Mark 9:43
New International Version
If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out.

New Living Translation
If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand than to go into the unquenchable fires of hell with two hands.

English Standard Version
And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.

Berean Standard Bible
If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two hands and go into hell, into the unquenchable fire.

Berean Literal Bible
And if your hand should cause you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life crippled, than having two hands to go away into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire.

King James Bible
And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

New King James Version
If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched—

New American Standard Bible
And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire.

NASB 1995
“If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire,

NASB 1977
“And if your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire,

Legacy Standard Bible
And if your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire,

Amplified Bible
If your hand causes you to stumble and sin, cut it off [that is, remove yourself from the source of temptation]! It is better for you to enter life crippled, than to have two hands and go into hell, into the unquenchable fire,

Christian Standard Bible
“And if your hand causes you to fall away, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and go to hell, the unquenchable fire.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
And if your hand causes your downfall, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and go to hell—the unquenchable fire,

American Standard Version
And if thy hand cause thee to stumble, cut it off: it is good for thee to enter into life maimed, rather than having thy two hands to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire.

English Revised Version
And if thy hand cause thee to stumble, cut it off: it is good for thee to enter into life maimed, rather than having thy two hands to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"So if your hand causes you to lose your faith, cut it off! It is better for you to enter life disabled than to have two hands and go to hell, to the fire that cannot be put out.

Good News Translation
So if your hand makes you lose your faith, cut it off! It is better for you to enter life without a hand than to keep both hands and go off to hell, to the fire that never goes out.

International Standard Version
So if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It's better for you to enter life injured than to have two hands and go to hell, to the fire that cannot be put out.

Majority Standard Bible
If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two hands and go into hell, into the unquenchable fire,

NET Bible
If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off! It is better for you to enter into life crippled than to have two hands and go into hell, to the unquenchable fire.

New Heart English Bible
If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off.[note: idiom meaning to stop doing a sin] It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having your two hands to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire,

Webster's Bible Translation
And if thy hand causeth thee to fall into sin, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

Weymouth New Testament
If your hand should cause you to sin, cut it off: it would be better for you to enter into Life maimed, than remain in possession of both your hands and go away into Gehenna, into the fire which cannot be put out.

World English Bible
If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having your two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And if your hand may cause you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life maimed, than having the two hands, to go away into Gehenna, into the fire—the unquenchable—

Berean Literal Bible
And if your hand should cause you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life crippled, than having two hands to go away into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire.

Young's Literal Translation
'And if thy hand may cause thee to stumble, cut it off; it is better for thee maimed to enter into the life, than having the two hands, to go away to the gehenna, to the fire -- the unquenchable --

Smith's Literal Translation
And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off; it is good for thee rather to enter into life maimed, than having two hands, to go away into hell, into inextinguishable fire:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And if thy hand scandalize thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life, maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into unquenchable fire:

Catholic Public Domain Version
And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off: it is better for you to enter into life disabled, than having two hands to go into Hell, into the unquenchable fire,

New American Bible
If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire. [

New Revised Standard Version
If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
If your hand offends you, cut it off; it is much better for you to go through life maimed, than to have two hands and go to Gehenna,

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“If your hand causes subverts you, cut it off, for it is better for you that you enter the Life maimed, than when you have two hands, you would go to Gehenna.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And if your hand ensnare you, cut it off: it is better for you to enter maimed into life, than having two hands to go away into hell, into the fire that is not quenched,

Godbey New Testament
And if thy hand may offend thee, cut it off: it is good for thee to go into life maimed, rather than having two hands to go away into hell, into the fire that can not be quenched.

Haweis New Testament
And if thy hand cause thee to offend, cut it off: it were better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having both hands to go into hell, into the fire that never will be quenched:

Mace New Testament
if even thy hand should make thee transgress, saw it off, and cast it away, it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than to have both hands and go into Gehenna, the unextinguishable fire:

Weymouth New Testament
If your hand should cause you to sin, cut it off: it would be better for you to enter into Life maimed, than remain in possession of both your hands and go away into Gehenna, into the fire which cannot be put out.

