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English Standard Version

Mark 9:48

‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.'

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Commandments;   Hell;   Jesus, the Christ;   Worm;   Scofield Reference Index - Faith;   Thompson Chain Reference - Eternal;   Everlasting;   Future State of the Wicked;   Future, the;   Irreparableness;   Loss;   Profit and Loss;   Punishment;   Words of Christ;   The Topic Concordance - Hell;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Hell;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Jerusalem;   Punishment;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Burial;   Eternal Punishment;   Fire;   Hell;   Jesus Christ;   Lake of Fire;   Punishment;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Hell;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Worm;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Games;   Hell;   Mark, the Gospel According to;   Perdition;   Salt;   Worm;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Eschatology;   Gehenna;   Insects;   Mark, the Gospel of;   Worm;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Mss;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Animals;   Common Life;   Demon, Demoniacal Possession, Demoniacs;   Discourse;   Elect, Election ;   Eternal Fire (2);   Fig-Tree ;   Fire ;   Guilt (2);   Ideas (Leading);   Isaiah;   Love (2);   Prudence;   Publishing ;   Punishment (2);   Quotations (2);   Reality;   Redemption (2);   Restoration;   Salt (2);   Self-Control;   Septuagint;   Sermon on the Mount;   Trinity (2);   Winter ;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Worms;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Fire;   Hell;   Transfiguration;   Worm;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Chief parables and miracles in the bible;   Gospel;   Hell;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Worm,;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Worm;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Decease, in New Testament;   Fire;   Immortal;   Jesus Christ (Part 2 of 2);   Mark, the Gospel According to;   Punishment, Everlasting;   Quench;   Unquenchable Fire;   Worm;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.
King James Version (1611)
Where their worme dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
King James Version
Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
New American Standard Bible
where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT EXTINGUISHED.
New Century Version
In hell the worm does not die; the fire is never put out.
Amplified Bible
where THEIR WORM [that feeds on the dead] DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT PUT OUT.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.
Legacy Standard Bible
where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.
Berean Standard Bible
where 'their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.'
Contemporary English Version
The worms there never die, and the fire never stops burning.
Complete Jewish Bible
where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.
Darby Translation
where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched.
Easy-to-Read Version
The worms that eat the people in hell never die. The fire there is never stopped.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Where their worme dyeth not, and the fire neuer goeth out.
George Lamsa Translation
Where their worm does not die, and their fire does not quench.
Good News Translation
There ‘the worms that eat them never die, and the fire that burns them is never put out.'
Lexham English Bible
‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not extinguished.'
Literal Translation
"where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched." Isa. 66:24
American Standard Version
where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
Bible in Basic English
Where their worm is ever living and the fire is not put out.
Hebrew Names Version
'where their worm doesn't die, and the fire is not quenched.'
International Standard Version
In that place, worms never die, and the fire is never put out.
Etheridge Translation
where their worm dieth not, and their fire is not quenched.
Murdock Translation
where their worm dieth not, and their fire is not extinguished.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Where their worme dyeth not, and the fire goeth not out.
English Revised Version
where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
World English Bible
'where their worm doesn't die, and the fire is not quenched.'
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
Weymouth's New Testament
where their worm does not die and the fire does not go out.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and the fier is not quenchid.
Update Bible Version
where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched.
Webster's Bible Translation
Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
New English Translation
where their worm never dies and the fire is never quenched.
New King James Version
where'Their worm does not die,And the fire is not quenched.' Isaiah 66:24 ">[fn]
New Living Translation
‘where the maggots never die and the fire never goes out.'
New Life Bible
There is where their worm never dies and the fire is never put out.
New Revised Standard
where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Where, their worm, dieth not, and, the fire, is not quenched,
Douay-Rheims Bible
(9-47) Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not extinguished.
Revised Standard Version
where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
where there worme dyeth not and the fyre never goeth oute.
Young's Literal Translation
where their worm is not dying, and the fire is not being quenched;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
where their worme dyeth not, and their fyre goeth not out.
Mace New Testament (1729)
and the fire is not extinguished.
Simplified Cowboy Version
Here's the skinny of it—everyone will go through a test of fire;

Contextual Overview

41 For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward. 42 "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43 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. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.' For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another." 44 And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power." And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. And Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah." For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, "This is my beloved Son; listen to him." And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only. And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean. And they asked him, "Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?" And he said to them, "Elijah does come first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt? But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him." And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. And he asked them, "What are you arguing about with them?" And someone from the crowd answered him, "Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able." And he answered them, "O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me." And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said, "From childhood. And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us." And Jesus said to him, "‘If you can'! All things are possible for one who believes." Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!" And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again." And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, "He is dead." But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" And he said to them, "This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer." They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know, for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise." But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him. And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, "What were you discussing on the way?" But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, "If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all." And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, "Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me." John said to him, "Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us." But Jesus said, "Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. For the one who is not against us is for us. For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward. "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 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. 45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.' For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another." 46 And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power." And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. And Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah." For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, "This is my beloved Son; listen to him." And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only. And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean. And they asked him, "Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?" And he said to them, "Elijah does come first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt? But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him." And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. And he asked them, "What are you arguing about with them?" And someone from the crowd answered him, "Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able." And he answered them, "O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me." And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said, "From childhood. And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us." And Jesus said to him, "‘If you can'! All things are possible for one who believes." Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!" And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again." And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, "He is dead." But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" And he said to them, "This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer." They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know, for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise." But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him. And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, "What were you discussing on the way?" But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, "If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all." And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, "Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me." John said to him, "Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us." But Jesus said, "Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. For the one who is not against us is for us. For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward. "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 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. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, 48 ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.' 49 For everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Mark 9:44, Mark 9:46

