The Meaning of 1 Peter 2:7 Explained

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,

YLT: to you, then, who are believing is the preciousness; and to the unbelieving, a stone that the builders disapproved of, this one did become for the head of a corner,

Darby: To you therefore who believe is the preciousness; but to the disobedient, the stone which the builders cast away as worthless, this is become head of the corner,

ASV: For you therefore that believe is the preciousness: but for such as disbelieve, The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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, 

What does 1 Peter 2:7 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Peter 2:1-10 - Building On The Precious Corner-Stone
It is easy to lay aside malice, guile and evil speaking, when we are constantly feeding on the unadulterated milk of spiritual truth. If you have tasted of the grace of Jesus, you will not want to sip of the wine of Sodom. Drink, O beloved, eat and drink abundantly, that we may grow, casting aside sinful and childish things.
The changing imagery of the next paragraph is remarkable. As we touch the Living Stone we live, and we touch others who are touching Him, and so a temple begins to grow up. Then we become a holy priesthood in the temple, and finally the sacrifices which are offered within its precincts. If Christ is not that Living Stone for you, He will be your undoing.
All that God said of His ancient people may be realized by us in and through Christ. Compare 1 Peter 2:9 with Exodus 19:6. Thus songs of praise are ever ascending to Him who has called us into His light. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Peter 2

1  He exhorts to put away wickedness;
4  showing that Christ is the foundation whereupon they are built
11  He beseeches them also to abstain from sinful desires;
13  to be obedient to authorities;
18  and teaches servants how to obey their masters;
20  patiently suffering for well doing, after the example of Christ

Greek Commentary for 1 Peter 2:7

The preciousness [η τιμη]
Or “the honour.” Explanation of εντιμον — entimon and ου μη καταισχυντηι — ou mē kataischunthēi and only true “for you which believe” (τοις πιστευουσιν — tois pisteuousin ethical dative of articular present active participle of πιστευω — pisteuō to believe). [source]
But for such as disbelieve [απιστουσιν δε]
Dative present active participle again of απιστεω — apisteō opposite of πιστευω — pisteuō (Luke 24:11).Was made the head of the corner (εγενητη εις κεπαλην γωνιας — egenēthē eis kephalēn gōnias). This verse is from Psalm 118:22 with evident allusion to Isaiah 28:16 (κεπαλην γωνιασακρογωνιαιον — kephalēn gōnias =οι οικοδομουντες — akrogōniaion). See Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17, where Jesus himself quotes Psalm 118:22 and applies the rejection of the stone by the builders (hoi oikodomountes the experts) to the Sanhedrin‘s conduct toward him. Peter quoted it also (and applied it as Jesus had done) in his speech at the Beautiful Gate (Acts 4:11). Here he quotes it again to the same purpose. [source]
Was made the head of the corner [εγενητη εις κεπαλην γωνιας]
This verse is from Psalm 118:22 with evident allusion to Isaiah 28:16 See Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17, where Jesus himself quotes Psalm 118:22 and applies the rejection of the stone by the builders Here he quotes it again to the same purpose. [source]
He is precious [ἡ τιμὴ]
Wrong. Render, as Rev., For you therefore which believe is the preciousness (honor, in margin). [source]
Is made the head of the corner [ἐγενήθη εἰς κεφαλὴν γωνίας]
Rev., correctly, “was made.” The preposition εἰς , untocarrying the idea of coming unto the place of honor, is not rendered in A. V. or Rev. Lit., it would be, was made or became unto the head, etc. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Peter 2:7

