Jesus continues to speak to the crowd.

## But he looked at them ##

"But Jesus stared at them" or "But he looked straight at them."  He did this to hold them accountable to understand what he was saying.

## What does this scripture mean ##

This rhetorical question can also be translated as "Then what was this scripture talking about?" or "You should be able to understand this scripture." (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]])

## The stone which the builders rejected has been made the cornerstone ##

This metaphor is a prophecy from Psalm [Psalms 118:22](../../psa/118/022.md) about how people would reject the Messiah.  (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])

## The stone which the builders rejected ##

"The stone which the builders said was not good enough for building with." In those days people built the walls of houses and other buildings out of stones.

## the cornerstone ##

This was an important stone for making a building stable. It can be translated as "the chief stone" or "the most important stone."

## Everyone that falls on that stone ##

"Anyone who falls down onto that stone." This metaphor is a prophecy about what will happen to everyone who rejects the Messiah. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])

## will be broken to pieces ##

"will break up into pieces." This is a result of falling onto the stone.

## But on whomever it falls ##

"But whomever that stone falls on." This metaphor is a prophecy about the Messiah judging those who reject him. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])