Click
here to show/hide instructions.
Instructions on how to use the page:
The commentary for the selected verse is is displayed below.
All commentary was produced against the King James, so the same verse from that translation may appear as well. Hovering your mouse over a commentary's scripture reference attempts to show those verses.
Use the browser's back button to return to the previous page.
Or you can also select a feature from the Just Verses menu appearing at the top of the page.
Selected Verse: 1 Peter 2:4 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| 1Pe 2:4 |
Strong Concordance |
To [4314] whom [3739] coming [4334], as unto a living [2198] stone [3037], disallowed [593] indeed [3303] of [5259] men [444], but [1161] chosen [1588] of [3844] God [2316], and precious [1784], |
| |
King James |
To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
coming--drawing near (same Greek as here, Heb 10:22) by faith continually; present tense: not having come once for all at conversion.
stone--Peter (that is, a stone, named so by Christ) desires that all similarly should be living stones BUILT ON CHRIST, THE TRUE FOUNDATION-STONE; compare his speech in Act 4:11. An undesigned coincidence and mark of genuineness. The Spirit foreseeing the Romanist perversion of Mat 16:18 (compare Mat 16:16, "Son of the LIVING God," which coincides with his language here, "the LIVING stone"), presciently makes Peter himself to refuse it. He herein confirms Paul's teaching. Omit the as unto of English Version. Christ is positively termed the "living stone"; living, as having life in Himself from the beginning, and as raised from the dead to live evermore (Rev 1:18) after His rejection by men, and so the source of life to us. Like no earthly rock, He lives and gives life. Compare Co1 10:4, and the type, Exo 17:6; Num 20:11.
disallowed--rejected, reprobated; referred to also by Christ Himself: also by Paul; compare the kindred prophecies, Isa 8:14; Luk 2:34.
chosen of God--literally, "with (or 'in the presence and judgment of') God elect," or, "chosen out" (Pe1 2:6). Many are alienated from the Gospel, because it is not everywhere in favor, but is on the contrary rejected by most men. Peter answers that, though rejected by men, Christ is peculiarly the stone of salvation honored by God, first so designated by Jacob in his deathbed prophecy. |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
To whom coming - To the Lord Jesus, for so the word "Lord" is to be understood in Pe1 2:3. Compare the notes at Act 1:24. The idea here is, that they had come to him for salvation, while the great mass of people rejected him. Others "disallowed" him, and turned away from him, but they had seen that he was the one chosen or appointed of God, and had come to him in order to be saved. Salvation is often represented as corning to Christ. See Mat 11:28.
As unto a living stone - The allusion in this passage is to Isa 28:16, "Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste." See the notes at that passage. There may be also possibly an allusion to Psa 118:22, "The stone which the builders disallowed is become the headstone of the corner." The reference is to Christ as the foundation on which the church is reared. He occupied the same place in regard to the church which a foundation-stone does to the edifice that is reared upon it. Compare Mat 7:24-25. See the Rom 9:33 note, and Eph 2:20-22 notes. The phrase "living stone" is however unusual, and is not found, I think, except in this place. There seems to be an incongruity in it, in attributing life to a stone, yet the meaning is not difficult to be understood. The purpose was not to speak of a temple, like that at Jerusalem, made up of gold and costly stones; but of a temple made up of living materials - of redeemed people - in which God now resides. In speaking of that, it was natural to refer to the foundation on which the whole rested, and to speak of that as corresponding to the whole edifice. It was all a living temple - a temple composed of living materials - from the foundation to the top. Compare the expression in Joh 4:10, "He would have given thee living water;" that is, water which would have imparted life to the soul. So Christ imparts life to the whole spiritual temple that is reared on him as a foundation.
Disallowed indeed of men - Rejected by them, first by the Jews, in causing him to be put to death; and then by all people when he is offered to them as their Saviour. See the notes at Isa 53:3. Psa 118:22; "Which the builders refused." Compare the Mat 21:42 note; Act 4:11 note.
