Isaiah 28 · Verse 16

Isaiah 28:16

Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

Isaiah 28:16, King James Version

Isaiah 28:16 in other translations

BSB	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.
WEB	Therefore the Lord GOD says, “Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone of a sure foundation. He who believes shall not act hastily.
ASV	therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner- stone of sure foundation: he that believeth shall not be in haste.
YLT	Therefore, thus said the Lord Jehovah: ‘Lo, I am laying a foundation in Zion, A stone--a tried stone, a corner stone precious, a settled foundation, He who is believing doth not make haste.
DARBY	Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I lay for foundation in Zion a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner-stone, a sure foundation: he that trusteth shall not make haste.
BBE	For this cause says the Lord God, See, I am placing in Zion as a base, a stone, a tested stone, an angle-stone which is certain and of great value: and he who has faith will not give way.
Webster	Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

What does Isaiah 28:16 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

16. Literally, "Behold Me as Him who has laid"; namely, in My divine counsel (Re 13:8); none save I could lay it (Is 63:5). stone--Jesus Christ; Hezekiah [Maurer], or the temple [Ewald], do not realize the full significancy of the language; but only in type point to Him, in whom the prophecy receives its exhaustive accomplishment; whether Isaiah understood its fulness or not (1Pe 1:11, 12), the Holy Ghost plainly contemplated its fulfilment in Christ alone; so in Is 32:1; compare Ge 49:24; Psa 118:22; Mt 21:42; Ro 10:11; Ep 2:20. tried--both by the devil (Lu 4:1-13) and by men (Lu 20:1-38), and even by God (Mt 27:46); a stone of tested solidity to bear the vast superstructure of man's redemption. The tested righteousness of Christ gives its peculiar merit to His vicarious sacrifice. The connection with the context is, though a "scourge" shall visit Judea (Is 28:15), yet God's gracious purpose as to the elect remnant, and His kingdom of which "Zion" shall be the center, shall not fail, because its rests on Messiah (Mt 7:24, 25; 2Ti 2:19). precious--literally, "of preciousness," so in the Greek, (1Pe 2:7). He is preciousness. corner-stone--(1Ki 5:17; 7:9; Job 38:6); the stone laid at the corner where two walls meet and connecting them; often costly. make haste--flee in hasty alarm; but the Septuagint has "be ashamed"; so Ro 9:33, and 1Pe 2:6, "be confounded," substantially the same idea; he who rests on Him shall not have the shame of disappointment, nor flee in sudden panic (see Is 30:15; 32:17).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 16 Behold, I lay in Zion - See the notes on Gen 49:32; Psa 118:22 (note); Mat 21:42 (note); Act 4:11 (note); Rom 9:33 (note); Rom 10:11 (note); Eph 2:20 (note); 1Pet 2:6-8 (note). Kimchi understands this of Hezekiah; but it most undoubtedly belongs to Jesus Christ alone; and his application of it to himself, even the Jews could not contest.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Isaiah 28:16-22

Here is a promise of Christ, as the only foundation of hope for escaping the wrath to come. This foundation was laid in Zion, in the eternal counsels of God. This foundation is a stone, firm and able to support his church. It is a tried stone, a chosen stone, approved of God, and never failed any who made trial of it. A corner stone, binding together the whole building, and bearing the whole weight; precious in the sight of the Lord, and of every believer; a sure foundation on which to build. And he who in any age or nation shall believe this testimony, and rest all his hopes, and his never-dying soul on this foundation, shall never be confounded. The right effect of faith in Christ is, to quiet and calm the soul, till events shall be timed by Him, who has all times in his own hand and power. Whatever men trust to for justification, except the righteousness of Christ; or for wisdom, strength, and holiness, except the influences of the Holy Ghost; or for happiness, except the favour of God; that protection in which they thought to shelter themselves, will prove not enough to answer the intention. Those who rest in a righteousness of their own, will have deceived themselves: the bed is too short, the covering too narrow. God will be glorified in the fulfilling of his counsels. If those that profess to be members of God's church, make themselves like Philistines and Canaanites, they must expect to be dealt with as such. Then dare not to ridicule the reproofs of God's word, or the approaches of judgements.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Isaiah 28:16 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

לָכֵ֗ןla.Khen<to> thereforeH3651

כֹּ֤הkohthusH3541

אָמַר֙'a.Marhe saysH559

אֲדֹנָ֣י'a.do.Nai[the] LordH136

יְהוִ֔הYah.wehYahwehH3069

הִנְנִ֛יhi.Nihere IH2005

יִסַּ֥דyi.Sadhe has laidH3245

בְּצִיּ֖וֹןbe.tzi.Yonin ZionH6726

אָ֑בֶן'A.vena stoneH68

אֶ֣בֶן'E.vena stone ofH68

בֹּ֜חַןBo.chantestingH976

פִּנַּ֤תpi.Nata corner ofH6438

יִקְרַת֙yik.Ratpreciousness ofH3368

מוּסָ֣דmu.Sada foundationH4143

מוּסָּ֔דmu.SadfoundedH3245

הַֽמַּאֲמִ֖יןha.ma.'a.Minthe [one who] trustsH539

לֹ֥אlo'notH3808

יָחִֽישׁ\׃ya.Chishhe will make hasteH2363

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Isaiah 28:16

Psalms 118:22
The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
Acts 4:11-12
This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
1 Peter 2:6-8
Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 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, 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.
Luke 20:17-18
And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner? Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
Romans 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.
Mark 12:10
And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head 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?
Isaiah 8:14-15
And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.
Ephesians 2:20
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
1 Corinthians 3:11
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Romans 10:11
For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Zechariah 3:9
For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Behold.
8:14; Ge 49:10,24; Ps 118:22; Zec 3:9; Mt 21:42; Mr 12:10
Lu 20:17,18; Ac 4:11,12; Ro 9:33; 10:11; 1Co 3:11; Eph 2:20
1Pe 2:6-8
he that.
30:18; Ps 112:7,8; Hab 2:3,4; Jas 5:7,8

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Isaiah 28:15
Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:
Isaiah 28:16
Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
Isaiah 28:17
Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.

Read all of Isaiah 28

Isaiah 28:16 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Por tanto, el Señor Jehová dice así: He aquí que yo fundo en Sión una piedra, piedra de fortaleza, de esquina, de precio, de cimiento estable: el que creyere, no se apresure.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	C’est pourquoi ainsi dit le Seigneur, l’ Éternel: Voici, je pose comme fondement, en Sion, une pierre, une pierre éprouvée, une précieuse pierre de coin, un sûr fondement: celui qui se fie à elle ne se hâtera pas.
German Elberfelder 1871	Darum, so spricht der Herr, Jehova: Siehe, ich gründe einen Stein in Zion, einen bewährten Stein, einen kostbaren Eckstein, aufs Festeste gegründet; wer glaubt, wird nicht ängstlich eilen.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Idcirco hæc dicit Dominus Deus: Ecce ego mittam in fundamentis Sion lapidem, lapidem probatum, angularem, pretiosum, in fundamento fundatum; qui crediderit, non festinet.