The term "cornerstone" holds significant theological and symbolic meaning within the biblical narrative, representing strength, foundation, and unity. In ancient construction practices, the cornerstone was the principal stone placed at the corner of a building, serving as the foundation and standard upon which the entire structure was aligned and built. This concept is richly woven throughout Scripture, both in the Old and New Testaments, and is used metaphorically to describe the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Old Testament References

The cornerstone is first mentioned in the Old Testament, where it is often associated with strength and stability. In Isaiah 28:16, the prophet declares, "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.'" This passage highlights the cornerstone as a symbol of trust and security, pointing to the coming Messiah who would be the foundation of God's redemptive plan.

Psalm 118:22 also speaks of the cornerstone: "The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone." This verse prophetically alludes to the rejection and eventual exaltation of the Messiah, a theme that is echoed in the New Testament.

New Testament Fulfillment

In the New Testament, the cornerstone imagery is explicitly applied to Jesus Christ. The Apostle Peter, in his address to the Sanhedrin, cites Psalm 118:22, affirming its fulfillment in Jesus: "He is 'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone'" (Acts 4:11). This declaration underscores the rejection of Christ by the religious leaders and His ultimate role as the foundation of the Church.

The Apostle Paul further elaborates on this concept in Ephesians 2:19-20: "Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone." Here, Paul emphasizes the unity and cohesion of the Church, built upon the teachings of the apostles and prophets, with Christ as the essential cornerstone that holds the entire structure together.

Theological Significance

Theologically, the cornerstone represents Christ's preeminence and foundational role in the life of believers and the Church. As the cornerstone, Jesus is the source of spiritual stability and the standard by which all doctrine and practice are measured. His life, death, and resurrection are the basis for salvation, and His teachings are the guiding principles for Christian living.

Moreover, the cornerstone metaphor illustrates the unity of believers, who are "living stones" being built into a spiritual house (1 Peter 2:4-5). This imagery conveys the idea that each believer, while unique, is an integral part of the larger body of Christ, unified by their common foundation in Him.

Conclusion

The cornerstone is a profound biblical symbol that encapsulates the essence of Christ's mission and the believer's relationship with Him. It serves as a reminder of the strength, unity, and security found in Jesus, the cornerstone of our faith.Cornerstone

a quoin or cornerstone, of great importance in binding together the sides of a building. The phrase "corner-stone" is sometimes used to denote any principal person, as the princes of Egypt, (Isaiah 19:13) and is thus applied to our Lord. (Isaiah 28:16; Matthew 21:42; 1 Peter 2:6,7)

CORNER-STONE

kor'-ner ston (pinnah, zawith; akrogoniaios): Part of the public or imposing buildings, to which importance has been attached in all ages and in many nations, both on account of its actual service and its figurative meaning. Ordinarily its use in the Bible is figurative, or symbolical. No doubt the original meaning was some important stone, which was laid at the foundation of a building.

(1) With the Canaanites, who preceded Israel in the possession of Palestine, corner-stone laying seems to have been a most sacred and impressive ceremonial. Under this important stone of temples, or other great structures, bodies of children or older persons would be laid, consecrating the building by such human sacrifice (see FORTIFICATION, II, 1). This was one of many hideous rites and practices which Israel was to extirpate. It may throw light on the curse pronounced upon the rebuilding of Jericho (Joshua 6:26; see PEFS, January, 1904, July, 1908).

See CANAAN.

(2) Old Testament references.-The Hebrew word pinnah, "corner," is found or implied in every occurrence of this idea. Derived from a root signifying "to turn," it means "turning," and therefore "edge" or "corner." Ordinarily it is used with 'ebhen, "stone" (Psalm 118:22); or it may occur alone, having acquired for itself through frequent use the whole technical phrase-idea (Zechariah 10:4 the King James Version).

Figurative Uses:

While all the passages indicate the stone at the corner, there appear to be two conceptions:

(a) the foundation-stone upon which the structure rested (Job 38:6 Isaiah 28:16 Jeremiah 51:26); or

(b) the topmost or cap-stone, which linked the last tier together (Psalm 118:22 Zechariah 4:7); in both cases it is an important or key-stone, and figurative of the Messiah, who is "the First and the Last."

In Job 38:6 it beautifully expresses in figures the stability of the earth, which Yahweh created. In Zechariah 10:4 the leader or ruler in the Messianic age is represented by the corner-stone. The ancient tradition of the one missing stone, when the temple was in building, is reflected in or has been suggested by Psalm 118:22 (Midrash quoted by Pusey under Zechariah 4:7). It is probable that we should read in Psalm 144:12 not "corner-stones," but "corner-pillars," or supports (compare Greek Caryatides) from a different Hebrew word, zawith, Brown, Driver, and Briggs, Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament, under the word

(3) New Testament passages.- Psalm 118:22 is quoted and interpreted as fulfilled in Jesus Christ in a number of passages: Matthew 21:42 Mark 12:10 Luke 20:17 Acts 4:11 and 1 Peter 2:7; it is also the evident basis for Ephesians 2:20. Isaiah 28:16 is quoted twice in the New Testament: Romans 9:33, from Septuagint combined with the words of Isaiah 8:14, and in 1 Peter 2:6, which is quoted with some variation from Septuagint. The Old Testament passages were understood by the rabbis to be Messianic, and were properly so applied by the New Testament writers.

See also HOUSE.

