Mark 9:42

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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)"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.
• 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.

Context of Mark 9:42

40For he who is not against us is for us. 41For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward. “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe to stumble, it would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea. 43If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire, 44[where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.]

Mark 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

• Whoeverὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• causesσκανδαλίζωskandalizō · to cause to stumbleG4624
• oneεἷςheis · oneG1520
• of theseοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• littleμικρόςmikros mikroteros · smallG3398
• who believeπιστεύωpisteuō · to trust (in)G4100
• would be betterκαλόςkalos · goodG2570
• would be betterμᾶλλονmallon · more: ratherG3123
• for him ifεἰei · ifG1487
• with a heavyὀνικόςonikos · huge millstoneG3684
• millstoneμύλοςmulos · millstoneG3458
• hungπερίκειμαιperikeimai · to surroundG4029
• aroundπερίperi · aboutG4012
• his neckτράχηλοςtrachēlos · neckG5137
• had been castβάλλωballō · to throw: throwG906
• into the seaθάλασσαthalassa · seaG2281

Cross-references for Mark 9:42

• Matthew 18:6but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
• Luke 17:1He said to His disciples, “It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come, but woe to him through whom they come!
• Romans 14:13Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this--not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way.
• Romans 15:21but as it is written, “They who had no news of Him shall see, And they who have not heard shall understand.”
• Romans 16:17Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them.
• 1 Corinthians 8:10For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols?
• 1 Corinthians 10:32Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God;
• 2 Corinthians 6:3giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited,
• Philippians 1:10so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;
• 1 Timothy 5:14Therefore, I want younger widows to get married, bear children, keep house, and give the enemy no occasion for reproach;
• 2 Peter 2:2Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned;
• Matthew 25:45Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’
• Acts 9:4and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
• Acts 26:11And as I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and being furiously enraged at them, I kept pursuing them even to foreign cities.
• 2 Thessalonians 1:6For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you,
• Revelation 6:9When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained;

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

• Commandments
• Jesus, the Christ
• Millstone
• Persecution

In the dictionaries

• the sea, the Great Sea, the western sea
• Foam
• Rising
• Teach
• Unbelief
• Worm
• Criticism of the Bible
• Drunkenness
• Jesus Christ
• John, the Apostle

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