Psalm 118:22-24 is a celebration of how God turns rejection into honor. The stone that builders threw away becomes the cornerstone, and the psalmist credits the LORD for this reversal and rejoices in the day he has made. The passage is sung in the middle of a psalm of thanksgiving, most likely used in worship at the temple in Jerusalem, where worshipers entered the gates to give thanks after a time of danger or distress.
22 The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. 23 This is the LORD’s doing. It is marvelous in our eyes. 24 This is the day that the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it!
Psalm 118:22-24 (WEB)
Psalm 118:22-24 Summary
The passage moves in three quick steps. First comes an image: a stone that the builders turned down ends up as the most important stone in the building, the one that sets the angle and holds the walls true. Second, the writer names the source of this surprise. It is the LORD’s doing, and it strikes those who see it as wonderful. Third, the writer turns to the present moment and declares that this very day belongs to God, so the right response is joy and gladness.
Taken together, the three verses teach that God’s work often looks unlikely or even wrong to human eyes, yet it is precisely there that his power shows itself. The psalm does not ask us to explain the reversal. It invites us to see it, name it as God’s act, and celebrate it right away.
Context of Psalm 118:22-24
Psalm 118 belongs to the Hallel psalms (Psalms 113 to 118), which were sung during major Jewish festivals such as Passover and the feast of Tabernacles. The psalm is traditionally attributed to David or to a later worship leader, and it was sung by a congregation, with a leader and choirs taking parts. Its original audience was Israel gathered for worship, and its gates and procession imagery fit the temple setting.
The surrounding verses build a scene of a worshiper who has been in trouble, has cried out, and has been answered. In verses 19 to 21 he asks to enter the gates of righteousness and gives thanks for salvation. Verses 25 to 27 pray for help and bless those who come in the LORD’s name. Verses 22 to 24 sit in the center as the theological heart of the procession: the reason the worshiper is thankful is that God has overturned what looked like defeat.
Psalm 118:22-24 Verse by Verse
Matthew 21:42
Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures, ‘The stone which the builders rejected, the same was made the head of the corner. This was from the Lord. It is marvelous in our eyes?’
(WEB)
Jesus quotes this psalm to show that the rejected stone points to himself, linking the psalm’s reversal to the story of the Messiah and the new life that comes through him.
Psalm 46:10
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth.”
(WEB)
When life seems chaotic and rejection hurts, this verse calls the reader to stillness and trust, recognizing that God remains in control even when outcomes look uncertain.
A Prayer Based on Psalm 118:22-24
Lord, you know the places where I have been set aside or overlooked, and you know the disappointments I carry quietly. Thank you that you are still at work, turning what others have discarded into something that holds the whole structure of my life steady. Help me see your hand in what I cannot yet understand, and let my eyes be opened to wonder. Thank you for this day, which you have made. Teach me to rejoice in it and to be glad, not because everything is settled, but because you are faithful. Amen.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the stone that the builders rejected mean in Psalm 118?
The image refers to a stone that workers initially refused but later found to be the cornerstone, the essential stone that sets the foundation of a building. In the psalm it describes how God takes what people reject and makes it central and honored.
Why is Psalm 118:22 quoted in the New Testament?
Jesus cites this verse in Matthew 21:42 and in the teaching that follows, applying it to himself as the one rejected by religious leaders yet raised up by God. Early Christians saw the verse as a key description of Christ’s exaltation.
What does “This is the day that the LORD has made” mean?
It means that each day is a gift from God and should be received with gratitude and gladness. The phrase reminds worshipers to recognize God’s sovereignty over the present moment, not only over past events.
