MARK 9:41 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]Anyone who gives you water to drink because you are followers of God’s chosen one and who does it because they are working for me, I can assure you that they’ll receive their reward.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object, red:negative.
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 For whoever gives you a cup of water in the name that you are Christ’s, truly I say to you that he will certainly not lose his reward.

UST As for those who offer you water to drink because they know that you are apprentices of me, the Messiah, God will most certainly reward them. What I have said is true.

BSB Indeed, if anyone gives you [even] a cup of water because you bear the name of Christ, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.

MSB Indeed, if anyone gives you [even] a cup of water in My name because you are Christ’s,[fn] truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.

9:41 CT a cup of water because you bear the name of Christ

BLB For whoever might give you to drink a cup of water because you are Christ's in name, truly I say to you, that he shall certainly not lose his reward.

AICNT “For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in {the name that you are of Christ},[fn] truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward.

9:41, the name that you are of Christ: Some manuscripts read “my name, because you belong to Christ.”

OEB If anyone gives you a cup of water because you belong to Christ, I tell you, he will assuredly not lose his reward.

WEBBE For whoever will give you a cup of water to drink in my name because you are Christ’s, most certainly I tell you, he will in no way lose his reward.

WMBB For whoever will give you a cup of water to drink in my name because you are Messiah’s, most certainly I tell you, he will in no way lose his reward.

NET For I tell you the truth, whoever gives you a cup of water because you bear Christ’s name will never lose his reward.

LSV for whoever may give you to drink a cup of water in My Name, because you are Christ’s, truly I say to you, he may not lose his reward;

FBV Anyone who gives a cup of water to you in my name, because you belong to Christ, won't lose their reward, believe me.

TCNT Truly I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink [fn]in my name, because you belong to Christ, will certainly not lose his reward.

9:41 in my name, because you belong to Christ, 76.8% • ANT TR 17.2% ¦ because you bear the name of Christ CT 4.6%

T4T Also think about this: Those who belong to me who help you in any way, even if they just give you a cup of water to drink because you follow me, the Messiah, will certainly be rewarded by God!”

LEB For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in my name because you are Christ’s, truly I say to you that he will never lose his reward.

BBE Whoever gives you a cup of water, because you are Christ's, truly I say to you, he will in no way be without his reward.

Moff Whoever gives you a cup of water because you belong to Christ, I tell you truly, he shall not miss his reward.

Wymth and whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, I solemnly tell you that he will certainly not lose his reward.

ASV For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink, because ye are Christ’s, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

DRA And whosoever shall scandalize one of these little ones that believe in me; it were better for him that a millstone were hanged around his neck, and he were cast into the sea.

YLT for whoever may give you to drink a cup of water in my name, because ye are Christ's, verily I say to you, he may not lose his reward;

Drby For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in [my] name, because ye are Christ's, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

RV For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink, because ye are Christ’s, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
(For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink, because ye/you_all are Christ’s, verily/truly I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward. )

SLT For whoever should give you to drink a cup of water in my name, because ye are of Christ, verily I say to you, he should not lose his reward.

Wbstr For whoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.

KJB-1769 For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.
( For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye/you_all belong to Christ, verily/truly I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward. )

KJB-1611 For whosoeuer shall giue you a cup of water to drinke in my Name, because yee belong to Christ: Uerily I say vnto you, he shall not lose his reward.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation)

Bshps Whosoeuer shall in my name geue you a cup of colde water to drynke, because ye belong to Christe: veryly I say vnto you, he shall not lose his rewarde.
(Whosoever shall in my name give you a cup of cold water to drink, because ye/you_all belong to Christ: verily/truly I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.)

Gnva And whosoeuer shall giue you a cup of water to drinke for my Names sake, because ye belong to Christ, verely I say vnto you, he shall not lose his rewarde.
(And whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink for my Names sake, because ye/you_all belong to Christ, verily/truly I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward. )

Cvdl And who so euer geueth you a cuppe of water to drynke in my name, because ye belonge vnto Christ, verely I saye vnto you: he shal not lose his rewarde.
(And whoso/whoever ever giveth/gives you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye/you_all belong unto Christ, verily/truly I say unto you: he shall not lose his reward.)

TNT And whosoever shall geve you a cuppe of water to drinke for my names sake because ye belonge to Christe verely I saye vnto you he shall not loose his rewarde.
(And whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink for my names sake because ye/you_all belong to Christ verily/truly I say unto you he shall not loose his reward. )

Wycl And who euer schal sclaundre oon of these litle that bileuen in me, it were betere to hym that a mylne stoon `of assis were don aboute his necke, and he were cast in to the see.
(And who ever shall sclaundre one of these little that believen in me, it were better to him that a mylne stone of asses were done about his neck, and he were cast in to the sea.)

