English Standard Version
Mark 9:42
42"Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.
Mark 9:42 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.
- New International Version (NIV)“If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.
- New Living Translation (NLT)“But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone hung around your neck.
Context of Mark 9:42
40For the one who is not against us is for us. 41For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward. "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.
Read all of Mark 9Mark 9:42 word by word
καὶ ὃς ἂν σκανδαλίσῃ ἕνα τῶν μικρῶν τούτων τῶν πιστευόντων εἰς ἐμέ, καλόν ἐστιν αὐτῷ μᾶλλον εἰ περίκειται μύλος ὀνικὸς περὶ τὸν τράχηλον αὐτοῦ καὶ βέβληται εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- whosoeverἄνan · ifG302
- whosoeverὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- shall offendσκανδαλίζωskandalizō · to cause to stumbleG4624
- oneεἷςheis · oneG1520
- ofὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- ofπιστεύωpisteuō · to trust (in)G4100
- littleμικρόςmikros mikroteros · smallG3398
- inεἰςeis · towardG1519
- meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- it isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- betterκαλόςkalos · goodG2570
- betterμᾶλλονmallon · more: ratherG3123
- for himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- thatεἰei · ifG1487
- a millstoneλίθοςlithos · stoneG3037
- a millstoneμυλικόςmulikos · millstoneG3457
- were hangedπερίκειμαιperikeimai · to surroundG4029
- aboutπερίperi · aboutG4012
- neckτράχηλοςtrachēlos · neckG5137
- he were castβάλλωballō · to throw: throwG906
- the seaθάλασσαthalassa · seaG2281
Cross-references for Mark 9:42
- Matthew 18:6but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
- Luke 17:1And he said to his disciples, "Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come!
- Romans 14:13Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.
- Romans 15:21but as it is written, "Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand."
- Romans 16:17I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.
- 1 Corinthians 8:10For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols?
- 1 Corinthians 10:32Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God,
- 2 Corinthians 6:3We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry,
- Philippians 1:10so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
- 1 Timothy 5:14So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander.
- 2 Peter 2:2And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed.
- Matthew 25:45Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.'
- Acts 9:4And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"
- Acts 26:11And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities.
- 2 Thessalonians 1:6since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you,
- Revelation 6:9When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne.
Commentaries on Mark 9:42
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 42-50Verses 42-50 See the notes at Matthew 18:7-9. Millstone. See Matthew 18:6. Mark 9:44-46 Their worm - This figure is taken from Isaiah 66:24. See the notes at that passage. In describing the great prosperity. of the kingdom of the Messiah, Isaiah says that the people of God “shall go forth, and look upon the carcasses of the men who have transgressed against God.” Their enemies would be overcome. They would be slain. The people of God would triumph. The…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 41-50Verses 41-50 It is repeatedly said of the wicked, Their worm dieth not, as well as, The fire is never quenched. Doubtless, remorse of conscience and keen self-reflection are this never-dying worm. Surely it is beyond compare better to undergo all possible pain, hardship, and self-denial here, and to be happy for ever hereafter, than to enjoy all kinds of worldly pleasure for a season, and to be miserable for ever. Like the sacrifices, we must be salted…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 42-50If anyone causes … sin: The repeated warning about causing sin connects these verses (9:42–43, 45, 47). Jesus did not mean that people should take these words literally. Cutting off a body part would not stop sin (see Matthew 15:10–20). Instead, Jesus warns that no sin is worth the punishment of hell. It is better to repent (turn away from sin), even when repentance is very painful, than to face hell.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 4242. For whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me--or, shall cause them to stumble; referring probably to the effect which such unsavory disputes as they had held would have upon the inquiring and hopeful who came in contact with them, leading to the belief that after all they were no better than others. it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck--The word here is simply "millstone," without expressing of…Read the comment
Topics related to Mark 9:42
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Mark 9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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