συμφέρει

Alphabet Analysis

The word

1. word🔊 συμφέρει

   sym-PHE-rei

   it is better
2. phraseyour reading level🔊 συμφέρει αὐτῷ ἵνα κρεμασθῇ μύλος ὀνικὸς ⸀εἰς τὸν τράχηλον αὐτοῦ καὶ καταποντισθῇ ἐν τῷ πελάγει τῆς θαλάσσης.

   sym-PHE-rei au-TÔ HI-na kre-mas-THÊ MY-los o-ni-KOS eis TON TRA-khê-lon au-TOU KAI ka-ta-pon-ti-STHÊ en TÔI pe-LA-yei TÊS tha-LA-ssês

   it is better for him that be hung donkey millstone around his the neck and be drowned in the depth of the sea
3. sentence🔊 Ὃς δʼ ἂν σκανδαλίσῃ ἕνα τῶν μικρῶν τούτων τῶν πιστευόντων εἰς ἐμέ, συμφέρει αὐτῷ ἵνα κρεμασθῇ μύλος ὀνικὸς ⸀εἰς τὸν τράχηλον αὐτοῦ καὶ καταποντισθῇ ἐν τῷ πελάγει τῆς θαλάσσης.

   HOS de AN skan-da-LI-sê HE-na TÔN mi-KRÔN TOU-tôn TÔN pis-teu-ON-tôn eis e-ME sym-PHE-rei au-TÔ HI-na kre-mas-THÊ MY-los o-ni-KOS eis TON TRA-khê-lon au-TOU KAI ka-ta-pon-ti-STHÊ en TÔI pe-LA-yei TÊS tha-LA-ssês

   but whoever {∅} one of the these little ones who believe in me cause to stumble it is better for him that be hung donkey millstone around his the neck and be drowned in the depth of the sea

Exegesis

The main clause symphérei autō̂ {συμφέρει αὐτῷ | symphérei autō̂} “it is better for him” introduces a comparative preference, which is expressed by a hína-clause: hína kremasthē̂ mýlos onikós epí tón trákhēlon autoû kaí katapontisthē̂ en tō̂ pélagei tēs thalássēs {ἵνα κρεμασθῇ μύλος ὀνικός ἐπὶ τὸν τράχηλον αὐτοῦ καὶ καταποντισθῇ ἐν τῷ πελάγει τῆς θαλάσσης | hína kremasthē̂ mýlos onikós epí tón trákhēlon autoû kaí katapontisthē̂ en tō̂ pélagei tēs thalássēs}. In both reconstructions, the indefinite relative is rendered as “whoever” or “if anyone,” the layered genitives as “one of these little ones/children who believe/trust in Me,” and the hina-clause as a statement of preference preserving the stark image of execution by drowning with a heavy millstone.