But chosen of God - Selected by him as the suitable foundation on which to rear his church.
And precious - Valuable. The universe had nothing more valuable on which to rear the spiritual temple. |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Coming (προσερχόμενοι)
Indicating a close (πρός) and an habitual (present participle) approach and an intimate association.
A living stone (λίθον ζῶντα)
Omit as unto. So Rev. The words are in apposition with whom (Christ). Compare Peter's use of the same word, stone, in Act 4:11, and Mat 21:42. It is not the word which Christ uses as a personal name for Peter (Πέτρος); so that it is not necessary to infer that Peter was thinking of his own new name.
Disallowed (ἀποδεδοκιμασμένον)
Rev., rejected. See on the simple verb, Pe1 1:7. The word indicates rejection after trial.
Of God (παρὰ Θεῷ)
Of in the A. V. is equivalent to by; but πατά has a stronger sense, implying the absolute power of decisive choice which is with God. Render, as Rev., with God; i.e., God being judge; and compare Mat 19:26; Rom 2:11.
Precious (ἔντιμον)
At Pe1 1:19 (precious blood) another word is used (τίμιος), denoting essential preciousness. The word here indicates the preciousness as recognized or held in honor. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| To whom coming - By faith. As unto a living stone - Living from eternity; alive from the dead. There is a wonderful beauty and energy in these expressions, which describe Christ as a spiritual foundation, solid, firm, durable; and believers as a building erected upon it, in preference to that temple which the Jews accounted their highest glory. And St. Peter speaking of him thus, shows he did not judge himself, but Christ, to be the rock on which the church was built. Rejected indeed by men - Even at this day, not only by Jews, Turks, heathens, infidels; but by all Christians, so called, who live in sin, or who hope to be saved by their own works. But chosen of God - From all eternity, to be the foundation of his church. And precious - In himself, in the sight of God, and in the eyes of all believers. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
To whom coming, as unto a living stone - This is a reference to Isa 28:16 : Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation. Jesus Christ is, in both the prophet and apostle, represented as the foundation on which the Christian Church is built, and on which it must continue to rest: and the stone or foundation is called here living, to intimate that he is the source of life to all his followers, and that it is in union with him that they live, and answer the end of their regeneration; as the stones of a building are of no use but as they occupy their proper places in a building, and rest on the foundation.
Disallowed indeed of men - That is, rejected by the Jews. This is a plain reference to the prophecy, Psa 118:22 : The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
Chosen of God - To be the Savior of the world, and the Founder of the Church, and the foundation on which it rests; As Christ is the choice of the Father, we need have no doubt of the efficacy and sufficiency of all that he has suffered and done for the salvation of a lost world. God can never be mistaken in his choice; therefore he that chooses Christ for his portion shall never be confounded.
Precious - Εντιμον· Honourable. Howsoever despised and rejected by men, Jesus, as the sacrifice for a lost world, is infinitely honorable in the sight of God; and those who are united by faith to him partake of the same honor, being members of that great and glorious body of which he is the head, and stones in that superb building of which he is the foundation. |
6 Wherefore [1352] also [2532] it is contained [4023] in [1722] the scripture [1124], Behold [2400], I lay [5087] in [1722] Sion [4622] a chief corner [204] stone [3037], elect [1588], precious [1784]: and [2532] he that believeth [4100] on [1909] him [846] shall [2617] not be [3364] confounded [2617].
34 And [2532] Simeon [4826] blessed [2127] them [846], and [2532] said [2036] unto [4314] Mary [3137] his [846] mother [3384], Behold [2400], this [3778] child is set [2749] for [1519] the fall [4431] and [2532] rising again [386] of many [4183] in [1722] Israel [2474]; and [2532] for [1519] a sign [4592] which shall be spoken against [483];
14 And he shall be for a sanctuary [04720]; but for a stone [068] of stumbling [05063] and for a rock [06697] of offence [04383] to both [08147] the houses [01004] of Israel [03478], for a gin [06341] and for a snare [04170] to the inhabitants [03427] of Jerusalem [03389].