Reciprocal: Genesis 42:21 - they said Leviticus 6:12 - the fire Ezekiel 47:11 - given Matthew 18:8 - everlasting Matthew 25:46 - everlasting

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. This is repeated again, not only to assure the truth of the thing, but to raise the attention of the mind unto it, and fix an awful impression upon it: the Persic version renders it, "from whence thou shall never find redemption": there is no redemption from hell, as Origen and others have thought.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See the notes at Matthew 18:7-9. Millstone. See Matthew 18:6.

Mark 9:44-46

Their worm - This figure is taken from Isaiah 66:24. See the notes at that passage. In describing the great prosperity. of the kingdom of the Messiah, Isaiah says that the people of God “shall go forth, and look upon the carcasses of the men who have transgressed against God.” Their enemies would be overcome. They would be slain. The people of God would triumph. The figure is taken from heaps of the dead slain in battle; and the prophet says that the number would be so great that their worm - the worm feeding on the dead - would not die, would live long - as long as there were carcasses to be devoured; and that the fire which was used to burn the bodies of the dead would continue long to burn, and would not be extinguished until they were consumed. The figure, therefore, denotes great misery, and certain and terrible destruction. In these verses it is applied to the state beyond the grave, and is intended to denote that the destruction of the wicked will be awful, widespread, and eternal.

It is not to be supposed that there will be any “real” worm in hell - perhaps no material fire; nor can it be told what was particularly intended by the undying worm. There is no authority for applying it, as is often done, to remorse of conscience, anymore than to any other of the pains and reflections of hell. It is a mere image of loathsome, dreadful, and “eternal” suffering. In what that suffering will consist it is probably beyond the power of any living mortal to imagine. The word their, in the phrase “their worm,” is used merely to keep up the “image” or “figure.” Dead bodies putrefying in that valley would be overrun with worms, while the “fire” would not be confined to them, but would spread to other objects kindled by combustibles through all the valley. It is “not” meant, therefore, that every particular sufferer has a special worm, or has particular sins that cause remorse of conscience. That is a truth, but it does not appear that it is intended to be taught here.

Mark 9:49

Every one shall be salted with fire - Perhaps no passage in the New Testament has given more perplexity to commentators than this, and it may be impossible now to fix its precise meaning. The common idea affixed to it has been, that as salt preserves from putrefaction, so fire, applied to the wicked in hell, will have the property of preserving them in existence, or they will “be” preserved amid the sprinkling of fire, to be continually in their sufferings a sacrifice to the justice of God; but this meaning is not quite satisfactory. Another opinion has been, that as salt was sprinkled on the victim preparatory to its being devoted to God (see Leviticus 2:13), so would “the apostles,” by trials, calamities, etc., represented here by “fire,” be prepared as a sacrifice and offering to God. Probably the passage has no reference at all to future punishment; and the difficulty of interpreting it has arisen from supposing it to be connected with the 48th verse, or given as a “reason” for what is said in “that” verse, rather than considering it as designed to illustrate the “general design” of the passage. The main scope of the passage was not to discourse of future punishment; that is brought in incidentally. The chief object of the passage was -

  1. To teach the apostles that “other men,” not “with them,” might be true Christians, Mark 9:38-39.
  2. That they ought to be disposed to look favorably upon the slightest evidence that they “might be true believers,” Mark 9:41.
  3. That they ought to avoid giving “offence” to such feeble and obscure Christians, Mark 9:42.
  4. That “everything” calculated to give offence, or to dishonor religion, should be removed, Mark 9:43. And,
  5. That everything which would endanger their salvation should be sacrificed; that they should “deny” themselves in every way in order to obtain eternal life. In this way they would be “preserved” to eternal life.

The word “fire,” here, therefore denotes self-denials, sacrifices, trials, in keeping ourselves from the gratification of the flesh. As if he had said, “Look at the sacrifice on the altar. It is an offering to God, about to be presented to him. It is sprinkled with “salt, emblematic of purity, of preservation and of fitting it, therefore, for a sacrifice.” So “you” are devoted to God. You are sacrifices, victims, offerings to him in his service. To make you “acceptable” offerings, every thing must be done to “preserve” you from sin and to “purify” you. Self-denials, subduing the lusts, enduring trials, removing offences, are the proper “preservatives” in the service of God. Doing this, you will be acceptable offerings and be saved; without this, you will be “unfit” for his eternal service and will be lost.”

Mark 9:50

Lost its saltness ... - See the notes at Matthew 5:13.

Have salt in yourselves - Have the preserving, purifying principle always; the principles of denying yourselves, of suppressing pride, ambition, contention, etc., and thus you will be an acceptable offering to God.

Have peace - Avoid contention and quarrelling, struggling for places, honors, and office, and seek each other’s welfare, and religion will be honored and preserved in the world.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 48. Mark 9:43; Mark 9:43.


 
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