Dictionary Article

Jesus used this term to speak of himself in the parable of the wicked tenants (Mt 21:42; Mk 12:10; Lk 20:17). The setting for this parable was his final ministry in Jerusalem after he had cleansed the temple. The Jewish leaders had questioned him about his actions, and part of his reply was this parable, which symbolically addressed the situation between Jesus and the leaders. The Jewish leaders were represented in the parable as the tenants who were caring for the vineyard, which symbolized God’s people. Those tenants wickedly refused to honor the owner, who represented God, ultimately putting his son to death. The parable speaks of the coming death of Jesus in symbolic terms, and Jesus concluded it by referring the Jewish leaders back to their own Scriptures, specifically Psalm 118:22-23 (cf. Is 28:16), which he understood as speaking of his rejection and exaltation. The Jewish leaders rejected Jesus, but God would exalt him as the cornerstone.

Show passage in OET: MAT 21:42

OET-RV MAT 21:42

42 Then Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) said to them, “Haven’t you ever read this in the scriptures? It says:
⇔ ‘The stone which the builders rejected,
⇔ this would become the cornerstone.
⇔ This one came from Yahweh,
⇔ and it was amazing to see.’

OET-LV MAT 21:42

42 The Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa) is _saying to _them:
You _all_ never _read in the scriptures:
The_stone which the ones building rejected, this was _become for the_head of_the_corner, this became from the_master, and it _is marvellous in the_eyes of _us?

Show passage in OET: MRK 12:10

OET-RV MRK 12:10

10 Haven’t you all read this in the scriptures:
⇔ ‘the stone that the builders rejected
⇔ became the important cornerstone

OET-LV MRK 12:10

10 You _all_ not _even _read the this scripture:
The_stone which the ones building rejected, this was _become for the_head of_the_corner,

Show passage in OET: LUK 20:17

OET-RV LUK 20:17

17 But he looked them in the eyes and asked, “Then what is this statement that was written in the scriptures?
⇔ ‘The stone which the builders rejected,
⇔ that one became the most important stone.’

OET-LV LUK 20:17

17 But he having _focused _in on _them said:
Therefore what is this the message having _been _written:
The_stone which the ones building rejected, this was _become for the_head of_the_corner?

Show passage in OET: PSA 118:22–23

OET-RV PSA 118:22

22 The stone that the builders rejected
⇔ → has become the very important stone at the corner.

OET-RV PSA 118:23

23 That’s Yahweh’s doing—
⇔ → we think it’s just wonderful.

OET-LV PSA 118:22

22 A _stone the_builders which_they _rejected it _has _become (into)_the_head _of the_corner.

OET-LV PSA 118:23

23 From_with YHWH this it _has _come it it _is _wonderful in_eyes _of_our.

Show passage in OET: ISA 28:16

OET-RV ISA 28:16

16 Therefore, my master Yahweh says:
⇔ Look, I’ve put a foundation stone in place in Tsiyon (Zion)—one that’s been tested.
⇔ It’s a valuable cornerstone—a reliable foundation.
⇔ Anyone who trusts in it won’t have to rush away.

OET-LV ISA 28:16

16 For_so/thus/hence thus my_master YHWH he _says here_I he _has _laid in_Tsiyyōn/(Zion) a _stone a _stone _of testing a _corner _of preciousness _of a _foundation founded the_one_who_trusts not he _will _make _haste.

Jump to OET MAT 21:42 section.

Jump to OET MRK 12:10 section.

Jump to OET LUK 20:17 section.

Jump to OET PSA 118:22–23 section.

Jump to OET ISA 28:16 section.

Second, the term is used in Acts 4:11, which describes Peter’s defense before the Jewish rulers in Jerusalem. Peter explained to them the healing of the lame beggar by the temple gate, stressing that the healing took place by the name of Jesus Christ, the Nazarene whom they had crucified but whom God had raised from the dead (v 10). He then quotes Psalm 118:22 to confirm the events as being according to Scripture. It seems clear that Peter intended the rejection of the stone to refer to Jesus’ death and the placing of the stone as the cornerstone to refer to Jesus’ resurrection and exaltation. Thus, “cornerstone” designates Jesus in his exalted position with the Father.

Show passage in OET: ACT 4:11

OET-RV ACT 4:11

11 This Yeshua is:
⇔ ‘the stone which was rejected by you builders,
⇔ has now become the vital cornerstone.’

OET-LV ACT 4:11

11 This one is the stone which having _been _scorned by you _all, the builders, which having _become to the_head of_the_corner.

Show passage in OET: ACT 4:10

OET-RV ACT 4:10

10 then you all need to know, and the people of Yisrael (Israel) should also know, that it was done under the authority and name of Yeshua the messiah. He was the man from Nazaret that you executed on a pole, but who God brought back to life. It was because of his authority that this man can now stand before you without deformity.

