Judaism
Isaiah
“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.”
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ParallelsA comparative study
JudaismChristianityIslam
On The Cornerstone
The motif of a divinely appointed foundation stone serves as a theological anchor in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, representing stability, election, and the legitimacy of worship. While Judaism and Christianity identify this stone with Yahweh's presence in Zion or the person of Jesus Christ respectively, Islam locates the foundational act in the physical raising of the Kaaba by Abraham and Ishmael. Scholars note that the Christian interpretation often functions christologically to supersede the Jewish temple cult, whereas the Islamic narrative emphasizes the restoration of the primordial monotheistic sanctuary.
What every account tells.
- iA specific stone or foundation is divinely chosen and established.
- iiThe foundation ensures the stability and security of the community or sanctuary.
- iiiThe laying of the foundation is an act of obedience to divine command.
- ivThe foundation serves as a test of faith for those who build upon it.
How each tradition tells it.
Judaism
In the Hebrew prophetic tradition, the stone is a metaphor for God's reliable covenant with Zion, distinct from human political alliances. The focus remains on the future restoration of the temple and the nation rather than a specific individual.
Christianity
The New Testament reinterprets the Isaiah prophecy christologically, identifying Jesus as the rejected stone that becomes the head of the corner. This shifts the locus of divine presence from a physical building to the person of the Messiah and the ecclesial community.
Islam
The Qur'anic account focuses on the historical construction of the Kaaba by Abraham and Ishmael as a literal foundation for monotheistic worship. The emphasis is on the physical act of raising the walls and the prayer for acceptance, rather than a messianic typology.
Read the passages as one.
Christianity
1 Corinthians
“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
Islam
Surah 2: Al-Baqarah (The Cow)
وَإِذۡ يَرۡفَعُ إِبۡرَٰهِـۧمُ ٱلۡقَوَاعِدَ مِنَ ٱلۡبَيۡتِ وَإِسۡمَٰعِيلُ رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلۡ مِنَّآۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ
“And [mention] when Abraham was raising the foundations of the House and [with him] Ishmael, [saying], "Our Lord, accept [this] from us. Indeed You are the Hearing, the Knowing”