Luke 17:2

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

It were well for him if a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, rather than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Λυσιτελεῖ αὐτῷ εἰ μύλος ὀνικὸς περίκειται περὶ τὸν τράχηλον αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἔρριπται εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν, ἢ ἵνα σκανδαλίσῃ ἕνα τῶν μικρῶν τούτων.

Transliteration

Lysitelei to him if mylos onikos perikeitai around the trachēlon of him, and erriptai into the thalassan, than that he should skandalisē one of the mikrōn these.

Grammar Details

• *Lysitelei*: present active indicative, 3rd singular - it is better/more profitable
• *mylos*: nominative, masculine, singular - millstone
• *onikos*: nominative, masculine, singular - of a donkey
• *perikeitai*: present middle/passive indicative, 3rd singular - is placed around
• *trachēlon*: accusative, masculine, singular - neck
• *erriptai*: perfect passive indicative, 3rd singular - has been thrown/cast
• *thalassan*: accusative, feminine, singular - sea
• *skandalisē*: aorist active subjunctive, 3rd singular - cause to stumble/sin
• *mikrōn*: genitive, plural - little ones/small ones

Word Meanings

• *Lysitelei*: it is profitable/advantageous/better
• *mylos onikos*: donkey millstone/millstone turned by donkey
• *skandalisē*: cause to stumble/cause to sin/offend

Referenced Verses

• Mark 9:42 : 42 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.
• Matt 18:3-6 : 3 and said, Truly I say unto you, Except you turn, and become as little sons, you shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receives me: 6 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.
• Matt 18:10 : 10 See that you despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven.
• Matt 18:14 : 14 Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
• Matt 26:24 : 24 The Son of man goeth, even as it is written of him: but woe unto that man through whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had not been born.
• John 21:15 : 15 So when they had broken their fast, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, [son] of John, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
• 1 Cor 8:11-12 : 11 For through thy knowledge {G622} he that is weak perisheth, the brother for whose sake Christ died. 12 And thus, sinning {G3779} against the brethren, and wounding their conscience when it is weak, ye sin against Christ.
• 1 Cor 9:15 : 15 But I have used none of these things: and I write not these things that it may be so done in my case; for [it were] good for me rather to die, {G2570} than that any man should make my glorifying void.
• 1 Cor 9:22 : 22 To the weak I became {G5613} weak, that I might gain the weak: I am become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some.
• 2 Pet 2:1-3 : 1 But there arose false prophets also among the people, as among you also there shall be false teachers, who shall privily bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master that bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their lascivious doings; by reason of whom the way of the truth shall be evil spoken of. 3 And in covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose sentence now from of old lingereth not, and their destruction slumbereth not.
• Isa 40:11 : 11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom, [and] will gently lead those that have their young.
• Zech 13:7 : 7 Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith Jehovah of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered; and I will turn my hand upon the little ones.