Edward Mack

204. akrogoniaios -- at the extreme angle or corner
... Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: akrogoniaios Phonetic Spelling:
(ak-rog-o-nee-ah'-yos) Short Definition: in the corner, cornerstone Definition: ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/204.htm - 6k6438. pinnah -- a corner
... Word Origin of uncertain derivation Definition a corner NASB Word Usage chiefs
(2), corner (16), corner towers (2), corners (7), cornerstone (3), cornerstone ...
/hebrew/6438.htm - 6k

2106. zavith -- a corner
... corner. Word Origin from an unused word Definition a corner NASB Word Usage
corner (1), corners (1). cornerstone. Apparently from ...
/hebrew/2106.htm - 6k

68. eben -- a stone
... root Definition a stone NASB Word Usage another (1), charm* (1), cornerstone* (1),
death (1), differing weights (3), hailstones* (4), jeweler* (1), lapis lazuli ...
/hebrew/68.htm - 6k

Christ is Our Cornerstone
... IV. SPECIAL OCCASIONS Church Building and Consecration 458. Christ is our cornerstone.
6.6.6.6.8.8 ... Tr. John Chandler, 1837. Christ is our cornerstone,. ...
/.../church building and consecration 458.htm

The Temple Cleansed Again
... the coming Messiah. Christ was the cornerstone of the Jewish economy,
and of the whole plan of salvation. This foundation stone ...
/.../white/the desire of ages/chapter 65 the temple cleansed.htm

Circumcision, Temple Service, and Naming of Jesus.
... Cor. i.23), or a precious cornerstone (I. Pet. ii.7, 8; Acts 4:11; I. Cor.
iii.11). Jesus is the cornerstone of true religion. Those ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xii circumcision temple service and.htm

Of the Scriptures
... Now ye know there are two principal things in a house"the foundation and the
cornerstone, the one supports the building the other unites it and holds it ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/lecture v of the scriptures.htm

The Doctrine of the Church i. Definition; Distinctions.
... Of this building Christ is the cornerstone, and the prophets and apostles
the foundation. In 1 Cor.3 Christ is the chief cornerstone ...
/.../evans/the great doctrines of the bible/the doctrine of the church.htm

The Return of the Exiles
... While the cornerstone was being set in position, the people, accompanied by the
trumpets of the priests and the cymbals of the sons of Asaph, "sang together by ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 45 the return of.htm

The Political Constitution of Egypt
... The cornerstone at the top of the mastaba, at the extreme left of the hieroglyphic
frieze, had been loosened and thrown to the ground by some explorer; the ...
/.../chapter ithe political constitution of.htm

The Hymnwriter
... Yet her ramparts did not fall. Were her outer walls forsaken. Still her cornerstone
remains,. Firm, unconquered and unshaken,. Making futile all their gains. ...
/.../aaberg/hymns and hymnwriters of denmark/chapter fourteen the hymnwriter.htm

The Temple and Its Dedication
... Of this spiritual temple Christ is "the chief Cornerstone; in whom all the building
fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord." Ephesians 2 ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 2 the temple and.htm

The Sign for Man and the Remembrancer for God
... man's life cheap. Therefore the cornerstone of future society is laid in
that declaration that life is inviolable. These blessings ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the sign for man and.htm

Cornerstone (13 Occurrences)
... Testament writers. See also HOUSE. Edward Mack. Multi-Version Concordance
Cornerstone (13 Occurrences). Matthew 21:42 "Have you never ...
/c/cornerstone.htm - 14k

Wonderful (71 Occurrences)
... Matthew 21:42 "Have you never read in the Scriptures," said Jesus, "'The Stone which
the builders rejected has been made the Cornerstone: this Cornerstone came ...
/w/wonderful.htm - 29k

Wonder (148 Occurrences)
... Matthew 21:42 "Have you never read in the Scriptures," said Jesus, "'The Stone which
the builders rejected has been made the Cornerstone: this Cornerstone came ...
/w/wonder.htm - 37k

Corner (60 Occurrences)
... But he looked at them, and said, "Then what is this that is written,'The stone which
the builders rejected, the same was made the chief cornerstone?' (Root in ...
/c/corner.htm - 33k

Builders (24 Occurrences)
... But he looked at them, and said, "Then what is this that is written,'The stone which
the builders rejected, the same was made the chief cornerstone?' (WEB KJV ...
/b/builders.htm - 13k

Capstone (7 Occurrences)
... But he looked at them, and said, "Then what is this that is written,'The stone which
the builders rejected, the same was made the chief cornerstone?' (See NIV). ...
/c/capstone.htm - 8k

Rejected (96 Occurrences)
... But he looked at them, and said, "Then what is this that is written,'The stone which
the builders rejected, the same was made the chief cornerstone?' (WEB KJV ...
/r/rejected.htm - 36k

Believes (34 Occurrences)
... (WEB). 1 Peter 2:6 Because it is contained in Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion
a chief cornerstone, chosen, and precious: He who believes in him will not be ...
/b/believes.htm - 15k

Corner-stone (10 Occurrences)
Corner-stone. Cornerstone, Corner-stone. Cornerstones . Int. ... (ASV DBY JPS YLT).
Cornerstone, Corner-stone. Cornerstones . Reference Bible.
/c/corner-stone.htm - 13k

Stone (290 Occurrences)
... But he looked at them, and said, "Then what is this that is written,'The stone which
the builders rejected, the same was made the chief cornerstone?' (WEB KJV ...
/s/stone.htm - 54k

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