Lectionary Calendar
Monday, July 21st, 2025
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
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Read the Bible

New Life Version

Luke 17:2

It would be better for him to have a large rock put around his neck and be thrown into the sea, than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Jesus, the Christ;   Millstone;   Wicked (People);   The Topic Concordance - Offense;  

Dictionaries:

- Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Jesus Christ;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Luke, Gospel of;   Vessels and Utensils;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Matthew, Gospel According to;   Sin;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Discourse;   Drowning;   Fierceness;   Judgment;   Little Ones;   Mill-Stone ;   Neck;   Offence (2);   Proverbs ;   Religion (2);   Social Life;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Cast;   Neck;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for April 29;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to stumble.
King James Version (1611)
It were better for him that a milstone were hanged about his necke, and he cast into the Sea, then that he should offend one of these little ones.
King James Version
It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
English Standard Version
It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.
New American Standard Bible
"It is better for him if a millstone is hung around his neck and he is thrown into the sea, than that he may cause one of these little ones to sin.
New Century Version
It would be better for you to be thrown into the sea with a large stone around your neck than to cause one of these little ones to sin.
Amplified Bible
"It would be better for him if a millstone [as large as one turned by a donkey] were hung around his neck and he were hurled into the sea, than for him to cause one of these little ones to stumble [in sin and lose faith].
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he would cause one of these little ones to stumble.
Legacy Standard Bible
It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he would cause one of these little ones to stumble.
Berean Standard Bible
It would be better for him to have a millstone hung around his neck and to be thrown into the sea than to cause one of these little ones to stumble.
Contemporary English Version
would be better off thrown into the ocean with a heavy stone tied around their neck.
Complete Jewish Bible
It would be to his advantage that he have a millstone hung around his neck and he be thrown into the sea, rather than that he ensnare one of these little ones.
Darby Translation
It would be [more] profitable for him if a millstone were hanged about his neck and he cast into the sea, than that he should be a snare to one of these little ones.
Easy-to-Read Version
It will be very bad for anyone who makes one of these little children sin. It would be better for them to have a millstone tied around their neck and be drowned in the sea.
Geneva Bible (1587)
It is better for him yt a great milstone were hanged about his necke, and that he were cast into ye sea, then that he should offende one of these litle ones.
George Lamsa Translation
It were better for him that an ass'' millstone were hanged on his neck, and he thrown into the sea, than cause one of these little ones to stumble.
Good News Translation
It would be better for him if a large millstone were tied around his neck and he were thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.
Lexham English Bible
It would be better for him if a millstone is placed around his neck and he is thrown into the sea than that he causes one of these little ones to sin.
Literal Translation
It is profitable for him if a millstone turned by an ass is put around his neck, and he be thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
American Standard Version
It were well for him if a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, rather than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble.
Bible in Basic English
It would be well for him if a great stone was put round his neck and he was dropped into the sea, before he made trouble for any of these little ones.
Hebrew Names Version
It would be better for him if a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, rather than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble.
International Standard Version
It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.
Etheridge Translation
It were better for him that an ass-millstone were hanged on his neck, and he be cast into the sea. Woe (to him) who shall offend [fn] one of these little ones !
Murdock Translation
Better for him were it, if a millstone were suspended to his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
It were better for hym, that a mylstone were hanged about his necke, & he cast into the sea, then that he shoulde offende one of these litle ones.
English Revised Version
It were well for him if a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, rather than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble.
World English Bible
It would be better for him if a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, rather than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
It were better for him that a mill-stone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
Weymouth's New Testament
It would be well for him if, with a millstone round his neck, he were lying at the bottom of the sea, rather than that he should cause even one of these little ones to fall.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
It is more profitable to him, if a mylne stoon be put aboute his necke, and he be cast in to the see, than that he sclaundre oon of these litle.
Update Bible Version
It were well for him if a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, rather than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble.
Webster's Bible Translation
It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should cause one of these little ones to fall into sin.
New English Translation
It would be better for him to have a millstone tied around his neck and be thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.
New King James Version
It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
New Living Translation
It would be better to be thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around your neck than to cause one of these little ones to fall into sin.
New Revised Standard
It would be better for you if a millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea than for you to cause one of these little ones to stumble.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
It profiteth him, if, a mill-stone, is hung about his neck, and he is cast into the sea, than that he cause, one, of these little ones, to stumble.
Douay-Rheims Bible
It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck and he cast into the sea, than that he should scandalize one of these little ones.
Revised Standard Version
It would be better for him if a millstone were hung round his neck and he were cast into the sea, than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
It were better for him that a mylstone were hanged aboute his necke and that he were cast into ye see then that he shuld offende one of this lytleons.
Young's Literal Translation
it is more profitable to him if a weighty millstone is put round about his neck, and he hath been cast into the sea, than that he may cause one of these little ones to stumble.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
It were better for him, that a mylstone were hanged aboute his neck, and he cast in to the see, then that he shulde offende one of these litle ones.
Mace New Testament (1729)
it were better for him that a milstone were hang'd about his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should occasion any innocent person to relapse.
Simplified Cowboy Version
It'd be better for that person if an anvil was tied around their neck and they were thrown into the sea. You don't want to be the person who tries to lure the Boss's kids away from him.

