denotes "a mass of rock," as distinct from petros, "a detached stone or boulder," or a stone that might be thrown or easily moved. For the nature of petra, see Mat 1:7-25, Mat 27:51, Mat 27:60, Mar 15:46, Luk 6:48 (twice), a type of a sure foundation (here the true reading is as in the RV, "because it had been well builded"); Rev 1:6-16 (cp. Isa 2:19,ff.; Hos 10:8); Luk 8:6, Luk 8:13, used illustratively; 1Co 10:4 (twice), figuratively, of Christ; in Rom 9:33, 1Pe 2:8, metaphorically, of Christ; in Mat 16:18, metaphorically, of Christ and the testimony concerning Him; here the distinction between petra, concerning the Lord Himself, and Petros, the Apostle, is clear (see above).
<2,,4694, spilas>
"a rock or reef," over which the sea dashes, is used in Jud 1:12, "hidden rocks," RV, metaphorical of men whose conduct is a danger to others. A late meaning ascribed to it is that of "spots," (AV), but that rendering seems to have been influenced by the parallel passage in 2Pe 2:13, where spiloi, "spots," occurs.
