Mark 12:11 quotes Psalm 118:23 (LXX) but in a distinctly Markan narrative context, applied by Jesus to His rejection and vindication. This line forms part of Jesus’ quotation following the parable of the vineyard, where He applies the rejected stone becoming the cornerstone to Himself. The Greek construction here captures divine initiative, completed action, and perceptual astonishment—with grammatical precision.
Introduction: Quoting the Cornerstone
In Mark 12:11, Jesus concludes His citation of Psalm 118:22–23 with these words:
παρὰ Κυρίου ἐγένετο αὕτη, καὶ ἔστιν θαυμαστὴ ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ἡμῶν;
“From the Lord this came to be, and it is marvelous in our eyes?”
Here, Jesus reinforces that the unexpected exaltation of the rejected one (Himself) is entirely God’s work. The grammar communicates completed divine action (ἐγένετο), ongoing perception (ἔστιν), and astonishment (θαυμαστὴ).
παρὰ Κυρίου ἐγένετο αὕτη, καὶ ἔστιν θαυμαστὴ ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ἡμῶν;
Morphological Breakdown
- παρὰ Κυρίου {parà Kyríou} –
Form: preposition + genitive noun;
Meaning: “from the Lord”;
Usage: With the genitive, παρά indicates origin/source;
Function: God is the originator of the action expressed by the verb ἐγένετο. - ἐγένετο {egéneto} –
Root: γίγνομαι;
Form: aorist middle deponent indicative, 3rd person singular;
Meaning: “it came to be,” “it happened”;
Notes: The aorist tense indicates a completed event in the past—God has done this. - αὕτη {háutē} –
Form: demonstrative pronoun, nominative feminine singular;
Refers to: the previous clause—specifically the stone rejected by builders that became the cornerstone.
Translation: “this very thing” (emphatic) - ἔστιν {éstin} –
Form: present active indicative, 3rd person singular of εἰμί;
Meaning: “is”;
Notes: Present tense contrasts with ἐγένετο: what God has done is still marvelous now. - θαυμαστὴ {thaumastḗ} –
Form: nominative feminine singular adjective from θαυμαστός;
Meaning: “wonderful,” “astonishing,” “marvelous”;
Agrees with: αὕτη as predicate adjective. - ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ἡμῶν {en ophthalmoîs hēmṓn} –
Form: preposition + dative plural noun + genitive pronoun;
Meaning: “in our eyes”;
Usage: idiom for perception, “from our perspective.”
Syntactical Analysis: Completed Action, Present Perception
This clause contains two parts:
– παρὰ Κυρίου ἐγένετο αὕτη – “this happened from the Lord”
→ Aorist verb + divine origin + demonstrative = completed action initiated by God
– καὶ ἔστιν θαυμαστὴ ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ἡμῶν – “and it is marvelous in our eyes”
→ Present verb + predicate adjective + dative phrase = enduring human perception
The use of παρά with the genitive emphasizes intimate agency: not just that God allowed it, but that it proceeded directly from Him.
Semantic and Theological Implications
Jesus uses this verse to highlight:
– His own rejection and vindication as the cornerstone.
– The astonishing nature of God’s reversal of expectations.
– The deliberate will of God in elevating the rejected one.
The grammar teaches:
– The exaltation of the cornerstone already happened (ἐγένετο).
– It remains astonishing to believers (ἔστιν θαυμαστὴ).
– It came from the Lord (παρὰ Κυρίου), not by human agency.
Literary and Narrative Function in Mark
By quoting this verse, Jesus:
– Frames the parable of the vineyard within scriptural fulfillment
– Implies divine vindication of the Son
– Predicts both resurrection and judgment on the rejecting leaders
This Came From the Lord
The aorist tells us:
God already did this.
The present tells us:
It is still marvelous.
And the preposition tells us:
It came not by man—
But by the hand of the LORD.
