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Selected Verse: Mark 9:42 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Mr 9:42	Strong Concordance	And [2532] whosoever [3739] [302] shall offend [4624] one [1520] of these little ones [3398] that believe [4100] in [1519] me [1691], it is [2076] better [2570] [3123] for him [846] that [1487] a millstone [3037] [3457] were hanged [4029] about [4012] his [846] neck [5137], and [2532] he were cast [906] into [1519] the sea [2281].
	King James	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.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
For whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me--or, shall cause them to stumble; referring probably to the effect which such unsavory disputes as they had held would have upon the inquiring and hopeful who came in contact with them, leading to the belief that after all they were no better than others. it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck--The word here is simply "millstone," without expressing of which kind. But in Mat 18:6 it is the "ass-turned" kind, far heavier than the small hand-mill turned by female slaves, as in Luk 17:35. It is of course the same which is meant here. and he were cast into the sea--meaning, that if by such a death that stumbling were prevented, and so its eternal consequences averted, it would be a happy thing for them. Here follows a striking verse in Mat 18:7, "Woe unto the world because of offences!" (There will be stumblings and falls and loss of souls enough from the world's treatment of disciples, without any addition from you: dreadful will be its doom in consequence; see that ye share not in it). "For it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!" (The struggle between light and darkness will inevitably cause stumblings, but not less guilty is he who wilfully makes any to stumble).

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

For whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me--or, shall cause them to stumble; referring probably to the effect which such unsavory disputes as they had held would have upon the inquiring and hopeful who came in contact with them, leading to the belief that after all they were no better than others.

it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck--The word here is simply "millstone," without expressing of which kind. But in Mat 18:6 it is the "ass-turned" kind, far heavier than the small hand-mill turned by female slaves, as in Luk 17:35. It is of course the same which is meant here.

and he were cast into the sea--meaning, that if by such a death that stumbling were prevented, and so its eternal consequences averted, it would be a happy thing for them. Here follows a striking verse in Mat 18:7, "Woe unto the world because of offences!" (There will be stumblings and falls and loss of souls enough from the world's treatment of disciples, without any addition from you: dreadful will be its doom in consequence; see that ye share not in it). "For it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!" (The struggle between light and darkness will inevitably cause stumblings, but not less guilty is he who wilfully makes any to stumble).

