Mark 9 43

Mark 9:43 kjv

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:

Mark 9:43 nkjv

If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched?

Mark 9:43 niv

If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out.

Mark 9:43 esv

And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.

Mark 9:43 nlt

If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It's better to enter eternal life with only one hand than to go into the unquenchable fires of hell with two hands.

Mark 9 verses

Mark 9 43 Meaning

Mark 9:43 is a severe and vivid teaching from Jesus, using hyperbole to convey the absolute seriousness of sin and the ultimate importance of eternal salvation. It warns that it is better to radically eliminate anything that causes one to stumble spiritually or to sin—even if it seems as indispensable as a hand, foot, or eye—rather than to cling to that source of sin and face eternal destruction in hell. The core message emphasizes decisive action against personal sin for the sake of eternal life.

Mark 9 43 Context

Mark chapter 9 immediately follows Jesus' Transfiguration and His teaching about the suffering of the Son of Man. The disciples are revealed to be still largely misunderstanding Jesus' mission and spiritual priorities, particularly regarding greatness (Mk 9:33-37) and inclusivity (Mk 9:38-41). Mark 9:42 warns strongly against causing "little ones" to stumble. Verses 43-48 form a unit where Jesus applies this principle to individual believers, instructing them to deal ruthlessly with their own sources of sin. The vivid imagery of cutting off hands or feet and plucking out eyes underscores the seriousness of avoiding anything that leads one into sin. Historically and culturally, "Gehenna" (γέενναν, geennan), translated as "hell," refers to the Valley of Hinnom, south of Jerusalem. This valley was a place where child sacrifices were offered to pagan gods (2 Kgs 23:10; Jer 7:31). In Jesus' time, it had become associated with a perpetually burning garbage dump and was a Jewish symbol for post-mortem divine judgment, an infernal place of punishment for the wicked, where fire consumes and worms (maggots) never cease, signifying utter destruction and continuous torment. Jesus’ use of "unquenchable fire" echoes Old Testament prophetic warnings of divine judgment (e.g., Isa 66:24).

Mark 9 43 Word analysis

• And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off:

  • And if thy hand (Καὶ ἐὰν σκανδαλίζῃ σε ἡ χείρ σου): "Hand" (cheir) metaphorically represents one's actions, work, or pursuits—the means by which a person carries out their will. It is not about the literal body part. "Thy" (sou) makes it personal; the stumbling block originates from you.
  • offend thee (σκανδαλίζῃ σε, skandalizē se): From skandalizō, meaning "to cause to stumble," "to ensnare," "to lead to sin," or "to put an obstacle in the way." Here, it specifically means to cause oneself to sin or to fall away from God's path. It signifies temptation leading to moral failure.
  • cut it off (ἀπόκοψον αὐτήν, apokopson autēn): A powerful and dramatic imperative. Apokoptō means to "cut off completely," "sever." This is extreme hyperbole, a teaching technique common in ancient rhetoric and Jesus’ own ministry. It signifies radical, decisive, and irreversible separation from any sinful habit, influence, or practice, regardless of the apparent "value" or attachment one has to it. It implies self-denial and absolute surrender to God’s will over personal desire for sin.

• it is better for thee to enter into life maimed,

  • it is better for thee (καλόν σοι ἐστιν, kalon soi estin): Presents a stark and undeniable spiritual benefit. It highlights a divine calculus where eternal destiny vastly outweighs any earthly convenience or pleasure derived from sin. "Better" indicates a preferential and highly advantageous choice.
  • to enter into life (εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὴν ζωήν, eiselthein eis tēn zōēn): Refers to entering God's eternal kingdom, participating in salvation, and experiencing eternal fellowship with God. It represents spiritual salvation and genuine communion with Christ.
  • maimed (μονόχειρα, monokheira): Literally "one-handed" (similarly kollos for "lame" for feet, and monophthalmos for "one-eyed"). Metaphorically, this describes someone who has sacrificed dearly, has forgone a significant part of their earthly "comfort" or "completeness" to avoid sin. It signifies willingness to endure a perceived loss in this life for eternal gain.

