Luke 17:2

Luke 17:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
• New International Version (NIV)It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble.
• English Standard Version (ESV)It 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.
• New King James Version (NKJV)It 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.

Context of Luke 17:2

1One day Jesus said to his disciples, “There will always be temptations to sin, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting! It would be better to be thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around your neck than to cause one of these little ones to fall into sin. 3So watch yourselves! “If another believer sins, rebuke that person; then if there is repentance, forgive. 4Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you must forgive.”

Luke 17:2 word by word

λυσιτελεῖ αὐτῷ εἰ λίθος μυλικὸς περίκειται περὶ τὸν τράχηλον αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔρριπται εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν ἢ ἵνα σκανδαλίσῃ τῶν μικρῶν τούτων ἕνα.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• It were betterλυσιτελεῖlusitelei · to profitG3081
• for himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• thatεἰei · ifG1487
• a millstoneμύλοςmulos · millstoneG3458
• ·ὀνικόςonikos · huge millstoneG3684
• were hangedπερίκειμαιperikeimai · to surroundG4029
• aboutπερίperi · aboutG4012
• neckτράχηλοςtrachēlos · neckG5137
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• he castῥίπτωrhiptō̄ · to throw/lay downG4496
• intoεἰςeis · towardG1519
• the seaθάλασσαthalassa · seaG2281
• thanἤē · orG2228
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• he should offendσκανδαλίζωskandalizō · to cause to stumbleG4624
• oneεἷςheis · oneG1520
• of theseοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• little onesμικρόςmikros mikroteros · smallG3398

Cross-references for Luke 17:2

• Matthew 18:6But 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.
• Matthew 26:24For the Son of Man must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for the one who betrays him. It would be far better for that man if he had never been born!”
• Mark 9:42“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.
• 1 Corinthians 9:15Yet I have never used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that I want to start now. In fact, I would rather die than lose my right to boast about preaching without charge.
• 2 Peter 2:1But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. In this way, they will bring sudden destruction on themselves.
• Isaiah 40:11He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.
• Zechariah 13:7“Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, the man who is my partner,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “Strike down the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn against the lambs.
• Matthew 18:3Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.
• John 21:15After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.
• 1 Corinthians 8:11So because of your superior knowledge, a weak believer for whom Christ died will be destroyed.
• 1 Corinthians 9:22When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some.

Commentaries on Luke 17:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2A mill-stone - That drowning a person with a stone tied about the neck was an ancient mode of punishment, see proved in the note on Matthew 18:6, Matthew 18:7; (note), to which let the following be added. To have a mill-stone hanged about the neck, was a common proverb. "Samuel saith, A man may marry, and after that addict himself to the study of the law. Rab. Jochanan saith, No: shall he addict himself to the study of the law with a mill-stone about his…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2A millstone is a large, round stone with a hole in its center. People used it to grind grain in a mill. A millstone could weigh hundreds of pounds.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-101-2. (See Mt 18:6, 7).Read the comment

Topics related to Luke 17:2

• Jesus, the Christ
• Millstone
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

• the sea, the Great Sea, the western sea
• Cast
• Luke, the Gospel of
• Mark, the Gospel According to
• Martha
• Neck
• Year
• woe

Commentaries on Luke 17

• 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