Luke Chapter 20 · Verse 18
Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
Original Language Analysis
ὁ
G3588
ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
2 of 15
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἐφ'
on
G1909
ἐφ'
on
Strong's:
G1909
Word #:
4 of 15
properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e., over, upon, etc.; of re
ἐκεῖνον
that
G1565
ἐκεῖνον
that
Strong's:
G1565
Word #:
5 of 15
that one (or (neuter) thing); often intensified by the article prefixed
τὸν
G3588
τὸν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
6 of 15
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἐφ'
on
G1909
ἐφ'
on
Strong's:
G1909
Word #:
9 of 15
properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e., over, upon, etc.; of re
ὃν
whomsoever
G3739
ὃν
whomsoever
Strong's:
G3739
Word #:
10 of 15
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
Cross References
Matthew 21:44And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.Zechariah 12:3And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.Matthew 21:34And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.
Historical Context
This imagery combines Psalm 118:22 with Daniel 2:34-35, where the stone cut without hands crushes the kingdoms and becomes a mountain filling the earth. First-century Jews understood these prophecies messianically. Jesus applies them to Himself, warning that rejection brings judgment. The "breaking" occurred in 70 AD when Jerusalem fell. The final "grinding to powder" awaits Christ's return when every knee will bow (Philippians 2:10-11) and enemies become His footstool (Psalm 110:1). Those who reject the cornerstone face the crushing stone.
Questions for Reflection
- How do the two images (stumbling and crushing) represent both present and future judgment for rejecting Christ?
- What does the certainty of destruction either way teach about the urgency of embracing Jesus as cornerstone?
- Why is it impossible to encounter Jesus neutrally—why must every person either build on Him or be destroyed by Him?
Analysis & Commentary
Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder—Jesus extends the stone imagery to describe two forms of encounter with Him, both resulting in destruction, but with different implications. "Fall upon" (πεσὼν, pesōn) suggests stumbling over the stone in the path—those who encounter Jesus and reject Him will be "broken" (συνθλασθήσεται, synthlasthēsetai, shattered). This describes Israel's current stumbling over Messiah (Romans 9:32-33, 1 Peter 2:8).
The second image is more severe: "on whomsoever it shall fall" (ἐφ' ὃν δ' ἂν πέσῃ, eph' hon d' an pesē) describes active judgment—the stone falling on someone. This person will be ground to powder (λικμήσει, likmēsei, pulverized like wheat at threshing, crushed completely). This prophesies eschatological judgment at Christ's return (Daniel 2:34-35, 44-45, where the stone crushes the kingdoms). The stone is either stumbling block or crushing judge—there is no neutral encounter with Christ. To reject Him means destruction now (broken) and ultimate destruction later (pulverized).