Devine Scripture

Matthew 18:8

What does Matthew 18:8 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 18:8 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 18:8 means

Jesus here uses hyperbole to stress the absolute necessity of ruthlessly dealing with any personal source of sin that might lead one to eternal judgment. If even one's hand or foot—limbs essential for daily life—becomes a habitual instrument of sin, it is better to metaphorically 'cut it off' than to allow it to lead to spiritual ruin. The painful sacrifice of a part, or a sinful practice, is far preferable to the catastrophic loss of one's whole being in the eternal fire of hell.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And if thy hand or thy foot causeth thee to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from thee: it is good for thee to enter into life maimed or halt, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into the eternal fire.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And if thy hand or thy foot causeth thee to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from thee: it is good for thee to enter into life maimed or halt, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into the eternal fire.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And if your hand or your foot is a cause of trouble, let it be cut off and put it away from you: it is better for you to go into life with the loss of a hand or a foot than, having two hands or two feet, to go into the eternal fire.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

`And if thy hand or thy foot doth cause thee to stumble, cut them off and cast from thee; it is good for thee to enter into the life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast to the fire the age-during.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And if thy hand, or thy foot, scandalize thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee. It is better for thee to go into life maimed or lame, than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into everlasting fire.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut it off and cast [it] from thee; it is good for thee to enter into life lame or maimed, [rather] than having two hands or two feet to be cast into eternal fire.

Context

This verse continues Jesus' teaching on stumbling blocks, shifting from external causes (verse 7) to internal, personal ones. It uses vivid, hyperbolic language to emphasize the radical self-denial required to avoid sin that leads to spiritual destruction. This severe warning is paired with the similar command concerning the eye in verse 9, reinforcing the urgency of self-examination and decisive action against sin.

v.7Woe unto the world because of occasions of stumbling! for it must needs be that the occasions come; but woe to that man through whom the occasion cometh!

v.8This passage

v.9And 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.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Matthew 14:3

    For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife.

  • Luke 18:22

    And when Jesus heard it, he said unto him, One thing thou lackest yet: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

  • Isaiah 33:14

    The sinners in Zion are afraid; trembling hath seized the godless ones: Who among us can dwell with the devouring fire? who among us can dwell with everlasting burnings?

  • Luke 16:24

    And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame.

  • Deuteronomy 13:6

    If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, that is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers;

  • Matthew 15:30

    And there came unto him great multitudes, having with them the lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and they cast them down at his feet; and he healed them:

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