rocks and stones in the Bible

My Bible search tool tells me that there are about 140 occurrences of the word "rock" in the Bible, and about 330 occurrences of "stone." Here are some of the more important passages related to rock or stone.

In Genesis 28, Jacob, fleeing from his brother Esau, takes a rock for a pillow, and, when he wakes, sets that rock up as a pillar, and pours oil on it, and promises to give God from his goods.

In Exodus 28, the first instance of stoning to death as a punishment occurs. Stephen was stoned in Acts, and Paul was stoned and left for dead.

In Exodus 24, the Ten Commandments were engraved on two stone tablets, by God, Himself. Later, after Moses broke them in righteous anger, God made new tablets. These tablets were still in a sacred box, or ark, many years later.

In Exodus 28, twelve stones, as part of the garments of the High Priest, represented the twelve tribes. There are a number of other references to precious stones in the Bible.

In Exodus 33, God tells Moses that he can be hidden in a cleft of a rock, while God passes by.  

Leviticus 26:1 You shall make for yourselves no idols, and you shall not raise up a carved image or a pillar, and you shall not place any figured stone in your land, to bow down to it; for I am Yahweh your God.

Stoning to death was commanded several times in the Old Testament, or was given as the penalty if anyone were to commit certain sins.

In Numbers 20, Moses obtained water for the Israelites, in a sinful manner, by striking a rock.

Deuteronomy 27:1 Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, "Keep all the commandment which I command you today. 2 It shall be on the day when you shall pass over the Jordan to the land which Yahweh your God gives you, that you shall set yourself up great stones, and coat them with plaster. 3 You shall write on them all the words of this law, when you have passed over, that you may go in to the land which Yahweh your God gives you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as Yahweh, the God of your fathers, has promised you."

Deuteronomy 32:3 For I will proclaim Yahweh’s name.  Ascribe greatness to our God! 4 The Rock: his work is perfect, for all his ways are just.  A God of faithfulness who does no wrong, just and right is he.

In Joshua 4, the Israelites were told to take stones from the bed of the Jordan River, which they were about to cross, and set them as a memorial to God's power.

1 Samuel 2:2 There is no one as holy as Yahweh, for there is no one besides you, nor is there any rock like our God.

David took 5 stones to use in his sling, when he confronted Goliath, according to 1 Samuel 17.

2 Samuel 22:2b Yahweh is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, even mine; God is my rock in whom I take refuge; my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge. My savior, you save me from violence.

There are several other times when God is called a rock, in the Old Testament.

1 Kings 5 - 7 describes the building of the Temple. Many stones were used in the construction.

In Ezra 5 and 6, stones were used to re-build the temple.

There is only one use of the word, stones, in the entire book of Psalms. It's in 102:14.

In Isaiah 2, sinners try to hide themselves from God, in the rocks.

In Matthew 4, Satan tempts Christ, suggesting that He turn stones into bread.

Matthew 7 has the parable of the house built on a rock.

Matthew has the parable of seed falling on rocky ground.

Matthew 16:15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 I also tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my assembly, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. ..."

In Luke 19, Jesus says that if the crowd hadn't hailed his entry into Jerusalem, the stones would have cheered for Him.

1 Peter 5 says that believers are like living stones.