Mark 9:42

“And 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.”

Mark 9:42 · direct translation from the Greek
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42

Mark 9:42, word by word

causesσκανδαλίσῃskandalisēi

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
believeπιστευόντωνpisteuontōn

trust

To trust in God or in Jesus.

Where else “pisteuontōn” appears
it would beἐστινestin

be

To be: says who or what something is.

Where else “estin” appears
far betterκαλόνkalon

beautiful

Lovely to look at.

Where else “kalon” appears
far betterμᾶλλονmallon

more

To a greater degree; how much more, when comparing.

Where else “mallon” appears
a millstoneμύλοςmylos

millstone

Millstone; also the mill.

Where else “mylos” appears
a millstoneὀνικὸςonikos

of a donkey

Of a donkey: the large millstone turned by a donkey.

Where else “onikos” appears
were hungπερίκειταιperikeitai

be hung around

Have something hung around one; be surrounded.

Where else “perikeitai” appears
his neckτράχηλονtrachēlon

neck

Neck.

Where else “trachēlon” appears
he were thrownβέβληταιbeblētai

throw

To hurl something or someone away from oneself.

Where else “beblētai” appears
the seaθάλασσανthalassan

sea

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

Where else “thalassan” appears

Translation note

“Millstone”: literally “donkey millstone,” the large upper stone turned by a donkey.

Parallel passages

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

Causes of stumbling

Matthew 18:6-9Luke 17:1-2

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

See them side by side

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.”

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.

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.

The context

41For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in the name that you belong to the Messiah, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.

42 · This verse (above)

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.

Read all of Mark 9

To study Mark 9 in a group

  1. 1. What it says

    What did the boy's father say to Jesus, and how did Jesus answer him (vv. 22–24)?

  2. 2. What it means

    How does Jesus respond when the disciples argue about who is greatest (vv. 33–37)?

  3. 3. How I live it

    The father said, “I believe; help my unbelief” (v. 24). What doubt of yours can you bring to him honestly?

How to use it