Mark 8:36

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

For what doth it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life?

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Τί γὰρ ὠφελήσει ἄνθρωπον, ἐὰν κερδήσῃ τὸν κόσμον ὅλον, καὶ ζημιωθῃ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ;

Transliteration

What for will ōphelēsei anthrōpon, if he might kerdēsē the kosmon holon, and be zēmiōthē the psychēn of him?

Grammar Details

• *ōphelēsei*: verb, future active indicative, 3rd person singular - it will profit
• *anthrōpon*: noun, masculine accusative singular - man/person
• *kerdēsē*: verb, aorist active subjunctive, 3rd person singular - he might gain
• *kosmon*: noun, masculine accusative singular - world
• *holon*: adjective, masculine accusative singular - whole/entire
• *zēmiōthē*: verb, aorist passive subjunctive, 3rd person singular - he might forfeit/lose
• *psychēn*: noun, feminine accusative singular - soul/life

Word Meanings

• *ōphelēsei*: it will profit/benefit/help
• *anthrōpon*: man/person/human
• *kerdēsē*: he might gain/acquire/win
• *kosmon*: world/universe/mankind
• *holon*: whole/entire/all
• *zēmiōthē*: he might forfeit/lose/suffer the loss of
• *psychēn*: soul/life/self

Referenced Verses

• Luke 9:25 : 25 For what is a man profited, if he gain the whole world, and lose or forfeit his own self?
• Job 2:4 : 4 And Satan answered Jehovah, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.
• Job 22:2 : 2 Can a man be profitable unto God? Surely he that is wise is profitable unto himself.
• Ps 49:17 : 17 For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away; His glory shall not descend after him.
• Rom 6:21 : 21 What fruit then had ye at that time in the things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
• Jas 1:9-9 : 9 But let the brother of low degree glory in his high estate: 10 and the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. 11 For the sun ariseth with the scorching wind, and withereth the grass: and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his goings.
• Matt 16:26 : 26 For what shall a man be profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? or what shall a man give in exchange for his life?
• Rev 18:7-8 : 7 How much soever she glorified herself, and waxed wanton, so much give her of torment and mourning: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall in no wise see mourning. 8 Therefore {G1223} in one day shall her plagues come, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire; for strong is the Lord God who judged her.
• Phil 3:7-9 : 7 Howbeit what things were gain to me, these have I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea verily, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but refuse, that I may gain Christ, 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of mine own, [even] that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith:
• Heb 11:24-26 : 24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; 25 choosing rather to share ill treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26 accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he looked unto the recompense of reward.
• Luke 12:19-20 : 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, be merry. 20 But God said unto him, Thou foolish one, this night is thy soul required of thee; and the things which thou hast prepared, whose shall they be?
• Luke 16:19-23 : 19 Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, faring sumptuously every day: 20 and {G2258} a certain beggar named Lazarus was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 and desiring to be fed with the [crumbs] that fell from the rich man's table; yea, even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and that he was carried away by the angels into Abraham's bosom: and the rich man also died, and was buried. 23 And in Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
• Mal 3:14 : 14 Ye have said, It is vain to serve God; and what profit is it that we have kept his charge, and that we have walked mournfully before Jehovah of hosts?
• Matt 4:8-9 : 8 Again, the devil taketh him unto an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 and he said unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
• Ps 73:18-20 : 18 Surely thou settest them in slippery places: Thou castest them down to destruction. 19 How are they become a desolation in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors. 20 As a dream when one awaketh, So, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou wilt despise their image.