Matthew 18:6

Matthew 18:6 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of 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 to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
• New King James Version (NKJV)“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of 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 have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.

Context of Matthew 18:6

4Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5"Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but 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. 7"Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! 8And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire.

Matthew 18:6 word by word

ὃς δ᾽ ἂν σκανδαλίσῃ ἕνα τῶν μικρῶν τούτων τῶν πιστευόντων εἰς ἐμέ, συμφέρει αὐτῷ ἵνα κρεμασθῇ μύλος ὀνικὸς περὶ τὸν τράχηλον αὐτοῦ, καὶ καταποντισθῇ ἐν τῷ πελάγει τῆς θαλάσσης.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Butδέde · thenG1161
• whosoὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• whosoἄνan · ifG302
• shall offendσκανδαλίζωskandalizō · to cause to stumbleG4624
• oneεἷςheis · oneG1520
• ofὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• ofμικρόςmikros mikroteros · smallG3398
• theseοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• which believeπιστεύωpisteuō · to trust (in)G4100
• inεἰςeis · towardG1519
• meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• it were betterσυμφέρωsumpherō · be profitableG4851
• for himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• a millstoneμύλοςmulos · millstoneG3458
• a millstoneὀνικόςonikos · huge millstoneG3684
• were hangedκρεμάωkremannumi · to hangG2910
• aboutἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• neckτράχηλοςtrachēlos · neckG5137
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• he were drownedκαταποντίζωkatapontizō · to sinkG2670
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• the depthπέλαγοςpelagos · seaG3989
• of the seaθάλασσαthalassa · seaG2281

Cross-references for Matthew 18:6

• Psalms 105:15saying, "Touch not my anointed ones, do my prophets no harm!"
• Zechariah 2:8For thus said the Lord of hosts, after his glory sent me to the nations who plundered you, for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye:
• Mark 9:42"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.
• Luke 17:1And he said to his disciples, "Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come!
• Acts 9:5And he said, "Who are you, Lord?" And he said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
• 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 15:1We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
• 1 Corinthians 8:9But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.
• 1 Corinthians 10:32Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God,
• 2 Thessalonians 1:6since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you,
• Matthew 18:10"See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.
• Zechariah 13:7"Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who stands next to me," declares the Lord of hosts. "Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; I will turn my hand against the little ones.
• Luke 17:2It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.

Commentaries on Matthew 18:6

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6But whoso shall offend one of these little ones - But, on the contrary, whosoever shall cause one of the least of those who believe in me to be stumbled - to go into the spirit of the world, or give way to sin - such a one shall meet with the most exemplary punishment. Let those who act the part of the devil, in tempting others to sin, hear this declaration of our Lord, and tremble. A millstone - , an ass's millstone, because in ancient times, before the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-6Verses 1-6 See also Mark 9:33-41; Luke 9:46-50. Who is the greatest in the kingdom, of heaven? - By the kingdom of heaven they meant the kingdom which they supposed he was about to set up - his kingdom as the Messiah. They asked the question because they supposed, in accordance with the common expectation of the Jews, that he was about to set up a temporal kingdom of great splendor, and they wished to know who should have the principal offices, and posts…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 6Cause one … to stumble: This means to lead believers to turn away from Christ, whether children or adults who have become “like children” in faith (see Matthew 18:3). The title little ones emphasizes their humility (see 5:3–12; 18:4; 19:13–15). The thought of being drowned with a large millstone around the neck is terrifying. But Jesus warned that causing someone to lose faith will bring even greater suffering (18:7; 26:24; Revelation 18:21; Matthew…Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 18:6

• Babes
• Children
• Jesus, the Christ
• Millstone
• Minister, Christian
• Temptation

In the dictionaries

• the sea, the Great Sea, the western sea
• Drown
• Gain
• Owe
• Patience
• Baptism (lutheran Doctrine)
• Baptismal Regeneration
• Jesus Christ
• Matthew, the Gospel of
• Meals, Meal-Time

Commentaries on Matthew 18

• 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
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• 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