1 Peter 2 7

1 Peter 2:7 kjv

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,

1 Peter 2:7 nkjv

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,"

1 Peter 2:7 niv

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,"

1 Peter 2:7 esv

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,"

1 Peter 2:7 nlt

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."

1 Peter 2 verses

1 Peter 2 7 Meaning

This verse succinctly captures the paradoxical reality of Jesus Christ: to those who believe and obey Him, He is supremely valuable and honorable, the very foundation of their faith and spiritual lives. Conversely, to those who reject Him and remain disobedient, He becomes the very stone prophesied to be rejected by human leaders, yet appointed by God as the crucial and ultimate cornerstone. This highlights humanity's differing responses to Christ and the distinct outcomes that stem from belief versus disbelief.

1 Peter 2 7 Context

This verse is positioned within a significant theological section of 1 Peter (2:4-10) where Peter explains the spiritual identity and destiny of believers. Peter presents Christ as the "living Stone," chosen by God, upon whom believers are being built as "living stones" into a spiritual house and a holy priesthood. Verse 7 draws a direct consequence from this foundation: the living Stone, Jesus, elicits two opposing responses and therefore holds two distinct realities. It is the hinge connecting Christ's divinely ordained role with human response, leading into the explanation of His being a stumbling block for the disobedient in the following verse. Historically, Peter addresses scattered Christians (likely a mix of Jewish and Gentile believers) who are experiencing social marginalization and suffering. This teaching would comfort believers by affirming Christ's supreme value despite the world's rejection and challenge those who might be tempted to disbelieve or disobey under pressure. It also implicitly counters the Jewish religious leaders who had rejected Jesus, asserting God's ultimate vindication of His Son.

1 Peter 2 7 Word analysis

• Therefore (οὖν, oun): This conjunction connects the current statement to the preceding truth that Christ is the "living stone" (1 Pet 2:4) chosen by God, and that believers are being built into a spiritual house upon Him (1 Pet 2:5). It signals a logical consequence or conclusion drawn from what has just been stated about Christ's unique identity.

• to you who believe (ὑμῖν οὖν τοῖς πιστεύουσιν, hymin oun tois pisteuousin): Refers to the letter's audience, "elect exiles" (1 Pet 1:1) who have come to trust in Jesus Christ. The term pisteuousin (present active participle) emphasizes an ongoing state of believing or exercising faith. For this group, Christ holds a specific significance.

• He is precious (τιμή, timē): The Greek word timē translates to "honor," "value," "worth," or "price." It signifies that Christ is held in highest esteem and has supreme worth to those who trust Him. He is cherished, honored, and glorified by them because of His salvific work, divine nature, and faithful promises. This "preciousness" is subjective in its experience but objective in His nature, aligning with Him being "chosen by God and precious" (1 Pet 2:4).

• but to those who are disobedient (τοῖς δὲ ἀπειθοῦσιν, tois de apeithousin): This phrase introduces the stark contrast to believers. Apeithousin (present active participle of apeitheō) means "to be disobedient," but its root signifies "to refuse to be persuaded" or "to not believe." In New Testament usage, particularly in Peter and Paul, "disobedience" often implies a stubborn refusal to believe the gospel message, thus connecting it directly to unbelief (cf. Heb 3:18-19). This group actively rejects God's truth and authority embodied in Christ.

• 'The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone,' (Λίθον ὃν ἀπεδοκίμασαν οἱ οἰκοδομοῦντες, οὗτος ἐγενήθη εἰς κεφαλὴν γωνίας, Lithon hon apedokimasan hoi oikodomountes, houtos egenēthē eis kephalēn gōnias): This is a direct quote from Psalm 118:22, which is frequently cited in the New Testament to refer to Jesus.

