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Thursday, September 4th, 2025
the Week of Proper 17 / Ordinary 22
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The NET Bible®

Mark 9:48

where their worm never dies and the fire is never 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.
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.'
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 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 I tell you the truth, whoever gives you a cup of water because you bear Christ's name will never lose his reward. 42 "If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a huge millstone tied around his neck and to be thrown into the sea. 43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off! It is better for you to enter into life crippled than to have two hands and go into hell, to the unquenchable fire. If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off! It is better to enter life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. If your eye causes you to sin, tear it out! It is better to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where their worm never dies and the fire is never quenched. Everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other." 44 And he said to them, "I tell you the truth, there are some standing here who will not experience death before they see the kingdom of God come with power." Six days later Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John and led them alone up a high mountain privately. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became radiantly white, more so than any launderer in the world could bleach them. Then Elijah appeared before them along with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. So Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three shelters—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." (For they were afraid, and he did not know what to say.) Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came from the cloud, "This is my one dear Son. Listen to him!" Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more except Jesus. As they were coming down from the mountain, he gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. They kept this statement to themselves, discussing what this rising from the dead meant. Then they asked him, "Why do the experts in the law say that Elijah must come first?" He said to them, "Elijah does indeed come first, and restores all things. And why is it written that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be despised? But I tell you that Elijah has certainly come, and they did to him whatever they wanted, just as it is written about him." When they came to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and experts in the law arguing with them. When the whole crowd saw him, they were amazed and ran at once and greeted him. He asked them, "What are you arguing about with them?" A member of the crowd said to him, "Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that makes him mute. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they were not able to do so." He answered them, "You unbelieving generation! How much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I endure you? Bring him to me." So they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw him, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell on the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked his father, "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said, "From childhood. It has often thrown him into fire or water to destroy him. But if you are able to do anything, have compassion on us and help us." Then Jesus said to him, "‘If you are able?' All things are possible for the one who believes." Immediately the father of the boy cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!" Now when Jesus saw that a crowd was quickly gathering, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "Mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again." It shrieked, threw him into terrible convulsions, and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, "He is dead!" But Jesus gently took his hand and raised him to his feet, and he stood up. Then, after he went into the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we cast it out?" He told them, "This kind can come out only by prayer." They went out from there and passed through Galilee. But Jesus did not want anyone to know, for he was teaching his disciples and telling them, "The Son of Man will be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise." But they did not understand this statement and were afraid to ask him. Then they came to Capernaum. After Jesus was inside the house he asked them, "What were you discussing on the way?" But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. After he sat down, he called the twelve and said to them, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all." He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, "Whoever welcomes one of these little children 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 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, because no one who does a miracle in my name will be able soon afterward to say anything bad about me. For whoever is not against us is for us. For I tell you the truth, whoever gives you a cup of water because you bear Christ's name will never lose his reward. "If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a huge millstone tied around his neck and to be thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off! It is better for you to enter into life crippled than to have two hands and go into hell, to the unquenchable fire. 45 If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off! It is better to enter life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. If your eye causes you to sin, tear it out! It is better to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where their worm never dies and the fire is never quenched. Everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other." 46 And he said to them, "I tell you the truth, there are some standing here who will not experience death before they see the kingdom of God come with power." Six days later Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John and led them alone up a high mountain privately. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became radiantly white, more so than any launderer in the world could bleach them. Then Elijah appeared before them along with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. So Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three shelters—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." (For they were afraid, and he did not know what to say.) Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came from the cloud, "This is my one dear Son. Listen to him!" Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more except Jesus. As they were coming down from the mountain, he gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. They kept this statement to themselves, discussing what this rising from the dead meant. Then they asked him, "Why do the experts in the law say that Elijah must come first?" He said to them, "Elijah does indeed come first, and restores all things. And why is it written that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be despised? But I tell you that Elijah has certainly come, and they did to him whatever they wanted, just as it is written about him." When they came to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and experts in the law arguing with them. When the whole crowd saw him, they were amazed and ran at once and greeted him. He asked them, "What are you arguing about with them?" A member of the crowd said to him, "Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that makes him mute. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they were not able to do so." He answered them, "You unbelieving generation! How much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I endure you? Bring him to me." So they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw him, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell on the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked his father, "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said, "From childhood. It has often thrown him into fire or water to destroy him. But if you are able to do anything, have compassion on us and help us." Then Jesus said to him, "‘If you are able?' All things are possible for the one who believes." Immediately the father of the boy cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!" Now when Jesus saw that a crowd was quickly gathering, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "Mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again." It shrieked, threw him into terrible convulsions, and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, "He is dead!" But Jesus gently took his hand and raised him to his feet, and he stood up. Then, after he went into the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we cast it out?" He told them, "This kind can come out only by prayer." They went out from there and passed through Galilee. But Jesus did not want anyone to know, for he was teaching his disciples and telling them, "The Son of Man will be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise." But they did not understand this statement and were afraid to ask him. Then they came to Capernaum. After Jesus was inside the house he asked them, "What were you discussing on the way?" But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. After he sat down, he called the twelve and said to them, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all." He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, "Whoever welcomes one of these little children 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 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, because no one who does a miracle in my name will be able soon afterward to say anything bad about me. For whoever is not against us is for us. For I tell you the truth, whoever gives you a cup of water because you bear Christ's name will never lose his reward. "If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a huge millstone tied around his neck and to be thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off! It is better for you to enter into life crippled than to have two hands and go into hell, to the unquenchable fire. If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off! It is better to enter life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. 47 If your eye causes you to sin, tear it out! It is better to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48 where their worm never dies and the fire is never quenched. 49 Everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other."

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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