New Testament · Gospel

Mark 12:10

The Widow's Offering

Have you never read this Scripture: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. Mark 12:10 · Berean Standard Bible

What It Means

Mark 12:10, in plain English

Jesus quoted an old psalm: 'The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.' He was talking about Himself.

Why it's here

The leaders were the 'builders' — they were supposed to be constructing God's kingdom. But they threw away the most important piece.

Who's speaking

Jesus quotes Scripture to drive His point home.

Where it sits in the story

It's a powerful reversal: the very one the experts reject turns out to be the foundation of everything. God has a way of working through what the world discards.

A Closer Look

The scholarly reading

Jesus quotes Psalm 118:22, identifying the 'rejected stone' as Himself — the one dismissed by Israel's builders who becomes the foundational cornerstone of God's new edifice.

Language and setting

Psalm 118 was already invoked during the Triumphal Entry (Mark 11:9); Jesus now applies a different verse from the same psalm to interpret His coming rejection and vindication.

Voice

Jesus quotes Psalm 118:22 to the religious leaders.

Significance

Jesus supplements the vineyard parable with a building metaphor: the stone the builders reject becomes the most important stone, reframing rejection as divine vindication.

In context

Mark 12:8–12

8So they seized the son, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.

9What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.

10Have you never read this Scripture: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

11This is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?”

12At this, the leaders sought to arrest Jesus, for they knew that He had spoken this parable against them. But fearing the crowd, they left Him and went away.

Read all of Mark 12 — Trick questions from every direction, a scribe who almost gets it, and a poor widow who gives everything — two small coins that outweigh them all.

Understand every verse, not just this one

This page covers one. BibleKey does all 31,102 — tap any verse for its meaning, any word for its Hebrew or Greek root, and keep reading without leaving the chapter.

Get BibleKey

Understand every verse.

Not just the famous ones. BibleKey is free on iPhone and iPad.

Download on the App Store

Free on iPhone & iPad