Mark 12 10

Mark 12:10 kjv

And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:

Mark 12:10 nkjv

Have you not even read this Scripture: 'The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone.

Mark 12:10 niv

Haven't you read this passage of Scripture: "?'The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;

Mark 12:10 esv

Have you not read this Scripture: "'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;

Mark 12:10 nlt

Didn't you ever read this in the Scriptures? 'The stone that the builders rejected
has now become the cornerstone.

Mark 12 verses

Mark 12 10 Meaning

This verse is Jesus's direct and prophetic application of a messianic psalm to Himself, addressed to the religious leaders of His day. It implies their profound spiritual blindness and culpability for failing to recognize and accept the very "stone"—the Messiah—God had chosen, even though it was foretold in their own Scriptures. It underscores that despite human rejection, God's plan of exaltation will prevail, establishing the "rejected stone" as the pivotal, essential foundation and crowning element of His divine purpose.

Mark 12 10 Context

Mark 12:10 is embedded within a direct confrontation between Jesus and the religious leaders (chief priests, scribes, and elders) in the temple court. This challenge begins when they question His authority (Mark 11:27-33). Jesus responds with the Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers (Mark 12:1-9), which plainly describes a vineyard owner (God) sending servants (prophets) and finally His beloved son (Jesus) to his tenants (Israel's leaders). The tenants tragically kill the son to seize the inheritance. Following this, Jesus immediately cites Mark 12:10, directly applying the Scripture to underscore that He is the rejected "son" who will, by divine power, become the exalted "cornerstone." This served as a stark indictment of their actions and a prophecy of His impending crucifixion and subsequent vindication and exaltation by God.

Mark 12 10 Word analysis

• Have you not even read (οὐδὲ τὴν γραφὴν ταύτην ἀνέγνωτε, oude tēn graphēn tautēn anegnōte):

  • "Οὐδὲ" (oude): A strong negative particle, meaning "not even" or "not at all." It highlights the incredible oversight or deliberate ignorance of the religious leaders.
  • "Ἀνέγνωτε" (anegnōte): From the verb ἀναγινώσκω (anaginoskō), meaning "to read" or "to know again, to recognize." It implies that they had indeed read this Scripture (Ps 118:22), yet they failed to grasp its profound meaning or apply it to the unfolding events right before them. Jesus uses a rhetorical question to shame them for their spiritual dullness, despite being Scripture experts.
  • This phrase acts as a sharp rebuke, highlighting their failure in their primary duty: understanding and interpreting God's word correctly, particularly concerning the Messiah.

• this Scripture (τὴν γραφὴν ταύτην, tēn graphēn tautēn):

  • "Γραφή" (Graphē): Refers to the sacred writings of the Old Testament, holding divine authority and inspiration. By explicitly naming "this Scripture," Jesus points directly to Ps 118:22, a psalm understood by some as having Messianic implications, though perhaps not fully acknowledged by His interrogators in its application to a rejected Messiah.

• ‘The stone (Λίθον, Lithon):

  • "Λίθον" (Lithon): Accusative case of "λίθος" (lithos), meaning "stone" or "rock." In biblical contexts, stone often symbolizes strength, stability, foundation, or divine judgment. Here, it represents a crucial, essential component of a structure, personifying the central figure of God's redemptive plan. It contrasts sharply with "flesh and blood," pointing to divine choosing rather than human means.

• which the builders (ὃν ἀπεδοκίμασαν οἱ οἰκοδομοῦντες, hon apedokimasan hoi oikodomountes):

  • "Ἀπεδοκίμασαν" (apedokimasan): From the verb ἀποδοκιμάζω (apodokimazo), meaning "to reject after testing," "to disapprove," "to declare worthless," or "to cast aside as refuse." It implies a deliberate, informed judgment and decision to disqualify. This rejection was not accidental but a conscious evaluation and dismissal of Jesus by those who deemed themselves competent to build God's house.
  • "Οἱ οἰκοδομοῦντες" (hoi oikodomountes): Literally, "those who build," or "the builders." In this context, these are clearly the religious leaders of Israel—the chief priests, elders, and scribes—who saw themselves as responsible for maintaining and leading God's spiritual "building," Israel. Their rejection of the cornerstone reveals their profound misunderstanding of God's design.

