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OET (OET-LV) But whoever wishfully may_stumble one of_ the these _little ones which believing in me, it_is_benefitting for_him that a_ heavy _grinding_stone may_be_hanged around the neck of_him, and may_be_sunk in the depth of_the sea.
OET (OET-RV) “But anyone who causes one of these small ones who believe in me to stumble, it would have been better for that person if a heavy stone had been hung around their neck and if they’d been sunk in the deep lake.
In the previous section, Jesus used a child to illustrate what it meant for a disciple to be great in the kingdom. In this section, he compared a humble disciple to a child. He warned people not to cause one of them to sin. If they did, the consequences would be serious.
Jesus also warned his disciples to eliminate the source of sin in their own lives.
Here are some other possible headings for this section:
Temptations To Sin (GNT)
Eliminate the cause of sin
There are parallel passages for this section in Mark 9:42–48 and Luke 17:1–2.
Some English versions put verse 18:5 in the previous paragraph. But it is best to start a new paragraph here (as in the NCV). It is true that Matthew used the term “child” again. But he changed from talking about the actual child that they were all looking at in 18:4. Here he talked about disciples who are like that child.
Verse 18:6 contains a comparison that has some implied information. Before you begin to translate 18:6, read the information below and consider the best way in your language to translate this entire comparison. (Do not miss the discussion further below about the meaning of the words and phrases in the three parts of 18:6.)
In 18:6, Jesus talked about two bad things:
a bad crime: causing a child to sin
a bad punishment: drowning in the sea
Jesus said that the punishment of (b) is better than the implied punishment for (a). To say it another way, the punishment for (a) is worse than the punishment of (b).
Languages indicate such comparisons in various ways. One way is the way the BSB translates it. Here are some other ways:
One punishment is big. The other is little. For example:
6aBut if anyone causes to sin one of these little ones who believes in me, God will give him a really big punishment. 6bIf people tied a big stone around the neck of a person who did that 6cand threw him in the ocean so that he drowned, 6bthat would be a little punishment.
One punishment is bad. Another thing is very bad or worse. For example:
6bIt is a bad punishment for someone to have a great millstone fastened around his neck 6cand to be drowned in the depth of the sea. 6aBut if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin he will receive a worse punishment.
You should translate this comparison in a way that is natural in your language.
But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble,
But before anyone causes to sin one of these people who are like little children who believe in me,
But if any person cause to sin one of these believers who are like little children, the/his punishment will be very bad.
Such believers are like little children. If anyone causes one of them to sin, God will punish
But: There is a contrast here. The contrast is between doing a good thing (welcoming a child) in 18:5 and doing a bad thing (causing a child to sin) in 18:6. The BSB indicates this contrast with the conjunction But.
if anyone: The Greek words that the BSB translates as if anyone are the same as the words in 18:5a. You may want to use the same term here as in 18:5. For example:
anyone who (NJB)
the person who
if someone
causes…to stumble: The Greek verb that the BSB translates literally as causes…to stumble is used here with a figurative meaning.
There are several ways to interpret this verb:
It refers to causing a believer to sin. For example:
if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin (NET) (RSV, NIV, NET, ESV, CEV, NCV, NLT)
It refers to causing a believer to stop believing. For example:
If anyone should cause one of these little ones to lose his faith in me (GNT) (GNT, NLT96, GW)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with the majority of English versions.
Here are some other ways to translate this verb:
makes…sin
causes…to fall into sin (NLT)
This same verb occurs in 5:29a–b .
one of these little ones who believe in Me: The phrase one of these little ones refers to the same type of person as “a little child like this” in 18:5a. This means that Jesus used the term these little ones in a figurative sense. He was referring to people who are humble like children. He was referring to people of all ages who believe in him, both children and adults.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
one of these people who are like little children who believe in me
one of these believers who are like little children
These little ones believe in me. (GW)
it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck
it is better that people tie a large millstone around his neck
It would be better in comparison if he were to have a large grinding stone hung from his neck
him more/worse than if someone tied a heavy stone to his neck
it would be better for him: This clause introduces one half of a comparison of two punishments. The other half (what would be worse for him) is not stated. Both punishments are bad, but drowning is better, or not as bad.
If you are not able to make a comparison like this in your language, see the discussion above in 18:6a–c.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
it would be better in comparison for him
it would be less bad for him
a punishment that would not be as bad for him would be to have
to have…hung around his neck: This verb means “to hang” something, as you would hang a lamp from a hook or a necklace around your neck.
This clause is passive. Here are some other ways to translate it:
Use a passive verb. For example:
to have…fastened around his neck (ESV)
Use an active verb. For example:
for someone to fasten/tie…to his neck
a large millstone: This phrase refers to a type of stone that was used to grind wheat seeds into flour. Specifically, it was a large, round stone meant to be pulled by a donkey so that it rolled over the seeds and crushed them. It was very heavy.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
a very large grinding stone
a heavy stone (CEV)
a large stone (NCV) a donkey pulling a millstoneL. Bass graphic, CO000106.tif (How the Jews Lived shell book graphics, Copyright 1971 by PNG SIL)
and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
and they throw him into the deep part of the sea to drown.
and be thrown into a deep sea and drown.
and threw him in the deepest part of the sea so that he drowns/dies.
to be drowned: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as to be drowned means “to sink” something in water. In this context, a person who was thrown into the sea with a large stone tied around his neck would sink and would not be able to breathe air. So he would die under the water.
This clause is passive. Here are some other ways to translate it:
Use a passive verb. For example:
to be drowned
Use an active verb. For example:
so that he drowns
in the depths of the sea: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as in the depths means “in the deepest part.”
