Matthew 18:6

KJV1611 – Modern English

But whoever offends one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for him that a millstone were hung around his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Ὃς δʼ ἂν σκανδαλίσῃ ἕνα τῶν μικρῶν τούτων τῶν πιστευόντων εἰς ἐμέ, συμφέρει αὐτῷ ἵνα κρεμασθῇ μύλος ὀνικὸς ἐπὶ τὸν τράχηλον αὐτοῦ, καὶ καταποντισθῇ ἐν τῷ πελάγει τῆς θαλάσσης.

Transliteration

Who but if skandalisē one of the mikrōn these of the pisteuontōn into eme, sympherei to him that krēmasthē mylos onikos upon the trachēlon of him, and katapontisthē in the pelagei of the thalassēs.

Grammar Details

• *skandalisē*: verb, aorist, active, subjunctive, 3rd person, singular - causes to stumble/offends
• *mikrōn*: adjective, genitive, masculine, plural - little ones/small ones
• *pisteuontōn*: participle, present, active, genitive, masculine, plural - believing
• *eme*: personal pronoun, accusative, 1st person, singular - me
• *sympherei*: verb, present, active, indicative, 3rd person, singular - it is profitable/better
• *krēmasthē*: verb, aorist, passive, subjunctive, 3rd person, singular - might be hanged
• *mylos*: noun, nominative, masculine, singular - millstone
• *onikos*: adjective, nominative, masculine, singular - donkey
• *trachēlon*: noun, accusative, masculine, singular - neck
• *katapontisthē*: verb, aorist, passive, subjunctive, 3rd person, singular - might be drowned/sunk
• *pelagei*: noun, dative, neuter, singular - open sea/deep
• *thalassēs*: noun, genitive, feminine, singular - sea

Word Meanings

• *skandalisē*: causes to stumble/offends/entices to sin
• *mikrōn*: little ones/small ones/insignificant ones
• *pisteuontōn*: believing/having faith in/trusting
• *sympherei*: it is profitable/it is better/it is advantageous
• *krēmasthē*: might be hanged/might be suspended
• *mylos*: millstone/grinding stone
• *onikos*: of a donkey/donkey-driven
• *trachēlon*: neck/throat
• *katapontisthē*: might be drowned/might be sunk/might be submerged
• *pelagei*: open sea/deep/depths
• *thalassēs*: sea/ocean

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

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

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  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.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  But{G1161} whoso{G3739} shall cause one{G1520} of{G3398} these{G5130} little ones{G1520} that believe{G4100} on{G1519} me{G1691} to stumble,{G4624} it is profitable{G4851} for him{G846} that{G2443} a{G3684} great millstone{G3458} should be hanged{G2910} about{G1909} his{G846} neck,{G5137} and{G2532} [that] he should be sunk{G2670} in{G1722} the depth{G3989} of the sea.{G2281}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  But{G1161} whoso{G3739}{G302} shall offend{G4624}{(G5661)} one{G1520} of these{G5130} little ones{G3398} which{G3588} believe{G4100}{(G5723)} in{G1519} me{G1691}, it were better{G4851}{(G5719)} for him{G846} that{G2443} a millstone{G3458}{G3684} were hanged{G2910}{(G5686)} about{G1909} his{G846} neck{G5137}, and{G2532} that he were drowned{G2670}{(G5686)} in{G1722} the depth{G3989} of the sea{G2281}.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  But whosoever offende one of these lytelons which beleve in me: it were better for him that a milstone were hanged aboute his necke and that he were drouned in the depth of the see.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  But who so offendeth one of these litle ones which beleue in me, it were better for him, that a mylstone were hanged aboute his neck, and he drowned in the depth of the see.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  But whosoeuer shal offend one of these litle ones which beleeue in me, it were better for him, that a milstone were hanged about his necke, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  But who so shall offende one of these litle ones, which beleue in me, it were better for hym, that a myll stone were hanged about his necke, & that he were drowned in the deapth of the sea.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  ‹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.›

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him that a huge millstone should be hung around his neck, and that he should be sunk in the depths of the sea.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  and whoever may cause to stumble one of those little ones who are believing in me, it is better for him that a weighty millstone may be hanged upon his neck, and he may be sunk in the depth of the sea.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  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.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  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.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  But whoever is a cause of trouble to one of these little ones who have faith in me, it would be better for him to have a great stone fixed to his neck, and to come to his end in the deep sea.

• World English Bible (2000)

  but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him that a huge millstone should be hung around his neck, and that he should be sunk in the depths of the sea.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  “But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a huge millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the open sea.

Referenced Verses

• Mark 9:42 : 42 And whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it is better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.
• Rom 14:13-15 : 13 Let us not therefore judge one another anymore, but judge this instead: that no one puts a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. 14 I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15 But if your brother is grieved with your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died.
• Ps 105:15 : 15 Saying, Do not touch my anointed, and do my prophets no harm.
• Matt 18:10 : 10 Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I say to you, That in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.
• 2 Thess 1:6-9 : 6 Since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you; 7 And to you who are troubled, rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
• Rom 15:1-3 : 1 We who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For even Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.
• 1 Cor 8:9-9 : 9 But take care lest this liberty of yours somehow becomes a stumbling block to those who are weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat things offered to idols? 11 And through your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12 But when you sin against the brethren and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will eat no meat as long as the world stands, lest I make my brother stumble.
• 1 Cor 10:32-33 : 32 Give no offense, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: 33 Just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
• 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.
• Zech 2:8 : 8 For thus says the LORD of hosts: After the glory has He sent me to the nations which plundered you: for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye.
• Zech 13:7 : 7 Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man who is my fellow, says the LORD of hosts: strike the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered; and I will turn my hand upon the little ones.
• Luke 17:1-2 : 1 Then he said to the disciples, It is inevitable that offenses will come: but woe to him through whom they come! 2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
• Acts 9:5 : 5 And he said, Who are you, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting: it is hard for you to kick against the goads.
• Rom 14:21 : 21 It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.