Bible Strands
Isaiah 28:16
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.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The Lord Yahweh declares this message in direct response to a group that claimed a covenant with death and used falsehood as their refuge.
The words — יִסַּד (yi.Sad) means "he has laid," and בְּ/צִיּוֹן (be./tzi.Yon) means "in Zion."
The thread — The text states that God lays a tested cornerstone in Zion, a motif that Psalms 118:22 describes as a rejected stone becoming the cornerstone, Acts 4:11 applies to Jesus, and 1 Peter 2:6 cites to ground belief.
Why it lands — The passage demands reliance on God’s established foundation instead of human lies, promising that the believer will remain stable while false refuges are swept away.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
Cross-references
- Psalms 118:22 The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
- Acts 4:11 This Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’
- 1 Peter 2:6 For it stands in Scripture: “See, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and precious cornerstone; and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”
- Luke 20:17 But Jesus looked directly at them and said, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’?
- Romans 9:33 as it is written: “See, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense; and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”
- Mark 12:10 Have you never read this Scripture: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
- Matthew 21:42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?
- Isaiah 8:14 And He will be a sanctuary—but to both houses of Israel a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, to the dwellers of Jerusalem a trap and a snare.
- Ephesians 2:20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.
- 1 Corinthians 3:11 For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.