Worrell New Testament
And, if your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is good for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having the two hands to go into Hell--into the unquenchable fire!

Worsley New Testament
And if thy hand cause thee to offend, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands, to go into hell, into the fire that will never be extinguished;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Temptations and Trespasses
42But 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. 43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two hands and go into hell, into the unquenchable fire.

Cross References
Matthew 5:29-30
If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. / And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to depart into hell.

Matthew 18:8-9
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. / 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.

Luke 12:5
But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear the One who, after you have been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him!

Romans 6:12-13
Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires. / Do not present the parts of your body to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and present the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness.

Colossians 3:5
Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.

1 Corinthians 9:27
No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

Hebrews 12:1-2
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us. / Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

James 1:14-15
But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed. / Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

1 Peter 2:11
Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul.

Revelation 20:14-15
Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire. / And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Isaiah 66:24
“As they go forth, they will see the corpses of the men who have rebelled against Me; for their worm will never die, their fire will never be quenched, and they will be a horror to all mankind.”

Deuteronomy 30:19-20
I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Therefore choose life, so that you and your descendants may live, / and that you may love the LORD your God, obey Him, and hold fast to Him. For He is your life, and He will prolong your life in the land that the LORD swore to give to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

Proverbs 6:27-28
Can a man embrace fire and his clothes not be burned? / Can a man walk on hot coals without scorching his feet?

Proverbs 23:2
and put a knife to your throat if you possess a great appetite.

Jeremiah 7:31
They have built the high places of Topheth in the Valley of Ben-hinnom so they could burn their sons and daughters in the fire—something I never commanded, nor did it even enter My mind.


Treasury of Scripture

And if your hand offend you, cut it off: it is better for you to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

if.

Deuteronomy 13:6-8
If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers; …

Matthew 5:29,30
And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell…

Matthew 18:8,9
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…

offend thee.

Mark 9:45,47
And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: …

maimed.

Matthew 15:30,31
And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them: …

Luke 14:13,21
But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: …

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Mark 9
1. Jesus is transfigured.
11. He instructs his disciples concerning the coming of Elijah;
14. casts forth a deaf and mute spirit;
30. foretells his death and resurrection;
33. exhorts his disciples to humility;
38. bidding them not to prohibit such as are not against them,
42. nor to give offense to any of the faithful.














If your hand causes you to sin
The phrase "If your hand causes you to sin" uses the Greek word "σκανδαλίζω" (skandalizō), which means to cause to stumble or to offend. In the historical context of the New Testament, the hand symbolizes action and agency. Jesus is emphasizing the seriousness of sin and the lengths to which one should go to avoid it. The hand, as a metaphor, represents the actions we take that lead us away from God's will. This phrase calls believers to examine their lives and remove anything that leads them into sin, highlighting the importance of personal holiness and vigilance against moral failings.

cut it off
The directive to "cut it off" is hyperbolic, using strong imagery to convey the drastic measures one should take to avoid sin. In the cultural and historical context of Jesus' time, such language was understood as a rhetorical device to stress the severity of the issue. The Greek word "ἀποκόπτω" (apokoptō) means to cut off or sever, indicating a decisive and permanent action. This phrase underscores the necessity of radical repentance and the willingness to sacrifice anything that hinders one's relationship with God.

It is better for you to enter life maimed
"Enter life maimed" contrasts the temporary physical state with eternal spiritual reality. The Greek word "ζωή" (zōē) refers to eternal life, a central theme in Christian theology. The phrase suggests that enduring temporary hardship or loss is preferable to jeopardizing one's eternal destiny. This reflects the Christian belief in the supremacy of spiritual well-being over physical comfort, encouraging believers to prioritize their eternal future over present circumstances.

