Matthew 21 · Verse 42

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?

Matthew 21:42, King James Version

Matthew 21:42 in other translations

BSB	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’?
WEB	Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures, ‘The stone which the builders rejected was made the head of the corner. This was from the Lord. It is marvelous in our eyes’?
ASV	Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner; This was from the Lord, And it is marvellous in our eyes?
YLT	Jesus saith to them, ‘Did ye never read in the Writings, A stone that the builders disallowed, it became head of a corner; from the Lord hath this come to pass, and it is wonderful in our eyes.
DARBY	Jesus says to them, Have ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which they that builded rejected, this has become the corner-stone: this is of the Lord, and it is wonderful in our eyes?
BBE	Jesus says to them, Did you never see in the Writings, The stone which the builders put on one side, the same has been made the chief stone of the building: this was the Lord's doing, and it is a wonder in our eyes?
Webster	Jesus saith to 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 marvelous in our eyes?

What does Matthew 21:42 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

42. Jesus saith unto them. Did ye never read in the scriptures--(Psa 118:22, 23). The stone which the builders rejected, &c.--A bright Messianic prophecy, which reappears in various forms (Is 28:16, &c.), and was made glorious use of by Peter before the Sanhedrim (Ac 4:11). He recurs to it in his first epistle (1Pe 2:4-6).

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

Barnes' Notes

Verses 42,43. Jesus saith, etc. Jesus, having led them to admit the justice of the great principle on which God was about to act towards them, proceeds to apply it by a text of Scripture, declaring that this very thing which they admitted in the case of the husbandmen, had been predicted respecting themselves. This passage is found in Ps 118:22,23. It was first applicable to David; but no less to Jesus.

The stone. The figure is taken from building a house. The principal stone for size and beauty is that commonly laid as the corner stone.

Which the builders rejected. On account of its want of beauty, or size, it was laid aside, or deemed unfit to be a corner-stone. This represents the Lord Jesus, proposed to the Jews as the foundation, or corner-stone on which to build the church: rejected by them--the builders --on account of his want of comeliness or beauty; i.e., of what they esteemed to be comely or desirable, Isa 53:2,3.

The same is become, etc. Though rejected by them, yet God chose him, and made him the foundation of the church. Christ is often compared to a stone, a corner-stone, a tried, i.e. a sure, firm foundation--all in allusion to the custom of building, Acts 4:11; Rom 9:33, Eph 2:20, 1Pet 2:7.

Lord's doing. The appointment of Jesus of Nazareth to be the foundation of the church, is by miracle and prophecy proved to be the work of God.

Marvellous in our eyes. Wonderful in the sight of his people. An object of gratitude and admiration. That he should Select his only Son; that he should stoop so low, be despised, rejected, and put to death; that God should raise him up, and build a church on this foundation, embracing the Gentile as well as the Jew, and spreading through all the world, is a subject of wonder and praise to all the redeemed.

(c) "stone" Ps 118:22, Is 28:16, 1Pet 2:6,7

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 42 The stone - R. Solom. Jarchi, on Mic 5:1-15, says, this stone means the Messiah, אכן משיח: Abarbanel is of the same opinion. This seems to have been originally spoken of David who was at first rejected by the Jewish rulers, but was afterwards chosen by the Lord to be the great ruler of his people Israel. The quotation is taken from Psa 118:22. As the Church is represented in Scripture under the name of the temple and house of God, in allusion to the temple of Jerusalem, which was a type of it, 1Cor 3:16; Heb 3:6; 1Pet 2:5; so Jesus Christ is represented as the foundation on which this edifice is laid, 1Cor 3:11; Eph 2:20, Eph 2:21. The builders - The chief priests and elders of the people, with the doctors of the law. Rejected - An expression borrowed from masons, who, finding a stone, which being tried in a particular place, and appearing improper for it, is thrown aside, and another taken; however, at last, it may happen that the very stone which had been before rejected, may be found the most suitable as the head stone of the corner. This passage, as applied by our Lord to himself, contains an abridgment of the whole doctrine of the Gospel. 1. The Lord's peculiar work is astonishingly manifested in the mission of Jesus Christ. 2. He, being rejected and crucified by the Jews, became an atonement for the sin of the world. 3. He was raised again from the dead, a proof of his conquest over death and sin, and a pledge of immortality to his followers. 4. He was constituted the foundation on which the salvation of mankind rests, and the corner stone which unites Jews and Gentiles, beautifies, strengthens, and completes the whole building, as the head stone, or uppermost stone in the corner does the whole edifice. 5. He is hereby rendered the object of the joy and admiration of all his followers and the glory of man. This was done by the Lord, and is marvellous in our eyes.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 21:33-46

