Then Jesus asked them, “Didn’t you ever read this in the Scriptures? ‘The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing, and it is wonderful to see.’
Parallel translations
- WEB Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures, ‘The stone which the builders rejected, the same was made the head of the corner. This was from the Lord. It is marvelous in our eyes?’
- KJV Jesus 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?
- BSB Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?
- NKJV Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes’ ?
- NASB Jesus *said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures, ‘A stone which the builders rejected, This has become the chief cornerstone; This came about from the Lord, And it is marvelous in our eyes’?
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. He applies it to Himself as the rejected yet exalted Messiah.
Overview
Quoting Psalm 118:22-23, Jesus identifies Himself as the cornerstone rejected by Israel's 'builders,' the leaders. What they reject, God makes the foundation of His redemptive work. This text became central to the early church's proclamation that the crucified and risen Jesus is the chief cornerstone of God's new temple, His people.
Cross-references & the web
Quotation
- Ps 118:22The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
Cross-references · 12
- Ps 118:22–23The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
- Isa 28:16Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh, “Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone of a sure foundation. He who believes shall not act hastily.
- Acts 4:11He is ‘the stone which was regarded as worthless by you, the builders, which has become the head of the corner.’
- 1 Pet 2:4–8coming to him, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, precious.
- Eph 2:20being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone;
- Rom 9:33even as it is written, “Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and a rock of offense; and no one who believes in him will be disappointed.”
- Luke 20:17–18But he looked at them, and said, “Then what is this that is written, ‘The stone which the builders rejected, the same was made the chief cornerstone?’
- Mark 12:10–11Haven’t you even read this Scripture: ‘The stone which the builders rejected, the same was made the head of the corner.
- Zech 3:8–9Hear now, Joshua the high priest, you and your fellows who sit before you; for they are men who are a sign: for, behold, I will bring out my servant, the Branch.
- Acts 13:40–41Beware therefore, lest that come on you which is spoken in the prophets:
- Eph 3:3–9how that by revelation the mystery was made known to me, as I wrote before in few words,
- Hab 1:5“Look among the nations, watch, and wonder marvelously; for I am working a work in your days, which you will not believe though it is told you.
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
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Original language
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