Reference

Matthew 5:30

And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
28

But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

29

And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

30

And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

31

It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:

32

But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

Why This Verse Was Tagged

Destruction / Perishing Language
Keyword Match
90% relevance

This verse contains specific terms directly associated with this theme.

Hell Terminology (Sheol/Hades/Gehenna/Lake of Fire)
Keyword Match
100% relevance

This verse contains specific terms directly associated with this theme.

Sheol / The Grave
Keyword Match
60% relevance

This verse contains specific terms directly associated with this theme.

Eternal Conscious Torment
Semantic Discovery
70% relevance

This verse was identified through meaning similarity — its content is mathematically close to known verses in this theme, even without sharing the same vocabulary.

Counter-Arguments

The strongest case that this verse does not belong in this theme.

Annihilation / Destruction

The verse uses hyperbole to emphasize the severity of sin and the importance of avoiding it, rather than literally advocating for physical self-mutilation or describing the ultimate fate of the wicked. The "perishing" of a member is a metaphorical sacrifice to save the "whole body" from a different kind of destruction ("hell"), which is not necessarily annihilation.

Destruction / Perishing Language

The "cutting off" in this verse is metaphorical, referring to the removal of sinful actions or temptations, not the literal destruction or perishing of a physical body part or a wicked person.

Hell Terminology (Sheol/Hades/Gehenna/Lake of Fire)

The verse does not explicitly mention Sheol, Hades, or Lake of Fire, but the use of "hell" in the context of the body being cast into it clearly indicates a place of judgment and punishment, aligning with the theme's definition of "hell in a judgment context distinct from Sheol/Hades as general grave."

Sheol / The Grave

The verse uses "hell" (γέεννα) as a destination for the "whole body," which is distinct from the concept of Sheol/the grave as the general state or destination of the dead, and the primary focus is on the consequences of sin rather than the nature of death itself.

Eternal Conscious Torment

The verse speaks of a "whole body" being cast into "hell," which could be interpreted as complete destruction or annihilation rather than ongoing conscious suffering. The focus is on the consequence of the body being cast away, not on the nature of the suffering within hell.