Bible Strands
Matthew 21:44
He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus delivers this warning to the chief priests and Pharisees immediately after declaring that the kingdom of God will be taken from them and given to a people who produce its fruit.
The words — The Greek πεσὼν (pesōn) literally means "having fallen," and συνθλασθὴσεται (sunthlasthēsetai) translates to "will be broken to pieces."
The thread — This imagery echoes Isaiah 8:14 and 1 Peter 2:8, which describe a stone of stumbling, and Daniel 2:34, where a stone cut out not by human hands crushes a statue.
Why it lands — The text states that those who fall on the stone will be broken while those it falls upon will be crushed, demanding a clear choice between submission to divine authority or destruction by it.
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 Greek words
King James Version
And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
Cross-references
- 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.
- 1 Peter 2:8 and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word—and to this they were appointed.
- Daniel 2:34 As you watched, a stone was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay, and crushed them.
- Daniel 2:44 In the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will shatter all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, but will itself stand forever.
- 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.”
- Luke 20:18 Everyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.”
- Matthew 27:25 All the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”
- Psalms 21:8 Your hand will apprehend all Your enemies; Your right hand will seize those who hate You.
- Psalms 110:5 The Lord is at Your right hand; He will crush kings in the day of His wrath.
- Zechariah 12:3 On that day, when all the nations of the earth gather against her, I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who would heave it away will be severely injured.