The rock in 1 Corinthians 10 is Christ — the spiritual Rock that accompanied Israel in the wilderness and was smitten so that water could flow.
Paul explicitly says Israel 'drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ' (1 Corinthians 10:4). Les Feldick emphasizes that throughout Scripture, whenever 'rock' or 'stone' is used symbolically, it points to Jesus the Christ — the smitten Christ who gives life and is received by faith.
1 Corinthians 10:4 — This verse explicitly states 'that Rock was Christ' and is the exact passage the question asks about.
Exodus 17:6 — This is the wilderness event Paul references in 1 Corinthians 10:4, where Moses was told to strike the rock and water came out.
In 1 Corinthians 10:1-4, the Apostle Paul reminds believers of Israel's wilderness journey: 'Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.' The text itself identifies the Rock: it was Christ. The Old Testament event behind Paul's words is found in Exodus 17:6, where God tells Moses, 'Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink.' The water came from the rock after Moses struck it. Elsewhere in Scripture, rock and stone imagery is used similarly. Daniel 2:34 describes 'a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet,' and Matthew 16:18 records Jesus saying, 'Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church.'
Les Feldick consistently teaches that whenever the Bible uses the word 'rock' or 'stone' in a symbolic setting, it points to one person: Jesus the Christ. He applies this to 1 Corinthians 10, where Paul calls the wilderness rock a 'spiritual Rock' and identifies it as Christ. Les emphasizes that the word 'rock' is capitalized significantly, because the rock that followed Israel was not a mere stone but Christ Himself. He also connects the striking of the rock in Exodus 17 to the cross: when Moses took his rod and smote the rock, he was smiting Christ. In Les's words, it is 'the smitten Christ.' For believers on this side of the cross, the finished work of Christ — His death, burial, and resurrection — is appropriated by faith. The same principle governs other passages: the stone cut out without hands in Daniel 2 is Christ, and the rock in Matthew 16 upon which Christ builds His church is Christ, not Peter. Les notes one caveat: any reference to the rock, 'unless the text definitely indicates something else,' points to Christ.
Paul says Israel 'drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.' Les Feldick explains that the word 'rock' is capitalized significantly, because the same rock that had been struck in the desert continued to follow Israel through the wilderness — and that rock was Christ. He urges his hearers to remember this whenever they encounter the word 'rock' in Scripture.
In Exodus 17, God told Moses He would stand before him on the rock in Horeb, and that Moses was to strike it. Water came out of the rock so that the people and livestock could drink. Les Feldick says that when Moses smote the rock with his rod, he was smiting Christ. He calls this 'the smitten Christ,' connecting the wilderness rock to the finished work of the cross, which believers appropriate by faith.
Les Feldick addresses the common question about Matthew 16:18 by saying the rock upon which Christ will build His church is not Peter. He says the rock referred to in that verse is 'the only rock of Scripture, and that is Christ Himself.'
Les Feldick points to Daniel 2, where a stone cut out without hands smites Nebuchadnezzar's vision. In that passage, the stone is Christ. This is the same consistent analogy that runs 'all the way up through Scripture' — Christ is the rock and the stone.
Why the Golden Calf Still Matters — 1 Corinthians 10:5-13 Explained
Hello and welcome to Through the Bible with Les Feldick. An Oklahoma rancher and farmer, Les Feldick has been teaching homestyle Bible classes for 20 years in Iowa, Oklahoma, and Texas. Les Feldick's unique style of Bible teaching has made the books of the Bible come to life. When Les is teaching, it's so interesting that people say time just seems to fly by. And now, here is Les Feldick.
Symbolic 'Rock' Always Points to Christ
Les establishes the principle that every symbolic use of 'rock' or 'stone' in Scripture refers to Jesus the Christ, giving the key to interpreting 1 Corinthians 10.
Christ as the Stone and Rock
Les shows the same analogy in Daniel 2 and in the Exodus rock: the stone and the rock are both Christ.
Reading the Rock in 1 Corinthians 10
Les says any biblical reference to the rock points to Christ unless the text clearly says otherwise, and he starts working through 1 Corinthians 10.
The Rock in Matthew 16 Is Christ
Les explicitly says the rock on which Christ will build His church is Christ, not Peter, and links the smitten rock to the finished work of the cross received by faith.
God's Presence on the Rock in Horeb
Les quotes Exodus 17:6 to show the rock Moses struck in Horeb, then moves to 1 Corinthians to identify that rock as Christ.
The Smitten Christ
Les teaches that Moses striking the rock was striking Christ — the smitten Christ — directly answering what the rock signifies in 1 Corinthians 10.
The Spiritual Rock That Followed Israel
Les points out the capitalized 'Rock' in 1 Corinthians 10:4, showing the rock that followed Israel was Christ Himself.
1 Corinthians 10:4: And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
This is the key New Testament verse that explicitly identifies the wilderness rock as Christ.
Exodus 17:6: Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.
This is the wilderness event Paul refers to, where water flowed from the smitten rock.
Daniel 2:34: Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.
Les uses this verse to show that the 'stone cut out without hands' is Christ.
Matthew 16:18: And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Les teaches that the rock in this verse is Christ, not Peter.
The rock is Christ. Paul writes that Israel 'drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ' (1 Corinthians 10:4). Les Feldick emphasizes that every symbolic use of 'rock' or 'stone' in Scripture points to Jesus the Christ.
God commanded Moses to strike the rock in Horeb so that water would come out for the people to drink (Exodus 17:6). Les Feldick teaches that when Moses smote the rock, he was smiting Christ, calling it 'the smitten Christ.'
Les Feldick teaches it is Christ, not Peter. The rock upon which Christ will build His church is Christ Himself — 'the only rock of Scripture.'
Paul calls the rock 'spiritual' because it was a picture of Christ. Les points out that the word 'Rock' is capitalized significantly: the rock that followed Israel was not mere stone but Christ Himself.
Watch the Teaching: Why the Golden Calf Still Matters — 1 Corinthians 10:5-13 Explained