MAT 18:9 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) [ref]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.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye than, having two eyes, to be thrown into the Gehenna of fire.

UST Suppose that you sinned because you looked at something. You should never do that again, even if you have to remove your eyes to make sure of it! You should respond that drastically because it is better for you to truly live with only one eye than to have both eyes but end up in hell.

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.[fn]

18:9 Or the hell of fire; Greek the Gehenna of fire

BLB And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and cast it from you; it is better for you to enter into life one-eyed, than having two eyes to be cast into the Gehenna of fire.

AICNT And if your eye causes you to stumble, 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 Gehenna.[fn]

18:9, Gehenna: Often translated hell, Gehenna is a term derived from a place called the Valley of Hinnom, located near Jerusalem. In the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), this valley was associated with practices of child sacrifice to foreign gods, notably the Canaanite deity Moloch. Because of these associations, the Valley of Hinnom was reviled and became a symbol of divine judgment and destruction.

OEB If your eye causes you to sin, take it out, and throw it away. It would be better for you to enter life with only one eye, than to have both eyes and be thrown into the fires of Gehenna.

WEBBE If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the Gehenna[fn] of fire.

18:9 or, Hell

WMBB If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the Gehinnom[fn] of fire.

18:9 or, Hell

NET And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into fiery hell.

LSV And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and cast from you; it is good for you to enter into life one-eyed, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the Gehenna of fire.

FBV If your eye causes you to sin, pull it out and throw it away. It's better for you to enter eternal life with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into the fire of judgment.

TCNT And if yoʋr eye causes yoʋ to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from yoʋ. It is better for yoʋ to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fires of hell.

T4T If what you see you makes you want to sin, stop looking at those things! Even if you have to gouge out one of your eyes and throw it away to avoid sinning, do it [HYP]! It is good that you not sin and go where you will live with God eternally, even though while you are still here on earth you have only one eye. But it is not good that you continue to have your two eyes and do the sinful things you want to, and as a result, you are thrown {God throws you} into hell where there is eternal fire burning.”

LEB And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it[fn] from you! It is better for you to enter into life one-eyed than, having two eyes, to be thrown into fiery hell!

18:9 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation

BBE And if your eye is a cause of trouble to you, take it out, and put it away from you: it is better for you to go into life with one eye than, having two eyes, to go into the hell of fire.

Moff If your eye is a hindrance to you, tear it out and throw it away;
⇔ better get into Life with one eye
⇔ than keep your two eyes and be thrown into the fire of Gehenna.

Wymth And if your eye is causing you to fall into sin, tear it out and away with it; it is better for you to enter into Life with only one eye, than to remain in possession of two eyes but be thrown into the Gehenna of fire.

ASV And if thine eye causeth thee to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is good for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the hell of fire.

DRA And if thy eye scandalize thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee. It is better for thee having one eye to enter into life, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.

YLT 'And if thine eye doth cause thee to stumble, pluck it out and cast from thee; it is good for thee one-eyed to enter into the life, rather than having two eyes to be cast to the gehenna of the fire.

Drby And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out and cast [it] from thee; it is good for thee to enter into life one-eyed, [rather] than having two eyes to be cast into the hell of fire.

RV And if thine eye causeth thee to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is good for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the hell of fire.
(And if thine/your eye causeth thee/you to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from thee/you: it is good for thee/you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the hell of fire. )

SLT And if thine eye give thee cause of offence, take it out, and east from thee: it is good for thee, one-eyed, to enter into life, than having two eyes to be cast into a hell of fire.

Wbstr And if thy eye causeth thee to sin, 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.

KJB-1769 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.
( And if thine/your eye offend thee/you, pluck it out, and cast it from thee/you: it is better for thee/you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. )

KJB-1611 And if thine eie offend thee, plucke it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eie, rather then hauing two eies, to be cast into hell fire.
(And if thine/your eye offend thee/you, pluck it out, and cast it from thee/you: it is better for thee/you to enter into life with one eie, rather then having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.)

Bshps And yf thyne eye offende thee, plucke it out, and cast it from thee: It is better for thee to enter into lyfe with one eye, rather then, hauyng two eyes, to be cast into hell fyre.
(And if thine/your eye offend thee/you, pluck it out, and cast it from thee/you: It is better for thee/you to enter into life with one eye, rather then, having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.)

Gnva And if thine eye cause thee to offende, plucke it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, then hauing two eyes to be cast into hell fire.
(And if thine/your eye cause thee/you to offend, pluck it out, and cast it from thee/you: it is better for thee/you to enter into life with one eye, then having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. )

Cvdl And yf thyne eye offende the, plucke it out, & cast it from the. Better it is for the to entre in vnto life with one eye, the to haue two eyes, and to be cast in to hell fyre.
(And if thine/your eye offend them, pluck it out, and cast it from them. Better it is for the to enter in unto life with one eye, the to have two eyes, and to be cast in to hell fire.)

