Matthew 18:7
New International Version
Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!

New Living Translation
“What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting.

English Standard Version
“Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes!

Berean Standard Bible
Woe to the world for the causes of sin. These stumbling blocks must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!

Berean Literal Bible
Woe to the world because of the causes of sin. For the stumbling blocks are necessary to come, but woe to the man by whom the offense comes!

King James Bible
Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

New King James Version
Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!

New American Standard Bible
“Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to the person through whom the stumbling block comes!

NASB 1995
“Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!

NASB 1977
“Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!

Legacy Standard Bible
“Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; nevertheless, woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!

Amplified Bible
“Woe (judgment is coming) to the world because of stumbling blocks and temptations to sin! It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to the person on whose account or through whom the stumbling block comes!

Christian Standard Bible
Woe to the world because of offenses. For offenses will inevitably come, but woe to that person by whom the offense comes.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Woe to the world because of offenses. For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes.

American Standard Version
Woe 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!

Contemporary English Version
The world is in for trouble because of the way it causes people to sin. There will always be something to cause people to sin, but anyone who does this will be in for trouble.

English Revised Version
Woe 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!

GOD'S WORD® Translation
How horrible it will be for the world because it causes people to lose their faith. Situations that cause people to lose their faith will arise. How horrible it will be for the person who causes someone to lose his faith!

Good News Translation
How terrible for the world that there are things that make people lose their faith! Such things will always happen--but how terrible for the one who causes them!

International Standard Version
How terrible it will be for the world due to its temptations to sin! Temptations to sin are bound to happen, but how terrible it will be for that person who causes someone to sin!

Majority Standard Bible
Woe to the world for the causes of sin. These stumbling blocks must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!

NET Bible
Woe to the world because of stumbling blocks! It is necessary that stumbling blocks come, but woe to the person through whom they come.

New Heart English Bible
"Woe to the world because of stumbling blocks. For there will always be something to cause people to stumble, but woe to the person through whom the stumbling block comes.

Webster's Bible Translation
Woe to the world because of offenses! for it must needs be that offenses come; but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh!

Weymouth New Testament
"Alas for the world because of causes of falling! They cannot but come, but alas for each man through whom they come!

World English Bible
“Woe to the world because of occasions of stumbling! For it must be that the occasions come, but woe to that person through whom the occasion comes!
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Woe to the world from the stumbling-blocks! For there is necessity for the stumbling-blocks to come, but woe to that man through whom the stumbling-block comes!

Berean Literal Bible
Woe to the world because of the causes of sin. For the stumbling blocks are necessary to come, but woe to the man by whom the offense comes!

Young's Literal Translation
'Woe to the world from the stumbling-blocks! for there is a necessity for the stumbling-blocks to come, but woe to that man through whom the stumbling-block doth come!

Smith's Literal Translation
Woe to the world for offences I for there is necessity for offences to come; but woe to that man by whom the offence comes!
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Woe to the world because of scandals. For it must needs be that scandals come: but nevertheless woe to that man by whom the scandal cometh.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Woe to a world that leads people astray! Although it is necessary for temptations to arise, nevertheless: Woe to that man through whom temptation arises!

New American Bible
Woe to the world because of things that cause sin! Such things must come, but woe to the one through whom they come!

New Revised Standard Version
Woe to the world because of stumbling blocks! Occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe to the one by whom the stumbling block comes!
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Woe to the world because of offences! Offences are bound to come; but woe to the man by whose hand the offences come!

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“Woe to the world because of offenses, for it is necessary that offenses will come, but woe to the man by whom the offenses will come.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Alas for the world because of snares! for it is necessary that snares come: but alas for that man by whom the snare comes!

Godbey New Testament
Woe unto the world on account of offensives, for it is necessary that offensives come; but woe unto that man through whom the offense comes!

Haweis New Testament
Wo to the world because of offences! for there is a necessity that offences come: nevertheless, wo to that man by whom the offence cometh!

Mace New Testament
wo unto the world, because of such scandals: tho' it cannot be, but that such occasions of relapsing should happen: yet wo to that man by whom the scandal cometh.

Weymouth New Testament
"Alas for the world because of causes of falling! They cannot but come, but alas for each man through whom they come!

Worrell New Testament
"Woe to the world because of stumbling-blocks! for there is a necessity that the stumbling-blocks come; but woe to the man through whom the stumbling-block comes!

