Matthew 18 · Verse 9

Matthew 18:9

And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.
Matthew 18:9, King James Version

Matthew 18:9 in other translations

BSBAnd if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.
WEBIf your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the Gehenna of fire.
ASVAnd if thine eye causeth thee to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is good for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the hell of fire.
YLT‘And if thine eye doth cause thee to stumble, pluck it out and cast from thee; it is good for thee one-eyed to enter into the life, rather than having two eyes to be cast to the gehenna of the fire.
DARBYAnd if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out and cast it from thee; it is good for thee to enter into life one-eyed, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the hell of fire.
BBEAnd if your eye is a cause of trouble to you, take it out, and put it away from you: it is better for you to go into life with one eye than, having two eyes, to go into the hell of fire.
WebsterAnd if thy eye causeth thee to sin, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell-fire.

What does Matthew 18:9 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Verse 9. Mt 18:8

(d) "enter into life" Heb 4:11 (e) "two eyes" Lk 9:25

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 18:7-14

Considering the cunning and malice of Satan, and the weakness and depravity of men's hearts, it is not possible but that there should be offences. God permits them for wise and holy ends, that those who are sincere, and those who are not, may be made known. Being told before, that there will be seducers, tempters, persecutors, and bad examples, let us stand on our guard. We must, as far as lawfully we may, part with…

Read the full comment on Matthew 18:7-14 →

Matthew 18:9 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.

καὶkaiAndG2532
εἰeiifG1487
ὁhotheG3588
ὀφθαλμόςophthalmoseyeG3788
σουsouof youG4771
σκανδαλίζειskandalizeicauses to sinG4624
σε,seyou,G4771
ἔξελεexeledo gouge outG1807
αὐτὸνautonitG846
καὶkaiandG2532
βάλεbaledo cast [it]G906
ἀπὸapofromG575
σοῦ·souyou;G4771
καλόνkalonbetterG2570
σοίsoifor youG4771
ἐστινestinit isG1510
μονόφθαλμονmonophthalmonone-eyedG3442
εἰςeisintoG1519
τὴνtēn<the>G3588
ζωὴνzōēnlifeG2222
εἰσελθεῖνeiseltheinto enterG1525
ἢēthanG2228
δύοduotwoG1417
ὀφθαλμοὺςophthalmouseyesG3788
ἔχονταechontahavingG2192
βληθῆναιblēthēnaito be castG906
εἰςeisintoG1519
τὴνtēntheG3588
γέεννανgeennanhellG1067
τοῦtouof theG3588
πυρός.purosfire.G4442

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

Cross references for Matthew 18:9

  • Acts 14:22

    Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

  • Matthew 18:8

    Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.

  • Revelation 21:27

    And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

  • Matthew 5:22

    But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

  • Matthew 5:29

    And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

  • Luke 9:24-25

    For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?

  • Matthew 19:23-24

    Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

  • Hebrews 4:11

    Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

  • Matthew 16:26

    For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

  • Matthew 19:17

    And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

  • 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:

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
to enter.
19:17,23,24; Ac 14:22; Heb 4:11; Re 21:27
rather.
16:26; Lu 9:24,25

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

Context

  • Matthew 18:8

    Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.

  • Matthew 18:9

    And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.

  • Matthew 18:10

    Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.

Read all of Matthew 18

Matthew 18:9 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y si tu ojo te fuere ocasión de caer, sácalo y échalo de ti: mejor te es entrar con un solo ojo en la vida, que teniendo dos ojos ser echado en el infierno del fuego.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et si ton œil est pour toi une occasion de chute, arrache-le et jette-le loin de toi; car il vaut mieux pour toi d’entrer dans la vie n’ayant qu’un œil, que d’avoir deux yeux, et d’être jeté dans la géhenne du feu.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und wenn dein Auge dich ärgert, so reiß es aus und wirf es von dir. Es ist dir besser, einäugig in das Leben einzugehen, als mit zwei Augen in die Hölle des Feuers geworfen zu werden.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Et si oculus tuus scandalizat te, erue eum, et projice abs te: bonum tibi est cum uno oculo in vitam intrare, quam duos oculos habentem mitti in gehennam ignis.