Luke 17:2
What does Luke 17:2 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 17:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 17:2 means
Jesus intensifies the warning by picturing a large millstone tied around a person’s neck and the person cast into the sea. His meaning is not to encourage self-destruction, but to portray, in stark terms, how severe God considers the guilt of leading “little ones” into sin or unbelief. “Little ones” likely includes young believers and any who are humble or vulnerable. To harm them spiritually is no light matter to the Lord who cherishes them. The imagery presses us to value souls more than our convenience or pride. Better any earthly loss than becoming the means by which one dear to God is driven to stumble.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000It were well for him if a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, rather than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble.
KJV
King James Version · 1611It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901It were well for him if a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, rather than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949It would be well for him if a great stone was put round his neck and he was dropped into the sea, before he made trouble for any of these little ones.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862it is more profitable to him if a weighty millstone is put round about his neck, and he hath been cast into the sea, than that he may cause one of these little ones to stumble.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck and he cast into the sea, than that he should scandalize one of these little ones.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890It would be [more] profitable for him if a millstone were hanged about his neck and he cast into the sea, than that he should be a snare to one of these little ones.
Context
After acknowledging that stumbling blocks will come (verse 1), Jesus now declares the dreadful seriousness of being the source of such harm. This sets a moral backdrop for the practical steps that follow: vigilant self-watch and a pattern of loving correction and forgiveness among disciples (verses 3–4). The sequence moves from warning (do not cause harm) to responsibility (handle sin rightly), preparing the way for the disciples’ cry for help in faith (verse 5), which arises naturally from the weight of what Jesus is requiring.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Matthew 18:10
See 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 who is in heaven.
- Matthew 26:24
The Son of man goeth, even as it is written of him: but woe unto that man through whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had not been born.
- 1 Corinthians 9:22
To the weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak: I am become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some.
- Mark 9:42
And whosoever shall cause one of these little ones that believe on me to stumble, it were better for him if a great millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.
- Matthew 18:14
Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
- 1 Corinthians 8:11
For through thy knowledge he that is weak perisheth, the brother for whose sake Christ died.
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