Luth Wer aber euch tränket mit einem Becher Wassers in meinem Namen darum, daß ihr Christo angehöret, wahrlich, ich sage euch, es wird ihm nicht unvergolten bleiben.
(Who but you tränket with on mug/beaker waters in my name(s) therefore, that you(pl)/their/her Christo belonged, truly, I said you, it becomes him not unrepaid remain/stay.)

ClVg Et quisquis scandalizaverit unum ex his pusillis credentibus in me: bonum est ei magis si circumdaretur mola asinaria collo ejus, et in mare mitteretur.[fn]
(And whoever scandalised one from his little_ones to_believers in/into/on me: good it_is to_him more when/but_if circumdaretur mola donkeyria neck his, and in/into/on the_sea would_sendur. )

9.41 Et quisquis scandalizaverit. Quanquam hoc generale sit, potest tamen secundum consequentiam sermonis contra apostolos dici, qui de primatu disputabant et eos quos ad fidem vocabant, exemplo suo perdere poterant. BEDA. Nota quod in bono opere nostro aliquando cavendum est scandalum proximi, aliquando pro nihilo habendum: in quantum sine peccato possumus, vitare proximorum scandalum debemus. Si autem pro veritate scandalum sumitur, utilius nasci permittitur quam veritas relinquatur. Mola asinaria. HIER. Secundum morem provinciæ, etc., usque ad tolerabilior utcunque eum inferni pœna cruciaret.

9.41 And whoever scandalised. Quanquam this generale be, can nevertheless after/second consequence speech on_the_contrary apostles to_be_said, who/which from/about primatu disputabant and them which to faith vocabant, example his_own to_lose they_could. BEDA. Note that in/into/on good by_work our sometimes cavendum it_is scandal neighbours, sometimes for by_no_means habendum: in/into/on quantum without sin we_can, avoid of_neighbours scandal we_must. When/But_if however for with_truth scandal sumitur, utilius to_be_born allowsur how the_truth relinquatur. Mola donkeyria. HIER. After/Second custom provinces, etc., until to tolerabilior utcunque him hell punishment cruciaret.

UGNT ὃς γὰρ ἂν ποτίσῃ ὑμᾶς ποτήριον ὕδατος ἐν ὀνόματι, ὅτι Χριστοῦ ἐστε, ἀμὴν, λέγω ὑμῖν, ὅτι οὐ μὴ ἀπολέσῃ τὸν μισθὸν αὐτοῦ.
(hos gar an potisaʸ humas potaʸrion hudatos en onomati, hoti Ⱪristou este, amaʸn, legō humin, hoti ou maʸ apolesaʸ ton misthon autou.)

SBL-GNT Ὃς γὰρ ἂν ποτίσῃ ὑμᾶς ποτήριον ὕδατος ἐν ⸀ὀνόματι ὅτι χριστοῦ ἐστε, ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ⸀ὅτι οὐ μὴ ⸀ἀπολέσῃ τὸν μισθὸν αὐτοῦ.
(Hos gar an potisaʸ humas potaʸrion hudatos en ⸀onomati hoti ⱪristou este, amaʸn legō humin ⸀hoti ou maʸ ⸀apolesaʸ ton misthon autou.)

RP-GNT Ὃς γὰρ ἂν ποτίσῃ ὑμᾶς ποτήριον ὕδατος ἐν ὀνόματί μου, ὅτι χριστοῦ ἐστέ, ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, οὐ μὴ ἀπολέσῃ τὸν μισθὸν αὐτοῦ.
(Hos gar an potisaʸ humas potaʸrion hudatos en onomati mou, hoti ⱪristou este, amaʸn legō humin, ou maʸ apolesaʸ ton misthon autou.)

TC-GNT Ὃς γὰρ ἂν ποτίσῃ ὑμᾶς ποτήριον ὕδατος ἐν [fn]ὀνόματί μου, ὅτι Χριστοῦ ἐστε, ἀμὴν λέγω [fn]ὑμῖν, οὐ μὴ ἀπολέσῃ τὸν μισθὸν αὐτοῦ.
(Hos gar an potisaʸ humas potaʸrion hudatos en onomati mou, hoti Ⱪristou este, amaʸn legō humin, ou maʸ apolesaʸ ton misthon autou. )

9:41 ονοματι μου 76.8% ¦ τω ονοματι μου ANT TR 17.2% ¦ ονοματι CT 4.6%

9:41 υμιν ¦ υμιν οτι CT

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 9:38–41: Jesus told who is for him and who is against him

In this section, the disciple John told Jesus that he and the other disciples had tried to stop a man from expelling demons in Jesus’ name. They did this because the man was not one of the twelve disciples. Jesus then taught them that many people other than the twelve disciples were following him. He said that all of these people will be rewarded for what they do in his name.