TNT And yf also thyne eye offende the plucke him oute and caste him from the. It is better for the to enter into lyfe with one eye then havyng two eyes to be cast into hell fyre.
(And if also thine/your eye offend the pluck him out and cast/threw him from them. It is better for the to enter into life with one eye then having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. )

Wycl And if thin iye sclaundre thee, pulle it out, and caste awei fro thee. It is betere to thee with oon iye to entre in to lijf, thanne hauynge tweyn iyen to be sent in to the fier of helle.
(And if thin eye sclaundre thee/you, pulle it out, and cast/threw away from thee/you. It is better to thee/you with one eye to enter in to life, then having twain/two_or_both eyes to be sent in to the fire of hell.)

Luth Und so dich dein Auge ärgert, reiß es aus und wirf‘s von dir. Es ist dir besser, daß du einäugig zum Leben eingehest, denn daß du zwei Augen habest und werdest in das höllische Feuer geworfen.
(And so you/yourself your(s) eye annoys, tear it out_of and throw‘s from you/to_you(sg). It is you/to_you(sg) better, that you(sg) einäugig for_the life enter, because/than that you(sg) two eyes have and become in the höllische fire(n) thrown.)

ClVg Et si oculus tuus scandalizat te, erue eum, et projice abs te: bonum tibi est cum uno oculo in vitam intrare, quam duos oculos habentem mitti in gehennam ignis.
(And when/but_if the_eye your(sg) scandalizat you(sg), erue him, and proyice abs you(sg): good to_you it_is when/with one with_an_eye in/into/on life to_enter, how two the_eyes having mitti in/into/on hell fire. )

UGNT καὶ εἰ ὁ ὀφθαλμός σου σκανδαλίζει σε, ἔξελε αὐτὸν καὶ βάλε ἀπὸ σοῦ; καλόν σοί ἐστιν μονόφθαλμον εἰς τὴν ζωὴν εἰσελθεῖν, ἢ δύο ὀφθαλμοὺς ἔχοντα βληθῆναι εἰς τὴν Γέενναν τοῦ πυρός.
(kai ei ho ofthalmos sou skandalizei se, exele auton kai bale apo sou; kalon soi estin monofthalmon eis taʸn zōaʸn eiselthein, aʸ duo ofthalmous eⱪonta blaʸthaʸnai eis taʸn Geennan tou puros.)

SBL-GNT καὶ εἰ ὁ ὀφθαλμός σου σκανδαλίζει σε, ἔξελε αὐτὸν καὶ βάλε ἀπὸ σοῦ· καλόν σοί ἐστιν μονόφθαλμον εἰς τὴν ζωὴν εἰσελθεῖν, ἢ δύο ὀφθαλμοὺς ἔχοντα βληθῆναι εἰς τὴν γέενναν τοῦ πυρός.
(kai ei ho ofthalmos sou skandalizei se, exele auton kai bale apo sou; kalon soi estin monofthalmon eis taʸn zōaʸn eiselthein, aʸ duo ofthalmous eⱪonta blaʸthaʸnai eis taʸn geennan tou puros.)

RP-GNT Καὶ εἰ ὁ ὀφθαλμός σου σκανδαλίζει σε, ἔξελε αὐτὸν καὶ βάλε ἀπὸ σοῦ· καλόν σοι ἐστὶν μονόφθαλμον εἰς τὴν ζωὴν εἰσελθεῖν, ἢ δύο ὀφθαλμοὺς ἔχοντα βληθῆναι εἰς τὴν γέενναν τοῦ πυρός.
(Kai ei ho ofthalmos sou skandalizei se, exele auton kai bale apo sou; kalon soi estin monofthalmon eis taʸn zōaʸn eiselthein, aʸ duo ofthalmous eⱪonta blaʸthaʸnai eis taʸn geennan tou puros.)

TC-GNT Καὶ εἰ ὁ ὀφθαλμός σου σκανδαλίζει σε, ἔξελε αὐτὸν καὶ βάλε ἀπὸ σοῦ· καλόν σοι ἐστὶ μονόφθαλμον εἰς τὴν ζωὴν εἰσελθεῖν, ἢ δύο ὀφθαλμοὺς ἔχοντα βληθῆναι εἰς τὴν γέενναν τοῦ πυρός.
(Kai ei ho ofthalmos sou skandalizei se, exele auton kai bale apo sou; kalon soi esti monofthalmon eis taʸn zōaʸn eiselthein, aʸ duo ofthalmous eⱪonta blaʸthaʸnai eis taʸn geennan tou puros. )

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, orange:accents differ, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 18:5–9: Do not cause anyone to sin

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.

Paragraph 18:8–9

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.

18:9a

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

18:9b

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.

18:9c

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)

18:9d

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.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

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

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

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

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