Bible Strands
Luke 9:25
What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet lose or forfeit his very self?
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses His disciples during His journey to Jerusalem, immediately following His teaching on the cost of discipleship. He poses a rhetorical question to force a valuation of eternal life against temporal gain.
The words — The Greek verb ὠφελεῖται (ōpheleitai) means "is profited," paired with κερδήσας (kerdēsas), "having gained," to frame a direct economic metaphor for spiritual loss.
The thread — This identical rhetorical structure appears in Matthew 16:26 and Mark 8:36, while Psalms 49:6 provides the contrasting background of trusting in wealth.
Why it lands — The text demands a reader to calculate whether temporal acquisition justifies the forfeiture of eternal life. It requires a plain exchange of priorities rather than an emotional response.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?
Cross-references
- Matthew 16:26 What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
- Mark 8:36 What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?
- Psalms 49:6 They trust in their wealth and boast in their great riches.
- Luke 12:19 Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!”’
- Luke 4:5 Then the devil led Him up to a high place and showed Him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.
- 2 Peter 2:15 They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness.
- Acts 1:25 to take up this ministry and apostleship, which Judas abandoned to go to his rightful place.”
- 1 Corinthians 9:27 No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
- Matthew 13:50 and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
- Mark 9:43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two hands and go into hell, into the unquenchable fire.