — the whole of this verb, whether the text happens to use it or not — is in the tables below.
Every form the system can build — all 172, by mood, including the ones the New Testament never uses
Statements — indicative mood, 19 occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | skandalizamō | skandalizame | skandalizami | skandalizama | skandalizamē | skandalizamelē |
| you 2nd person singular | skandalizasō | skandalizase | skandalizasi | skandalizasa | skandalizasē | skandalizaselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | skandalizatō6×σκανδαλίζει | skandalizate | skandalizati | skandalizata | skandalizatē | skandalizatelē |
| we 1st person plural | skandalizanō | skandalizane | skandalizani | skandalizana | skandalizanē | skandalizanelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | skandalizavō | skandalizave | skandalizavi | skandalizava | skandalizavē | skandalizavelē |
| they 3rd person plural | skandalizalō | skandalizale | skandalizali | skandalizala | skandalizalē | skandalizalelē |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | skandalizomō | skandalizome | skandalizomē | skandalizomelē |
| you 2nd person singular | skandalizosō | skandalizose | skandalizosē | skandalizoselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | skandalizotō3×σκανδαλίζεται | skandalizote | skandalizotē | skandalizotelē |
| we 1st person plural | skandalizonō | skandalizone | skandalizonē | skandalizonelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | skandalizovō | skandalizove | skandalizovē | skandalizovelē |
| they 3rd person plural | skandalizolō1×σκανδαλίζονται | skandalizole2×ἐσκανδαλίζοντο | skandalizolē | skandalizolelē |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | will happen future | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | skandalizimi1×σκανδαλισθήσομαι | skandalizima |
| you 2nd person singular | skandalizisi | skandalizisa |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | skandaliziti | skandalizita |
| we 1st person plural | skandalizini | skandalizina |
| ye 2nd person plural | skandalizivi2×σκανδαλισθήσεσθε | skandaliziva |
| they 3rd person plural | skandalizili3×σκανδαλισθήσονται | skandalizila1×ἐσκανδαλίσθησαν |
May, might — subjunctive mood, 11 occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | skandalizameiō | skandalizameia1×σκανδαλίσω | skandalizameiē |
| you 2nd person singular | skandalizaseiō | skandalizaseia | skandalizaseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | skandalizateiō3×σκανδαλίζῃ | skandalizateia3×σκανδαλίσῃ | skandalizateiē |
| we 1st person plural | skandalizaneiō | skandalizaneia1×σκανδαλίσωμεν | skandalizaneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | skandalizaveiō | skandalizaveia | skandalizaveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | skandalizaleiō | skandalizaleia | skandalizaleiē |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | skandalizomeiō | skandalizomeiē |
| you 2nd person singular | skandalizoseiō | skandalizoseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | skandalizoteiō | skandalizoteiē |
| we 1st person plural | skandalizoneiō | skandalizoneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | skandalizoveiō | skandalizoveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | skandalizoleiō | skandalizoleiē |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | skandalizimeia |
| you 2nd person singular | skandaliziseia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | skandaliziteia2×σκανδαλισθῇ |
| we 1st person plural | skandalizineia |
| ye 2nd person plural | skandaliziveia1×σκανδαλισθῆτε |
| they 3rd person plural | skandalizileia |
Commands — imperative mood, no occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | skandalizasōr | skandalizasar | skandalizasēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | skandalizatōr | skandalizatar | skandalizatēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | skandalizavōr | skandalizavar | skandalizavēr |
| they 3rd person plural | skandalizalōr | skandalizalar | skandalizalēr |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | skandalizosōr | skandalizosēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | skandalizotōr | skandalizotēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | skandalizovōr | skandalizovēr |
| they 3rd person plural | skandalizolōr | skandalizolēr |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | skandalizisar |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | skandalizitar |
| ye 2nd person plural | skandalizivar |
| they 3rd person plural | skandalizilar |
Wishes — optative mood, no occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | skandalizamoiō | skandalizamoia |
| you 2nd person singular | skandalizasoiō | skandalizasoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | skandalizatoiō | skandalizatoia |
| we 1st person plural | skandalizanoiō | skandalizanoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | skandalizavoiō | skandalizavoia |
| they 3rd person plural | skandalizaloiō | skandalizaloia |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | skandalizomoiō |
| you 2nd person singular | skandalizosoiō |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | skandalizotoiō |
| we 1st person plural | skandalizonoiō |
| ye 2nd person plural | skandalizovoiō |
| they 3rd person plural | skandalizoloiō |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | skandalizimoia |
| you 2nd person singular | skandalizisoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | skandalizitoia |
| we 1st person plural | skandalizinoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | skandalizivoia |
| they 3rd person plural | skandaliziloia |
The “to …” form — infinitive, no occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | skandalizarō | skandalizari | skandalizara | skandalizarē |
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | skandalizorō | skandalizorē | ||
| acted on passive voice | skandaliziri | skandalizira |
Used as an adjective — participle, no occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | skandalizarōntos | skandalizarintos | skandalizarantos | skandalizarēntos |
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | skandalizorōntos | skandalizorēntos | ||
| acted on passive voice | skandalizirintos | skandalizirantos |
Each is given in the form it takes as a subject. From there a participle carries the ordinary noun endings, in every case, number and gender — so these four columns are the whole of what the verb contributes.
How every form is built — the slots that make them
skandaliz is this word in every one of its forms. The slots after it make all the rest.
same in every form varies — every value shown
Where it appears
Every verse the word appears in, filed under the form it takes there.