Mark 6:3 And they were offended in him [σκανδαλον]
So exactly Matthew 13:56, were made to stumble in him, trapped like game by the πετρα σκανδαλου — skandalon because they could not explain him, having been so recently one of them. “The Nazarenes found their stumbling block in the person or circumstances of Jesus. He became - προπητης — petra skandalou (1 Peter 2:7, 1 Peter 2:8; Romans 9:33) to those who disbelieved” (Swete). Both Mark and Matthew 13:57, which see, preserve the retort of Jesus with the quotation of the current proverb about a prophet‘s lack of honour in his own country. John 4:44 quoted it from Jesus on his return to Galilee long before this. It is to be noted that Jesus here makes a definite claim to being a prophet They stumble at Jesus today as the townspeople of Nazareth did.In his own house (en tēi oikiāi autou). Also in Matthew 13:57. This was the saddest part of it all, that his own brothers in his own home disbelieved his Messianic claims (John 7:5). This puzzle was the greatest of all. [source]
Mark 6:3 were made to stumble in him []
, trapped like game by the πετρα σκανδαλου — skandalon because they could not explain him, having been so recently one of them. “The Nazarenes found their stumbling block in the person or circumstances of Jesus. He became - προπητης — petra skandalou (1 Peter 2:7, 1 Peter 2:8; Romans 9:33) to those who disbelieved” (Swete). Both Mark and Matthew 13:57, which see, preserve the retort of Jesus with the quotation of the current proverb about a prophet‘s lack of honour in his own country. John 4:44 quoted it from Jesus on his return to Galilee long before this. It is to be noted that Jesus here makes a definite claim to being a prophet They stumble at Jesus today as the townspeople of Nazareth did.In his own house (en tēi oikiāi autou). Also in Matthew 13:57. This was the saddest part of it all, that his own brothers in his own home disbelieved his Messianic claims (John 7:5). This puzzle was the greatest of all. [source]
1 Peter 1:19 But with precious blood [αλλα τιμιωι αιματι]
Instrumental case of αιμα — haima after ελυτρωτητε — elutrōthēte (repeated from 1 Peter 1:18). Peter here applies the old adjective τιμιος — timios (from τιμη — timē of Christ in 1 Peter 2:7) to Christ as in 1 Peter 1:7 πολυτιμοτερον — polutimoteron to testing of faith. The blood of anyone is “precious” (costly), far above gold or silver, but that of Jesus immeasurably more so. [source]
1 Peter 2:8 For they [οι]
Causal use of the relative pronoun.Stumble at the word, being disobedient (προσκοπτουσιν τωι λογωι απειτουντες — proskoptousin tōi logōi apeithountes). Present active indicative of προσκοπτω — proskoptō with dative case, λογωι — logōi and present active participle of απειτεω — apeitheō (cf. απιστουσιν — apistousin in 1 Peter 2:7) as in Romans 3:1. Τωι λογωι — Tōi logōi can be construed with απειτουντες — apeithountes (stumble, being disobedient to the word).Whereunto also they were appointed First aorist passive indicative of τιτημι — tithēmi See this idiom in 1 Timothy 2:7. “Their disobedience is not ordained, the penalty of their disobedience is” (Bigg). They rebelled against God and paid the penalty. [source]
1 Peter 2:8 Stumble at the word, being disobedient [προσκοπτουσιν τωι λογωι απειτουντες]
Present active indicative of προσκοπτω — proskoptō with dative case, λογωι — logōi and present active participle of απειτεω — apeitheō (cf. απιστουσιν — apistousin in 1 Peter 2:7) as in Romans 3:1. Τωι λογωι — Tōi logōi can be construed with απειτουντες — apeithountes (stumble, being disobedient to the word). [source]
2 Peter 1:1 Like precious [ἰσότιμον]
Only here in New Testament. The word should be written like precious. Compare precious in 1 Peter 1:7, 1 Peter 1:19; 1 Peter 2:4, 1 Peter 2:6, 1 Peter 2:7. Not the same in measure to all, but having an equal value and honor to those who receive it, as admitting them to the same Christian privileges. [source]
1 John 2:9 His brother [τὸν ἀδελφόν]
His fellow-Christian. The singular, brother, is characteristic of this Epistle. See 1 John 2:10, 1 John 2:11; 1 John 3:10, 1 John 3:15, 1 John 3:17; 1 John 4:20, 1 John 4:21; 1 John 5:16. Christians are called in the New Testament, Christians (Acts 11:26; Acts 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16), mainly by those outside of the Christian circle. Disciples, applied to all followers of Christ (John 2:11; John 6:61) and strictly to the twelve (John 13:5sqq.). In Acts 19:1, to those who had received only John's baptism. Not found in John's Epistles nor in Revelation. Brethren. The first title given to the body of believers after the Ascension (Acts 1:15, where the true reading is ἀδελφῶν brethrenfor μαθητῶν disciples). See Acts 9:30; Acts 10:23; Acts 11:29; 1 Thessalonians 4:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:26; 1 John 3:14; 3 John 1:5, 3 John 1:10; John 21:23. Peter has ἡ ἀδελφότης thebrotherhood (1 Peter 2:17; 1 Peter 5:9). The believers. Under three forms: The believers ( οἱ πιστοί ; Acts 10:45; 1 Timothy 4:12); they that believe ( οἱ πιστεύοντες ; 1 Peter 2:7; 1 Thessalonians 1:7; Ephesians 1:19); they that believed ( οἱ πιστεύσαντες ; Acts 2:44; Acts 4:32; Hebrews 4:3). The saints ( οἱ ἅγιοι ); characteristic of Paul and Revelation. Four times in the Acts (Acts 9:13, Acts 9:32, Acts 9:41; Acts 26:10), and once in Jude (Judges 1:3). Also Hebrews 6:10; Hebrews 13:24. In Paul, 1 Corinthians 6:1; 1 Corinthians 14:33; Ephesians 1:1, Ephesians 1:15, etc. In Revelation 5:8; Revelation 8:3, Revelation 8:4; Revelation 11:18, etc.|Until now ( ἕως ἄρτι )|Though the light has been increasing, and though he may claim that he has been in the light from the first. The phrase occurs in John 2:10; John 5:17; John 16:24; and is used by Paul, 1 Corinthians 4:13; 1 Corinthians 8:7; 1 Corinthians 15:6.| [source]
Revelation 18:19 By reason of her costliness [εκ της τιμιοτητος αυτης]
Occasionally in later literary Greek, though here only in N.T. and not in lxx. The same use of τιμη — timē appears in 1 Peter 2:7. Common in the papyri as a title like “Your Honor” (Moulton and Milligan‘s Vocabulary). [source]

