CORNERSTONE, CORNER STONE, the tr. of the Heb. זָוִיֹּ֑ת and פִּנָּֽה, and the Gr. γωνία, G1224; ἀκρογωνιαῖος, G214, chief cornerstone, is built on gōnía and concerns a detail in the construction of a wall. The type of masonry wall construction indicated is the framing of the corner with courses of long stones, framing the whole as in log-built walls to tie the walls together at the corner. Most eras of Pal. reveal that these walls were laid of rough, unshaped boulders whose joints were filled in with smaller stones. Only in the era of Solomon and Ahab were shaped or “cut” stones used, after which there was a reversion to rubble stones, until the return from the exile under the Persians when cut stone work began to appear. See Architecture. 1. פִּנָּה, H7157, foundation stone, what cannot be moved, as in Job 38:4, 6; the word is used to signify the absolute power of God. Isaiah 28:16 uses the figure of the foundation stone to connote the unshakable foundation which God is to those who trust in Messiah. Those who trust in God’s program of world history will not, therefore, be confused by contemporary events so as to rush into earthly alliances for refuge.
Pinnâh (Ps 118:22) is the more important word because of its numerous quotations in the NT where it is specifically applied to Christ by Himself. The Psalm describes the preference of the speaker contrary to his detractors. As a proverb it becomes most appropriate of Christ (cf. Matt 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; 1 Pet 2:7). The synoptics place the quotation after the parable of the husbandman, by so doing indicating that he will not succeed in his usurpations, but will be judged by the rejected stone. Peter indicated that unbelievers will be judged by this One, though unthinking masons considered it ill-suited to the kingdom of God (Zion, Isa 28:16) and cast it aside. Over this One the unthinking person will stumble to perish forever, but v. 6 indicates that spiritual safety lies in founding faith on this corner stone (cf. Isa 28:16), which is the basis of the Church of the living God. Paul presented Christ as the cap stone (akrogoniaios) which completes and unifies the wall (Eph 2:20, 21), without which it would be weak and ineffectual, and who makes both parts of the wall one, both Jew and Gentile (v. 19). Christ in His character as redeemer and judge fits both metaphors of the foundation stone and the cap stone. The shape of the stone need not be a pyramidion; rather its position is meant. For Israel the “stone” was a causing of stumbling, for which reason they were set aside by God (Rom 9:33). Another metaphorical use appears in Zechariah’s prophecy of the ultimate triumph of Israel over its enemies (Zech 10:4).
2. זָוִיֹּ֑ת (Ps 144:12) entreats Jahweh for daughters like cornerstones, i.e., providing virtue to God’s people as faithful members among the people of God.
Pinnâh is treated by both Jews and Christians as Messianic. Christ is the foundation of the faith of the believer, through which He becomes man’s Deliverer. On the contrary, the lack of faith guarantees that the unbeliever will be separated from God forever.
Bibliography J. Jeremias, “Κεφαλὴ̀ γωνίας-ἀκρογωνιαῖος,” ZNW, 29 (1930); E. E. La Bas, “Was the Cornerstone of Scripture a Pyramidion?” PEQ 78 (1946), 103-115; S. Hooke, “The Corner Stone of Scripture,” in The Siege Perilous (1956), 235-249.