Here is another way to translate this phrase:
in the deepest part of the ocean (CEV)
The Jews thought that drowning in the sea was a terrible way to die. They thought this in part because the body could not be buried and mourned over. You may want to include a footnote to explain some of this information. Here is an example footnote:
The Jews thought that drowning in the depths of the sea was one of the worst ways to die. So Jesus showed that causing a believer to sin was very bad indeed, because God would punish that person in a way that was worse than drowning in the depths of the sea.
Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
σκανδαλίσῃ ἕνα τῶν μικρῶν τούτων τῶν πιστευόντων εἰς ἐμέ
˓may˒_stumble one ¬the ˱of˲_little_‹ones› these ¬which believing in me
Here, Jesus is speaking of sinning as if it were stumbling. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
ἕνα τῶν μικρῶν τούτων τῶν πιστευόντων εἰς ἐμέ
one ¬the ˱of˲_little_‹ones› these ¬which believing in me
The phrase these little ones could refer: (1) to people who are not important from a human perspective. Alternate translation: [one of these unimportant people who believe in me] (2) to children who love Jesus and who are physically little compared to adults. Alternate translation: [one of these children who believe in me] (3) to people whose faith is new and has not yet become mature and strong. Alternate translation: [one of these people who recently believed in me]
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
συμφέρει αὐτῷ ἵνα
˱it˲_˓is˒_benefitting ˱for˲_him that
Here Jesus implies that what he is about to describe is better than being punished by God for causing one of these little ones to sin. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [rather than being punished by God for doing that, it is better for him that]
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations
αὐτῷ & αὐτοῦ & καταποντισθῇ
˱for˲_him & ˱of˲_him & ˓may_be˒_sunk
Although the terms him, his, and he are masculine, Jesus is using the words in a generic sense that includes both men and women. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a phrase that makes this clear. Alternate translation: [for that person … his or her … he or she would have been sunk]
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive
ἵνα κρεμασθῇ μύλος ὀνικὸς περὶ τὸν τράχηλον αὐτοῦ, καὶ καταποντισθῇ ἐν τῷ πελάγει τῆς θαλάσσης
that ˓may_be˒_hanged ˓a˒_millstone (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὅς Δʼ ἄν σκανδαλίσῃ ἕνα τῶν μικρῶν τούτων τῶν πιστευόντων εἰς ἐμέ συμφέρει αὐτῷ ἵνα κρεμασθῇ μύλος ὀνικός περί τόν τράχηλον αὐτοῦ καί καταποντισθῇ ἐν τῷ πελάγει τῆς θαλάσσης)
If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. If you need to say who did the action, you could use an indefinite subject. Alternate translation: [that people might hang a millstone of a donkey around his neck and make him sink into the depth of the sea]
Note 6 topic: translate-unknown
μύλος ὀνικὸς
˓a˒_millstone (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὅς Δʼ ἄν σκανδαλίσῃ ἕνα τῶν μικρῶν τούτων τῶν πιστευόντων εἰς ἐμέ συμφέρει αὐτῷ ἵνα κρεμασθῇ μύλος ὀνικός περί τόν τράχηλον αὐτοῦ καί καταποντισθῇ ἐν τῷ πελάγει τῆς θαλάσσης)
A millstone was a round stone used for grinding grain into flour. The phrase of a donkey indicates that this kind of millstone was heavy enough that it took a donkey to turn it. If your readers would not be familiar with this type of stone, you could use the name of something similar in your area, or you could use a more general term. Alternate translation: [a very large rock] or [a very heavy object]
Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
κρεμασθῇ & περὶ τὸν τράχηλον αὐτοῦ
˓may_be˒_hanged & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὅς Δʼ ἄν σκανδαλίσῃ ἕνα τῶν μικρῶν τούτων τῶν πιστευόντων εἰς ἐμέ συμφέρει αὐτῷ ἵνα κρεμασθῇ μύλος ὀνικός περί τόν τράχηλον αὐτοῦ καί καταποντισθῇ ἐν τῷ πελάγει τῆς θαλάσσης)
The implication is that someone would tie the millstone around the person’s neck. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [would have been attached to his neck]
Note 8 topic: translate-unknown
τῷ πελάγει τῆς θαλάσσης
the depth ˱of˲_the sea
Here, the phrase the depth of the sea refers to the parts of a body of water that are deep and far away from land. If your readers would not be familiar with what this phrase describes, you could use the name of something similar in your area, or you could use a more general term. Alternate translation: [deep water] or [the parts of the sea that are far from land]
Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
τῷ πελάγει
the depth
If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of depth, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [the deep parts]
18:6 To cause one . . . to fall into sin is to lead believing children (or possibly believing adults who become “like children”; see 18:3) to reject Christ and abandon the faith.
• The designation little ones emphasizes their humility (5:3-12; 18:4; 19:13-15).
• Though the thought of being drowned with a large millstone around the neck is frightful, Jesus warned that causing another to fall away will bring far greater misery (18:7; 26:24; Rev 18:21; see Matt 22:13).
OET (OET-LV) But whoever wishfully may_stumble one of_ the these _little ones which believing in me, it_is_benefitting for_him that a_ heavy _grinding_stone may_be_hanged around the neck of_him, and may_be_sunk in the depth of_the sea.
OET (OET-RV) “But anyone who causes one of these small ones who believe in me to stumble, it would have been better for that person if a heavy stone had been hung around their neck and if they’d been sunk in the deep lake.
Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.
Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.
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