Skandalon appears 15 times in the NT. The word originally referred to the 'trigger stick' of a trap — the stick that, when touched, caused the trap to spring and catch the animal. Metaphorically it became 'a stumbling block' or 'trap' — anything that causes someone to fall spiritually. Jesus's warnings about skandalon are severe: 'If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck' (Matthew 18:6-7). The verb skandalizō (to cause to stumble, to offend) appears 29 times.
Paul uses skandalon theologically in Romans 9:33 and 1 Corinthians 1:23 in a striking way: the cross itself is a skandalon. Quoting Isaiah 8:14, Paul describes Christ as 'a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.' The cross is offensive to human pride — it demands surrender rather than achievement. In Romans 9:33, this skandalon is specifically Christ himself — his person, his death, his claims. For Jews seeking miraculous signs, a crucified Messiah is a skandalon; for Greeks seeking wisdom, it is foolishness. Yet 'to us who are being saved it is the power of God' (1 Corinthians 1:18).