This parable plainly sets forth the sin and ruin of the Jewish nation; and what is spoken to convict them, is spoken to caution all that enjoy the privileges of the outward church. As men treat God's people, they would treat Christ himself, if he were with them. How can we, if faithful to his cause, expect a favourable reception from a wicked world, or from ungodly professors of Christianity! And let us ask…

Read the full comment on Matthew 21:33-46 →

Matthew 21:42 in the original Greek

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.

ΛέγειLegeiSaysG3004

αὐτοῖςautoisto themG846

ὁho<the>G3588

Ἰησοῦς·IēsousJesus;G2424

οὐδέποτεoudepotesurely sometimeG3763

ἀνέγνωτεanegnōteyou did readG314

ἐνeninG1722

ταῖςtaistheG3588

γραφαῖς·graphaisScriptures:G1124

λίθονlithon[The] stoneG3037

ὃνhonwhichG3739

ἀπεδοκίμασανapedokimasanrejectedG593

οἱhoithoseG3588

οἰκοδομοῦντες,oikodomountesbuilding,G3618

οὗτοςhoutosthisG3778

ἐγενήθηegenēthēhas becomeG1096

εἰςeistheG1519

κεφαλὴνkephalēnchiefG2776

γωνίας.gōniascorner.G1137

παρὰparaFromG3844

κυρίουkuriou[the] LordG2962

ἐγένετοegenetowasG1096

αὕτη,hautēthis,G3778

καὶkaiandG2532

ἔστινestinit isG1510

θαυμαστὴthaumastēmarvelousG2298

ἐνeninG1722

ὀφθαλμοῖςophthalmois[the] eyesG3788

ἡμῶν;¶hēmōnof us?’G3165

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

Cross references for Matthew 21:42

Psalms 118:22-23
The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.
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.
Acts 4:11
This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
1 Peter 2:4-8
To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 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, …
Ephesians 2:20
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
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.
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.
Mark 12:10-11
And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner: This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
Zechariah 3:8-9
Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH. 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.
Acts 13:40-41
Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.
Ephesians 3:3-9
How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: …
Habakkuk 1:5
Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Did.
16
The stone.
Ps 118:22,23; Isa 28:16; Zec 3:8,9; Mr 12:10,11; Lu 20:17,18
Ac 4:11; Ro 9:33; Eph 2:20; 1Pe 2:4-8
and it is.
Hab 1:5; Ac 13:40,41; Eph 3:3-9

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

Context

Matthew 21:41
They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.
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?
Matthew 21:43
Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

Read all of Matthew 21

Matthew 21:42 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Díceles Jesús: ¿Nunca leísteis en las Escrituras: La piedra que desecharon los que edificaban, ésta fué hecha por cabeza de esquina: por el Señor es hecho esto, y es cosa maravillosa en nuestros ojos?
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Jésus leur dit: N’avez-vous jamais lu dans les écritures: « La pierre que ceux qui bâtissaient ont rejetée, celle-là est devenue la maîtresse pierre du coin; celle-ci est de par le ✶Seigneur, et est merveilleuse devant nos yeux »?
German Elberfelder 1871	Jesus spricht zu ihnen: Habt ihr nie in den Schriften gelesen: "Der Stein, den die Bauleute verworfen haben, dieser ist zum Eckstein geworden; von dem Herrn ist dies geschehen, und ist wunderbar in unseren Augen"?
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Dicit illis Jesus: Numquam legistis in Scripturis: Lapidem quem reprobaverunt ædificantes, hic factus est in caput anguli: a Domino factum est istud, et est mirabile in oculis nostris?