New King James Version
Matthew 18:6
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.
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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)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.
- 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
4Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me. “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. 7Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes! 8“If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire.
Read all of Matthew 18Matthew 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, “Do not touch My anointed ones, And do My prophets no harm.”
- Zechariah 2:8For thus says the Lord of hosts: “He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye.
- Mark 9:42“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.
- 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!
- Acts 9:5And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”
- 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 15:1We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
- 1 Corinthians 8:9But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.
- 1 Corinthians 10:32Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God,
- 2 Thessalonians 1:6since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you,
- Matthew 18:10“Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to 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 is My Companion,” Says the Lord of hosts. “Strike the Shepherd, And the sheep will be scattered; Then 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 thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
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
In the dictionaries
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries