Mark 9:48

Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. [We cannot but regret that the words of the 48th verse-which in the received text are thrice repeated, with a thrilling and deeply rhythmical effect-are in Tischendorf's text excluded in Mark 9:44; Mark 9:46, as being genuine only in Mark 9:48; while Tregelles brackets them, as of doubtful genuineness. The manuscripts by whose authority they are guided in this case are of formidable weight; but those in favour of the received text are far more numerous, and one (A) equal perhaps in value to the most ancient; while the authority of the most ancient and best versions is decidedly in favour of the received text. To us it seems not difficult to see how, though genuine, the repetition should have been excluded by copyists, to avoid an apparent tautology and to conform the text to that of Matthew, but very difficult to see how, if not genuine, it should have found its way into so many ancient manuscripts. Lachmann adheres to the received text, and even Fritzsche contends for it; while Alford says the triple repetition gives sublimity, and leaves no doubt of the discourse having been thus uttered verbatim.] See the note at Matthew 5:30; and on the words "hell" [ geenna (G1067)] and "hell-fire," or 'the hell of fire' [ hee (G3588) geenna (G1067) tou (G3588) puros (G4442)]: see the note at Matthew 5:22. The "unquenchableness" of this fire has already been brought before us (see the note at Matthew 3:12); and the awfully vivid idea of an undying worm, everlastingly consuming an unconsumable body, is taken from the closing words of the Evangelical prophet (Isaiah 66:24), which seem to have furnished the later Jewish Church with its current phraseology on the subject of future punishment (see Lightfoot).