It is good to translate this section before you decide on a heading for it.

Here are some other possible headings for this section heading:

Jesus told who is on his side and who is on the side against him

Whoever Is Not Against Us Is For Us (NIV)

On using the name of Jesus (NJB)

The parallel passage for this section is in Luke 9:49–50.

9:41a

Indeed, if anyone gives you even a cup of water

anyone who gives to you^(plur) a cup of water to drink
if someone gives even a drink of water to you^(plur)

Indeed: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as Indeed is often translated as “For” (as in the RSV). This conjunction probably indicates that 9:41 is an example that explains the principle in 9:40. Some versions do not translate this word. You should connect 9:40 and 9:41 in a way that is natural in your language.

if anyone gives you even a cup of water: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as gives you even a cup of water is literally “give to drink a cup of water.” The BSB has left the words “to drink” implied.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

anyone who gives to you even only a cup of water to drink

if a person gives a small thing like a cup of water for you to drink

You should translate this phrase in a natural way in your language.

When someone gives a believer some water to drink, that deed is a small act of kindness. That deed is used as an example here. The person who gives water to a believer shows that he is “for Christ” (9:40), even if only in a small way.

you: The pronoun you here refers to the disciples. But it refers generally to any believer. The pronoun you is plural in Greek, but this does not indicate that many people have to share one cup of water. So in some languages it may be natural to translate the you as singular. Use an expression that refers generally to any believer.

a cup of water: The word cup indicates a small amount of water. It is perhaps a mouthful or two of water. You may want to use a container of that size that is usually used for drinking water in your area. Or you can just refer to a single drink of water. For example, the GNT says:

a drink of water

9:41b

because you bear the name of Christ,

because you^(plur) belong to me, the Christ/Messiah,
because you^(plur) are called the disciples of the Christ/Messiah,

because: There is a textual issue here:

Some Greek manuscripts have the words in name. The next Greek word then means “that.” The phrase “in name that” is an idiom that means “on the basis that” or “because.” For example:
because (RSV)
on the understanding that (RSV, GNT,The GNT substitutes the word “Christ” with the pronoun “me.” NJB, NASB, NLT, GW, NET, REB, NCV)
Some Greek manuscripts have the words in my name. The next Greek word then means “because.” For example, the NIV says:
in my name because (NIV, KJV, CEV)

It is recommended that you follow option (1).

you bear the name of Christ: The Greek clause that the BSB translates as you bear the name of Christ is literally “you are Christ’s.” Believers have a relationship with Christ and he is head or leader of that relationship. Jesus referred to himself as the Christ here.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

you^(plur) are Christ’s people

you belong to me, the Christ

because you are followers of the Messiah (REB)

Christ: The Jews used the title Christ to refer to the special person whom God had appointed and promised to send as king and savior. The title Christ is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word “Messiah,” and the two words have the same meaning.

In this context you may need to indicate that Jesus was using this title to refer to himself. Here are some ways to translate Christ in this context:

Transliterate it according to the sounds of your language. For example:
Krais
me, Karisiti
Transliterate it and indicate in some way that it is a title. For example:
the Christ
me, the Kirisita
Transliterate Christ and include a phrase that explains the meaning. For example:
Christ, the appointed one
Cristo, the savior God promised
me, the Christ who comes from God

If you do not indicate in the text that Jesus was referring to himself as the Christ, you may want to include a footnote to explain this. For example:

Jesus referred here to himself as the “Christ.” The title “Christ” refers to the King and Savior whom God had promised to send.

See how you translated this word in 1:1 and 8:29c. See also Christ in the Glossary.

9:41c

truly I tell you,

I tell you truly that
I assure you that

truly I tell you: Jesus used the phrase truly I tell you to introduce a statement that he wanted to emphasize. It indicates that the statement was important and totally reliable, and that people should listen carefully to it. Jesus used this phrase eight times in Mark.Jesus also used the words “I tell you” to emphasize something. The words “Truly I tell you” are even more emphatic than “I tell you.”

See how you translated this phrase in 9:1a. In some languages you may need to translate the phrase differently in different contexts. Do not translate in a way that implies that Jesus had not been telling the truth at other times.

