Limitless Word
And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:
Mark 12:10 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB Haven’t you even read this Scripture: ‘The stone which the builders rejected, the same was made the head of the corner.
  • BSB Have you never read this Scripture: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
  • ESV Have you not read this Scripture: “‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;
  • NKJV Have you not even read this Scripture: ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone.
  • NASB Have you not even read this Scripture: ‘A stone which the builders rejected, This has become the chief cornerstone;
  • NLT Didn’t you ever read this in the Scriptures? ‘The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

Jesus cites Psalm 118: the stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

Overview

Quoting Psalm 118:22, Jesus identifies Himself as the rejected stone who becomes the foundation of God's new work. The 'builders'—the religious leaders—reject Him, yet God exalts Him as the cornerstone of His people. Christ's rejection leads, by God's design, to His vindication and supremacy.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 16

  • Ps 118:22–23The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
  • Isa 28:16Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
  • 1 Pet 2:7–8Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
  • Luke 20:17–18And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?
  • Matt 21:42Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
  • Acts 4:11–12This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
  • Rom 9:33As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
  • Eph 2:20–22And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
  • Mark 2:25And he said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungred, he, and they that were with him?
  • Matt 21:16And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?
  • Matt 19:4And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
  • Matt 22:31But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,
  • Luke 6:3And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was an hungred, and they which were with him;
  • Mark 13:14But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:
  • Matt 12:3But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;
  • Mark 12:26And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (5)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Mark videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Mark 12:10YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on MarkMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'

How Mark 12:10 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.