Mark 9:42

40 For whoever is not against us is for us.

41 Indeed, if anyone gives you even a cup of water because you bear the name of Christ, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.

But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be thrown into the sea.

43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two hands and go into hell, into the unquenchable fire.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be thrown into the sea.
KJV
And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.
WEB
“Whoever will cause one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him if he were thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around his neck.
ASV
And whosoever shall cause one of these little ones that believe on me to stumble, it were better for him if a great millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.
DARBY
And whosoever shall be a snare to one of the little ones who believe [in me], it were better for him if a millstone were hung about his neck, and he cast into the sea.
BLB
And whoever might cause to stumble one of these little ones believing in Me, it is better for him rather if a heavy millstone is put around his neck and he has been cast into the sea.
ÅB
Og den som forfører én av disse små som tror på meg, for ham var det bedre om det var hengt en kvernsten om hans hals, og han var kastet i havet.
OTB
«Hvis noen får en av disse små som tror på meg til å snuble, ville det være bedre for dem om en stor kvernstein ble hengt om halsen deres og de ble kastet i havet.
B1930
Og den som forfører én av disse små som tror på mig, for ham var det bedre om det var hengt en kvernsten om hans hals, og han var kastet i havet.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Matthew 18:6

    But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.

    Read in context
  • Luke 17:1–2

    Jesus said to His disciples, “It is inevitable that stumbling blocks will come, but woe to the one through whom they come!

    Read in context
  • Matthew 18:10

    See that you do not look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of My Father in heaven.

    Read in context
  • Matthew 25:45–46

    Then the King will answer, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me.’

    Read in context
  • Acts 26:11–14

    I frequently had them punished in the synagogues, and I tried to make them blaspheme. In my raging fury against them, I even went to foreign cities to persecute them.

    Read in context
  • Romans 16:17

    Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Turn away from them.

    Read in context
  • Romans 14:13

    Therefore let us stop judging one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way.

    Read in context
  • 2 Thessalonians 1:6–9

    After all, it is only right for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you,

    Read in context