1 Peter 2:4

1 Peter 2:4

To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,

a. NLT: You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor. [Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.]

b. ASV: Unto whom coming, a living stone, rejected indeed of men, but with God elect, precious, [Thomas Nelson & Sons first published the American Standard Version in 1901. This translation of the Bible is in the public domain.]

c. YLT: To whom coming -- a living stone -- by men, indeed, having been disapproved of, but with God choice, precious, [The Young's Literal Translation was translated by Robert Young, who believed in a strictly literal translation of God's word. This version of the Bible is in the public domain.]

d. Classic Amplified: Come to Him [then, to that] Living Stone which men tried and threw away, but which is chosen [and] precious in God’s sight. [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

1. “To whom coming, as unto a living stone…”

a. To [Strong: 4314. pros pros a strengthened form of 4253; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e. pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of, i.e. near to; usually with the accusative case, the place, time, occasion, or respect, which is the destination of the relation, i.e. whither or for which it is predicated):--about, according to , against, among, at, because of, before, between, (where-)by, for, X at thy house, in, for intent, nigh unto, of, which pertain to, that, to (the end that), X together, to (you) -ward, unto, with(-in). In the comparative case, it denotes essentially the same applications, namely, motion towards, accession to, or nearness at.]

b. whom [Strong: 3739. hos hos, including feminine he hay, and neuter ho ho probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article 3588); the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that:--one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc.] 

c. coming [Strong: 4334. proserchomai pros-er'-khom-ahee from 4314 and 2064 (including its alternate); to approach, i.e. (literally) come near, visit, or (figuratively) worship, assent to:--(as soon as he) come (unto), come thereunto, consent, draw near, go (near, to, unto).]

d. [as unto a] living [Strong: 2198. zao dzah'-o a primary verb; to live (literally or figuratively):--life(-time), (a-)live(-ly), quick.]

e. stone [Strong: 3037. lithos lee'-thos apparently a primary word; a stone (literally or figuratively):--(mill-, stumbling-)stone.]

1). This is a reference to Psalms & Daniel.

a). Psalm 118:22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.

b). Daniel 2:34, 35, 44, 45 Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.

2:35 Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.

2:44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

2:45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.

2. “...disallowed indeed of men, 

a. disallowed [Strong: 593. apodokimazo ap-od-ok-ee-mad'-zo from 575 and 1381; to disapprove, i.e. (by implication) to repudiate:--disallow, reject.]

b. indeed [Strong: 3303. men men a primary particle; properly, indicative of affirmation or concession (in fact); usually followed by a contrasted clause with 1161 (this one, the former, etc.):--even, indeed, so, some, truly, verily. Often compounded with other particles in an intensive or asseverative sense.

c. of [Strong: 5259. hupo hoop-o' a primary preposition; under, i.e. (with the genitive case) of place (beneath), or with verbs (the agency or means, through); (with the accusative case) of place (whither (underneath) or where (below) or time (when (at)):--among, by, from, in, of, under, with. In the comparative, it retains the same general applications, especially of inferior position or condition, and specially, covertly or moderately.]

d. men [Strong: 444. anthropos anth'-ro-pos from 435 and ops (the countenance; from 3700); man-faced, i.e. a human being:--certain, man.]

1). Isaiah prophesied that Christ would be rejected.

a). Isaiah 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

2). Jesus illustrated his rejection in the parable of the wicked husbandmen.

a). Matthew 21:33-45 [New Living Translation] 33 “Now listen to another story. A certain landowner planted a vineyard, built a wall around it, dug a pit for pressing out the grape juice, and built a lookout tower. Then he leased the vineyard to tenant farmers and moved to another country. 

21:34 At the time of the grape harvest, he sent his servants to collect his share of the crop. 

21:35 But the farmers grabbed his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. 

21:36 So the landowner sent a larger group of his servants to collect for him, but the results were the same.

21:37 “Finally, the owner sent his son, thinking, ‘Surely they will respect my son.’

21:38 “But when the tenant farmers saw his son coming, they said to one another, ‘Here comes the heir to this estate. Come on, let’s kill him and get the estate for ourselves!’ 

21:39 So they grabbed him, dragged him out of the vineyard, and murdered him.

21:40 “When the owner of the vineyard returns,” Jesus asked, “what do you think he will do to those farmers?”

21:41 The religious leaders replied, “He will put the wicked men to a horrible death and lease the vineyard to others who will give him his share of the crop after each harvest.”

21:42 Then Jesus asked them, “Didn’t you ever read this in the Scriptures?

‘The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.

This is the Lord’s doing, and it is wonderful to see.’

21:43 I tell you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation that will produce the proper fruit. 

21:44 Anyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone it falls on.”

21:45 When the leading priests and Pharisees heard this parable, they realized he was telling the story against them—they were the wicked farmers.

3. “...but chosen of God, and precious,”

a). but [Strong: 1161. de deh a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).

b. chosen [Strong: 1588. eklektos ek-lek-tos' from 1586; select; by implication, favorite:--chosen, elect.]

c. of [Strong: 3844. para par-ah' a primary preposition; properly, near; i.e. (with genitive case) from beside (literally or figuratively), (with dative case) at (or in) the vicinity of (objectively or subjectively), (with accusative case) to the proximity with (local (especially beyond or opposed to) or causal (on account of):--above, against, among, at, before, by, contrary to, X friend, from, + give (such things as they), + that (she) had, X his, in, more than, nigh unto, (out) of, past, save, side...by, in the sight of, than, (there-)fore, with. In compounds it retains the same variety of application.]

d. God [Strong: 2316. theos theh'-os of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with 3588) the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very:--X exceeding, God, god(-ly, -ward).]

e. [and] precious [Strong: 1784. entimos en'-tee-mos from 1722 and 5092; valued (figuratively):--dear, more honourable, precious, in reputation.]