30 occurrences, every one of them listed
skandalizatō“causes … tosin”happening now · he/she/itpresent active indicative 3rd person singular6×
Matthew 5:29… de tos ofthalmos su tos dexos skandalizatō sin, exairasar auton kai balasar apo …If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out …
Matthew 5:30kai ei tas dexas su cheiras skandalizatō sin, ekkoptasar autan kai balasar apo …And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off …
Matthew 18:8… cheiras su ē tos podos su skandalizatō sin, ekkoptasar auton kai balasar apo …If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off …
Matthew 18:9kai ei tos ofthalmos su skandalizatō sin, exairasar auton kai balasar apo …And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out …
John 6:61… mathētois autou legata autoi; Houtem vin skandalizatō?… teaching, Jesus asked them, “Does this offend you?
1 Corinthians 8:13dioper ei brōmem skandalizatō ton adelfon mu, ouk mē esthiameia …… I eat causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again …
skandalizotō“falls away”happening now · he/she/itpresent middle or passive indicative 3rd person singular3×
Matthew 13:21… ē diōgmou dia ton logon euthuos skandalizotō.… because of the word, he quickly falls away.
Romans 14:21“is caused to sin”… he tos adelfos su proskoptatō ē skandalizotō ē asthenatō;… to cause your brother to stumble.
2 Corinthians 11:29“made to stumble”tinos asthenatō, kai ouk asthenamō? tinos skandalizotō kai ouk mis puromō?Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not burn with …
skandalizolō“fall away”happening now · theypresent middle or passive indicative 3rd person plural1×
Mark 4:17… ē diōgmou dia ton logon euthuos skandalizolō.… because of the word, they quickly fall away.
skandalizole“offended”was happening · theyimperfect middle or passive indicative 3rd person plural2×
Matthew 13:57“offended”kai skandalizole en auto. tos de Iēsus legata …And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them …
Mark 6:3“offended”… adelfais autou hōde pros nin? kai skandalizole en auto.… Simon? Aren’t His sisters here with us as well?” And they took offense at Him.
skandalizimi“fall away”will happen · Ifuture passive indicative 1st person singular1×
Matthew 26:33“fall away”… pantois skandalizili en si, mis oudepote skandalizimi.… Even if all fall away on account of You, I never will.”
skandalizivi“fall away”will happen · yefuture passive indicative 2nd person plural2×
Matthew 26:31… legatō autoi tos Iēsus; Pantois vis skandalizivi en mi en ta nukta houta, …… This very night you will all fall away on account of Me. For it …
Mark 14:27… legatō autoi tos Iēsus hoti Pantois skandalizivi, hoti grafotē; Pataxami ton poimenon, kai …… said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written: ‘I will …
skandalizili“fall away”will happen · theyfuture passive indicative 3rd person plural3×
Matthew 24:10kai tote skandalizili pollois kai allēloin paradōali kai misali …At that time many will fall away and will betray and hate one …
Matthew 26:33… tos Petros legata auto; Ei pantois skandalizili en si, mis oudepote skandalizimi.… said to Him, “Even if all fall away on account of You, I never …
Mark 14:29… Petros fēate auto; Ei kai pantois skandalizili, alla ouk mis.Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I never will.”
skandalizila“offended”happened · theyaorist passive indicative 3rd person plural1×
Matthew 15:12… hoti tois Farisaiois akouarantois ton logon skandalizila?… You aware that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?”
skandalizateiō“causes … tosin”happening now · he/she/itpresent active subjunctive 3rd person singular3×
Mark 9:43Kai ean skandalizateiō sin tas cheiras su, apokoptasar autan; …If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off …
Mark 9:45kai ean tos podos su skandalizateiō sin, apokoptasar auton; kalem atō sin …If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off …
Mark 9:47kai ean tos ofthalmos su skandalizateiō sin, ekbalasar auton; kalem sin atō …And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out …
skandalizameia“cause … tofall”happened · Iaorist active subjunctive 1st person singular1×
1 Corinthians 8:13… aiōnon, hina mē ton adelfon mu skandalizameia.… again, so that I will not cause him to stumble.
skandalizateia“causes … tosin”happened · he/she/itaorist active subjunctive 3rd person singular3×
Matthew 18:6Hos de an skandalizateia henon toiu mikroiu houtoiu toiu pisteuarōntoiu …But if anyone causes one of these little ones who …
Mark 9:42Kai hos an skandalizateia henon toiu mikroiu houtoiu toiu pisteuarōntoiu …But if anyone causes one of these little ones who …
Luke 17:2… riptotē eis tan thalassan ē hina skandalizateia toiu mikroiu houtoiu henon.… thrown into the sea than to cause one of these little ones to …
skandalizaneia“offend”happened · weaorist active subjunctive 1st person plural1×
Matthew 17:27hina de mē skandalizaneia autoin, poreuirantos eis thalassan balasar ankistrem …“But so that we may not offend them, go to the sea, cast …
skandaliziteia“offended”happened · he/she/itaorist passive subjunctive 3rd person singular2×
Matthew 11:6“offended”kai makarios atō hos ean mē skandaliziteia en mi.Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me.”
Luke 7:23“offended”kai makarios atō hos ean mē skandaliziteia en mi.Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me.”
skandaliziveia“made to stumble”happened · yeaorist passive subjunctive 2nd person plural1×
John 16:1“made to stumble”Houteim lalamē vi hina mē skandaliziveia.… told you these things so that you will not fall away.