Psalms 118:22-23
The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse doesn't just highlight the stone's eventual triumph; it points to the builders' flawed judgment. Those who were supposed to know the right materials for their construction missed the most crucial piece, revealing their inadequacy and setting the stage for God's sovereign, unexpected work. This emphasizes that God's plans often move forward despite, and even because of, human rejection.
This psalm is a song of praise, likely sung after a great victory or deliverance, celebrating God's steadfast love. The preceding verses speak of being surrounded by enemies and facing imminent danger, but ultimately finding salvation through God's intervention. The focus here is on a particular stone, rejected by the builders of the nation – its leaders and religious authorities – yet now elevated to the most crucial position, highlighting God's unexpected and powerful work.
Imagine a construction site where the experienced builders have a clear plan. But what happens when they discard a crucial piece of material?
This Psalm paints a picture of builders and their project, revealing a surprising twist.
The Builders' Blindness
The Psalm refers to "builders" who rejected a particular "stone." In the context of ancient Israel, these "builders" would have been the religious and political leaders – the ones meant to guide and discern God's will.
Their "project" was the spiritual and national life of Israel. However, they were blinded by their own agendas and expectations. They overlooked or actively pushed away something that God had designated as essential.
This rejection wasn't just a minor oversight; it was a fundamental misjudgment that would have consequences for their entire "building."
What happens when human judgment is proven spectacularly wrong?
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This verse reveals a divine reversal, where what was discarded is now central.
The Cornerstone's Crucial Role
The "stone" that the builders cast aside didn't stay discarded. Instead, it "has become the cornerstone." This is the most vital stone in a building, setting the foundation and joining the walls, ensuring stability and integrity.
This imagery highlights God's sovereign plan. Despite the rejection by human authorities, God elevates this stone to the most critical position. It signifies that God’s purposes cannot be thwarted by human opinion or action.
The elevation of this rejected stone is a testament to God’s wisdom, which far surpasses human understanding.
Understand the original words
eben · Hebrew Noun
A hard, solid mineral mass; in Scripture, frequently used as a metaphor for God's stability, protection, or the foundation of the faith (often pointing toward the Messiah).
rosh pinnah · Hebrew Noun phrase
The chief stone at the corner of a building, which binds two walls together and provides the foundational level and direction for the entire structure.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal, covenant-keeping name of God revealed to Israel; He who is self-existent, faithful, and the source of all existence.
niphlah · Hebrew Adjective/Participle
Something that causes astonishment, wonder, or awe; often used in Scripture to describe God’s miraculous interventions or His majestic works that transcend human expectation.
This verse speaks to a recurring theme in Israel's history where God elevates those rejected by human systems, culminating in the ultimate rejection and divine exaltation of Jesus Christ.
c. 1000 BC
David's Rejection and Ascension
David, a young shepherd, was chosen by God but initially rejected by many in favor of Saul's son, Ishbosheth, before eventually becoming king over all Israel.
c. 520 BC
Zerubbabel Rebuilding the Temple
Zerubbabel, a leader of the returned exiles, faced opposition from surrounding peoples as he led the rebuilding of the Jerusalem Temple, yet God's favor was upon him.
Early 1st century AD— this verse
Jesus Rejected by Religious Leaders
Jesus, seen by many as the promised Messiah, was rejected and condemned by the chief priests, scribes, and Pharisees, the 'builders' of the religious establishment.
c. AD 30-33
Crucifixion of Jesus
Despite being seen as an 'impostor' by many leaders, Jesus was crucified, fulfilling the prophecy of the rejected stone.
c. AD 30s
Early Church Growth
Following Jesus' resurrection and ascension, the early Church, built upon the foundation of the rejected but exalted Christ, began to grow rapidly.
c. AD 40s-60s
Apostles Preach Christ
Apostles like Peter and Paul proclaimed Jesus as the cornerstone of the Church, emphasizing His exaltation by God despite His rejection by human authorities.
Jesus directly quotes this verse, applying it to Himself as the rejected stone who becomes the cornerstone, highlighting its Messianic fulfillment.
Acts 4:11Peter uses this very passage to explain to the Jewish council that Jesus, whom they rejected, is the 'stone' that has become the cornerstone of God's building, the church.
1 Peter 2:4-7Peter refers to Jesus as the living stone, rejected by men but chosen by God and precious, echoing the theme of rejection and ultimate exaltation found in Psalms 118:22.
Ephesians 2:20This passage describes the church as being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone, directly linking the image to the structure of God's people.
pulpitPsalms 118:22: "The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner."
Verse 22. - The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. The primary and literal meaning seems to be - " Israel, which the great of the world, those who think to arrange the world ac cording to their own ideas, have rejected and would fain have cast aside, has, nevertheless, despite their rejection, attained to eminence, and been advanced, by the course of events, into s…
clarkePsalms 118:22: "The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner."
The stone which the builders refused - See a full elucidation of these two verses in the notes on Matthew 21:42 (note).
The verse doesn't just highlight the stone's eventual triumph; it points to the builders' flawed judgment. Those who were supposed to know the right materials for their construction missed the most crucial piece, revealing their inadequacy and setting the stage for God's sovereign, unexpected work. This emphasizes that God's plans often move forward despite, and even because of, human rejection.
This psalm is a song of praise, likely sung after a great victory or deliverance, celebrating God's steadfast love. The preceding verses speak of being surrounded by enemies and facing imminent danger, but ultimately finding salvation through God's intervention. The focus here is on a particular stone, rejected by the builders of the nation – its leaders and religious authorities – yet now elevated to the most crucial position, highlighting God's unexpected and powerful work.
This psalm is a song of praise, likely sung after a great victory or deliverance, celebrating God's steadfast love. The preceding verses speak of being surrounded by enemies and facing imminent danger, but ultimately finding salvation through God's intervention. The focus here is on a particular stone, rejected by the builders of the nation – its leaders and religious authorities – yet now elevated to the most crucial position, highlighting God's unexpected and powerful work.
"The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes." — The verse doesn't just highlight the stone's eventual triumph; it points to the builders' flawed judgment. Those who were supposed to know the right materials for their construction missed the most…
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