1 Peter 2:7
New International Version
Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”

New Living Translation
Yes, you who trust him recognize the honor God has given him. But for those who reject him, “The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.”

English Standard Version
So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”

Berean Standard Bible
To you who believe, then, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”

Berean Literal Bible
Therefore the preciousness is to you believing. But to those disobeying, "The stone which those building have rejected, this has become into the head of the corner,"

King James Bible
Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

New King James Version
Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,”

New American Standard Bible
This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for unbelievers, “A STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE,”

NASB 1995
This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, “THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone,”

NASB 1977
This precious value, then, is for you who believe. But for those who disbelieve, “THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone,

Legacy Standard Bible
This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, “THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone,”

Amplified Bible
This precious value, then, is for you who believe [in Him as God’s only Son—the Source of salvation]; but for those who disbelieve, “THE [very] STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE,”

Christian Standard Bible
So honor will come to you who believe; but for the unbelieving, The stone that the builders rejected — this one has become the cornerstone,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So honor will come to you who believe, but for the unbelieving, The stone that the builders rejected— this One has become the cornerstone,

American Standard Version
For you therefore that believe is the preciousness: but for such as disbelieve, The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner;

Contemporary English Version
You are followers of the Lord, and this stone is precious to you. But it isn't precious to those who refuse to follow him. They are the builders who tossed aside the stone that turned out to be the most important one of all.

English Revised Version
For you therefore which believe is the preciousness: but for such as disbelieve, The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
This honor belongs to those who believe. But to those who don't believe: "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,

Good News Translation
This stone is of great value for you that believe; but for those who do not believe: "The stone which the builders rejected as worthless turned out to be the most important of all."

International Standard Version
Therefore he is precious to you who believe, but to those who do not believe, "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,

Majority Standard Bible
To you who believe, then, this stone is precious. But to those who are disobedient, ?The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,?

NET Bible
So you who believe see his value, but for those who do not believe, the stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,

New Heart English Bible
For you who believe therefore is the honor, but for those who do not believe, "The stone which the builders rejected, has become the chief cornerstone,"

Webster's Bible Translation
To you therefore who believe he is precious: but to them who are disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

Weymouth New Testament
To you believers, therefore, that honour belongs; but for unbelievers-- "A Stone which the builders rejected has been made the Cornerstone,"

World English Bible
For you who believe therefore is the honor, but for those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone,”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
to you, then, who are believing—the preciousness; but to the unbelieving, [the] stone that the builders disapproved of—this One has become the head of [the] corner,

Berean Literal Bible
Therefore the preciousness is to you believing. But to those disobeying, "The stone which those building have rejected, this has become into the head of the corner,"

Young's Literal Translation
to you, then, who are believing is the preciousness; and to the unbelieving, a stone that the builders disapproved of, this one did become for the head of a corner,

Smith's Literal Translation
Therefore honour to you believing: and to the unbelieving, the stone which the builders disapproved of has become the head of the corner,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
To you therefore that believe, he is honour: but to them that believe not, the stone which the builders rejected, the same is made the head of the corner:

Catholic Public Domain Version
Therefore, to you who believe, he is honor. But to those who do not believe, the stone which the builders have rejected, the same has been made into the head of the corner,

New American Bible
Therefore, its value is for you who have faith, but for those without faith: “The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”

New Revised Standard Version
To you then who believe, he is precious; but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the very head of the corner,”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
It is to you who believe, therefore, that this honour is given; but to those who are disobedient, he is a stumbling stone and a stone of trouble.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
This honor is given therefore to you - those who believe, but to those who are disobedient,
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
To you, then, who believe, is this preciousness: but the stone which the builders rejected, has become the head of the corner,

Godbey New Testament
Therefore to you who believe he is precious: but to the unbelievers, the stone which the builders rejected, the same has become the head of the corner, and the stone of stumbling, and the rock of offence,

Haweis New Testament
By you therefore who believe is he honoured: but respecting the disobedient, ?the stone which the builders rejected, this very stone is become the head of the corner,

Mace New Testament
trusts thereon shall not be confounded, it will prove an honour to you, who believe; but to the incredulous, the same stone, which is the chief of the angle,

Weymouth New Testament
To you believers, therefore, that honour belongs; but for unbelievers-- "A Stone which the builders rejected has been made the Cornerstone,"

Worrell New Testament
To you, therefore, who believe is the preciousness; but to those who disbelieve, a stone which the builders rejected, this was made into a head of a corner,"

Worsley New Testament
To you therefore who believe it is precious: but to them that are disobedient, the stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Living Stone
6For it stands in Scripture: “See, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and precious cornerstone; and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame.” 7To you who believe, then, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” 8and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word—and to this they were appointed.…

Cross References
Psalm 118:22
The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

Matthew 21:42
Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

Acts 4:11
This Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’

Isaiah 28:16
So this is what the Lord GOD says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will never be shaken.

Romans 9:33
as it is written: “See, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense; and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”

Ephesians 2:20
built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.

