Romans 9:33
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)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
What's often missed here is that "stumblingstone" and "rock of offense" are not descriptions of Christ's inherent nature, but rather how people reacted to Him due to their own expectations and unbelief. It highlights that the offense wasn't in Jesus Himself, but in the rejection of the foundation God deliberately laid.
Paul is concluding a section where he grapples with why, despite God's promises to Israel, many in that nation rejected the Messiah. He's shown God's sovereign choice and contrasted the chosen lineage of Abraham with the broader nation, emphasizing that not all who are physically descended from Abraham are spiritual descendants. This verse serves as the culmination of his argument, explaining that Israel's rejection of Christ, prophesied in the Old Testament, is the reason they stumbled and missed out on righteousness.
Why would God lay a 'stumbling stone' in Zion? This verse reveals a divine purpose that would be received in vastly different ways.
Paul quotes Isaiah here, showing that the Messiah, Jesus, was intentionally placed by God in Zion (symbolizing His people and His presence). However, this 'stone' would serve a dual purpose:
This highlights God's sovereign plan, which includes both the salvation of believers and the judgment of unbelievers, all centered on Jesus Christ.
What does it truly mean to 'not be put to shame' when the world around you might be? This isn't about worldly success, but a deeper security.
The promise, 'whoever believes in him will not be put to shame,' is profoundly reassuring. It's crucial to understand what Paul means by 'ashamed.'
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.
The prophecy Paul quotes from Isaiah was originally about God laying a foundation in Zion, but many Israelites would stumble over it. Paul applies this to Jesus, highlighting how His rejection by many Jews, who were looking for a different kind of Messiah, is precisely what the ancient prophets foretold. Those who believe in Him, however, find true salvation and will never be put to shame.
c. 740 BC
Isaiah Prophesies about a Stone
The prophet Isaiah speaks of God laying a stone in Zion, which will be a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense for many Israelites who reject God's true way. He also speaks of a cornerstone for the foundation of Zion.
c. 740 BC
Isaiah's Prophecy of Judgment
In a related passage, Isaiah prophesies that those who believe in God's foundation stone will not be put to shame or haste away in fear.
c. 250 BC - 150 BC
Septuagint Translation
The Hebrew scriptures are translated into Greek. In Isaiah 28:16, the phrase 'shall not make haste' is translated as 'shall not be ashamed'.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Jesus Christ's Ministry and Rejection
Jesus Christ, whom Paul identifies as the stone laid in Zion, begins his ministry. Many Israelites, expecting a political deliverer, stumble over His humble origins, teachings, and suffering, rejecting Him.
This passage is a direct source for the verse, presenting the 'stone of stumbling and rock of offense' that God is laying in Zion.
Isaiah 28:16This verse is also a source for the quote, emphasizing that the one who believes in this foundation stone 'shall not be put to shame,' offering a parallel to the outcome of faith.
Psalm 118:22This Psalm describes a stone that the builders rejected but which became the cornerstone, a concept directly applied to Christ in the New Testament and linked to His role as both a stumbling block and a foundation of salvation.
1 Peter 2:7-8Peter echoes this verse and the Isaiah passages, explicitly stating that Christ is the stone of stumbling and rock of offense for those who disobey, but a precious cornerstone for believers, reinforcing the dual nature of Christ's reception.
Matthew 21:42-44Jesus quotes Psalm 118:22 in a context where religious leaders reject Him, the cornerstone, and states that the kingdom will be taken from them and given to those who produce its fruits, paralleling the rejection and the consequence of stumbling at Christ.
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…
What's often missed here is that "stumblingstone" and "rock of offense" are not descriptions of Christ's inherent nature, but rather how people reacted to Him due to their own expectations and unbelief. It highlights that the offense wasn't in Jesus Himself, but in the rejection of the foundation God deliberately laid.
Paul is concluding a section where he grapples with why, despite God's promises to Israel, many in that nation rejected the Messiah. He's shown God's sovereign choice and contrasted the chosen lineage of Abraham with the broader nation, emphasizing that not all who are physically descended from Abraham are spiritual descendants. This verse serves as the culmination of his argument, explaining that Israel's rejection of Christ, prophesied in the Old Testament, is the reason they stumbled and missed out on righteousness.
Paul is concluding a section where he grapples with why, despite God's promises to Israel, many in that nation rejected the Messiah. He's shown God's sovereign choice and contrasted the chosen lineage of Abraham with the broader nation, emphasizing that not all who are physically descended from Abraham are spiritual descendants. This verse serves as the culmination of his argument, explaining that Israel's rejection of Christ, prophesied in the Old Testament, is the reason they stumbled and missed out on righteousness.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Romans 9:33 is available in the Sola app.
It's a promise that anchors our hope not in our circumstances, but in God's faithfulness and the finished work of Christ.
c. AD 60-62
Paul Writes Romans
The Apostle Paul writes his letter to the Romans, reflecting on God's plan for both Jews and Gentiles, and citing these prophecies to explain why many in Israel rejected Jesus, while Gentiles who believed found salvation.
"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.”" — What's often missed here is that "stumblingstone" and "rock of offense" are not descriptions of Christ's inherent nature, but rather how people *reacted* to Him due to their own expectations and unbe…