9:48a–b

Verse 9:48 describes suffering in hell. Some versions put single quotes around this verse. This shows that it is a quote from Isaiah 66:24.

9:48a

where ‘their worm never dies: The expression their worm refers to worms that eat the bodies of dead people. It figuratively refers to suffering in hell. The phrase never dies indicates that the suffering never ends.

Here are some other ways to translate this expression:

There ‘the worms that eat them never die’ (Good News Bible)
-or-
In hell worms that eat the body never die (God’s Word)
-or-
where the maggots never die (New Living Translation)

9:48b

the fire is never quenched: The expression the fire refers to fire that burns people. It also refers to pain caused by the fire burning them. The phrase is never quenched indicates that the fire is never put out. It also indicates that the suffering never ends.

Here are some other ways to translate this expression:

the fire that burns them is never put out (Good News Bible)
-or-
and the fire never stops burning (Contemporary English Version)

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