What Does 1 Peter 2:6 Mean?
Therefore it is held in the writing, "Behold, I lay in Zion a chosen, precious top-corner stone; and the one who leans his full weight upon him shall not be put to shame."
Key words are shown with the Hebrew or Greek and what each word meant.
Selah Decoded Version The Selah Decoded Version renders what the Hebrew and Greek words meant to the people who first heard them.
King James wording
King James Version
Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.THE KEY
Believing here is putting your weight on the foundation that keeps your trust from ending in shame.
THE MEANING
Your confidence rests on the one God sets as the foundation, rather than on your ability to hold yourself together. When you trust him, the verse says that trust does not end in disgrace.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The lie this verse dissolves is that entrusting yourself to Jesus will end in public disgrace.
THE ROOT
πιστεύων
pisteuōn
GROWS FROM
πιστ-
pist-
Trust and reliance; being persuaded to rely.
“leans his full weight upon him” in this verse is pisteuōn. The word family holds trust and trustworthiness close: a person trusts by relying on one who can be relied on. With a cornerstone as its object, belief becomes weight placed where the structure can bear it.
ALSO GROWS
pistis: Trust, reliance.
πίστις
It shows that believing concerns where trust rests, not bare agreement with a claim.
pistos: Firm, steady, trustworthy.
πιστός
It carries trust into the quality of what can be relied on, fitting the image of a stone that bears weight.
καταισχυνθήσεται
kataischunthēsetai
GROWS FROM
αἰσχυν-
aischyn-
Shame or disgrace.
“put to shame” in this verse is kataischunthēsetai. The Greek names shame and disgrace, reaching beyond mere confusion. The promise is that trust does not end in discovering you rested on a false foundation.
ALSO GROWS
aischynē: Shame, disgrace.
αἰσχύνη
It names the outcome the verse says will not define the one who trusts.
aischynomai: To feel or be ashamed.
αἰσχύνομαι
It shows the personal exposure contained in the promise: trust does not leave you disgraced.
ἔντιμος
entimos
GROWS FROM
τιμ-
tim-
Honor and value.
The stone is precious in the sense of being held in honor and valued. Its worth is established before anyone builds on it, making it the fitting foundation for trust.
ALSO GROWS
timē: Honor, value.
τιμή
It shows that the stone’s preciousness carries the sense of recognized worth.
timaō: To honor, value.
τιμάω
It links the stone’s worth to the act of holding something in esteem.
THE PATTERN
The stone God establishes becomes the load-bearing point that gives the whole structure its stability.
Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a weighty cornerstone, a foundation set firm. The one who leans his weight will not hurry.The stone the builders push away becomes the head of the corner.Having been built upon the foundation of the sent ones and the prophets, the Anointed One, Jesus, himself being the head of the corner.THE THREAD
As it is written, "Look, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of the snare, and whoever leans their full weight on him will not be put to shame."Romans repeats the same movement: trust is placed on the stone, and shame does not follow. It also calls the stone a stumblingstone, showing how the same encounter can expose resistance or provide a secure footing.
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