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
See the notes at Mat 18:7-9. Millstone. See Mat 18:6. Mar 9:44-46 Their worm - This figure is taken from Isa 66:24. See the notes at that passage. In describing the great prosperity. of the kingdom of the Messiah, Isaiah says that the people of God "shall go forth, and look upon the carcasses of the men who have transgressed against God." Their enemies would be overcome. They would be slain. The people of God would triumph. The figure is taken from heaps of the dead slain in battle; and the prophet says that the number would be so great that their worm - the worm feeding on the dead - would not die, would live long - as long as there were carcasses to be devoured; and that the fire which was used to burn the bodies of the dead would continue long to burn, and would not be extinguished until they were consumed. The figure, therefore, denotes great misery, and certain and terrible destruction. In these verses it is applied to the state beyond the grave, and is intended to denote that the destruction of the wicked will be awful, widespread, and eternal. It is not to be supposed that there will be any "real" worm in hell - perhaps no material fire; nor can it be told what was particularly intended by the undying worm. There is no authority for applying it, as is often done, to remorse of conscience, anymore than to any other of the pains and reflections of hell. It is a mere image of loathsome, dreadful, and "eternal" suffering. In what that suffering will consist it is probably beyond the power of any living mortal to imagine. The word their, in the phrase "their worm," is used merely to keep up the "image" or "figure." Dead bodies putrefying in that valley would be overrun with worms, while the "fire" would not be confined to them, but would spread to other objects kindled by combustibles through all the valley. It is "not" meant, therefore, that every particular sufferer has a special worm, or has particular sins that cause remorse of conscience. That is a truth, but it does not appear that it is intended to be taught here. Mar 9:49 Every one shall be salted with fire - Perhaps no passage in the New Testament has given more perplexity to commentators than this, and it may be impossible now to fix its precise meaning. The common idea affixed to it has been, that as salt preserves from putrefaction, so fire, applied to the wicked in hell, will have the property of preserving them in existence, or they will "be" preserved amid the sprinkling of fire, to be continually in their sufferings a sacrifice to the justice of God; but this meaning is not quite satisfactory. Another opinion has been, that as salt was sprinkled on the victim preparatory to its being devoted to God (see Lev 2:13), so would "the apostles," by trials, calamities, etc., represented here by "fire," be prepared as a sacrifice and offering to God. Probably the passage has no reference at all to future punishment; and the difficulty of interpreting it has arisen from supposing it to be connected with the 48th verse, or given as a "reason" for what is said in "that" verse, rather than considering it as designed to illustrate the "general design" of the passage. The main scope of the passage was not to discourse of future punishment; that is brought in incidentally. The chief object of the passage was - 1. To teach the apostles that "other men," not "with them," might be true Christians, Mar 9:38-39. 2. That they ought to be disposed to look favorably upon the slightest evidence that they "might be true believers," Mar 9:41. 3. That they ought to avoid giving "offence" to such feeble and obscure Christians, Mar 9:42. 4. That "everything" calculated to give offence, or to dishonor religion, should be removed, Mar 9:43. And, 5. That everything which would endanger their salvation should be sacrificed; that they should "deny" themselves in every way in order to obtain eternal life. In this way they would be "preserved" to eternal life. The word "fire," here, therefore denotes self-denials, sacrifices, trials, in keeping ourselves from the gratification of the flesh. As if he had said, "Look at the sacrifice on the altar. It is an offering to God, about to be presented to him. It is sprinkled with "salt, emblematic of purity, of preservation and of fitting it, therefore, for a sacrifice." So "you" are devoted to God. You are sacrifices, victims, offerings to him in his service. To make you "acceptable" offerings, every thing must be done to "preserve" you from sin and to "purify" you. Self-denials, subduing the lusts, enduring trials, removing offences, are the proper "preservatives" in the service of God. Doing this, you will be acceptable offerings and be saved; without this, you will be "unfit" for his eternal service and will be lost." Mar 9:50 Lost its saltness ... - See the notes at Mat 5:13. Have salt in yourselves - Have the preserving, purifying principle always; the principles of denying yourselves, of suppressing pride, ambition, contention, etc., and thus you will be an acceptable offering to God. Have peace - Avoid contention and quarrelling, struggling for places, honors, and office, and seek each other's welfare, and religion will be honored and preserved in the world.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
Millstone Rev., great millstone. See on Mat 18:6. Wyc., millstone of asses. Note the graphic present and perfect tenses; the millstone is hanged, and he hath been cast.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
On the contrary, whosoever shall offend the very least Christian. Mat 18:6; Luk 17:1.

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³⁵ Two [1417] women shall be [2071] grinding [229] together [846] [1909]; the one [3391] shall be taken [3880], and [2532] the other [2087] left [863].

⁶ But [1161] whoso [3739] [302] shall offend [4624] one [1520] of these [5130] little ones [3398] which [3588] believe [4100] in [1519] me [1691], it were better [4851] for him [846] that [2443] a millstone [3458] [3684] were hanged [2910] about [1909] his [846] neck [5137], and [2532] that he were drowned [2670] in [1722] the depth [3989] of the sea [2281].

¹³ Ye [5210] are [2075] the salt [217] of the earth [1093]: but [1161] if [1437] the salt [217] have lost his savour [3471], wherewith [1722] [5101] shall it be salted [233]? it is thenceforth [2089] good [2480] for [1519] nothing [3762], but [1508] to be cast [906] out [1854], and [2532] to be trodden under foot [2662] of [5259] men [444].

⁵⁰ Salt [217] is good [2570]: but [1161] if [1437] the salt [217] have lost [1096] his saltness [358], wherewith [1722] [5101] will ye season [741] it [846]? Have [2192] salt [217] in [1722] yourselves [1438], and [2532] have peace [1514] one [240] with [1722] another [240].

⁴³ And [2532] if [1437] thy [4675] hand [5495] offend [4624] thee [4571], cut [609] it [846] off [609]: it is [2076] better [2570] for thee [4671] to enter [1525] into [1519] life [2222] maimed [2948], than [2228] having [2192] two [1417] hands [5495] to go [565] into [1519] hell [1067], into [1519] the fire [4442] that never shall be quenched [762]:

⁴² And [2532] whosoever [3739] [302] shall offend [4624] one [1520] of these little ones [3398] that believe [4100] in [1519] me [1691], it is [2076] better [2570] [3123] for him [846] that [1487] a millstone [3037] [3457] were hanged [4029] about [4012] his [846] neck [5137], and [2532] he were cast [906] into [1519] the sea [2281].