• has become (οὗτος ἐγενήθη, houtos egenēthē):

  • "Ἐγενήθη" (egenēthē): Aorist passive indicative of γίνομαι (ginomai), "to become," "to happen," "to be born," or "to arise." It indicates a definitive, completed action. The passive voice implies that this transformation is not by human will or effort, but is accomplished by God's design and power, despite and against human opposition. It speaks of divine vindication.

• the chief cornerstone (κεφαλὴν γωνίας, kephalēn gōnias):

  • "Κεφαλὴν γωνίας" (Kephalēn gōnias): Literally, "head of the corner." This phrase refers to the most crucial stone in a building. It can signify the chief stone at the top of an archway or wall junction (capstone/keystone) that locks the structure together, or it can refer to the principal foundation stone at the corner that dictates the alignment of the entire edifice. Either way, it signifies supreme importance, absolute necessity, and the unifying element. It denotes the culminating, authoritative, and essential position of Christ for both the nation of Israel and later, the Church. The phrase encapsulates the reversal of fortune: from rejected to paramount.

Mark 12 10 Bonus section

• Polemics against Religious Authority: This verse functions as a powerful polemic. Jesus, by quoting a Scripture already within their purview, directly challenges the religious authorities' self-perception as competent spiritual "builders." He implies they are not only ignorant of the divine truth but actively working against God's revealed will by rejecting His Messiah. This attack on their legitimacy ultimately underscores their role in precipitating their own downfall.
• Divine Reversal and Sovereignty: The core message of the verse is God's sovereign hand in salvation. Human rejection cannot thwart God's ultimate purpose. What humans despise, God exalts. This principle runs throughout Scripture, where God often chooses the lowly, the weak, or the rejected to accomplish His greatest works, confounding human wisdom and pride.
• Christology: This verse is a vital Messianic proof text. Jesus applies Psalm 118 to Himself, explicitly claiming to be the unique and essential "stone" prophesied by David. His identity as the chief cornerstone underlines His centrality to God's eternal redemptive plan, establishing Him as the supreme authority and indispensable foundation of all truth and salvation.
• Prophetic Fulfillment: The passage vividly demonstrates prophetic fulfillment. Psalm 118, a royal psalm of thanksgiving and deliverance, finds its ultimate meaning in the passion, death, resurrection, and exaltation of Jesus. His very rejection becomes part of the divine blueprint for His ultimate glory and establishment as head of the Church, the new spiritual building.

Mark 12 10 Commentary

Mark 12:10 is a pivotal verse, encapsulating Jesus's indictment of the Jewish religious leadership and a profound statement about His own identity and destiny. By quoting Psalm 118:22, Jesus not only exposes the willful spiritual blindness of those who should have recognized Him but also directly affirms Himself as the prophesied Messiah. Their "building" of God's house was incomplete and faulty because they rejected the very foundation stone God had provided.

The "builders"—the esteemed religious authorities—disqualified Jesus, the "stone," based on their human assessment and traditional frameworks, missing the divine plan entirely. Yet, God's sovereign power overcomes this rejection, transforming the object of their scorn into the supreme "chief cornerstone." This stone is essential for the stability, coherence, and integrity of any spiritual "building." Their rejection foreshadows the catastrophic consequence for their leadership and ultimately, for Israel's temple-centric worship system. This reversal, from ignominy to glory, showcases God's faithfulness to His plan despite human folly and rebellion, establishing Christ as indispensable to God's ultimate spiritual design—the Church.

• Example 1: When someone disregards simple, clear instructions (Scripture) for a complex task (God's plan), they are likely to make a fundamental error, like builders rejecting the strongest foundation stone because it doesn't fit their preconceived ideas.
• Example 2: A brilliant student might be overlooked or rejected by a prestigious institution because they don't conform to certain conventions, only to later revolutionize a field with unique contributions. Jesus, the cornerstone, embodies this unexpected divine exaltation.