Contextual Overview

1 Jesus said to His followers, "For sure, things will come that will make people sin. But it is bad for the person who makes someone else sin. 2 It would be better for him to have a large rock put around his neck and be thrown into the sea, than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin. 3 "Watch yourselves! If your brother sins, speak sharp words to him. If he is sorry and turns from his sin, forgive him. 4 What if he sins against you seven times in one day? If he comes to you and says he is sorry and turns from his sin, forgive him." 5 The followers said to the Lord, "Give us more faith." 6 The Lord said, "If your faith was as a mustard seed, you could say to this tree, ‘Be pulled out of the ground and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you. 7 "What if you owned a servant who was working in the field or taking care of sheep? Would you say to him when he came in from his work, ‘Come and sit down to eat?' 8 No, instead you would say, ‘Get my supper ready. Dress yourself and care for me until I am through eating and drinking. Then you can eat and drink.' 9 Does the servant get thanks for doing what he was told to do? I am sure he does not. 10 It is the same with you also. When you do everything you have been told to do, you must say, ‘We are not any special servants. We have done only what we should have done.'"

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

better: Matthew 18:6, Matthew 26:24, Mark 9:42, 1 Corinthians 9:15, 2 Peter 2:1-3

one: Isaiah 40:11, Zechariah 13:7, Matthew 18:3-5, Matthew 18:10, Matthew 18:14, John 21:15, 1 Corinthians 8:11, 1 Corinthians 8:12, 1 Corinthians 9:22

Reciprocal: Matthew 5:30 - offend Matthew 10:42 - one Matthew 18:5 - receive Romans 14:1 - weak Romans 14:13 - put Romans 14:21 - whereby 1 Corinthians 8:9 - take 1 John 2:10 - occasion of stumbling

Cross-References

Genesis 9:9
"See, I make My agreement with you, and with your children after you,
Genesis 12:2
And I will make you a great nation. I will bring good to you. I will make your name great, so you will be honored.
Genesis 13:16
I will make your family after you like the dust of the earth. So if anyone could number the dust of the earth, then he could number your children's children.
Genesis 15:18
The Lord made an agreement with Abram on that day. He said, "I have given this land to your children and to their children's children, from the river of Egypt as far as the big Euphrates River,
Genesis 17:4
"See, My agreement is with you. You will be the father of many nations.
Genesis 17:6
Many will come from you. I will make nations of you. Kings will come from you.
Genesis 17:8
I will give to you and your children after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan for yourselves forever. And I will be their God."
Genesis 17:11
In this religious act the skin is cut off from the end of your sex part. This will be the special act of the agreement between Me and you.
Genesis 17:17
Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed. He said to himself, "Will a child be born to a man who is 100 years old?
Genesis 17:18
Then Abraham said to God, "If only Ishmael might live before You!"

Gill's Notes on the Bible

It were better for him that a millstone,....

:- and

:-.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

It is impossible - It cannot but happen. Such is the state of things that “it will be.” See these verses explained in the notes at Matthew 18:6-7.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Luke 17:2. A mill-stone — That drowning a person with a stone tied about the neck was an ancient mode of punishment, see proved in the note on Matthew 18:6; Matthew 18:7, to which let the following be added. To have a mill-stone hanged about the neck, was a common proverb. "Samuel saith, A man may marry, and after that addict himself to the study of the law. Rab. Jochanan saith, No: shall he addict himself to the study of the law with a mill-stone about his neck?"

The place in Aristophanes, to which the reader is referred in the note on Matthew 18:6, is the following: -

Αραν μετεωρον εις το βαραθρον εμβαλω,

Εκ του λαρυγγος εκκρεμασας ὑπερβολον


"Lifting him up into the air, I will plunge him into the deep: a great stone being hung about his neck." Aristoph. in Equit. ver. 1359.


 
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