What do the individual words in 1 Peter 2:7 mean?

To you therefore [is] the preciousness - believing [to those] disobeying however [The] stone which have rejected those building this has become into [the] head of [the] corner
Ὑμῖν οὖν τιμὴ τοῖς πιστεύουσιν ἀπιστοῦσιν δὲ Λίθος ὃν ἀπεδοκίμασαν οἱ οἰκοδομοῦντες οὗτος ἐγενήθη εἰς κεφαλὴν γωνίας

Ὑμῖν  To  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
οὖν  therefore  [is] 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: οὖν  
Sense: then, therefore, accordingly, consequently, these things being so.
τιμὴ  preciousness 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: τιμή  
Sense: a valuing by which the price is fixed.
τοῖς  - 
Parse: Article, Dative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
πιστεύουσιν  believing 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: πιστεύω  
Sense: to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in.
ἀπιστοῦσιν  [to  those]  disobeying 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀπιστέω  
Sense: to betray a trust, be unfaithful.
δὲ  however 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
Λίθος  [The]  stone 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: λίθος  
Sense: a stone.
ἀπεδοκίμασαν  have  rejected 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἀποδοκιμάζω  
Sense: to disapprove, reject, repudiate.
οἱ  those 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
οἰκοδομοῦντες  building 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: οἰκοδομέω 
Sense: to build a house, erect a building.
οὗτος  this 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
ἐγενήθη  has  become 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: γίνομαι  
Sense: to become, i.
εἰς  into 
Parse: Preposition
Root: εἰς  
Sense: into, unto, to, towards, for, among.
κεφαλὴν  [the]  head 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: κεφαλή  
Sense: the head, both of men and often of animals.
γωνίας  of  [the]  corner 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: γωνία  
Sense: corner.