Mark 12:10
Have you never read this Scripture: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

Luke 20:17
But Jesus looked directly at them and said, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’?

Matthew 21:44
He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.”

1 Corinthians 3:11
For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 8:14
And He will be a sanctuary—but to both houses of Israel a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, to the dwellers of Jerusalem a trap and a snare.

Zechariah 10:4
The cornerstone will come from Judah, the tent peg from him, as well as the battle bow and every ruler together.

Daniel 2:34-35
As you watched, a stone was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay, and crushed them. / Then the iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold were shattered and became like chaff on the threshing floor in summer. The wind carried them away, and not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that had struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.

Romans 10:11
It is just as the Scripture says: “Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”

John 1:11
He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.


Treasury of Scripture

To you therefore which believe he is precious: but to them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

you.

1 Peter 1:8
Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

Song of Solomon 5:9-16
What is thy beloved more than another beloved, O thou fairest among women? what is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us? …

Haggai 2:7
And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.

precious.

Isaiah 28:5
In that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people,

Luke 2:32
A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

which be.

1 Peter 2:8
And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

Acts 26:19
Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:

Romans 10:21
But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.

the stone.

Psalm 118:22,23
The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner…

Matthew 21:42
Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

Mark 12:10,11
And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner: …

the head.

Zechariah 4:7
Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.

Colossians 2:10
And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

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1 Peter 2
1. He exhorts to put away wickedness;
4. showing that Christ is the foundation whereupon they are built.
11. He beseeches them also to abstain from sinful desires;
13. to be obedient to authorities;
18. and teaches servants how to obey their masters;
20. patiently suffering for well doing, after the example of Christ.














To you who believe
This phrase addresses the believers, those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ. The Greek word for "believe" is "pisteuō," which implies trust and reliance, not just intellectual assent. In the context of 1 Peter, believers are those who have accepted Jesus as the Messiah and are part of the spiritual house being built by God. Historically, the early Christians faced persecution, and Peter's words served as an encouragement, affirming their faith and the value of their belief in Christ.

this stone is precious
The "stone" refers to Jesus Christ, drawing from the imagery of a cornerstone, which is foundational and essential in construction. The Greek word for "precious" is "timē," indicating honor, value, and worth. For believers, Jesus is not just a part of their faith; He is the most valuable and honored part. This reflects the high esteem in which Christ is held by those who recognize His role in salvation and His position as the foundation of their spiritual lives.

But to those who do not believe
This phrase contrasts believers with non-believers, highlighting a division based on faith. The Greek word for "not believe" is "apisteuō," which means to disbelieve or to be unfaithful. In the historical context, this refers to those who rejected Jesus during His earthly ministry and continue to reject Him. The rejection of Christ is a recurring theme in the New Testament, often associated with the Jewish leaders and others who did not accept Jesus as the Messiah.

The stone the builders rejected
This part of the verse is a quotation from Psalm 118:22, a prophetic reference to the Messiah. The "builders" symbolize the religious leaders and authorities who, in their spiritual blindness, rejected Jesus. The Greek word for "rejected" is "apodokimazō," meaning to disapprove or repudiate. This rejection was not just a passive dismissal but an active decision against Christ, which is a significant theme in the Gospels.

has become the cornerstone
Despite being rejected, Jesus has become the "cornerstone," the most crucial stone in a building's foundation. The Greek word for "cornerstone" is "kephalē gōnias," indicating the head or chief stone. This transformation from rejection to exaltation is central to the Christian message, emphasizing God's sovereignty and the fulfillment of His redemptive plan. Historically, the cornerstone was vital for aligning the entire structure, symbolizing Christ's role in aligning and holding together the Church. This imagery reassures believers of their secure foundation in Christ, despite opposition or rejection by the world.

(7) He is precious.--Rather, Unto you therefore, the believers, belongs the honour. So said in reference to His being called "a stone elect, honoured," taken in conjunction with "shall not be ashamed." Both the Hebrew and the Greek word rendered "precious" may with equal propriety be translated "honoured," and this contrasts better with the "shame" just spoken of. Thus Dr. Lightfoot takes it. The argument is this: "God has selected Jesus for special honour, and has promised that all who trust in Him, instead of scorning Him like the Jewish rulers, shall have no cause to blush. Now you do trust in Him, therefore to you belongs the promise, and the honour bestowed by God on Him reflects on you. You, like Him, are made parts of the divine imperishable architecture."

Unto them which be disobedient.--The better reading is, Unto them which disbelieve; the other word being an importation from 1Peter 2:8. The true reading better preserves the contrast with "you that believe."

