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Lexham English Bible

Mark 9:48

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

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.
English Standard Version
‘where their worm does not die 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.'
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 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. 42 "And whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it is better for him if instead a large millstone is placed around his neck and he is thrown into the sea. 43 And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off! It is better for you to enter into life crippled than, having two hands, to go into hell—into the unquenchable fire! And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off! It is better for you to enter into life lame than, having 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 into the kingdom of God with one eye than, having two eyes, to be thrown into hell, ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not extinguished.' For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if the salt becomes deprived of its salt content, by what can you make it salty? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with one another." 44 And he said to them, "Truly I say to you, that there are some of those standing here who will never experience death until they see the kingdom of God having come with power." And after six days, Jesus took along Peter and James and John, and led them to a high mountain by themselves alone. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothing became radiant—extremely white, like no cloth refiner on earth can make so white. And Elijah appeared to them together with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. And Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good that we are here! And let us make three shelters, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah." (For he did not know what he should answer, because they were terrified.) And a cloud came, overshadowing them, and a voice came from the cloud, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him!" And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus alone. And as they were coming down from the mountain, he ordered them that they should tell no one the things that they had seen, except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead. And they kept the matter to themselves, discussing what this rising from the dead meant. And they asked him, saying, "Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" And he said to them, "Elijah indeed does come first and restores all things. And how is it written concerning the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt? But I tell you that indeed Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they wanted, just as it is written about him." And when they came to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and scribes arguing with them. And immediately the whole crowd, when they saw him, were amazed, and ran up to him and greeted him. And he asked them, "What are you arguing about with them?" And one individual from the crowd answered him, "Teacher, I brought to you my son who has a spirit that makes him mute. And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down and he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes paralyzed. And I told your disciples that they should expel it, and they were not able to do so. And he answered them and said, "O unbelieving generation! How long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to me!" And they brought him to him. And when he saw him, the spirit immediately convulsed him, and falling on the ground, he began to roll around, foaming at the mouth. And he asked his father how long it was since this had been happening to him. And he said, "From childhood. And often it has thrown him both into fire and into water, in order that it could destroy him. But if you are able to do anything, have compassion on us and help us!" But Jesus said to him, "If you are able! All things are possible for the one who believes!" Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe! Help my unbelief!" Now when Jesus saw that a crowd was running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "Mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and enter into him no more!" And it came out, screaming and convulsing him greatly, and he became as if he were dead, so that most of them said, "He has died!" But Jesus took hold of his hand and raised him up, and he stood up. And after he had entered into the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why were we not able to expel it?" And he said to them, "This kind can come out by nothing except by prayer." And from there they went out and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know, for he was teaching his disciples and was telling them, "The Son of Man is being betrayed 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 statement, and they were afraid to ask him. And they came to Capernaum. And after he was in the house, he asked them, "What were you discussing on the way?" But they were silent, because they had argued with one another on the way about who was greatest. And he sat down and called the twelve and said to them, "If anyone wants to be first, he will be last of all and servant of all." And he took a young child and had him stand among them. And taking him in his arms, he said to them, "Whoever welcomes one of the young children such as these in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me, but the one who sent me." John said to him, "Teacher, we saw someone expelling demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us." But Jesus said, "Do not prevent him, because there is no one who does a miracle in my name and will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. For whoever is not against us is for us. 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. "And whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it is better for him if instead a large millstone is placed around his neck and he is thrown into the sea. And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off! It is better for you to enter into life crippled than, having two hands, to go into hell—into the unquenchable fire! 45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off! It is better for you to enter into life lame than, having 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 into the kingdom of God with one eye than, having two eyes, to be thrown into hell, ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not extinguished.' For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if the salt becomes deprived of its salt content, by what can you make it salty? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with one another." 46 And he said to them, "Truly I say to you, that there are some of those standing here who will never experience death until they see the kingdom of God having come with power." And after six days, Jesus took along Peter and James and John, and led them to a high mountain by themselves alone. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothing became radiant—extremely white, like no cloth refiner on earth can make so white. And Elijah appeared to them together with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. And Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good that we are here! And let us make three shelters, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah." (For he did not know what he should answer, because they were terrified.) And a cloud came, overshadowing them, and a voice came from the cloud, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him!" And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus alone. And as they were coming down from the mountain, he ordered them that they should tell no one the things that they had seen, except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead. And they kept the matter to themselves, discussing what this rising from the dead meant. And they asked him, saying, "Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" And he said to them, "Elijah indeed does come first and restores all things. And how is it written concerning the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt? But I tell you that indeed Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they wanted, just as it is written about him." And when they came to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and scribes arguing with them. And immediately the whole crowd, when they saw him, were amazed, and ran up to him and greeted him. And he asked them, "What are you arguing about with them?" And one individual from the crowd answered him, "Teacher, I brought to you my son who has a spirit that makes him mute. And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down and he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes paralyzed. And I told your disciples that they should expel it, and they were not able to do so. And he answered them and said, "O unbelieving generation! How long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to me!" And they brought him to him. And when he saw him, the spirit immediately convulsed him, and falling on the ground, he began to roll around, foaming at the mouth. And he asked his father how long it was since this had been happening to him. And he said, "From childhood. And often it has thrown him both into fire and into water, in order that it could destroy him. But if you are able to do anything, have compassion on us and help us!" But Jesus said to him, "If you are able! All things are possible for the one who believes!" Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe! Help my unbelief!" Now when Jesus saw that a crowd was running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "Mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and enter into him no more!" And it came out, screaming and convulsing him greatly, and he became as if he were dead, so that most of them said, "He has died!" But Jesus took hold of his hand and raised him up, and he stood up. And after he had entered into the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why were we not able to expel it?" And he said to them, "This kind can come out by nothing except by prayer." And from there they went out and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know, for he was teaching his disciples and was telling them, "The Son of Man is being betrayed 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 statement, and they were afraid to ask him. And they came to Capernaum. And after he was in the house, he asked them, "What were you discussing on the way?" But they were silent, because they had argued with one another on the way about who was greatest. And he sat down and called the twelve and said to them, "If anyone wants to be first, he will be last of all and servant of all." And he took a young child and had him stand among them. And taking him in his arms, he said to them, "Whoever welcomes one of the young children such as these in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me, but the one who sent me." John said to him, "Teacher, we saw someone expelling demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us." But Jesus said, "Do not prevent him, because there is no one who does a miracle in my name and will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. For whoever is not against us is for us. 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. "And whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it is better for him if instead a large millstone is placed around his neck and he is thrown into the sea. And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off! It is better for you to enter into life crippled than, having two hands, to go into hell—into the unquenchable fire! And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off! It is better for you to enter into life lame than, having 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 into the kingdom of God with one eye than, having two eyes, to be thrown into hell, 48 ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not extinguished.' 49 For everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good, but if the salt becomes deprived of its salt content, by what can you make it salty? Have salt among 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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