Bible Strands
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?
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses his disciples immediately after his first passion prediction (16:21) and Peter's rebuke, in the same breath as the saying about losing one's life for his sake (16:25).
The words — ὠφεληθήσεται (ōphelēthēsetai), "will it be profitable," frames the question in commercial language of gain and loss. κόσμον (kosmon), "world," denotes the entire created order, not merely a nation or era.
The thread — Mark 8:36 and Luke 9:25 preserve the same saying in the Synoptic parallels; Job 27:8 echoes the underlying question of what remains when God takes a life.
Why it lands — It treats the soul as the one asset that cannot be recovered or substituted, making every other "gain" a potential loss by comparison.
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 profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Cross-references
- Job 27:8 For what is the hope of the godless when he is cut off, when God takes away his life?
- Mark 8:36 What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?
- Luke 9:25 What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet lose or forfeit his very self?
- Luke 12:20 But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’
- Psalms 49:7 No man can possibly redeem his brother or pay his ransom to God.
- Luke 16:25 But Abraham answered, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things. But now he is comforted here, while you are in agony.
- Job 2:4 “Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give up all he owns in exchange for his life.
- Matthew 5:29 If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
- Matthew 4:8 Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.