1 Peter 2:4

A Living Stone, a Chosen People

2:4 So as you come to him, ¹  a living stone rejected by men but ²  chosen and priceless ³  in God’s sight,

1 Peter 2:7

2:7 So you who believe see ⁴  his value, ⁵  but for those who do not believe, the stone that the builders rejected has become the ⁶  cornerstone, ⁷ 

[2:4]  ¹ tn Grk “to whom coming…you are built up…” as a continuation of the reference to the Lord in v. 3.

[2:4]  ² tn Greek emphasizes the contrast between these two phrases more than can be easily expressed in English.

[2:4]  ³ tn Grk “chosen, priceless.”

[2:7]  ⁴ tn Grk “to you who believe is the value,” referring to their perception of the stone in contrast to those who reject (vv. 7b-8). But the expression may also be translated as “to you who believe is this honor,” referring to the lack of shame cited in v. 6b.

[2:7]  ⁵ tn Grk “the value” or “the honor,” but the former is preferred since it comes from the same root as “priceless” in vv. 4, 6, and it is in contrast to the negative estimate of the stone by those who reject (vv. 7b-8).

[2:7]  ⁶ tn Grk “the head of the corner.”

[2:7]  ⁷ sn A quotation from Ps 118:22 (cf. Matt 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11).