Mark 9:46 Where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched.

Spoken to: 

John the Baptist

Jesus has just told someone that they should chop off foot if it trips you up.

KJV: 

Mark 9:46 Where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched.

NIV : 

Mark 9:46  A note recognizing that this verse doesn't exist in the sources used today. 

LISTENERS HEARD: 

Somewhere that worm of theirs doesn't die and the fire doesn't go out.

MY TAKE: 

The worm and a fire will always be with us.

GREEK (Each Word Explained Bottom of Page): 

This verse does not exist in the Greek sources that we use today. Below is Mark 9:48, which is translated the same.

Mark 9:48 ὅπου σκώληξ αὐτῶν οὐ τελευτᾷ καὶ” “τὸ πῦρ οὐ σβέννυται:”

The worm and a fire will always be with us.

GREEK ORDER: 

ὅπου           “    σκώληξ     αὐτῶν         οὐ τελευτᾷ καὶ” “τὸ  πῦρ        οὐ σβέννυται:
Somewhere that worm     of theirs does n't die        and    the fire does n't go out.

LOST IN TRANSLATION: 

This is the second of three repetitions of this phrase at the end of this chapter, but only the last of these verses exists in the Greek source that we use today. We repeat this post under all three verse for completeness.

This is the second of three repetitions of this phrase at the end of this chapter, but only this verse exists in the Greek source that we use today. We repeat this post under all three verse for completeness. See this article, however, for a much more complete analysis of the symbolism in this verse.

This is a quote from Isaiah 66:24  using the same vocabulary as the Greek translation of the Old Testament, the Septuagint. (linked  verse  Greek here). The fact that this is a quote from the Old Testament explains why so many unique and uncommon terms are used in it. Since this verse exists in both the Greek and Hebrew it allows us to understand how Jesus meant the words. The translation from Hebrew to Greek does not seem particularly accurate. The tenses are different, imperfect in the Hebrew and present in Greek, and the words chosen for "to die" doesn't primarily mean "to die."

The Greek word translated as "quenched" can also mean "to die" when applied to men and the Hebrew word it translates is also used to mean "to die" when applied to men.

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

2
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "worm" is not shown in the English translation.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "to die."

EACH WORD of KJV : 

Where -- "Where" is a conjuction that means "somewhere", "anywhere", "wherever," and "where."

their -- The word translated as "their" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. This word follows the noun and therefore means "of theirs."

missing "the/this"  -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article," the," which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more. 

worm -- "Worm" is a noun Jesus only uses here. It means "worm," specifically, "earthworm", "grub", "larvae," and "worms in dung, decaying matter and trees and wood." The Hebrew source word specifically describes a female worm that is the source of scarlet die, whose final act is to attach itself permanently to a tree to protect the eggs under it. See this article for more.

dies -- (CW) "Dies" is another uncommon word that primarily  means "to bring to pass", "to accomplish" and "to finish", "to die", "to end a life," and "to make an end to life." This is the verb form of the noun that means "completion"and "accomplishment."  Translated into Greek from an OT Hebrew word that means "to die" and "to kill."

not, -- The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It makes a negative statement of fact. Adding "really" to the sentence captures the same idea.

and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as".

the -- The word translated as "the"  is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more. 

fire -- "Fire" is a noun that means "fire", "sacrificial fire", "funeral fire", and so on, but Christ only uses this word to describe the fire of a trash dump. He usually uses it with the word that is translated as "hell" but which was the name of the burning trash dump outside of Jerusalem.

is -- This is from the passive form of the verb.

not -- The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It makes a negative statement of fact. Adding "really" to the sentence captures the same idea.

quenched. -- "Quenched" is the final uncommon word for Jesus that means "quench", "put out", "dry up", "run dry," and "go out." Specifically, the passive form means of fire, "to go out." This word also means  "to be quenched" and "to die" in some contexts.

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV : 

ὅπου [32 verses] (adv/conj) "Where" is hopou, which means "somewhere", "anywhere", "wherever," and "where."

[821 verses] (article sg masc nom) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"), which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"), which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones."

σκώληξ [1 verse]( noun sg masc nom ) "Worm" is from skolex, which means "worm," specifically, "earthworm", "grub", "larvae," and "worms in dung, decaying matter and trees and wood." The Hebrew word is tôlāʿ(תּוֹלָע), which specifically describes a female worm that is the source of scarlet die, whose final act is to attach itself permanently to a tree to protect the eggs under it.

αὐτῶν [86 verses](pron/adj pl masc/fem/neut gen) "Their" is autos, is the genitive case of the third-person, plural adjective that is used as a pronoun. The word also means "the same,""one's true self," and "the soul" as opposed to the body. It also means "of one's own accord."

οὐ [269 verses](partic) "Not" is ou which is the negative adverb for facts and statements, negating both single words and sentences. The other negative adverb, μή applies to will and thought; οὐ denies, μή rejects; οὐ is absolute, μή relative; οὐ objective, μή subjective.

τελευτᾷ [3 verses]( verb 3rd sg pres ind act ) "Dies" is from teleutao, which means "to bring to pass", "to accomplish", "to finish", "to die", "to end a life," and "to make an end to life." Translated from the OT Hebrew word,  muwth, which means "to die" and "to kill."

καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "but." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also." Also used to give emphasis, "even", "also," and "just."

τὸ [821 verses](article sg neut nom) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"), which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"), which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones."

πῦρ [14 verses]( noun sg neut nom ) "Fire" is pyr (pur), which means "fire", "sacrificial fire", "funeral fire", "hearth-fire", "lightning", "the light of torches," and "heat of fever."

οὐ [269 verses](partic) "Not" is ou which is the negative adverb for facts and statements, negating both single words and sentences. The other negative adverb, μή applies to will and thought; οὐ denies, μή rejects; οὐ is absolute, μή relative; οὐ objective, μή subjective.

σβέννυται:” [4 verses](verb 3rd pl pres ind mp) "Quenched. is from sbennymi, which means "quench," "put out," "to be quench," fo liquids "dry up," "to be put out," and "cooling." Specifically, the passive form means of fire, "to go out." This word also means  "to be quenched" and "die" in some contexts.

Related Verses: 

Front Page Date: 

Jun 20 2023