Mark 9:44 kjv
Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
Mark 9:44 nkjv
where 'Their worm does not die And the fire is not quenched.'
Mark 9 44 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mark 9:43 | 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: | Context of radical self-denial for salvation. |
| Mark 9:45 | 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: | Continues theme of radical amputation of sin. |
| Mark 9:46 | Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. | Identical verse, reinforcing perpetuity. |
| Mark 9:48 | Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. | Identical verse, often considered primary. |
| Isa 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. | OT source of the imagery, eternal destruction. |
| Matt 3:12 | Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. | John the Baptist's warning of unquenchable fire. |
| Matt 5:29-30 | And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee... | Parallel teaching on avoiding sin at any cost. |
| Matt 18:8-9 | Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee... | Matthew's parallel to Mark 9:43-48. |
| Matt 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: | Explicit mention of "everlasting fire." |
| Matt 25:46 | And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. | Contrast of everlasting punishment and life. |
| Luke 12:4-5 | And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body... But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. | Warning to fear God who casts into hell. |
| Luke 16:23-24 | And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments... I am tormented in this flame. | Rich man in torment in Hades (hell). |
| Jude 1:7 | Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication...are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. | Example of eternal judgment. |
| 2 Thess 1:9 | Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; | Eternal destruction from God's presence. |
| Rev 14:11 | And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image... | Perpetual torment with no rest. |
| Rev 20:10 | And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. | Satan, beast, false prophet in eternal torment. |
| Rev 21:8 | But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. | List of those facing second death in fire. |
| Jer 7:20 | Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Behold, mine anger and my fury shall be poured out upon this place, upon man, and upon beast, and upon the trees of the field, and upon the fruit of the ground; and it shall burn, and shall not be quenched. | God's wrath like an unquenchable fire. |
| Ezek 20:47-48 | ...I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee... and the flaming flame shall not be quenched; and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein. | Fire as unquenchable judgment. |
| Dan 12:2 | And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. | Resurrection to everlasting shame/contempt. |
| Rom 6:23 | For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. | Consequence of sin is death, contrasts with eternal life. |
Mark 9 verses
Mark 9 44 Meaning
Mark 9:44 describes the horrifying reality of eternal punishment for the unrepentant, depicting a place where two agents of destruction—a "worm" and "fire"—are perpetually active. It signifies a state of unending suffering, decay, and torment for those who reject the path to life offered by Christ and succumb to the allure of sin. This vivid imagery underscores the severity of God's judgment and the dire consequences of impenitence.
Mark 9 44 Context
Mark 9:44 is part of Jesus' broader discourse on discipleship, self-denial, and the severe consequences of sin. Following discussions about humility and welcoming children (Mark 9:33-37), Jesus warns His disciples against causing "stumbling blocks" (Mark 9:42). The immediate context (Mark 9:43-48) is a strong admonition to radical measures—figuratively "cutting off" a hand, foot, or eye—to avoid sin that leads to eternal destruction. Jesus' vivid imagery of "Gehenna" (translated as "hell" in the KJV for Mark 9:43, 45, 47) provides a stark warning of the alternative to spiritual sacrifice and faithfulness. This warning emphasizes the eternal reality awaiting the unrepentant and the urgency of taking sin seriously. Historically, "Gehenna" was the Valley of Hinnom, south of Jerusalem, a place associated with pagan child sacrifice and later a perpetually burning refuse dump, thus becoming a potent Jewish metaphor for ultimate destruction and punishment.
Mark 9 44 Word analysis
- Where: (οὗ - hou) Indicates a specific location, signifying the place of unending suffering.
- their worm: (ὁ σκώληξ αὐτῶν - ho skōlēx autōn)
- worm: (σκώληξ - skōlēx) Refers to a maggot or larva, associated with decay, corruption, and the putrefaction of flesh. It symbolizes the internal, ever-consuming corruption and consequence of sin within the individual, possibly a gnawing conscience or inescapable spiritual decay. It highlights a never-ending process of self-inflicted torment.
- their: (αὐτῶν - autōn) Personalizes the judgment. The torment belongs to them, implying an inescapable, individual experience.
- dieth not: (οὐ τελευτᾷ - ou teleuta)
- dieth not: (ou is negative, teleutaō means to end, finish, die) Conveys the idea of unending, perpetual existence. The "worm" does not cease its activity, indicating an eternal state of internal decay and misery without end. It denotes continuity and a lack of cessation.
- and the fire: (καὶ τὸ πῦρ - kai to pyr)
- fire: (πῦρ - pyr) A powerful biblical symbol. It represents God's judgment, wrath, and purifying power. Here, it denotes an external, tormenting, destructive, yet unconsumable, force of punishment. It emphasizes suffering and purification from sin, but in a punitive sense for the unrepentant.
- is not quenched: (οὐ σβέννυται - ou sbennutai)
- is not quenched: (ou is negative, sbennymi means to extinguish, suppress) Emphasizes the ceaseless, undiminishing nature of the torment. The fire continues to burn eternally, providing no relief, escape, or finality to the punishment. It highlights the eternal and immutable nature of God's judgment against sin.
Mark 9 44 Bonus section
The presence of Mark 9:44 and 9:46 in the King James Version and some other translations is largely due to their inclusion in the Textus Receptus, a text form that was influential during the Reformation era. Modern critical texts often omit these verses, viewing them as later scribal interpolations or harmonizations. This is because the earliest and most reliable manuscripts typically present Mark 9:48 as the sole repetition of the Isaiah quote. However, it is crucial to note that this textual variation does not alter the core theological message, as Mark 9:48, widely attested in the earliest manuscripts, conveys the identical terrifying warning about "where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched." The presence of Mark 9:44, therefore, serves primarily to reinforce and re-emphasize Jesus' original teaching on the severity of eternal punishment.
Mark 9 44 Commentary
Mark 9:44 is a stark declaration by Jesus emphasizing the terrifying and eternal nature of hell, utilizing imagery drawn from Isaiah 66:24. It speaks of an unending process where the inner "worm" of corruption or guilt perpetually consumes, and the external "fire" of judgment perpetually burns. This dual imagery vividly portrays a place of conscious, persistent, and unmitigated torment. It serves as a grave warning against the devastating spiritual cost of yielding to sin, reiterating the eternal separation from God for those who choose a path of disobedience and refuse repentance. Jesus' strong words underscore the profound value of one's soul and the necessity of radical self-denial to enter eternal life. The verse, identical to Mark 9:46 and 9:48, stresses the inescapable perpetuity of this divine retribution for unpardoned sin.Examples:
- A constant, unaddressed inner conviction: Like a "worm" that "dieth not," an individual might live with unending guilt for an unconfessed sin, perpetually gnawing at their conscience.
- Relentless consequences: Similar to a debt that "is not quenched," leading to continuous and compounding suffering without resolution, Mark 9:44 describes consequences for sin that are unending.