Luke 17:2

“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 cause one of these little ones to stumble.”

Luke 17:2 · direct translation from the Greek
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2

Luke 17:2, word by word

It would be betterλυσιτελεῖlysitelei

be better

Be better, be more useful, be worth more.

Where else “lysitelei” appears
a millstoneλίθοςlithos

stone

A piece of hard rock, loose or cut.

Where else “lithos” appears
a millstoneμυλικὸςmylikos

millstone

Of a mill; "millstone".

Where else “mylikos” appears
were hungπερίκειταιperikeitai

be hung around

Have something hung around one; be surrounded.

Where else “perikeitai” appears
neckτράχηλονtrachēlon

neck

Neck.

Where else “trachēlon” appears
he were thrownἔρριπταιerriptai

throw, cast down

Throw, cast, hurl down; in the passive, lie thrown down, abandoned.

Where else “erriptai” appears
the seaθάλασσανthalassan

sea

Sea; also a large lake, such as the Sea of Galilee.

Where else “thalassan” appears
he should causeσκανδαλίσῃskandalisēi

cause to stumble

To make someone fall into sin or lose faith.

Where else “skandalisēi” appears
oneἕναhena

one

The quantity one, or a single one within a group.

Where else “hena” appears
little onesμικρῶνmikrōn

small

Of little size, little age or little importance before others.

Where else “mikrōn” appears

Parallel passages

Other books that tell the same thing or quote these words.

Causes of stumbling

Matthew 18:6-9Mark 9:42-50

A similar saying; scholars discuss whether it is the same saying in another setting or a repeated one.

See them side by side

Luke 17:1-2

1And he said to his disciples, “It is impossible that stumbling blocks should not come; but woe to the one through whom they come! 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 cause one of these little ones to stumble.

Matthew 18:6-9

6But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it is better for him that a donkey’s millstone be hung around his neck and that he be drowned in the depth of the sea. 7Woe to the world because of stumbling blocks! For it is necessary that stumbling blocks come, but woe to the person through whom the stumbling block comes! 8And if your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter into life maimed or lame than having two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. 9And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter into life with one eye than having two eyes to be thrown into fiery Gehenna.

Mark 9:42-50

42And whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be far better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43And if your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life maimed than having the two hands to go away into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire. 44where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. 45And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life lame than having the two feet to be thrown into Gehenna. 46where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. 47And if your eye causes you to stumble, throw it out; it is better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than having two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna, 48where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. 49For everyone will be salted with fire. 50Salt is good; but if the salt becomes saltless, with what will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

The context

1And he said to his disciples, “It is impossible that stumbling blocks should not come; but woe to the one through whom they come!

2 · This verse (above)

3Watch yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he changes his mind, forgive him.

Read all of Luke 17

To study Luke 17 in a group

  1. 1. What it says

    Of the ten lepers who are cleansed, how many come back to give thanks, and what does Jesus say to him? (vv. 12-19)

  2. 2. What it means

    Jesus points out that the one who returned was a Samaritan, a foreigner (vv. 16-18). What does that say about who recognizes what God has done?

  3. 3. How I live it

    Jesus says to forgive a brother who changes his mind, even seven times a day (vv. 3-4). Whom do you need to forgive this week?

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