Matthew 16:26

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

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?

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Τί γὰρ ὠφελεῖται ἄνθρωπος, ἐὰν τὸν κόσμον ὅλον κερδήσῃ, τὴν δὲ ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ζημιωθῇ; ἢ τί δώσει ἄνθρωπος ἀντάλλαγμα τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ;

Transliteration

For what is ōpheleitai anthrōpos, if the kosmon holon he kerdēsē, the de psychēn of him he zēmiōthē? Or what will dōsei anthrōpos antallagma of the psychēs of him?

Grammar Details

*ōpheleitai*: present passive indicative, 3rd person singular - he is profited
*anthrōpos*: nominative singular masculine - man/person
*kosmon*: accusative singular masculine - world
*holon*: accusative singular masculine - whole/entire
*kerdēsē*: aorist active subjunctive, 3rd person singular - he might gain
*de*: postpositive particle - but/and
*psychēn*: accusative singular feminine - soul/life
*zēmiōthē*: aorist passive subjunctive, 3rd person singular - he might forfeit/lose
*dōsei*: future active indicative, 3rd person singular - he will give
*antallagma*: accusative singular neuter - exchange/ransom
*psychēs*: genitive singular feminine - of soul/life

Word Meanings

*ōpheleitai*: is profited/benefited/advantaged
*anthrōpos*: man/person/human
*kosmon*: world/universe/earth
*kerdēsē*: might gain/win/acquire
*psychēn*: soul/life/self
*zēmiōthē*: might forfeit/lose/suffer loss
*antallagma*: exchange/ransom/price

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

Casual readers
Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
Readers preferring contemporary language

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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Job 27:8 : 8 For what is the hope of the godless, though he get him gain, When God taketh away his soul?
Luke 12:20 : 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?
Mark 8:36-37 : 36 For what doth it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? 37 For what should a man give in exchange for his life?
Luke 9:25 : 25 For what is a man profited, if he gain the whole world, and lose or forfeit his own self?
Ps 49:7-8 : 7 None [of them] can by any means redeem his brother, Nor give to God a ransom for him; 8 (For the redemption of their life is costly, And it faileth for ever;)
Matt 5:29 : 29 And if thy right eye causeth thee to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not thy whole body be cast into hell.
Luke 16:25 : 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things: but now here he is comforted, and thou art in anguish.
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.
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.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

Mark 8:35-37
3 verses
93%
35For whosoever would save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's shall save it.
36For what doth it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life?
37For what should a man give in exchange for his life?
Luke 9:23-26
4 verses
91%
23And he said unto all, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross {G2596} daily, and follow me.
24For whosoever {G302} would save his life shall lose it; but whosoever {G302} shall lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
25For what is a man profited, if he gain the whole world, and lose or forfeit his own self?
26For whosoever {G302} shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in his own glory, and [the glory] of the Father, and of the holy angels.
Matt 16:24-25
2 verses
85%
24Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25For whosoever would save his life shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it.
Matt 10:39
80%
39He that findeth his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
Luke 17:33
78%
33{G3739} Whosoever shall seek to gain his life shall lose it: but whosoever shall lose [his life] shall preserve it.
John 12:25
78%
25He that loveth his life loseth it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
Matt 16:27
73%
27For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then shall he render unto every man according to his deeds.
Luke 14:33-34
2 verses
72%
33So therefore whosoever he be of you that renounceth not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
34Salt therefore is good: but if even the salt have lost its savor, wherewith {G1722} shall it be seasoned?
Matt 6:24-25
2 verses
72%
24No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
25Therefore I say unto you, be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than the food, and the body than the raiment?
Luke 18:30
71%
30who shall {G3756} not receive manifold more in this time, and in the world to come eternal life.
Luke 12:15-16
2 verses
71%
15And he said unto them, Take heed, and keep yourselves from all covetousness: for a man's {G846} life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
16And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
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71%
46and having found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
John 6:27
71%
27Work not for the food which perisheth, but for the food which abideth unto eternal life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him the Father, even God, hath sealed.
Luke 16:12-13
2 verses
70%
12And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own?
13No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot {G3756} serve God and mammon.
Luke 12:18-23
6 verses
70%
18And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my grain and my goods.
19And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, be merry.
20But 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?
21So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
22And he said unto his disciples, Therefore {G5124} I say unto you, Be not anxious for [your] life, what ye shall eat; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on.
23For the life is more than the food, and the body than the raiment.
Mark 10:29
70%
29Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or mother, or father, or children, or lands, for my sake, and for the gospel's sake,
Matt 19:29-30
2 verses
70%
29And every one that hath left houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit eternal life.
30But many shall be last [that are] first; and first [that are] last.
Matt 10:28
69%
28And be not afraid of them that kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Eccl 1:3
69%
3What profit hath man of all his labor wherein he laboreth under the sun?
Luke 19:10
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Gal 6:8
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Matt 20:28
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John 6:63
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Luke 14:26-27
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26If any man cometh unto me, and hateth not his own father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
27{G2532} Whosoever doth not bear his own cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Jas 4:14
68%
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Matt 5:29
68%
29And if thy right eye causeth thee to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not thy whole body be cast into hell.
Luke 18:26
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26And they that heard it said, Then who can be saved?
Matt 19:21
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21Jesus said unto him, If thou wouldest be perfect, go, sell that which thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
Matt 6:21
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21for where thy treasure is, there will thy heart be also.
1 Tim 6:9
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Matt 5:13
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13Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men.