OET-LV ACT 4:10

10 it _let _be known to _all you _all and to _all the people of _Israaʸl/(Yisrā^ʼēl), that in the name of_Yaʸsous chosen _one /messiah the from _Nazaret, whom you _all executed _on _a _stake, whom the god raised from the_dead, by this name this man has _stood _by before you _all healthy.

Show passage in OET: PSA 118:22

OET-RV PSA 118:22

22 The stone that the builders rejected
⇔ → has become the very important stone at the corner.

OET-LV PSA 118:22

22 A _stone the_builders which_they _rejected it _has _become (into)_the_head _of the_corner.

Jump to OET ACT 4:11 section.

Jump to OET ACT 4:10 section.

Jump to OET PSA 118:22 section.

The term is also used in 1 Peter 2:6-7. In verse 4 Peter combines the idea of the rejection of the stone in Psalm 118:22 with the idea of the chosen and precious stone in Isaiah 28:16, adding the idea of living from his own experience of Jesus’ resurrection. Peter is encouraging his readers to come to Jesus, that they may be built up as a spiritual house to God. This imagery is used to bring out the exalted nature of Jesus. In verse 6 Peter quotes Isaiah 28:16, which speaks of the chosen and precious cornerstone, and related this to believers. In verses 7-8 he quotes Psalm 118:22, referring to the rejection of the stone, and Isaiah 8:14, which speaks of a stone of stumbling, and relates these to unbelievers. Peter’s purpose is to set before his readers the exalted position of Jesus and to encourage them to remember him to whom they were called.

Show passage in OET: PE1 2:6–7

OET-RV PE1 2:6

6 because it’s written in the scriptures:
⇔ ‘Look, I’m placing a building-stone in Tsiyon (Zion),
⇔ the vital cornerstone that’s chosen and honoured,
⇔ and anyone who believes in him certainly won’t be disgraced.’

OET-RV PE1 2:7

7 To all of you who believe, this cornerstone is valuable, but to those who don’t believe:
⇔ ‘The building-stone which the builders rejected
⇔ ended up becoming the vital cornerstone.’

OET-LV PE1 2:6

6 Because it _is _contained in in _scripture:
Behold, I _am _laying a_stone in Siōn/(Tsiyyōn), a_cornerstone chosen honoured, and the one believing in him, by _no _means may_ not _be _disgraced.

OET-LV PE1 2:7

7 Therefore is the value to _you _all, the ones believing, but to _disbelieving ones The_stone which the ones building rejected, this was _become to the_head of_the_corner,

Show passage in OET: PE1 2:4

OET-RV PE1 2:4

4 As you chosen people approach the living building-stone (which was rejected by humans yet chosen and honoured by God),

OET-LV PE1 2:4

4 To whom approaching a_ living _stone, on _one _hand having _been _rejected by humans, on _the _other _hand chosen by god, honoured,

Show passage in OET: PE1 2:6

OET-RV PE1 2:6

OET-LV PE1 2:6

6 Because it _is _contained in in _scripture:
Behold, I _am _laying a_stone in Siōn/(Tsiyyōn), a_cornerstone chosen honoured, and the one believing in him, by _no _means may_ not _be _disgraced.

Show passage in OET: PE1 2:7–8

OET-RV PE1 2:7

OET-RV PE1 2:8

8 and he’ll be:
⇔ ‘A stone that people stumble over
⇔ and a rock that upsets people.’
§ They stumble because they won’t believe in the message—this is what was appointed for them.

OET-LV PE1 2:7

7 Therefore is the value to _you _all, the ones believing, but to _disbelieving ones The_stone which the ones building rejected, this was _become to the_head of_the_corner,

OET-LV PE1 2:8

8 and:
A_stone of _stumbling, and a_rock of _offense, who are _stumbling disbelieving in _the message, to which also they _were _appointed.

Show passage in OET: ISA 8:14

OET-RV ISA 8:14

14 He’ll be like your safe retreat. He’ll be both the stone that strikes and the rock that makes both Yisrael (Israel) and Yehudah (Judah) stumble, and like a trap for the inhabitants of Yerushalem (Jerusalem).

OET-LV ISA 8:14

14 And_it _was (into)_a_sanctuary and _(into)_a_stone _of striking and _(into)_a_rock _of stumbling for_the _two _of the _houses _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) (into)_a_trap and _(into)_a_snare for_the _inhabitant[s]_of Yərūshālaim/(Jerusalem).

Jump to OET PE1 2:6–7 section.

Jump to OET PE1 2:4 section.

Jump to OET PE1 2:6 section.

Jump to OET PE1 2:7–8 section.

Jump to OET ISA 8:14 section.

It is evident that the OT concept of cornerstone is applied to Jesus to emphasize his exalted position with the Father and so to encourage the believer. In Ephesians 2:20 brief reference is also made to Christ Jesus as the cornerstone upon which the church is built.

Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary