as it is written, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights that the very "stone" God lays in Zion, meant to be a foundation, also serves as a "stumbling block." This isn't a contradiction but a crucial point: God's plan for salvation through Christ is the ultimate source of hope for believers, yet it becomes the very reason for the unbeliever's downfall.
as it is written, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is concluding his argument about God's sovereign choice, emphasizing that Israel's rejection of God's plan wasn't due to God's failure, but their own. He shows how both Gentiles and Jews have responded to God's offer of righteousness, and now he quotes Isaiah to explain why many Israelites stumbled over the very Messiah God laid as a foundation in Zion.
How can the same person be both a foundation for some and a cause of ruin for others?
The verse describes Jesus Christ as a "stone of stumbling" and a "rock of offense." This isn't a contradiction, but a reflection of how people respond to Him. God intentionally placed Jesus in Zion (representing His people and His mission), but His divine nature and the message He carried would inevitably be rejected by many. The Jewish leaders, expecting a conquering king, stumbled over Jesus' humble origins, his message of suffering, and his eventual crucifixion. They saw him not as a savior, but as an offense to their traditions and national pride.
This paradox is key: God's plan for salvation is centered on Christ, but human choice determines whether Christ becomes a solid foundation or a destructive obstacle. It highlights that the reception of Jesus is not neutral; it reveals the heart's posture towards God.
When the world feels shaky, where do we find lasting security?
The second part of the verse offers a powerful contrast: 'whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.' This isn't about simply intellectual assent, but a deep, active trust in Jesus Christ.
For those who believe, Jesus isn't a source of confusion or disappointment. Instead, He becomes their ultimate security, their 'rock of refuge.' The original Hebrew text, as seen in Isaiah, speaks of not 'making haste' or being 'afraid.' When translated into 'not be ashamed,' it captures the idea of ultimate vindication and lasting confidence. Believers won't be disappointed in their hope because Jesus is the foundation God Himself has laid. Their faith, though perhaps mocked by the world, will ultimately lead to salvation and unfading glory, ensuring they are never put to shame.
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Understand the original words
Tsiyown · Hebrew Proper Noun
The sacred center of Jerusalem and, by extension, the dwelling place of God's presence and the site of His Messianic promises.
skandalon · Greek Noun
Something that causes indignation, scandal, or entrapment. It refers to the reaction of those who reject God’s plan of salvation because it humbles human pride.
pisteuō · Greek Verb
To trust in, rely upon, or commit one’s life to the truth and person of Jesus Christ. It is the active, continuous posture of the believer.
kataischunō · Greek Verb
Disappointment or loss of honor, particularly in the context of the final judgment. Those who trust in God's provision will not be left disappointed or humiliated when Christ returns.
This verse highlights a core tension in salvation history: the very foundation God lays for salvation in Zion (Jesus Christ) becomes a cause of offense and stumbling for those who reject Him, while simultaneously being the source of unshakable hope for those who believe.
c. 740 BC
Isaiah Prophesies the Stone of Stumbling
The prophet Isaiah, living during a time of political instability and religious compromise in the Kingdom of Judah, delivers prophecies about a coming stone laid in Zion. This stone, intended as a foundation, would become a cause of stumbling and offense for many.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
The Babylonians conquer Jerusalem, destroy the Temple, and deport a significant portion of the population. This event profoundly shapes Jewish identity and their longing for future restoration and the coming of the Messiah.
c. 538 BC - 444 BC
Return from Exile and Second Temple Period
Jews begin to return from Babylonian exile, rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem. Despite the restoration, a sense of unfulfilled prophecy and anticipation for God's definitive intervention and the Messiah remains.
c. 27 BC - AD 30— this verse
Jesus' Ministry in Judea and Galilee
Jesus begins his public ministry, teaching, healing, and proclaiming the Kingdom of God. His message and identity challenge many of the prevailing religious and political expectations of the Jews.
c. AD 30-33
Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus
Jesus is crucified, an event that becomes a 'stumbling block' to many Jews who expected a conquering king, but is followed by his resurrection, confirming his identity and offering salvation to believers.
c. AD 50-60
Paul Writes His Epistle to the Romans
The Apostle Paul, writing to the church in Rome, addresses the complex issue of God's faithfulness to Israel and the inclusion of Gentiles. He quotes Isaiah to explain why many Israelites rejected Jesus, while Gentiles who sought righteousness through faith found it.
This passage directly introduces the 'stumbling stone and rock of offense' that will be placed in Zion, providing the foundational prophecy for Paul's statement.
Isaiah 28:16This verse speaks of God laying a precious cornerstone in Zion, and it connects to the idea that whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame, complementing the 'stumbling stone' imagery.
Psalm 118:22This psalm declares that the stone rejected by the builders has become the chief cornerstone, a concept echoed in how Christ, the cornerstone, becomes a stumbling block to those who reject Him.
1 Peter 2:8Peter directly quotes from Isaiah 8:14, describing Christ as a 'stone that causes men to stumble and on which they fall,' reinforcing the idea that disbelief leads to ruin.
Luke 2:34Simeon prophesies about the child Jesus that he is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against, directly linking Him to becoming a cause of stumbling.
clarkeRomans 9:33: "As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed."
As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion - Christ, the Messiah, is become a stone of stumbling to them: and thus what is written in the prophecy of Isaiah is verified in their case, Isaiah 8:14 ; Isaiah 28:16 : Behold, I lay in Sion, i.e. I shall bring in my Messiah; but he shall be a widely different person from him whom the Jews expect; for, whereas…
gillRomans 9:33: "As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed."
As it is written,.... In Isaiah 8:14 ; for the beginning and end of this citation are out of the latter, and the middle of it out of the former. This is an instance of "skipping", from place to place, concerning which the rules with the Jews were (s), that the reader "might skip from text to text, but he might not skip from prophet to prophet, except…
The verse highlights that the very "stone" God lays in Zion, meant to be a foundation, also serves as a "stumbling block." This isn't a contradiction but a crucial point: God's plan for salvation through Christ is the ultimate source of hope for believers, yet it becomes the very reason for the unbeliever's downfall.
Paul is concluding his argument about God's sovereign choice, emphasizing that Israel's rejection of God's plan wasn't due to God's failure, but their own. He shows how both Gentiles and Jews have responded to God's offer of righteousness, and now he quotes Isaiah to explain why many Israelites stumbled over the very Messiah God laid as a foundation in Zion.
Paul is concluding his argument about God's sovereign choice, emphasizing that Israel's rejection of God's plan wasn't due to God's failure, but their own. He shows how both Gentiles and Jews have responded to God's offer of righteousness, and now he quotes Isaiah to explain why many Israelites stumbled over the very Messiah God laid as a foundation in Zion.
"as it is written,
“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense;
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”" — The verse highlights that the very "stone" God lays in Zion, meant to be a foundation, also serves as a "stumbling block." This isn't a contradiction but a crucial point: God's plan for salvation thr…
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Last reviewed October 2026