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 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 he who is not against us is on our side. 41For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward. “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. 43If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched— 44where ‘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

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“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.
• Luke 17:1Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!
• Romans 14:13Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.
• Romans 15:21but as it is written: “To whom He was not announced, they shall see; And those who have not heard shall understand.”
• Romans 16:17Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.
• 1 Corinthians 8:10For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols?
• 1 Corinthians 10:32Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God,
• 2 Corinthians 6:3We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed.
• Philippians 1:10that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,
• 1 Timothy 5:14Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
• 2 Peter 2:2And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.
• Matthew 25:45Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’
• Acts 9:4Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
• Acts 26:11And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.
• 2 Thessalonians 1:6since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation 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 for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.

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