The stone which the builders disallowed.--We should perhaps have rather expected the sentence to run more like this: "To you which believe belongs the honour, but to those who disbelieve belongs the shame from which you are secured." But instead, the Apostle stops short, and inserts (by a quotation) the historical fact which brought the shame, viz., the disappointment of their own design, and the glorious completion of that which they opposed. The words which follow are quoted directly from the LXX., and properly represent the Hebrew. Almost all the best modern critics consider the Psalm from which this verse is cited to be a late Psalm, written subsequent to the return from Babylon, in which case it is most probable that the composer was directly thinking of the prophecy of Isaiah above quoted. The Messianic interpretation of the Psalm would be no novelty to the Hebrews who received this Epistle (see Matthew 21:9), though probably they had not perceived it in its fulness. In its first application the passage seems to mean as follows: The speaker is Israel, taken as a single person. He has been a despised captive. The great builders of the world--the Babylonian and Persian empires--had recognised no greatness in him, and had no intention of advancing him; they were engaged in aggrandisement of self alone. Yet, after all, Israel is firmly planted once more in Sion, to be the first stone of a new structure, a new empire. Thus this interpretation at once suggests the admission of the Gentiles, humanity at large, into the architecture. Israel is the corner-stone, but corner-stones are not laid to be left unbuilt upon. In the fulfilment Christ takes the place of Israel, as is the case with Isaiah 53. The builders are the rulers of the Jews. In Acts 4:11 our author had called the Sanhedrin to their face, "you builders." They, like the kings of Babylon, had been intent on building a fabric of their own, and had despised Jesus, yet, without any intention of so doing, had been the means of advancing Him (Acts 4:27-28). He had been made the basis of a new spiritual structure, in which faith, not fleshly lineage, was the cement and bond; and the believing Israelites, united to Him in both ways, shared the honour of being corner-stone. A further point is given to the quotation if we suppose, with Hengstenberg, Delitzsch, and others, that the remembrance of Isaiah's prophecy of the "corner-stone" was suggested to the original Psalmist by the works of the Second Temple, then begun, advancing, or fresh completed. It will then fit in more perfectly with the description of the "spiritual house." Leighton well points out how sore a trial it was to the faith of Jewish Christians to see that their own chosen people, even the most learned of them, rejected Christ, and adds, "That they may know this makes nothing against Him, nor ought to invalidate their faith at all, but rather testifies with Christ, and so serves to confirm them in believing, the Apostle makes use of those prophetical scriptures that foretell the unbelief and contempt with which the most would entertain Christ."

Verse 7. - Unto you therefore which believe he is precious; rather, unto you therefore which believe is the honor. The apostle applies the last clause of the prophecy to his readers: they believe, they are built up by faith upon the chief Cornerstone; therefore the honor implied in the words of the prophet, "He that believeth on him shall not be confounded" is theirs. There may also be in the word τιμή, honor, an echo of the ἔντιμος ("precious," literally, "held in honor") of ver. 6; and thus the further meaning may be implied, "The worth which the stone has it has for you who believe" (Wiesinger, quoted by Huther). But the first explanation is nearer to the Greek. But unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the Head of the corner; rather, as in the Revised Version, for such as disbelieve. St. Peter repeats the words of the hundred and eighteenth psalm, quoted by our Lord in Matthew 21:42, and by himself in Acts 4:11. The builders, the priests and teachers of the Jewish Church, rejected the living Stone; but it became, and indeed through that rejection, the Head of the corner. "He became obedient unto death ... therefore God also highly exalted him." If this psalm is post-Exilic, as most modern critics think, the cornerstone, in its first application, may be Israel regarded as a whole. The great builders, the rulers of Assyria, Babylon, Persia, had despised that stone; but it was chosen of God, and now it was set in Zion. It is possible, as Hengstenberg and Delitzsch suggest, that the building of the second temple may have recalled to the mind of the psalmist Isaiah's prophecy of the chief Corner-stone.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
To you
Ὑμῖν (Hymin)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

who
τοῖς (tois)
Article - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

believe,
πιστεύουσιν (pisteuousin)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4100: From pistis; to have faith, i.e. Credit; by implication, to entrust.

then,
οὖν (oun)
Conjunction
Strong's 3767: Therefore, then. Apparently a primary word; certainly, or accordingly.

[this stone]
(hē)
Article - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

is precious.
τιμὴ (timē)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5092: A price, honor. From tino; a value, i.e. Money paid, or valuables; by analogy, esteem, or the dignity itself.

But
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

[to those who] do not believe,
ἀπιστοῦσιν (apistousin)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 569: To be unfaithful, disbelieve, refuse belief, prove false. From apistos; to be unbelieving, i.e. disbelieve, or disobey.

“[The] stone
Λίθος (Lithos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3037: A stone; met: of Jesus as the chief stone in a building. Apparently a primary word; a stone.

the
οἱ (hoi)
Article - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

builders
οἰκοδομοῦντες (oikodomountes)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3618: From the same as oikodome; to be a house-builder, i.e. Construct or confirm.

rejected
ἀπεδοκίμασαν (apedokimasan)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 593: To reject after testing (examination), disqualify. From apo and dokimazo; to disapprove, i.e. to repudiate.

has become
ἐγενήθη (egenēthē)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1096: A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude.

the cornerstone,”
γωνίας (gōnias)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 1137: A corner; met: a secret place. Probably akin to gonu; an angle.


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NT Letters: 1 Peter 2:7 For you who believe therefore (1 Pet. 1P iP i Pet)
1 Peter 2:6
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