Bible Encyclopedia: Corner-stone

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

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

Greek

204. akrogoniaios -- at the extreme angle or corner
... Phonetic Spelling: (ak-rog-o-nee-ah'-yos) Short Definition: in the corner, cornerstone
Definition: in the corner (of a building); subst: corner-(stone). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/204.htm - 6k

2776. kephale -- the head
... Feminine Transliteration: kephale Phonetic Spelling: (kef-al-ay') Short Definition:
the head Definition: (a) the head, (b) met: a corner stone, uniting two ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2776.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

6438. 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
... cornerstone. ... from the same root as Ziv (in the sense of prominence); an angle (as
projecting), ie (by implication) a corner-column (or anta) -- corner(stone). ...
/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

Library

'The Chief Corner-Stone'
... EPHESIANS 'THE CHIEF CORNER-STONE'. 'Built upon the foundation ... III. The
corner-stone which underlies and unites the whole. Of course the corner ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/the chief corner-stone.htm

Christ the Corner-Stone.
... CHRIST; HIS CHARACTER AND OFFICES. 254. " Christ the Corner-Stone. 254.
SM Watts. Christ the Corner-Stone. 1 See what a living ...
/.../adams/hymns for christian devotion/254 christ the corner-stone.htm

On Laying the Corner-Stone of a Church. 1 this Stone to Thee in ...
... 696. " On Laying the Corner-stone of a Church. 1 This stone to thee in faith we
lay. 696. LM Montgomery. On Laying the Corner-stone of a Church. ...
/.../adams/hymns for christian devotion/696 on laying the.htm

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

Hebron. LM
... 540 Hebron. LM. Corner-Stone Laying. (1178) ... to thy praise; Oh! make thy gracious
presence known, While now we lay its corner-stone. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/lorenz/the otterbein hymnal/540 hebron l m.htm

Psalm XLVIII.
... For that is our city, if we are members of the King, who is the head of the same
city....For there was a certain corner-stone contemptible, whereat the Jews ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm xlviii.htm

Of the Scriptures
... are two principal things in a house"the foundation and the cornerstone, the one ... for
"other foundation can no man lay." And then, "the corner stone" is that ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/lecture v of the scriptures.htm

Psalm LXXXVII.
... it rest, that it may never fall? "Jesus Christ Himself," he saith, "being
the head corner stone.". 3. ...But that ye may know that ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm lxxxvii.htm

John Chapter x. 14-21
... sends. "That there may be one fold, and one shepherd." Of these two flocks,
as of two walls, is the corner-stone formed. [916] And ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate xlvii john chapter x.htm

Dedication.
... Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone, in whom all the building fitly
framed together, groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord; as it ought to be ...
/.../brown/christ the way the truth and the life/dedication.htm

Thesaurus

Cornerstone (13 Occurrences)
... In Zechariah 10:4 the leader or ruler in the Messianic age is represented by the
corner-stone. ... Multi-Version Concordance Cornerstone (13 Occurrences). ...
/c/cornerstone.htm - 14k

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

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

Builded (65 Occurrences)
... Matthew 21:42 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 ...
/b/builded.htm - 27k

Corner (60 Occurrences)
... arche ("a beginning") (Acts 10:11; Acts 11:5); "chief cornerstone" (Ephesians 2 ...
which the builders rejected, the same was made the chief cornerstone?' (Root in ...
/c/corner.htm - 33k

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

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

Cornerstones (1 Occurrence)
... Isaiah 19:13 The princes of Zoan are become fools, the princes of Noph are deceived;
they have caused Egypt to go astray, that are the corner-stone of her ...
/c/cornerstones.htm - 6k

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

Bible Concordance

Corner-stone (10 Occurrences)

Matthew 21:42 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?
(DBY)

Mark 12:10 Have ye not even read this scripture, The stone which they that builded rejected, this has become the corner-stone:
(DBY)

Luke 20:17 But he looking at them said, What then is this that is written, The stone which they that builded rejected, this has become the corner-stone?
(DBY)

Ephesians 2:20 being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the corner-stone,
(DBY WBS)

1 Peter 2:6 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.
(WBS YLT)

Job 38:6 Whereupon were the foundations thereof fastened? Or who laid the corner-stone thereof,
(ASV DBY JPS YLT)

Psalms 118:22 The stone which the builders rejected Is become the head of the corner.
(See JPS)

Isaiah 19:13 The princes of Zoan are become fools, the princes of Memphis are deceived; they have caused Egypt to go astray, that are the corner-stone of her tribes.
(ASV DBY JPS)

Isaiah 28:16 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.
(DBY JPS)

Zechariah 10:4 From him shall come forth the corner-stone, from him the nail, from him the battle bow, from him every ruler together.
(ASV DBY JPS YLT)

Subtopics

Corner-Stone

Related Terms

Corner-stone (10 Occurrences)

Wonderful (71 Occurrences)

Builded (65 Occurrences)

Corner (60 Occurrences)

Wonder (148 Occurrences)

Builders (24 Occurrences)

Capstone (7 Occurrences)

Cornerstones (1 Occurrence)

Rejected (96 Occurrences)