Mark 9:48

“where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.”
Mark 9:48 · direct translation from the Greek

With the Greek beneath

whereὅπουtheir wormὁ σκώληξ αὐτῶνdoes notοὐdie,τελευτᾷandκαὶthe fireτὸ πῦρis notοὐquenched.σβέννυται

Allusion · Isaiah 66:24

Both texts speak of the worm that does not die and the fire that is not quenched; Isaiah 66:24 is the last verse of the book.

They share words that are rare in the original, without a quotation.

σκώληξskōlēxG4663תוֹלַעְתָּtolataH8438“worm”
τελευτᾷteleutaiG5053תָמוּתtamutH4191“die”
πῦρpyrG4442אִשָּׁishaH784“fire”
σβέννυταιsbennytaiG4570תִכְבֶּהtijbeH3518“quench”

Mark 9:48, word by word

whereὅπουhopou

where

Where, wherever.

Where else “hopou” appears

their wormσκώληξskōlēx

worm

Worm.

Where else “skōlēx” appears

dieτελευτᾷteleutai

die

Die, come to the end of life.

Where else “teleutai” appears

the fireπῦρpyr

fire

Fire.

Where else “pyr” appears

quenchedσβέννυταιsbennytai

quench

Put out, quench.

Where else “sbennytai” appears

Translation note

It takes up Isaiah 66:24: “their worm will not die, and their fire will not be quenched.”

Parallel passages

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

Causes of stumbling

Matthew 18:6-9 Luke 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

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,

48 · This verse (above)

49For everyone will be salted with fire.

Read all of Mark 9

To study Mark 9 in a group

1. What it says
What did the boy's father say to Jesus, and how did Jesus answer him (vv. 22–24)?
2. What it means
How does Jesus respond when the disciples argue about who is greatest (vv. 33–37)?
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