Mark 9 · Verse 48

Mark 9:48

Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
Mark 9:48, King James Version

Mark 9:48 in other translations

BSBwhere ‘their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.’
WEB‘where their worm doesn’t die, and the fire is not quenched.’
ASVwhere their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
YLTwhere their worm is not dying, and the fire is not being quenched;
DARBYwhere their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched.
BBEWhere their worm is ever living and the fire is not put out.
WebsterWhere their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

What does Mark 9:48 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
48. Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched--See on Mt 5:30; The "unquenchablesness" of this fire has already been brought before us (see on Mt 3:12); and the awfully vivid idea of an undying worm, everlastingly consuming an unconsumable body, is taken from the closing words of the evangelical prophet (Is 66:24), which seem to have furnished the later Jewish Church with its current phraseology on the subject of future punishment (see Lightfoot).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Mark 9:41-50

It is repeatedly said of the wicked, Their worm dieth not, as well as, The fire is never quenched. Doubtless, remorse of conscience and keen self-reflection are this never-dying worm. Surely it is beyond compare better to undergo all possible pain, hardship, and self-denial here, and to be happy for ever hereafter, than to enjoy all kinds of worldly pleasure for a season, and to be miserable for ever. Like the…

Read the full comment on Mark 9:41-50 →

Mark 9:48 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ὅπουhopouwhereG3699
ὁhotheG3588
σκώληξskōlēxwormG4663
αὐτῶνautōnof themG846
οὐounotG3756
τελευτᾷteleutadiesG5053
καὶkaiandG2532
τὸtotheG3588
πῦρpurfireG4442
οὐounotG3756
σβέννυται.sbennutaiis quenched.’G4570

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Mark 9:48

  • Isaiah 66:24

    And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.

  • Matthew 25:41

    Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

  • Mark 9:43-45

    And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
44,46

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Mark 9:47

    And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:

  • Mark 9:48

    Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

  • Mark 9:49

    For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.

Read all of Mark 9

Mark 9:48 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Donde el gusano de ellos no muere, y el fuego nunca se apaga.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		là où leur ver ne meurt pas et où le feu ne s’éteint pas.
German
Elberfelder 1871		wo ihr Wurm nicht stirbt und das Feuer nicht erlischt.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Omnis enim igne salietur, et omnis victima sale salietur.