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OET (OET-LV) And if the eye of_you is_stumbling you, pluck_out it and throw it from you, it_is better for_you to_come_in into the life one-eyed, than to_be_thrown into the geenna of_ the _fire having two eyes.
OET (OET-RV) Also if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away because it’s better for you to enter eternal life with only one eye than to be thrown into the pit of fire with two eyes.
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.
It is good to start a new paragraph at 18:8. Jesus was still talking here about things that cause people to sin. However, the focus shifts to the importance of avoiding sin in a person’s own life.
These verses are similar to what Jesus said in 5:29–30. You should compare the way you translated the verses there to the way you translate the verses here.
And if your eye causes you to sin,
¶ And speaking in a parable, if your eye causes you to sin,
¶ Also, if for a figurative example your eye makes you sin,
if your eye causes you to sin: This clause expresses the same idea as 18:8a, but here it refers to your eye. You should translate this clause in a similar way. For example:
if your eye makes you sin
gouge it out and throw it away.
remove it and throw it away.
then you should pull/take it out and get rid of it.
gouge it out: The Greek word that the BSB translates as gouge…out means “take out” or “remove.” You should use the verb in your language that is natural when referring to removing an eye from its socket.
Here are some other ways to translate gouge it out:
take it out (GNT)
tear it out (ESV)
pluck it out (RSV)
This same verb occurs in 5:29b.
and throw it away: This is the same clause as at 18:8b. Translate it here as you did there.
It is better for you to enter life with one eye
It is better in comparison for you to enter eternal life with/having one eye
It may not seem good to enter life in heaven with one eye missing,
If you enter eternal life in heaven even without one eye, this is good/preferred.
It is better for you to enter life: This clause contains the same Greek words as in 18:8c. You should translate it the same way in both places..
with one eye: The Greek word that the BSB translates as with one eye is more literally “one-eyed” (as in the JBP).
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
with only one eye (GNT)
to have only one eye (NCV)
than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.
than for you to be thrown into the fire of hell having two eyes.”
but it is very bad for you to be thrown into hell fire with your two eyes.”
But if you keep both eyes and then God throws you into the fire of punishment in hell, that is bad.”
than to have two eyes and be thrown: This clause is the same as the clause in 18:8d (except here there are two eyes instead of two hands and two feet). You should translate it in a similar way. For example:
than to keep both eyes and be thrown (GNT)
As in 18:8d, the verb be thrown is passive. Here is one way to translate it using an active verb:
than to have two eyes and God throws you
into the fire of hell: This phrase means about the same thing as “eternal fire” in 18:8d. It refers to the place of eternal punishment where God will send unbelievers following the final judgment. In that place, unbelievers will be punished with fire.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
into the fires of hell (CEV)
where the dead are made to suffer in fire
into the place where the dead are punished with fire
This same phrase occurs in 5:22c. Translate it the same way in both places.
Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-condition-hypothetical
εἰ ὁ ὀφθαλμός σου σκανδαλίζει σε
if the eye (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί εἰ ὁ ὀφθαλμός σοῦ σκανδαλίζει σέ ἔξελε αὐτόν καί βάλε ἀπό σοῦ καλόν σοί ἐστίν μονόφθαλμον εἰς τήν ζωήν εἰσελθεῖν ἤ δύο ὀφθαλμούς ἔχοντα βληθῆναι εἰς τήν Γέενναν τοῦ πυρός)
Jesus is suggesting that this is a hypothetical condition, that the disciples might experience their eye causing them to stumble. Use a natural form in your language for introducing a situation that could happen. See how you translated the similar clause in [18:8](../18/08.md). Alternate translation: [consider this situation: your eye causes you to stumble. If that were to happen]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / personification
ὁ ὀφθαλμός σου σκανδαλίζει σε
the eye (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί εἰ ὁ ὀφθαλμός σοῦ σκανδαλίζει σέ ἔξελε αὐτόν καί βάλε ἀπό σοῦ καλόν σοί ἐστίν μονόφθαλμον εἰς τήν ζωήν εἰσελθεῖν ἤ δύο ὀφθαλμούς ἔχοντα βληθῆναι εἰς τήν Γέενναν τοῦ πυρός)
Here, Jesus speaks of your eye as if it were a person who could cause you to stumble. He means that the eye is the part of the body that is involved in the stumbling. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. See how you translated the similar clause in [18:8](../18/08.md). Alternate translation: [it is your eye’s fault that you stumble] or [you stumble with your eye]
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / youcrowd
σου & σε & σοῦ & σοί
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί εἰ ὁ ὀφθαλμός σοῦ σκανδαλίζει σέ ἔξελε αὐτόν καί βάλε ἀπό σοῦ καλόν σοί ἐστίν μονόφθαλμον εἰς τήν ζωήν εἰσελθεῖν ἤ δύο ὀφθαλμούς ἔχοντα βληθῆναι εἰς τήν Γέενναν τοῦ πυρός)
Even though Jesus is speaking to many disciples, he is addressing an individual situation, so you and your are singular throughout this verse. But if the singular form would not be natural in your language for someone who was speaking to a group of people, you could use the plural forms of you and your in your translation. If you do so, you may also need to make some other words plural.