11 And Moses [04872] lifted up [07311] his hand [03027], and with his rod [04294] he smote [05221] the rock [05553] twice [06471]: and the water [04325] came out [03318] abundantly [07227], and the congregation [05712] drank [08354], and their beasts [01165] also.
6 Behold, I will stand [05975] before [06440] thee there upon the rock [06697] in Horeb [02722]; and thou shalt smite [05221] the rock [06697], and there shall come [03318] water [04325] out of it, that the people [05971] may drink [08354]. And Moses [04872] did [06213] so in the sight [05869] of the elders [02205] of Israel [03478].
4 And [2532] did [4095] all [3956] drink [4095] the same [846] spiritual [4152] drink [4188]: for [1063] they drank [4095] of [1537] that spiritual [4152] Rock [4073] that followed them [190]: and [1161] that Rock [4073] was [2258] Christ [5547].
18 [2532] I am he that liveth [2198], and [2532] was [1096] dead [3498]; and [2532], behold [2400], I am [1510] alive [2198] for [1519] evermore [165] [165], Amen [281]; and [2532] have [2192] the keys [2807] of hell [86] and [2532] of death [2288].
16 And [1161] Simon [4613] Peter [4074] answered [611] and said [2036], Thou [4771] art [1488] the Christ [5547], the Son [5207] of the living [2198] God [2316].
18 And [1161] I say [3004] also [2504] unto thee [4671], That [3754] thou [4771] art [1488] Peter [4074], and [2532] upon [1909] this [5026] rock [4073] I will build [3618] my [3450] church [1577]; and [2532] the gates [4439] of hell [86] shall [2729] not [3756] prevail against [2729] it [846].
11 This [3778] is [2076] the stone [3037] which [3588] was set at nought [1848] of [5259] you [5216] builders [3618], which [3588] is become [1096] the head [2776] of [1519] the corner [1137].
22 Let us draw near [4334] with [3326] a true [228] heart [2588] in [1722] full assurance [4136] of faith [4102], having [4472] our hearts [2588] sprinkled [4472] from [575] an evil [4190] conscience [4893], and [2532] our bodies [4983] washed [3068] with pure [2513] water [5204].
11 This [3778] is [2076] the stone [3037] which [3588] was set at nought [1848] of [5259] you [5216] builders [3618], which [3588] is become [1096] the head [2776] of [1519] the corner [1137].
42 Jesus [2424] saith [3004] unto them [846], Did ye [314] never [3763] read [314] in [1722] the scriptures [1124], The stone [3037] which [3739] the builders [3618] rejected [593], the same [3778] is become [1096] [1519] the head [2776] of the corner [1137]: this [3778] is [3844] the Lord's [2962] doing [1096], and [2532] it is [2076] marvellous [2298] in [1722] our [2257] eyes [3788]?
22 The stone [068] which the builders [01129] refused [03988] is become the head [07218] stone of the corner [06438].
3 He is despised [0959] and rejected [02310] of men [0376]; a man [0376] of sorrows [04341], and acquainted [03045] with grief [02483]: and we hid as it were [04564] our faces [06440] from him; he was despised [0959], and we esteemed [02803] him not.
10 Jesus [2424] answered [611] and [2532] said [2036] unto her [846], If [1487] thou knewest [1492] the gift [1431] of God [2316], and [2532] who [5101] it is [2076] that saith [3004] to thee [4671], Give [1325] me [3427] to drink [4095]; thou [4771] wouldest [302] have asked [154] of him [846], and [2532] he would [302] have given [1325] thee [4671] living [2198] water [5204].
20 And are built [2026] upon [1909] the foundation [2310] of the apostles [652] and [2532] prophets [4396], Jesus [2424] Christ [5547] himself [846] being [5607] the chief corner [204] stone;
21 In [1722] whom [3739] all [3956] the building [3619] fitly framed together [4883] groweth [837] unto [1519] an holy [40] temple [3485] in [1722] the Lord [2962]:
22 In [1722] whom [3739] ye [5210] also [2532] are builded together [4925] for [1519] an habitation [2732] of God [2316] through [1722] the Spirit [4151].