  • The stone (Λίθον, Lithon): A metaphor for Jesus Christ.
  • the builders (οἱ οἰκοδομοῦντες, hoi oikodomountes): These refer primarily to the religious leaders of Israel (Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes) who were responsible for the spiritual building of God's people but ironically rejected His Messiah. They tested and found Him "unfit."
  • rejected (ἀπεδοκίμασαν, apedokimasan): This verb means to "reject after testing" or "to disapprove." It implies a careful evaluation, leading to a deliberate decision to cast aside as worthless or unsuitable. The religious leaders carefully scrutinized Jesus' claims and actions, and despite their detailed knowledge of scripture, they rejected Him.
  • has become (ἐγενήθη, egenēthē): Signifies a dramatic and definitive change in status, an action completed in history. The rejected stone's status was divinely transformed.
  • the chief cornerstone (εἰς κεφαλὴν γωνίας, eis kephalēn gōnias): This is a critical term. In architecture, the "chief cornerstone" (often simply "cornerstone") is the principal stone, placed at the corner of a foundation. It unites two walls, determines their alignment, and provides structural stability and squareness for the entire edifice. It is foundational, essential, and ensures the building's integrity. It could also refer to the capstone, the topmost stone. In either sense, it denotes supremacy, completion, and vital importance. For Christ, it signifies His indispensable role as the foundational, unifying, and ultimate head of the entire spiritual structure—the Church. This transformation from "rejected" to "cornerstone" highlights God's sovereign plan overriding human resistance.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "to you who believe, He is precious" vs. "to those who are disobedient, 'The stone...'": This phrase powerfully contrasts two responses to Jesus, demonstrating that Christ's role is contingent upon human receptivity. For those who embrace Him, He is deeply personal, valued, and intimate ("He is precious"). For those who reject Him, His identity shifts from personal preciousness to public, prophetic fulfillment ("the stone...cornerstone"). He remains the cornerstone for both groups, but for one He is their stability and honor, for the other, He is the undeniable evidence of their spiritual failure.
  • "rejected has become the chief cornerstone": This highlights the profound irony and triumph of God's plan. What humanity deemed worthless and cast aside, God exalted as the most critical and indispensable element of His eternal structure. It speaks to God's ultimate sovereignty and His ability to turn human rejection into divine victory and a key part of His salvific and judgmental purpose.

1 Peter 2 7 Bonus section

• The tension between Christ's intrinsic "preciousness" (God's assessment, His inherent worth) and His functional "preciousness" (the value He holds for believers) is vital here. His objective worth exists independent of human recognition, yet only believers subjectively experience it.
• The imagery of the cornerstone is robust. It's not just a decorative stone; it dictates the integrity, strength, and alignment of the entire building. To reject the cornerstone is to doom the entire construction to instability and collapse.
• This verse underpins the biblical principle that belief in Christ leads to life and honor, while unbelief (or active disobedience arising from it) leads to condemnation and destruction. This echoes across both Testaments.

1 Peter 2 7 Commentary

1 Peter 2:7 concisely reveals the two decisive, contrasting outcomes determined by how individuals relate to Jesus Christ, the living Stone. For believers, Christ is not merely precious but preciousness itself (the noun timē suggesting intrinsic honor and value). He is their highest treasure, the object of their profound esteem, upon whom their entire spiritual house is built, leading to unshakeable security and belonging (cf. 1 Pet 2:5-6). His identity as the 'chosen and precious' Stone (1 Pet 2:4) is fully realized in their experience.

However, for those characterized by disobedience – an active and stubborn refusal to be persuaded by God's truth in Christ – the same Stone assumes a different, yet equally decisive, role. He is not their precious possession but rather the fulfiller of prophecy concerning the rejected yet exalted cornerstone (Psalm 118:22). This rejection by "the builders" (the Jewish religious authorities of His time who had a divinely appointed responsibility to guide God's people but failed to recognize and receive His Son) culminates in a paradoxical divine reversal: the one they scorned is now God's primary and indispensable structural element, the ultimate standard by which all spiritual structures are measured and upon which they either stand or fall. Their disobedience marks them for stumbling and ruin, because they refused the only sure foundation.

This verse emphasizes Christ's immutable value regardless of human response and the crucial impact of one's relationship with Him. For believers, He is the source of glory and honor; for the disobedient, He is the very point of judgment and spiritual downfall, because they tripped over the very Stone meant to be their salvation.