Worsley New Testament
Wo will be to the world from such offenses; for it is of necessity that offenses come: but wo to that man by whom the offense cometh.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Temptations and Trespasses
6But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. 7Woe to the world for the causes of sin. These stumbling blocks must come, but woe to the man through whom they come! 8If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. 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.…

Cross References
Luke 17:1
Jesus said to His disciples, “It is inevitable that stumbling blocks will come, but woe to the one through whom they come!

Mark 9:42
But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be thrown into the sea.

Romans 14:13
Therefore let us stop judging one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way.

1 Corinthians 8:9
Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.

1 John 2:10
Whoever loves his brother remains in the light, and there is no cause of stumbling in him.

1 Corinthians 10:32
Do not become a stumbling block, whether to Jews or Greeks or the church of God—

Romans 14:20-21
Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to let his eating be a stumbling block. / It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything to cause your brother to stumble.

2 Peter 2:1
Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.

Galatians 5:12
As for those who are agitating you, I wish they would proceed to emasculate themselves!

James 3:1-2
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. / We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body.

1 Timothy 4:1
Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons,

Isaiah 57:14
And it will be said, “Build it up, build it up, prepare the way, take every obstacle out of the way of My people.”

Ezekiel 3:18-19
If I say to the wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ but you do not warn him or speak out to warn him from his wicked way to save his life, that wicked man will die in his iniquity, and I will hold you responsible for his blood. / But if you warn a wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness and his wicked way, he will die in his iniquity, but you will have saved yourself.

Jeremiah 6:21
Therefore this is what the LORD says: “I will lay stumbling blocks before this people; fathers and sons alike will be staggered; friends and neighbors will perish.”

Isaiah 8:14-15
And He will be a sanctuary—but to both houses of Israel a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, to the dwellers of Jerusalem a trap and a snare. / Many will stumble over these; they will fall and be broken; they will be ensnared and captured.”


Treasury of Scripture

Woe to the world because of offenses! for it must needs be that offenses come; but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!

unto.

Genesis 13:7
And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.

1 Samuel 2:17,22-25
Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD…

2 Samuel 12:14
Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.

for.

Mark 13:7
And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.

Acts 1:16
Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.

1 Corinthians 11:19
For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

but.

Matthew 13:41,42
The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; …

Matthew 23:13
But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

Matthew 26:24
The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.

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Alas Block Blocks Cause Causes Curse Earth Falling Inevitable Necessary Needs Occasion Occasions Offence Offences Offense Offenses Sin Stumbling Temptations Trouble Unhappy Woe World
Matthew 18
1. Jesus warns his disciples to be humble and harmless,
7. to avoid offenses,
10. and not to despise the little ones;
15. teaches how we are to deal with our brothers when they offend us,
21. and how often to forgive them;
23. which he sets forth by a parable of the king who took account of his servants,
32. and punished him who showed no mercy to his fellow servant.














Woe to the world
The word "woe" is a strong expression of grief or denunciation. In the Greek, it is "ouai," which conveys a deep sense of lamentation and impending judgment. This phrase indicates the seriousness of the situation at hand. The "world" here refers to the fallen human system that is in opposition to God's kingdom. Historically, the world has been a place of temptation and sin since the fall of man, and Jesus is acknowledging the pervasive nature of sin in the world.

because of offenses
The term "offenses" is translated from the Greek word "skandala," which means stumbling blocks or traps. These are things that cause people to sin or fall away from faith. In a historical context, offenses could be false teachings, immoral behavior, or any action that leads others into sin. Jesus is highlighting the inevitability of such offenses in a fallen world, yet He also emphasizes the gravity of causing or being a part of these offenses.

For it is necessary that offenses come
This phrase acknowledges the reality of living in a sinful world. The Greek word for "necessary" is "anagkē," which implies a sense of inevitability or compulsion. Jesus is not condoning sin but is recognizing that, due to human free will and the presence of evil, offenses will occur. This reflects the biblical narrative of a world groaning under the weight of sin, awaiting redemption.

but woe to the man
Here, Jesus shifts from a general lament over the world to a specific warning to individuals. The repetition of "woe" underscores the seriousness of personal responsibility. The "man" refers to any individual who becomes a source of temptation or sin for others. This personal accountability is a consistent theme throughout Scripture, where individuals are called to live righteously and not lead others astray.

by whom the offense comes
This phrase highlights the personal responsibility of those who cause others to stumble. The Greek word "di’ hou" (by whom) indicates agency or instrumentality. Jesus is warning that those who are the source of offenses will face severe consequences. This serves as a sobering reminder of the impact one's actions can have on others and the importance of living a life that reflects Christ's teachings. Historically, this has been a call for believers to be vigilant in their conduct, ensuring they do not become stumbling blocks to others in their faith journey.

