Matthew 18:6
4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 And whoever welcomes a little child like this in My name welcomes Me.
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.
7 Woe to the world for the causes of sin. These stumbling blocks must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!
8 If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than to have two hands and two feet and be thrown into the eternal 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 drowned in the depths of the sea.
- KJV
- But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
- WEB
- but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him if a huge millstone were hung around his neck and that he were sunk in the depths of the sea.
- ASV
- But whoso shall cause one of these little ones that believe on me to stumble, it is profitable for him that a great millstone should be hanged about his neck, and [that] he should be sunk in the depth of the sea.
- DARBY
- But whosoever shall offend one of these little ones who believe in me, it were profitable for him that a great millstone had been hanged upon his neck and he be sunk in the depths of the sea.
- BLB
- And whoever might cause to stumble one of these little ones believing in Me, it is better for him that a heavy millstone should be hung around his neck and he should be sunk in the depth of the sea.
- ÅB
- Men den som forfører en av disse små som tror på meg, for ham ville det være bedre å få en kvernstein hengt om halsen og bli senket i havets dyp.
- OTB
- Men hvis noen får en av disse små som tror på meg til å falle, ville det vært bedre for dem å få en tung kvernstein hengt om halsen og bli druknet i havets dyp.
- B1930
- men den som forfører en av disse små som tror på mig, for ham var det bedre at det var hengt en kvernsten om hans hals og han var nedsenket i havets dyp.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Mark 9:42
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.
Read in contextLuke 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 contextMatthew 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 context2 Thessalonians 1:6–9
After all, it is only right for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you,
Read in contextMatthew 18:14
In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.
Read in contextRomans 15:1–3
We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves.
Read in contextPsalms 105:15
“Do not touch My anointed ones! Do no harm to My prophets!”
Read in context1 Corinthians 8:9–13
Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
Read in context