Here are some ways that English versions have translated the phrase in this context:

I can guarantee this truth: (GW)

I assure you (GNT)

See the General Comment on 9:41a–d after 9:41d for examples of other ways to order the parts of this verse.

9:41d

he will never lose his reward.

he will surely not fail to receive his reward.
he will certainly receive a reward.
God will surely do good to that person for doing that.

he will never lose his reward: This statement is a figure of speech which has two negative ideas: never and lose. Jesus used these two negative ideas to emphasize the opposite meaning. This positive meaning may be expressed as:

will truly get his reward (NCV)

will surely be rewarded (CEV)

The words will never lose do not refer to a person placing his reward somewhere and then later not being able to find it.

reward: The Greek word that the BSB translates as reward can mean “wages” or “recompense” or “reward.” It can be either positive or negative depending on what a person deserves. In this context it refers to something good that God will give to the person mentioned in 9:41a. God will give a reward because that person gave a cup of water to a believer. You may need to make it explicit that God will give the reward. For example:

God will surely reward him.

General Comment on 9:41a–d

In some languages it may be more natural to place the phrase “I tell you the truth” in a different position in the verse. For example:

If anyone gives you even a cup of water because you belong to the Messiah, I tell you the truth, that person will surely be rewarded. (NLT)

For example, if someone gives even a drink of water to you because you believe in me, the Christ, God will certainly reward that person. I can assure you this is absolutely true.

Place this phrase where it is natural in your language.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

γὰρ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὅς Γάρ ἄν ποτίσῃ ὑμᾶς ποτήριον ὕδατος ἐν ὀνόματι ὅτι Χριστοῦ ἐστέ ἀμήν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι οὒ μή ἀπολέσῃ τόν μισθόν αὐτοῦ)

Here, the word For introduces an example that explains what Jesus has just said. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces an example, or you could leave For untranslated. Alternate translation: [For example,] or [Here is what I mean:]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ὃς & ἂν ποτίσῃ ὑμᾶς ποτήριον ὕδατος

Jesus speaks about giving someone a cup of water to drink as an example of one small way in which a person can help another person. If it would be helpful in your language, you could indicate that this is an example, or you could use a more general expression. Alternate translation: [whoever, for example, gives you a cup of water] or [whoever helps you in any way]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / yousingular

ὑμᾶς & ἐστε & ὑμῖν

you_all & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὅς Γάρ ἄν ποτίσῃ ὑμᾶς ποτήριον ὕδατος ἐν ὀνόματι ὅτι Χριστοῦ ἐστέ ἀμήν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι οὒ μή ἀπολέσῃ τόν μισθόν αὐτοῦ)

Because Jesus is talking to his disciples, the word you throughout this verse is plural.

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

ἐν ὀνόματι, ὅτι

in ˓my˒_name because

Here, the phrase in the name that introduces the reason or basis for something. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable phrase or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [on the ground that] or [since]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / 123person

Χριστοῦ ἐστε

˱of˲_˓the˒_Messiah (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὅς Γάρ ἄν ποτίσῃ ὑμᾶς ποτήριον ὕδατος ἐν ὀνόματι ὅτι Χριστοῦ ἐστέ ἀμήν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι οὒ μή ἀπολέσῃ τόν μισθόν αὐτοῦ)

Jesus is speaking about himself in the third person. If this would not be natural in your language, you could use the first-person form. Alternate translation: [you belong to me, Christ]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / litotes

οὐ μὴ ἀπολέσῃ

Jesus is using a figure of speech here that expresses a strongly positive meaning by using a negative phrase, certainly not, together with an expression that is the opposite of the intended meaning, lose. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the positive meaning. Alternate translation: [he will most certainly receive]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

οὐ μὴ ἀπολέσῃ τὸν μισθὸν αὐτοῦ

Although the pronouns he and his are masculine, they are being used here in a generic sense that includes both men and women. Alternate translation: [that person will certainly not lose his or her reward]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / doublenegatives

οὐ μὴ

The words translated certainly not are two negative words. In this construction, the second negative does not cancel the first to create a positive meaning. Instead, it gives greater emphasis to the negative. If your language can use two negatives that do not cancel one another to create a positive meaning, you could use a double negative here. If your language does not use two negatives in that way, you could translate with one strong negative, as the ULT does. Alternate translation: [by no means]

Parallel MARK 9:41

Section 9:38–41: Jesus told who is for him and who is against him

9:41a

9:41b

9:41c

9:41d

General Comment on 9:41a–d