^18:6“But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin,⁵ it would be better for him to have a huge millstone⁶ hung around his neck and to be drowned in the open sea.⁷^18:7Woe to the world because of stumbling blocks! It⁸ is necessary that stumbling blocks come, but woe to the person through whom they come.

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Footnotes

5 The Greek term σκανδαλίζω (skandalizō), translated here “causes to sin” can also be translated “offends” or “causes to stumble.”
6 Grk “the millstone of a donkey.” This refers to a large flat stone turned by a donkey in the process of grinding grain ( μύλος 2; L&N 7.68–69). The same term is used in the parallel account in Mark 9:42. The punishment of drowning with a heavy weight attached is extremely gruesome and reflects Jesus’ views concerning those who cause others who believe in him to sin.
7 The term translated “open” here (πελάγει, pelagei) refers to the open sea as opposed to a stretch of water near a coastline ( πέλαγος). A similar English expression would be “the high seas.”
8 Grk “For it.” Here γάρ (gar) has not been translated.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

“Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes!

NIVNew International Version (2011)

“If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!

CSBChristian Standard Bible

“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to fall away—it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of offenses. For offenses will inevitably come, but woe to that person by whom the offense comes.

NLTNew Living Translation

But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.

“What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him that a large millstone be hung on his neck and he be drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of causes for stumbling, for it is a necessity that causes for stumbling come; nevertheless, woe to the person through whom the cause for stumbling comes.

KJV 1900King James Version

But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

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