Paragraph 18:8–9
It is good to start a new paragraph at 18:8. Jesus was still talking here about things that cause people to sin. However, the focus shifts to the importance of avoiding sin in a person’s own life.
These verses are similar to what Jesus said in 5:29–30. You should compare the way you translated the verses there to the way you translate the verses here.
18:8a–b
If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away: Jesus used these words to continue to show that things that cause sin are serious. These words are intended to shock the listener with extreme language.
When Jesus said that you should cut off your hand of your foot, he meant that you should do everything possible to keep yourself from sinning. This might even require extreme self-sacrifice.
If people in your area will think that this verse only refers to literally cutting off your hand or foot, you may want to:
• Indicate that this is figurative language. For example:
If ⌊for a figurative example⌋ your hand or your foot causes you to sin
-or-
If ⌊as a parable⌋ your hand or your foot causes you to sin
• Include a footnote to explain. Here is a sample footnote:
The “hand” and “foot” of this verse are figurative examples of causes of sin. Jesus was not saying that people should actually cut off parts of their bodies. Instead, he wanted them to understand how serious sin is. The real causes of sin (wrong attitudes, thoughts and beliefs) are to be removed as if it were removing a hand or foot in this parable.
18:8a
your: The pronouns “your” and “you” in 18:8–9 are singular.
hand: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as hand refers to the part of the body that is at the end of the arm. It is the part to which the fingers are attached.
In some languages, there is a word that refers to both the arm and the hand. It is everything from the shoulder down. For Jesus’ illustration, it does not matter which meaning comes through in your translation.
foot: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as foot refers to the part of the body that is at the end of the leg.
In some languages, there is a word that refers to both the leg and the foot. It is everything that is below the hip. For Jesus’ illustration, it does not matter which meaning comes through in your translation.
causes you to sin: The verb causes…to sin is the same verb used in 18:6a. But here the phrase refers to something that causes the person himself to sin.
Here is another way to translate this phrase:
makes you sin
18:8b
cut it off: Here are some other ways to translate this verb:
chop it off
-or-
sever it
and throw it away: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as throw it away is more literally “throw it from you” (as in the New American Standard Bible). The whole clause means to get rid of the thing that causes you to sin.
Here is another way to translate this clause:
and get rid of it
18:8c–d
It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than to have two hands and two feet and be thrown into the eternal fire: This is a comparison. Some ways that languages may show this comparison are:
• One situation is better than the other (as in the Berean Standard Bible).
• One situation is worse than the other. For example:
Being thrown into eternal fire with two hands or two feet is worse than entering eternal life crippled or lame.
• One situation is good. The other situation is bad. For example:
If you enter into heaven, even if you have only one hand or one foot, that is good. But if you keep two hands or two feet and go to hell, that is bad.
Some languages do not use comparison words. One possible way to translate this verse without using such words is:
It is very bad if your hand or foot leads you into sinful ways. Those sinful ways will cause you later to be thrown into the eternal fire as punishment. Rather than let that happen, cut off your hand or foot before it causes you to sin, and throw it away. That way your body will be crippled, but you will still be able to enter into eternal life.
18:8c
to enter life: In this context, the word life refers to eternal life.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
to enter eternal life (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
to enter ⌊the place of eternal⌋ life
-or-
to enter heaven (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
to go live ⌊forever with God⌋
crippled: This word refers to a person who has an arm or leg that is deformed or missing. Because this word is parallel to “hand” in 18:8a, Jesus was probably referring to a missing hand.
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
maimed (New International Version)
-or-
without a hand (Good News Translation)
-or-
with only one hand (New Living Translation (2004))
lame: This word refers to a person who has a difficult time walking because one or both legs are deformed or missing. Because this word is parallel to “foot” in 18:8a, Jesus was probably referring to a missing foot.
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
without…a foot (Good News Translation)
-or-
with one foot
18:8d
than: This word connects two things that are being compared. The situation in 18:8c (entering eternal life crippled but alive) is compared to the situation in 18:8d (whole but punished in the fire). The first situation is preferable. If you are not able to make a comparison like this in your language, see 18:8c–d above for other possible ways to translate this verse.
to have two hands and two feet: This phrase refers to what would happen if you did not do what Jesus said. When your hand or foot caused you to sin, you did not cut it off. Then at the final judgment, you would have both hands and both feet. But you would be thrown into the fire of punishment because of that sin.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
with two hands or two feet (English Standard Version)
-or-
to keep both hands and both feet (Good News Translation)
In some languages, it will be more natural to put this phrase at the end of 18:8d. For example:
than to be thrown into eternal fire with both of your hands and feet (New Living Translation (2004))
and be thrown: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as be thrown is passive. This part of the verse refers to the final judgment, so God is the person who will throw people into eternal fire.
Here are some other ways to translate this verb:
• Use a passive verb. For example:
be cast (King James Version)
• Use an active verb. For example:
God will throw you
into the eternal fire: This phrase refers to the fire that is the final punishment for sin. It is the same as “fire of hell” in 5:22c.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
into the fire that never goes out (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
⌊into the place⌋ where fire burns forever
-or-
into hell where fire always burns
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