Paragraph 2:4–8

In this paragraph, Peter used a metaphor that compared Jesus Christ to a stone. He quoted three passages from the Old Testament that also used the metaphor of a stone to speak about the Christ whom God had promised to send:

(a) In 2:6 Peter quoted from Isaiah 28:16.

(b) In 2:7 Peter quoted from Psalm 118:22.

(c) In 2:8 Peter quoted from Isaiah 8:14.

2:4a

As you come to Him: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as As you come is literally “coming.” There are two ways to interpret this word:

(1) It states a fact. Peter’s readers were coming to Jesus Christ. For example:

You are coming to Christ (God’s Word)

(Berean Standard Bible, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, NET Bible, New International Version, God’s Word)

(2) It is a command. Peter told his readers to come to Christ. For example:

Come to him (Revised Standard Version)

(Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New Living Translation (2004), Revised English Bible, Revised Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Peter was encouraging his readers. He was writing about what happened as they came to Christ.

come to Him: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as come to Him refers to believers approaching Christ in worship and service. It could also refer to new believers coming to Christ in faith for salvation. You should translate come in a general way that could include both of these meanings.

to Him: The Greek words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as to him may be translated literally as “to whom.” This refers to “the Lord” in 2:3, who is Jesus Christ. Some English versions have made this explicit. For example:

to the Lord Jesus (New Century Version)

the living stone: Since stones are not alive, the adjective living shows that Peter was using a figure of speech. He was using the metaphor of a living stone to refer to Christ.

It may be more natural in your language to translate this metaphor as a simile. For example:

who is like a living stone

living: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as living means “lives” or “is alive.”

Other places in this letter where Peter used the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as living are 1:3, 1:23, 2:5, 4:5.

stone: Some translations, such as the New International Version, capitalize the word “Stone” because in this context it is a title for God the Son. The Greek text permits capitalizing the word. The earliest Greek manuscripts were written in all capital letters, and so it is not possible to determine from them what words the authors would have capitalized if they had been following modern conventions.

In New Testament times, houses and temples were generally built out of stones. The context makes it clear that Peter was referring to a stone of the size and shape that people could use for building.

2:4b

rejected by men but chosen and precious in God’s sight: This verse part contrasts how people viewed the living Stone with how God viewed it. Other ways to indicate this contrast include:

On the one hand, it was rejected by people, while on the other hand, it was chosen by God and precious to him
-or-
though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight (New Revised Standard Version)

In some languages it may be necessary to replace the passive forms rejected and chosen with active verbs. For example:

Even though people rejected it, God chose it and valued it

rejected: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as rejected can also be translated as “did not accept.” In the metaphor, people chose not to use this particular stone. The meaning in the metaphor is that people did not accept Jesus as the Messiah. Other ways you may be able to say this include:

Many people…did not want this stone (New Century Version)
-or-

⌊This stone⌋ was discarded by human beings
-or-
People treated it/him with disdain/contempt

by men: In this context, the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as men means people in general, including both men and women. Some translations make this explicit. For example:

rejected by human beings (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
rejected by the people (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
rejected by mortals (New Revised Standard Version)

chosen and precious in God’s sight: The Greek expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates as chosen…and precious is literally “chosen, precious.” The Good News Translation makes the implied relationship between the adjectives explicit:

chosen by God as valuable (Good News Translation)

chosen: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as chosen in this context means “selected.” In the metaphor, God selected this particular stone because he considered it valuable.

This is a passive clause. In some languages it may be more natural to use an active verb:

God chose it
-or-
he was the stone God chose (New Century Version)

precious: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as precious indicates that God considered the living stone, Jesus Christ, to be very valuable. Other ways to translate precious include:

immensely valuable (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
priceless (NET Bible)
-or-
of great worth (Revised English Bible)

in God’s sight: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as in God’s sight is literally “with God.” The Berean Standard Bible uses an English idiom to convey the sense that this is referring to what God regards or considers the stone to be. Your language may have an idiom of its own that you could use here. Other ways to translate this include:

chosen by God and precious to him (New International Version)
-or-
chosen and precious with God

General Comment on 2:4a–b

In some languages it may be natural in your language to reorder 2:4a–b. For example:

4b
⌊Jesus Christ is like a stone⌋ that many people have discarded but that God has chosen as valuable. 4a You have come to this living stone….

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