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.
• 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.
• 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 whoever is not against us is for us. 41Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward. “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. 43If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out.

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

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 18:6“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.
• Luke 17:1Jesus said to his disciples: “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come.
• Romans 14:13Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.
• Romans 15:21Rather, as it is written: “Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.”
• Romans 16:17I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.
• 1 Corinthians 8:10For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols?
• 1 Corinthians 10:32Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God—
• 2 Corinthians 6:3We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited.
• Philippians 1:10so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
• 1 Timothy 5:14So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander.
• 2 Peter 2:2Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.
• Matthew 25:45“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
• Acts 9:4He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
• Acts 26:11Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.
• 2 Thessalonians 1:6God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you
• Revelation 6:9When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony 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