6"But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble — it would be better for him to have a large millstone, the kind turned by a donkey, hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. [18:7] Woe to the world because of the traps that cause stumbling! For it is necessary that the traps come, but woe to the man through whom the trap comes! [18:8] And if your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it from you — it is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into the eternal fire. [18:9] And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out and throw it from you — it is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fiery Gehenna."
MAT 18:6-9
Temptations and Trespasses
In the world it was spoken into
In a 1st-century Jewish and Greco-Roman context, the imagery of causing someone to stumble would evoke strong moral and communal implications. Stumbling blocks were not merely personal failures but disruptions to the social and spiritual fabric of the community, particularly for the 'little ones' —those who were vulnerable, humble, or new to faith. The mention of a millstone tied to a donkey underscores the severity of such an offense; this was a heavy, grinding stone used in daily labor, and its use here symbolizes irreversible destruction. The warning to cut off a hand or foot reflects the radical measures required to avoid sin, echoing Jewish teachings on purity and the avoidance of moral contamination. The sea, often associated with chaos and judgment, becomes the ultimate place of punishment. This passage emphasizes the gravity of leading others astray and the extreme personal accountability required in maintaining communal integrity.
›See the receipts
How other translations render this
MAT 18:6
- 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.
- 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.
- Koinōnos
- But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble — it would be better for him to have a large millstone, the kind turned by a donkey, hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
MAT 18:7
- KJV
- Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
- BSB
- Woe to the world for the causes of sin. These stumbling blocks must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!
- Koinōnos
- Woe to the world because of the traps that cause stumbling! For it is necessary that the traps come, but woe to the man through whom the trap comes!
MAT 18:8
- KJV
- Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.
- BSB
- 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.
- Koinōnos
- And if your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it from you — it is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into the eternal fire.
MAT 18:9
- KJV
- And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.
- BSB
- And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.
- Koinōnos
- And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out and throw it from you — it is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fiery Gehenna.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
MAT 18:6
- may cause to stumble:The word translated 'may cause to stumble' refers to setting a trap or snare that causes someone to fall, often with moral or spiritual implications, rather than just a physical trip.
- little ones:The term 'little ones' here can refer to children, but also to those who are humble, insignificant, or new in faith, emphasizing their vulnerability.
- heavy:The word translated 'heavy' describes a millstone so large it would typically be turned by a donkey, not one that could be operated by hand.
MAT 18:7
- causes of sin;:The phrase 'causes of sin' refers to a 'stumbling block' or 'snare' — something that trips someone up or leads them into moral failure, like a trap set for an animal.