Precious Cornerstone Bible Verses: 12 Scriptures on the Chosen Stone

"For in Scripture it says: 'See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.'"

— 1 Peter 2:6 (NIV)

People who search bible verses about Precious Cornerstone want Scripture on Isaiah's and Peter's lithos entimos — the chosen, precious foundation stone — not only the broader Cornerstone or Chief Cornerstone inventories alone. This page is a numbered list of twelve passages with the NIV text and a short note on each. Related lists: Bible verses about the Chief Cornerstone, Bible verses about the Cornerstone, Bible verses about the Living Stone, Bible verses about Jesus, Bible verses about the church, Bible verses about hope, Bible verses about faith, and Bible verse of the day. Precious Cornerstone here means the valued foundation stone God lays in Zion — distinct from Cornerstone or Chief-Cornerstone surveys alone.

Word study (lead theme). In Greek, "stone" is λίθος lithos (Strong's G3037; Bible Hub G3037) — stone. "Precious" is ἔντιμος entimos (G1784; Bible Hub G1784) — honored, precious, held in honor. 1 Peter 2:6 joins them as "a chosen and precious cornerstone." This list tracks that precious cornerstone, not every cornerstone verse alone.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Peter 2 presses that Christ is the living stone, chosen of God and precious — the foundation believers are built on (Bible Hub MHC 1 Peter 2; Blue Letter Bible, Matthew Henry on 1 Peter 2). (Chief Cornerstone and Cornerstone live on those pages; this list centers lithos entimos.)

What does precious cornerstone mean?

Isaiah 28:16 says God lays in Zion "a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation." The stone has been tried. What is built on it holds. Precious means costly and honored. This is the stone God values and sets in place.

1 Peter 2:4-7 takes up that promise. Jesus is the living stone, "rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him." To those who believe, "this stone is precious." He is "a chosen and precious cornerstone," and "the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame." Peter also speaks of believers as living stones joined to him. To build a life and a love on him is to trust that chosen stone, and to line up what you hope, decide, and give on the one God has already laid.

12 Bible verses about Precious Cornerstone

1. 1 Peter 2:6. "For in Scripture it says: 'See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.'" Chosen and precious cornerstone — trust will not be put to shame. See Bible verses about the Chief Cornerstone.

2. Isaiah 28:16. "So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: 'See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic.'" Tested stone — precious cornerstone for a sure foundation. See Bible verses about hope.

3. 1 Peter 2:4. "As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—" Living Stone — chosen by God and precious. See Bible verses about the Living Stone.

4. 1 Peter 2:7. "Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, 'The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,'" To you who believe, this stone is precious. See Bible verses about faith.

5. Psalm 118:22. "The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;" Builders rejected — become the cornerstone. See Bible verses about Jesus.

6. Matthew 21:42. "Jesus said to them, 'Have you never read in the Scriptures: "The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes"?'" Jesus cites the rejected stone. See Bible verses about Jesus.

7. Acts 4:11. "Jesus is 'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.'" Jesus is the stone — become the cornerstone. See Bible verses about the church.

8. Ephesians 2:20. "built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone." Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. See Bible verses about the Chief Cornerstone.

9. Romans 9:33. "As it is written: 'See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.'" Stone in Zion — the one who believes will never be put to shame. See Bible verses about faith.

10. Isaiah 8:14. "He will be a holy place; for both Israel and Judah he will be a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall. And for the people of Jerusalem he will be a trap and a snare." Stone that causes people to stumble. See Bible verses about hope.

11. Zechariah 10:4. "From Judah will come the cornerstone, from him the tent peg, from him the battle bow, from him every ruler." From Judah will come the cornerstone. See Bible verses about the Cornerstone.

12. 1 Corinthians 3:11. "For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ." No foundation other than Jesus Christ. See Bible verses about Jesus.

How to use these verses

Pick one verse when you need the Precious Cornerstone — not twelve as a grind. If you need Peter's precious wording, start at 1 Peter 2:6. If you need Isaiah's sure foundation, open Isaiah 28:16. If you need the builders' rejected stone, open Psalm 118:22. For Chief Cornerstone surveys, open Bible verses about the Chief Cornerstone. For a daily verse, open Bible verse of the day.

Questions people ask

What is a good Bible verse about Precious Cornerstone?

1 Peter 2:6 (chosen and precious cornerstone), Isaiah 28:16 (precious cornerstone for a sure foundation), and 1 Peter 2:7 (to you who believe, this stone is precious) are clear starting places.

How do Bible verses about Precious Cornerstone differ from Chief Cornerstone or Cornerstone alone?

Chief Cornerstone and Cornerstone cover the foundation title more broadly. This page centers the "precious" (entimos) wording in Isaiah 28:16 and 1 Peter 2 — then cross-links those companions. See Bible verses about the Chief Cornerstone.

What do lithos and entimos mean?

Greek lithos (G3037) means stone; entimos (G1784) means honored or precious. Together they form "precious cornerstone" in 1 Peter 2:6.

Is the precious cornerstone the same as the living stone?

Closely related. 1 Peter 2:4 calls Christ the living Stone, precious to God; 1 Peter 2:6 quotes the precious cornerstone promise. See Bible verses about the Living Stone.

How can I remember these verses?

Read 1 Peter 2:6, then Isaiah 28:16. Thank God for a sure, precious foundation. For faith beside that hope, open Bible verses about faith. For the church built on him, open Bible verses about the church.

What does "a chosen and precious cornerstone" mean?

It means God chose this stone and holds it in honor. 1 Peter 2:6 calls him a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.

Why is Jesus called a tested stone?

Isaiah 28:16 calls the stone laid in Zion a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation. He has been tried and proven. The one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic.

Sources

• Blue Letter Bible lexicons: G3037, G1784 (links above).
• Bible Hub Greek: G3037, G1784.
• Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary: 1 Peter 2 (links above).
• Scripture quotations NIV.