• than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

  • than having two hands (ἢ τὰς δύο χεῖρας ἔχοντα): Contrasts with the "maimed" state, symbolizing retaining everything that might lead to sin or refusing to sever ties with a sinful lifestyle. It refers to a state of spiritual "wholeness" on earth that leads to eternal ruin.
  • to go into hell (ἀπελθεῖν εἰς τὴν γέενναν, apelthein eis tēn geennan): "Hell" is Gehenna, the Valley of Hinnom, a garbage dump south of Jerusalem where fires continuously burned, a vivid symbol of divine judgment and eternal punishment for the wicked. It represents a place of utter destruction, spiritual and physical ruin, distinct from physical death.
  • into the fire that never shall be quenched (εἰς τὸ πῦρ τὸ ἄσβεστον, eis to pyr to asbestos): Asbestos means "unquenchable" or "inextinguishable." This phrase underscores the unending, inescapable, and irreversible nature of this judgment. The fire signifies the intensity and perpetual quality of punishment, not that it necessarily keeps a person eternally burning but rather that the judgment it represents is final and can never be put out or escaped.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off": This entire phrase, repeated with variations for foot and eye, encapsulates the core demand for radical ethical surgery on one's life. The direct address "thy hand" immediately brings the focus to personal responsibility and interiority. The imperative "cut it off" demands an absolute, immediate, and permanent severance from anything that causes one to sin, underscoring that compromise with sin is not an option when eternal destiny is at stake.
  • "it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell": This is Jesus' cost-benefit analysis, a spiritual equation where the finite value of physical completeness or earthly sinful pleasure pales in comparison to the infinite value of eternal life versus the terrifying reality of eternal punishment. It highlights the vast, unbridgeable chasm between two possible destinies.
  • "into the fire that never shall be quenched": This phrase functions as a definitive descriptor of hell. It stresses the terrifying finality and endurance of divine judgment. There is no escape, no ending, no diminishing of the consequence once entered. The emphasis is on the decisive, perpetual nature of the condemnation, reinforcing the urgency of Jesus’ call for spiritual transformation.

Mark 9 43 Bonus section

The strong imagery in Mark 9:43-48 forms a triadic parallelism, reiterating the same point with different body parts (hand, foot, eye). This repetition reinforces the gravity and urgency of Jesus' warning, making it impossible to miss the central point. The intensity of Jesus' language about "Gehenna" and "unquenchable fire" is intended to impress upon listeners the ultimate seriousness of human choice and its eternal ramifications. This discourse highlights that accountability for sin rests individually and demands internal, spiritual purification. It serves as a stern warning against spiritual lukewarmness or a casual attitude toward personal sin, calling for immediate and uncompromising repentance.

Mark 9 43 Commentary

Mark 9:43 is a quintessential example of Jesus' use of hyperbole to teach a profound spiritual truth. He is not advocating for self-mutilation, but for radical spiritual amputation. The "hand," "foot," or "eye" represent any part of one's life—an activity, a relationship, a habit, an attitude—that consistently leads to sin. The command to "cut it off" means to decisively and unreservedly sever ties with anything that actively hinders one's walk with God and puts their eternal soul at risk. The message is simple yet stark: no earthly pleasure, possession, relationship, or habit is worth jeopardizing eternal life in God's presence. The choice between a challenging, disciplined life here on earth ("maimed" spiritually, having sacrificed dearly for Christ) and a comfortable, sin-indulging life that leads to "unquenchable fire" is starkly presented. The unquenchable fire refers to the finality and enduring nature of God's judgment and its eternal consequences, not to be extinguished or escaped. This verse calls believers to rigorous self-examination and a fearless willingness to excise sin from their lives with extreme prejudice, prioritizing devotion to God and the pursuit of holiness above all else. For practical application, this means identifying what genuinely tempts one to sin and actively creating boundaries or cutting ties—it could be limiting certain media consumption, ending ungodly relationships, or radically changing lifestyle choices.