Psalms 118:22-23

118:22 The stone which the builders discarded ¹ 

has become the cornerstone. ² 

118:23 This is the Lord’s work.

We consider it amazing! ³ 

Isaiah 8:14-15

8:14 He will become a sanctuary, ⁴ 

but a stone that makes a person trip,

and a rock that makes one stumble –

to the two houses of Israel. ⁵ 

He will become ⁶  a trap and a snare

to the residents of Jerusalem. ⁷ 

8:15 Many will stumble over the stone and the rock, ⁸ 

and will fall and be seriously injured,

and will be ensnared and captured.”

Matthew 21:42

21:42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the scriptures:

‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. ⁹ 

This is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? ¹⁰ 

Mark 12:10-11

12:10 Have you not read this scripture:

‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. ¹¹ 

12:11 This is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?” ¹² 

Luke 20:17-18

20:17 But Jesus ¹³  looked straight at them and said, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’? ¹⁴  20:18 Everyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, ¹⁵  and the one on whom it falls will be crushed.” ¹⁶ 

Acts 4:11-12

4:11 This Jesus ¹⁷  is the stone that was rejected by you, ¹⁸  the builders, that has become the cornerstone. ¹⁹  4:12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among people ²⁰  by which we must ²¹  be saved.”

[118:22]  ¹ tn Or “rejected.”

[118:22]  ² tn Heb “the head of the corner.”

[118:23]  ³ tn Heb “it is amazing in our eyes.” The use of the plural pronoun here and in vv. 24-27 suggests that the psalmist may be speaking for the entire nation. However, it is more likely that vv. 22-27 are the people’s response to the psalmist’s thanksgiving song (see especially v. 26). They rejoice with him because his deliverance on the battlefield (see vv. 10-12) had national repercussions.

[8:14]  ⁵ tn Because the metaphor of protection (“sanctuary”) does not fit the negative mood that follows in vv. 14b-15, some contend that מִקְדָּשׁ (miqdash, “sanctuary”) is probably a corruption of an original מוֹקֵשׁ (moqesh, “snare”), a word that appears in the next line (cf. NAB and H. Wildberger, Isaiah, 1:355-56). If the MT reading is retained (as in the above translation), the fact that Yahweh is a sanctuary wraps up the point of v. 13 and stands in contrast to God’s treatment of those who rebel against him (the rest of v. 14).

[8:14]  ⁶ sn The two “houses” of Israel (= the patriarch Jacob) are the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah.

[8:14]  ⁷ tn These words are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons. וְהָיָה (vÿhayah, “and he will be”) does double duty in the parallel structure of the verse.

[8:14]  ⁸ map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[8:15]  ⁷ tn Heb “over them” (so NASB); NCV “over this rock.”

[21:42]  ⁹ tn Or “capstone,” “keystone.” Although these meanings are lexically possible, the imagery in Eph 2:20-22 and 1 Cor 3:11 indicates that the term κεφαλὴ γωνίας (kefalh gwnia") refers to a cornerstone, not a capstone.

[21:42]  ¹⁰ sn A quotation from Ps 118:22-23.

[12:10]  ¹¹ tn Or “capstone,” “keystone.” Although these meanings are lexically possible, the imagery in Eph 2:20-22 and 1 Cor 3:11 indicates that the term κεφαλὴ γωνίας (kefalh gwnia") refers to a cornerstone, not a capstone.

[12:11]  ¹³ sn A quotation from Ps 118:22-23.

[20:17]  ¹⁵ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[20:17]  ¹⁶ tn Or “capstone,” “keystone.” Although these meanings are lexically possible, the imagery in Eph 2:20-22 and 1 Cor 3:11 indicates that the term κεφαλὴ γωνίας (kefalh gwnia") refers to a cornerstone, not a capstone.

[20:18]  ¹⁷ tn On this term, see BDAG 972 s.v. συνθλάω.

[20:18]  ¹⁸ tn Grk “on whomever it falls, it will crush him.”

[4:11]  ¹⁹ tn Grk “This one”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[4:11]  ²⁰ tn The word “you” is inserted into the quotation because Peter is making a direct application of Ps 118:22 to his hearers. Because it is not in the OT, it has been left as normal type (rather than bold italic). The remarks are like Acts 2:22-24 and 3:12-15.

[4:11]  ²¹ sn A quotation from Ps 118:22 which combines the theme of rejection with the theme of God’s vindication/exaltation.

[4:12]  ²¹ tn Here ἀνθρώποις (anqrwpoi") has been translated as a generic noun (“people”).

[4:12]  ²² sn Must be saved. The term used here (δεῖ, dei, “it is necessary”) reflects the necessity set up by God’s directive plan.