1.6 KiB
It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble
This introduces a hypothetical situation. No one has put a stone around his neck, and Jesus is not saying that anyone will do so. You may need to make explicit that it is the punishment for causing people to sin that Jesus is comparing to being thrown into the sea. Alternate translation: "I will not punish him a little by putting a millstone around his neck and throwing him into the sea. Instead, I will punish him much. This is because he has caused one of these little ones to stumble" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-hypo and rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit)
a millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "if they were to put a millstone around his neck and throw him" or "if someone were to put a heavy stone around his neck and push him" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive)
for him ... his neck ... he were ... he should
These words can refer to anyone, to women as well as to men. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-gendernotations)
a millstone
This is a very large, heavy circular stone used for grinding wheat grain into flour. Alternate translation: "a heavy stone"
these little ones
This here refers to people whose faith is still weak. Alternate translation: "these people whose faith is small"
to stumble
This was a way of referring to unintentional sin. Alternate translation: "to sin"