Introduction
Paul’s quotation in Romans 9:33—”Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense…”—is more than just a citation of the Hebrew prophets. It is a powerful theological synthesis, drawing from Isaiah 28:16 and Isaiah 8:14, and reframed through the Septuagint, the Greek Old Testament of Paul’s day. But Paul’s use of this imagery also connects with something even older and deeper: the Stone of Foundation, a mystical and symbolic element not only in Jewish thought but in Freemasonry and other esoteric traditions. This article explores how all of these themes converge in a unified symbol of divine truth, rejection, and revelation.
I. Paul’s Composite Quotation
Romans 9:33 (KJV): “Behold, I lay in Sion a stumbling stone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”
Paul merges Isaiah 28:16 and Isaiah 8:14. He uses the Septuagint version of Isaiah 28:16, replacing ‘shall not make haste’ with ‘shall not be ashamed’ and adds ‘on him,’ referring to belief in Christ.
II. Masoretic vs. Septuagint Differences
Masoretic Text (MT) vs. Septuagint (LXX):
– MT: Hebrew, ‘shall not make haste’
– LXX: Greek, ‘shall not be ashamed’ and adds ‘in him’
– NT writers (like Paul) often quote the LXX
This illustrates the shift from national prophecy to personal messianic interpretation.
III. The Stone of Foundation: Esoteric and Masonic Symbolism
The ‘Even Shetiyah’ (Stone of Foundation) is central to Jewish mystical thought and Masonic tradition. It is believed to be the stone upon which God founded creation and was placed in the Holy of Holies in Solomon’s Temple. Freemasons associate it with divine truth and the ineffable name of God (Tetragrammaton), hidden in the first temple and revealed in the second—symbolizing the afterlife.
IV. Paul’s Use of the Stone: Rejection and Revelation
Paul presents Christ as the divine Stone:
– To believers: a cornerstone.
– To the disobedient: a rock of offense.
He draws from Isaiah to explain the stumbling of Israel and the acceptance by the Gentiles, turning prophecy into a narrative of faith and rejection.
V. Connecting It All: The Foundation Stone as Divine Truth
Whether biblical, rabbinic, or esoteric, the Foundation Stone represents the divine presence:
– In Scripture: the cornerstone of Zion.
– In Masonic allegory: the hidden stone of eternal truth.
It is a symbol of what is lost in this life but found in the next—a promise of revelation beyond death.
Conclusion: The Stone We Build Upon or Reject
Paul’s Isaiah citations unify prophecy, mysticism, and symbolism into one message:
– Christ is the cornerstone.
– Belief on Him distinguishes salvation from stumbling.
– Freemasonry echoes this with its symbolism of the Foundation Stone as divine truth.
“Behold, I lay in Zion a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone… He that believes in Him shall not be ashamed.”