⁴¹ For [1063] whosoever [3739] [302] shall give [4222] you [5209] a cup [4221] of water [5204] to drink [4222] in [1722] my [3450] name [3686], because [3754] ye belong [2075] to Christ [5547], verily [281] I say [3004] unto you [5213], he shall [622] not [3364] lose [622] his [846] reward [3408].

³⁸ And [1161] John [2491] answered [611] him [846], saying [3004], Master [1320], we saw [1492] one [5100] casting out [1544] devils [1140] in thy [4675] name [3686], and [3739] he followeth [190] not [3756] us [2254]: and [2532] we forbad [2967] him [846], because [3754] he followeth [190] not [3756] us [2254].
³⁹ But [1161] Jesus [2424] said [2036], Forbid [2967] him [846] not [3361]: for [1063] there is [2076] no man [3762] which [3739] shall do [4160] a miracle [1411] in [1909] my [3450] name [3686], that [2532] can [1410] lightly [5035] speak evil [2551] of me [3165].

¹³ And every oblation [07133] of thy meat offering [04503] shalt thou season [04414] with salt [04417]; neither shalt thou suffer the salt [04417] of the covenant [01285] of thy God [0430] to be lacking [07673] from thy meat offering [04503]: with all thine offerings [07133] thou shalt offer [07126] salt [04417].

⁴⁹ For [1063] every one [3956] shall be salted [233] with fire [4442], and [2532] every [3956] sacrifice [2378] shall be salted [233] with salt [251].

²⁴ And they shall go forth [03318], and look [07200] upon the carcases [06297] of the men [0582] that have transgressed [06586] against me: for their worm [08438] shall not die [04191], neither shall their fire [0784] be quenched [03518]; and they shall be an abhorring [01860] unto all flesh [01320].

⁴⁴ Where [3699] their [846] worm [4663] dieth [5053] not [3756], and [2532] the fire [4442] is [4570] not [3756] quenched [4570].
⁴⁵ And [2532] if [1437] thy [4675] foot [4228] offend [4624] thee [4571], cut [609] it [846] off [609]: it is [2076] better [2570] for thee [4671] to enter [1525] halt [5560] into [1519] life [2222], than [2228] having [2192] two [1417] feet [4228] to be cast [906] into [1519] hell [1067], into [1519] the fire [4442] that never shall be quenched [762]:
⁴⁶ Where [3699] their [846] worm [4663] dieth [5053] not [3756], and [2532] the fire [4442] is [4570] not [3756] quenched [4570].

⁷ Woe [3759] unto the world [2889] because of [575] offences [4625]! for [1063] it must needs [318] be [2076] that offences [4625] come [2064]; but [4133] woe [3759] to that man [444] by [1565] whom [1223] [3739] the offence [4625] cometh [2064] !
⁸ Wherefore [1161] if [1487] thy [4675] hand [5495] or [2228] thy [4675] foot [4228] offend thee [4624], cut [1581] them [846] off [1581], and [2532] cast [906] them from [575] thee [4571] [4675]: it is [2076] better [2570] for thee [4671] to enter into [1525] [1519] life [2222] halt [5560] or [2228] maimed [2948], rather than [2228] having [2192] two [1417] hands [5495] or [2228] two [1417] feet [4228] to be cast [906] into [1519] everlasting [166] fire [4442].
⁹ And [2532] if [1487] thine [4675] eye [3788] offend [4624] thee [4571], pluck [1807] it [846] out [1807], and [2532] cast [906] it from [575] thee [4675]: it is [2076] better [2570] for thee [4671] to enter [1525] into [1519] life [2222] with one eye [3442], rather than [2228] having [2192] two [1417] eyes [3788] to be cast [906] into [1519] hell [1067] fire [4442].

¹ Then [1161] said he [2036] unto [4314] the disciples [3101], It is [2076] impossible [418] but [3361] that offences [4625] will come [2064]: but [1161] woe [3759] unto him, through [1223] whom [3739] they come [2064] !