(7) Woe unto the world.--The interjection is one of sorrow as well as denunciation, and here the former meaning is predominant, as the latter is in the next clause of the verse. The true meaning of "offence," as meaning not the mere transgression of a law, but such a transgression as causes the fall of others, must be carefully borne in mind throughout. The words, "It must needs be that offences come, but woe unto that man . . . ," unite in strange contrast the two truths which all the history of human guilt brings before us. Crimes seem to recur with something like the inevitable regularity of a law, and yet in each single instance the will of the offender has been free to choose, and he is therefore rightly held responsible both by divine and human laws.

Verse 7. - This and the preceding verse occur in St. Luke (Luke 17:1, 2) in an inverted order. Woe unto the world! The Lord thinks of the deadly evil brought into the world by offences given, such as bad example, unholy lives of Christians, persecutions, scoffs, thoughtlessness - things which lead so many astray. For it must needs be. While men are what they are, such consequences must be expected. This is not an absolute, but a relative, necessity. Man's heart is evil, his tendencies are evil, temptation is strong. Satan is active; all these forces combine to bring about a fatal result. Thus St. Paul says (1 Corinthians 11:19), "There must be heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you." So these offences of which Christ speaks are overruled and permitted for wise purposes, that by them the righteous may be proved and purified, and the chaff separated from the wheat. But woe to that man! Because of this evil principle which is rife in the world, no man is exonerated from the guilt of giving offence. He has free will; he can choose good; he can use the means of grace; he can strengthen his natural weakness, control his perverseness, overcome corruption, by the help of God always ready to be given to them who seek. The first "woe" is a cry of pity for a world in danger; the second "woe" is a denunciation of the sinner as being responsible for the evil which he introduces. We are all in some sort our brothers' keepers, and are bound to help forward their salvation, and to do nothing which may tend to endanger their souls' health.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Woe
Οὐαὶ (Ouai)
Interjection
Strong's 3759: Woe!, alas!, uttered in grief or denunciation. A primary exclamation of grief; 'woe'.

to the
τῷ (tō)
Article - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

world
κόσμῳ (kosmō)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2889: Probably from the base of komizo; orderly arrangement, i.e. Decoration; by implication, the world (morally).

for
ἀπὸ (apo)
Preposition
Strong's 575: From, away from. A primary particle; 'off, ' i.e. Away, in various senses.

the
τῶν (tōn)
Article - Genitive Neuter Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

causes of sin.
σκανδάλων (skandalōn)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural
Strong's 4625: A snare, stumbling-block, cause for error. Scandal; probably from a derivative of kampto; a trap-stick, i.e. Snare.

[These]
τὰ (ta)
Article - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

stumbling blocks
σκάνδαλα (skandala)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 4625: A snare, stumbling-block, cause for error. Scandal; probably from a derivative of kampto; a trap-stick, i.e. Snare.

must
ἀνάγκη (anankē)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 318: From ana and the base of agkale; constraint; by implication, distress.

come,
ἐλθεῖν (elthein)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 2064: To come, go.

but
πλὴν (plēn)
Conjunction
Strong's 4133: However, nevertheless, but, except that, yet. From pleion; moreover, i.e. Albeit, save that, rather, yet.

woe
οὐαὶ (ouai)
Interjection
Strong's 3759: Woe!, alas!, uttered in grief or denunciation. A primary exclamation of grief; 'woe'.

to the
τῷ (tō)
Article - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

man
ἀνθρώπῳ (anthrōpō)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 444: A man, one of the human race. From aner and ops; man-faced, i.e. A human being.

through
δι’ (di’)
Preposition
Strong's 1223: A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.

whom
οὗ (hou)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

[they]
σκάνδαλον (skandalon)
Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4625: A snare, stumbling-block, cause for error. Scandal; probably from a derivative of kampto; a trap-stick, i.e. Snare.

come!
ἔρχεται (erchetai)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2064: To come, go.


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NT Gospels: Matthew 18:7 Woe to the world because of occasions (Matt. Mat Mt)
Matthew 18:6
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