than to have two hands and go into hell
The phrase "than to have two hands and go into hell" presents a stark choice between physical wholeness and spiritual ruin. The Greek word for hell here is "γέεννα" (Gehenna), a term derived from the Valley of Hinnom, a place outside Jerusalem associated with idolatry and child sacrifice, later symbolizing the final place of punishment for the wicked. This historical context adds weight to Jesus' warning, emphasizing the reality and severity of divine judgment.

into the unquenchable fire
"Unquenchable fire" uses the Greek word "ἄσβεστος" (asbestos), meaning unquenchable or inextinguishable. This imagery is rooted in the Old Testament, where fire often symbolizes God's judgment and purification. The phrase serves as a sobering reminder of the eternal consequences of sin and the reality of divine justice. It calls believers to a life of repentance and faithfulness, underscoring the urgency of aligning one's life with God's will to avoid the eternal separation from God that hell represents.

(43) Into hell.--Better, Gehenna, to distinguish it from the other word "Hades," also translated "Hell." (See Notes on Matthew 5:22.)

Verse 43. - The hand, or the foot, or the eye represents any instrument by which sin may be committed; and it applies to those who may be the means of drawing us into sin. If your relative or your friend, who is useful or dear to you as your hand, your foot, or your eye, is drawing you into sin, cut him off from you, lest he should draw you into hell, into the unquenchable Gehenna. Gehenna, or the Valley of Hinnom, lay to the south of Jerusalem. Originally a pleasant suburb of the city, it became in later times the scene of the worship of Molech, "the abomination of the children of Ammon." On this account the valley was polluted by King Josiah. It thus became the receptacle of everything that was vile and filthy. These noisome accumulations were from time to time consumed by fire; and the things which were not consumed by fire were the prey of worms. Hence "Gehenna" became the image of the place of eternal punishment, where "the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched." These terrible images are conclusive as to the eternity of future punishment, so far as our nature is concerned and our knowledge reaches. They are the symbols of certain dreadful realities; too dreadful for human language to describe or human thought to conceive.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
If
ἐὰν (ean)
Conjunction
Strong's 1437: If. From ei and an; a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.

your
σου (sou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

hand
χείρ (cheir)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5495: A hand.

causes you to fall into sin,
σκανδαλίζῃ (skandalizē)
Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 4624: From skandalon; to entrap, i.e. Trip up (transitively) or entice to sin, apostasy or displeasure).

cut it off.
ἀπόκοψον (apokopson)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 609: From apo and kopto; to amputate; reflexively to mutilate.

It is
ἐστίν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

better
καλόν (kalon)
Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 2570: Properly, beautiful, but chiefly good, i.e. Valuable or virtuous.

for you
σε (se)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

to enter
εἰσελθεῖν (eiselthein)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 1525: To go in, come in, enter. From eis and erchomai; to enter.

life
ζωὴν (zōēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2222: Life, both of physical (present) and of spiritual (particularly future) existence. From zao; life.

crippled
κυλλὸν (kyllon)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2948: Crippled, lame, especially in the hands. From the same as kulioo; rocking about, i.e. Crippled.

than
(ē)
Conjunction
Strong's 2228: Or, than. A primary particle of distinction between two connected terms; disjunctive, or; comparative, than.

to have
ἔχοντα (echonta)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2192: To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.

two
δύο (dyo)
Adjective - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 1417: Two. A primary numeral; 'two'.

hands
χεῖρας (cheiras)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 5495: A hand.

[and] go
ἀπελθεῖν (apelthein)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 565: From apo and erchomai; to go off, aside or behind, literally or figuratively.

into
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

hell,
γέενναν (geennan)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1067: Of Hebrew origin; valley of Hinnom; ge-henna, a valley of Jerusalem, used as a name for the place of everlasting punishment.

into
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

the
τὸ (to)
Article - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

unquenchable
ἄσβεστον (asbeston)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 762: Inextinguishable, unquenchable. Not extinguished, i.e. perpetual.

fire.
πῦρ (pyr)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4442: Fire; the heat of the sun, lightning; fig: strife, trials; the eternal fire. A primary word; 'fire'.


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NT Gospels: Mark 9:43 If your hand causes you to stumble (Mar Mk Mr)
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