σπιλάς, σπιλαδος, ἡ, a rock in the sea, ledge or reef (Homer, Odyssey 3, 298; 5, 401, and in other poets; Polybius, Diodorus, Josephus, b. j. 3, 9, 3); plural, tropically, of men who by their conduct damage others morally, wreck them as it were, equivalent to σκάνδαλα (R. V. text hidden rocks), Jud_1:12 (here L T Tr WH read οἱ (namely, ὄντες) σπιλάδες. Some (so R. V. marginal reading) make the word equivalent to the following; see Rutherford as there referred to.)

σπιλάς spilas 1x a sharply-cleft portion of rock; in NT a flaw, stigma, Jud_1:12

* σπιλάς , -άδος , ἡ (on the gender in Ju, l.c ., v. Mayor , Ju., 41), 1. poλt. in cl ., a rock or reef over which the sea dashes ( Polyb ., FlJ , al. ). Metaph ., of men whose conduct causes danger to others, Jud_1:12 , R , txt . (but v. infr .). 2. In late writers = σπίλος ( q.v. ), a spot, stain; metaph ., Ju, l.c ., R , mg . ( cf. Mayor , 41, but v. supr .).†

σπιλάς [page 583] found in the NT only in Jud_1:12 , is generally understood as = rock, reef, in accordance with its poetic classical usage : cf. Kaibel 225 .1 f. where it is said of a man who had precipitated himself from a rock Ὀστέα μὲν καὶ σάρκας ἐμὰς σπιλάδες διέχευαν ὀξεῖαι , κρημνῶν ἅλμα ὑποδεξάμεναι . Others prefer the rendering spot, stain, as if = σπίλος ( q.v. ), which is found in the parallel passage 2Pe_2:13 : cf. Lightfoot Revision , p. 152 f. More recently A. D. Knox has shown good ground ( JTS xiv. (1913), p. 547 ff., xvi. (1915), p. 78) for taking the word as an adj. with ἄνεμος understood, a dirty, foul wind, producing a correspondingly troubled and stormy effect on the water : cf. Isa_57:20 .

σπιλάς, -άδος, ἡ (on the gender in Ju, l.with, see Mayor, Ju., 41), __1. poët. in cl., a rock or reef over which the sea dashes (Polyb., FlJ, al.). Metaphorical, of men whose conduct causes danger to others, Ju 12, R, txt. (but see infr.). __2. In late writers = σπίλος (which see), a spot, stain; metaphorically, Ju, l.with, R, mg. (cf. Mayor, 41, but see supr.).† (AS)