Its origin is rooted in the Bible, specifically in the Old Testament. Here are some examples:
* Leviticus 19:14: "You shall not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God: I am the Lord."
* 1 Corinthians 1:23: "But we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles."
* Romans 9:32-33: "Because they did not pursue righteousness based on faith but on works of the law, they stumbled over the stumbling stone. As it is written: “See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.”"
In these biblical passages, the "stumbling block" refers to something that hinders spiritual progress, or causes people to fall into sin. This can be literal obstacles, like an actual stone, or figurative ones, like teachings or beliefs that contradict faith.
The phrase became popularized in English literature and everyday language as a metaphor for any obstacle, difficulty, or challenge that causes someone to fail or be prevented from achieving something.
It's worth noting that the word "stumbling block" can also be used in a more neutral sense, simply meaning a minor obstacle or inconvenience. However, its original meaning and connection to spiritual challenges are still relevant in many contexts.