33 As [2531] it is written [1125], Behold [2400], I lay [5087] in [1722] Sion [4622] a stumblingstone [3037] [4348] and [2532] rock [4073] of offence [4625]: and [2532] whosoever [3956] believeth [4100] on [1909] him [846] shall [2617] not [3756] be ashamed [2617].
24 Therefore [3767] whosoever [3956] [3748] heareth [191] these [5128] sayings [3056] of mine [3450], and [2532] doeth [4160] them [846], I will liken [3666] him [846] unto a wise [5429] man [435], which [3748] built [3618] his [846] house [3614] upon [1909] a rock [4073]:
25 And [2532] the rain [1028] descended [2597], and [2532] the floods [4215] came [2064], and [2532] the winds [417] blew [4154], and [2532] beat upon [4363] that [1565] house [3614]; and [2532] it fell [4098] not [3756]: for [1063] it was founded [2311] upon [1909] a rock [4073].
22 The stone [068] which the builders [01129] refused [03988] is become the head [07218] stone of the corner [06438].
16 Therefore thus saith [0559] the Lord [0136] GOD [03069], Behold, I lay [03245] in Zion [06726] for a foundation a stone [068], a tried [0976] stone [068], a precious [03368] corner [06438] stone, a sure [03245] foundation [04143]: he that believeth [0539] shall not make haste [02363].
28 Come [1205] unto [4314] me [3165], all [3956] ye that labour [2872] and [2532] are heavy laden [5412], and I [2504] will give [373] you [5209] rest [373].
24 And [2532] they prayed [4336], and said [2036], Thou [4771], Lord [2962], which knowest the hearts [2589] of all [3956] men, shew [322] whether [3739] [1520] of [1537] these [5130] two [1417] thou hast chosen [1586],
3 If so be [1512] ye have tasted [1089] that [3754] the Lord [2962] is gracious [5543].
19 But [235] with the precious [5093] blood [129] of Christ [5547], as [5613] of a lamb [286] without blemish [299] and [2532] without spot [784]:
11 For [1063] there is [2076] no [3756] respect of persons [4382] with [3844] God [2316].
26 But [1161] Jesus [2424] beheld [1689] them, and said [2036] unto them [846], With [3844] men [444] this [5124] is [2076] impossible [102]; but [1161] with [3844] God [2316] all things [3956] are [2076] possible [1415].
7 That [2443] the trial [1383] of your [5216] faith [4102], being much [4183] more precious [5093] than of gold [5553] that perisheth [622], though [1223] [1161] it be tried [1381] with fire [4442], might be found [2147] unto [1519] praise [1868] and [2532] honour [5092] and [2532] glory [1391] at [1722] the appearing [602] of Jesus [2424] Christ [5547]:
42 Jesus [2424] saith [3004] unto them [846], Did ye [314] never [3763] read [314] in [1722] the scriptures [1124], The stone [3037] which [3739] the builders [3618] rejected [593], the same [3778] is become [1096] [1519] the head [2776] of the corner [1137]: this [3778] is [3844] the Lord's [2962] doing [1096], and [2532] it is [2076] marvellous [2298] in [1722] our [2257] eyes [3788]?
11 This [3778] is [2076] the stone [3037] which [3588] was set at nought [1848] of [5259] you [5216] builders [3618], which [3588] is become [1096] the head [2776] of [1519] the corner [1137].
22 The stone [068] which the builders [01129] refused [03988] is become the head [07218] stone of the corner [06438].
16 Therefore thus saith [0559] the Lord [0136] GOD [03069], Behold, I lay [03245] in Zion [06726] for a foundation a stone [068], a tried [0976] stone [068], a precious [03368] corner [06438] stone, a sure [03245] foundation [04143]: he that believeth [0539] shall not make haste [02363].