#18Servant & Character
The Rejected Cornerstone
The stone rejected by the builders would become the most important cornerstone.
The Prophecy
Psalm 118:22-23
~1000-500 BCE
The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.
Manuscript Attestation
Multiple Dead Sea Scrolls Psalms manuscripts (36 copies of Psalms found at Qumran); all codices.
Ancient Jewish Interpretation
Targum on Psalms applies this to David/the Messiah. Midrashic literature discusses the rejected stone becoming the capstone.
The Fulfillment
Matthew 21:42; Acts 4:11
Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: 'The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone'?" (Matthew 21:42)
Narrative Context
Jesus applied this psalm to himself, predicting that though he would be rejected by the religious leaders, he would become the foundation of God's kingdom.
The Evidence
Psalms was the most heavily copied book at Qumran (36 copies), confirming its central importance. The metaphor of a rejected stone becoming the key structural element was understood messianically in ancient Judaism.