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
σκανδαλίζει σε
˓is˒_stumbling (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί εἰ ὁ ὀφθαλμός σοῦ σκανδαλίζει σέ ἔξελε αὐτόν καί βάλε ἀπό σοῦ καλόν σοί ἐστίν μονόφθαλμον εἰς τήν ζωήν εἰσελθεῖν ἤ δύο ὀφθαλμούς ἔχοντα βληθῆναι εἰς τήν Γέενναν τοῦ πυρός)
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. See how you translated this phrase in [18:8](../18/08.md). Alternate translation: [causes you to sin]
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / hyperbole
ἔξελε αὐτὸν καὶ βάλε ἀπὸ σοῦ
pluck_out (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί εἰ ὁ ὀφθαλμός σοῦ σκανδαλίζει σέ ἔξελε αὐτόν καί βάλε ἀπό σοῦ καλόν σοί ἐστίν μονόφθαλμον εἰς τήν ζωήν εἰσελθεῖν ἤ δύο ὀφθαλμούς ἔχοντα βληθῆναι εἰς τήν Γέενναν τοῦ πυρός)
Here Jesus provides the most extreme response to sinning. He does not mean that this should be the normal way to deal with sin. You should preserve the extreme language Jesus uses, but use a form that indicates that this is the most extreme example. See how you translated the similar construction in [18:8](../18/08.md). Alternate translation: [if necessary you should even pluck it out and throw it away from you!]
Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
εἰς τὴν ζωὴν εἰσελθεῖν
into into (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί εἰ ὁ ὀφθαλμός σοῦ σκανδαλίζει σέ ἔξελε αὐτόν καί βάλε ἀπό σοῦ καλόν σοί ἐστίν μονόφθαλμον εἰς τήν ζωήν εἰσελθεῖν ἤ δύο ὀφθαλμούς ἔχοντα βληθῆναι εἰς τήν Γέενναν τοῦ πυρός)
Here Jesus speaks as if life were a house into which someone could enter. He is referring to experiencing or receiving life. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. See how you translated this phrase in [18:8](../18/08.md). Alternate translation: [to experience life] or [to receive life]
Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
εἰς τὴν ζωὴν εἰσελθεῖν
into into (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί εἰ ὁ ὀφθαλμός σοῦ σκανδαλίζει σέ ἔξελε αὐτόν καί βάλε ἀπό σοῦ καλόν σοί ἐστίν μονόφθαλμον εἰς τήν ζωήν εἰσελθεῖν ἤ δύο ὀφθαλμούς ἔχοντα βληθῆναι εἰς τήν Γέενναν τοῦ πυρός)
If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of life, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [to be able to live]
Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
τὴν ζωὴν
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί εἰ ὁ ὀφθαλμός σοῦ σκανδαλίζει σέ ἔξελε αὐτόν καί βάλε ἀπό σοῦ καλόν σοί ἐστίν μονόφθαλμον εἰς τήν ζωήν εἰσελθεῖν ἤ δύο ὀφθαλμούς ἔχοντα βληθῆναι εἰς τήν Γέενναν τοῦ πυρός)
Here Jesus implies that this life is everlasting or undying life. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this idea more explicit. See how you translated the idea in [18:8](../18/08.md). Alternate translation: [true life] or [everlasting life]
Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive
βληθῆναι
˓to_be˒_cast
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, it is clear from the context that it was God. Alternate translation: [for God to throw you]
Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
τὴν Γέενναν τοῦ πυρός
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί εἰ ὁ ὀφθαλμός σοῦ σκανδαλίζει σέ ἔξελε αὐτόν καί βάλε ἀπό σοῦ καλόν σοί ἐστίν μονόφθαλμον εἰς τήν ζωήν εἰσελθεῖν ἤ δύο ὀφθαλμούς ἔχοντα βληθῆναι εἰς τήν Γέενναν τοῦ πυρός)
Here Jesus uses the name Gehenna to refer to hell. The valley named Gehenna was outside the city of Jerusalem and was a place where people threw out and burned garbage. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a simile or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [a place of fire like the valley of Gehenna] or [fiery hell, which is like Gehenna valley]
Note 11 topic: figures-of-speech / possession
τὴν Γέενναν τοῦ πυρός
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί εἰ ὁ ὀφθαλμός σοῦ σκανδαλίζει σέ ἔξελε αὐτόν καί βάλε ἀπό σοῦ καλόν σοί ἐστίν μονόφθαλμον εἰς τήν ζωήν εἰσελθεῖν ἤ δύο ὀφθαλμούς ἔχοντα βληθῆναι εἰς τήν Γέενναν τοῦ πυρός)
Here, Jesus is using the possessive form to describe Gehenna as a place that has much fire. If this is not clear in your language, you could express the idea in another way. Alternate translation: [the fiery Gehenna] or [the fires in Gehenna]
18:1-35 This fourth major discourse in Matthew (see study note on Matt 5:1–7:29) focuses on responses to the Messiah—acceptance by the disciples and rejection by the Jewish leaders and most of the populace. In light of this growing polarization, Jesus began to instruct his followers on the nature of community life. For a community to live according to Jesus’ standards, it must live with humility (18:1-5), sensitivity (18:6-9), compassion (18:10-14), discipline (18:15-18), and forgiveness (18:21-35). As with the other discourses, a concluding formula (19:1-2) bridges to the next section.
OET (OET-LV) And if the eye of_you is_stumbling you, pluck_out it and throw it from you, it_is better for_you to_come_in into the life one-eyed, than to_be_thrown into the geenna of_ the _fire having two eyes.
OET (OET-RV) Also if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away because it’s better for you to enter eternal life with only one eye than to be thrown into the pit of fire with two eyes.
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.