New King James Version
Isaiah 28:16
16Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; Whoever believes will not act hastily.
Isaiah 28:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
- New International Version (NIV)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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)therefore thus says the Lord God, "Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: 'Whoever believes will not be in haste.'
- New Living Translation (NLT)Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a firm and tested stone. It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never be shaken.
Context of Isaiah 28:16
14Therefore hear the word of the Lord, you scornful men, Who rule this people who are in Jerusalem, 15Because you have said, “We have made a covenant with death, And with Sheol we are in agreement. When the overflowing scourge passes through, It will not come to us, For we have made lies our refuge, And under falsehood we have hidden ourselves.” Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; Whoever believes will not act hastily. 17Also I will make justice the measuring line, And righteousness the plummet; The hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, And the waters will overflow the hiding place. 18Your covenant with death will be annulled, And your agreement with Sheol will not stand; When the overflowing scourge passes through, Then you will be trampled down by it.
Read all of Isaiah 28Isaiah 28:16 word by word
לָכֵ֗ן כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֔ה הִנְנִ֛י יִסַּ֥ד בְּצִיּ֖וֹן אָ֑בֶן אֶ֣בֶן בֹּ֜חַן פִּנַּ֤ת יִקְרַת֙ מוּסָ֣ד מוּסָּ֔ד הַֽמַּאֲמִ֖ין לֹ֥א יָחִֽישׁ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Therefore thus saithאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- the Lordאֲדֹנָי'ădônây · LordH136
- Godיְהֹוִהyehôvih · YHWH/GodH3069
- Behold, I layיָסַדyâsad · to foundH3245
- in Zionצִיּוֹןtsîyôn · ZionH6726
- for a foundation a stoneאֶ֫בֶן'eben · stoneH68
- a triedבֹּ֫חַןbôchan · testingH976
- a preciousיָקָרyâqâr · preciousH3368
- cornerפִּנָּהpinnâh · cornerH6438
- foundationמוּסָדmûsâd · foundationH4143
- he that believethאָמַן'âman · be faithfulH539
- shall not make hasteחוּשׁchûsh · to hastenH2363
Cross-references for Isaiah 28:16
- Isaiah 8:14He will be as a sanctuary, But a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense To both the houses of Israel, As a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
- Genesis 49:10The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes; And to Him shall be the obedience of the people.
- Psalms 118:22The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone.
- Zechariah 3:9For behold, the stone That I have laid before Joshua: Upon the stone are seven eyes. Behold, I will engrave its inscription,’ Says the Lord of hosts, ‘And I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.
- Matthew 21:42Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes’?
- Mark 12:10Have you not even read this Scripture: ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone.
- Luke 20:17Then He looked at them and said, “What then is this that is written: ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone’?
- Acts 4:11This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’
- Romans 9:33As it is written: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”
- Romans 10:11For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”
- 1 Corinthians 3:11For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
- Ephesians 2:20having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,
- 1 Peter 2:6Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”
- Isaiah 30:18Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you; And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; Blessed are all those who wait for Him.
- Psalms 112:7He will not be afraid of evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
- Habakkuk 2:3For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.
Commentaries on Isaiah 28:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16Behold, I lay in Zion - See the notes on Genesis 49:32; Psalm 118:22; (note); Matthew 21:42; (note); Acts 4:11; (note); Romans 9:33; (note); Romans 10:11; (note); Ephesians 2:20; (note); 1 Peter 2:6-8; (note). Kimchi understands this of Hezekiah; but it most undoubtedly belongs to Jesus Christ alone; and his application of it to himself, even the Jews could not contest.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16Therefore thus saith the Lord - God. This verse is introductory to the solemn threatening which follows. Its design seems to be this. The prophet was about to utter an awful threatening of the judgment of God upon the nation. It might be supposed, perhaps, that the intention was completely to sweep them, and destroy them - that the threatened calamity would remove every vestige of the Jewish people and of the true religion together. To meet this…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-22Verses 16-22 Here is a promise of Christ, as the only foundation of hope for escaping the wrath to come. This foundation was laid in Zion, in the eternal counsels of God. This foundation is a stone, firm and able to support his church. It is a tried stone, a chosen stone, approved of God, and never failed any who made trial of it. A corner stone, binding together the whole building, and bearing the whole weight; precious in the sight of the Lord, and of…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16The Lord is the dependable cornerstone in Jerusalem, a valuable foundation stone of God's true city. There would be real hope in Jerusalem if the leaders and people turned to Him. By trusting in God, they would be safe during the worst storm or earthquake (see Isaiah 8:14; Psalm 118:22; Matthew 7:24–27; 21:42; see the application to Jesus Christ, Romans 9:33; 10:11; 1 Corinthians 3:11; Ephesians 2:20; 1 Peter 2:4–7).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. Literally, "Behold Me as Him who has laid"; namely, in My divine counsel (Re 13:8); none save I could lay it (Is 63:5). stone--Jesus Christ; Hezekiah [Maurer], or the temple [Ewald], do not realize the full significancy of the language; but only in type point to Him, in whom the prophecy receives its exhaustive accomplishment; whether Isaiah understood its fulness or not (1Pe 1:11, 12), the Holy Ghost plainly contemplated its fulfilment in Christ…Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 28:16
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Isaiah 28
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries